Newcastle-Online comment: 9th August 2004
I hold my hands up. When our frustrating Season eventually, and thankfully,
ended at Anfield on the 15th of May I was hoping that it was the end
for Bobby. It wasn't missing out on 4th or failing to win a trophy
yet again that lead me in wanting Bobby to move on. It was the manner
in which we failed to clinch that final Champions League spot and
the manner in which we bowed out of the UEFA Cup Semi-Final that did
it for me.
I didn't want Bobby sacked, he's a great man and has done a great
job at Newcastle all things considered - no matter how painful last
Season was Bobby did not deserve a bullet from upstairs. Instead I
was hoping a known stubborn and stoic man would do the decent and
honourable thing and retire, if not for the sake of my pain (I'm selfish)
then for his own health and standing within Geordie-land which was
rapidly diminishing in and out of St. James' Park. When it become
obvious that he wasn't going to retire my head dropped and I exhaled
a sigh of sorrow.
Could I put up with another 9 months of negative football, uninspiring
managerial decisions, under performing players, lack of high standards,
poor tactics, players playing out of position - could I put up with
another pathetic Season again? No I couldn't, but I would and will
and I'll keep coming back for more year after year after year regardless.
It's my duty, it's the way football is, it's the way NUFC is. You
bite your lip, get on with it and remind yourself there is always
next year, and there is always another year, always.
And this is a new year if you like, a new Season. The manner in which
we trod through 9 depressing months still lingers in the back of my
mind and even though I'm excited and misty eyed over this coming Season
my faith in Bobby amounts to a 1.1 on the richter scale, it's still
pretty low. Do I think we will win a trophy, not really. NUFC don't
do trophies. Do I think Bobby will turn it around and prove that last
Season was a blip - again not really. But I'm hopeful, I'm very hopeful.
I've just learned not to expect that's all.
Football is all about hope and belief, well I have the hope...
Bobby has the belief. He must do otherwise he wouldn't, at the age
of 71, put up with the crap he puts up with. From Freddy Shepherd
who clearly doesn't trust him fully with money not to mention a very
out of town approach to backing him. From Alan Shearer who is clearly
issuing an ultimatum of some sorts and from quite a lot of Toon supporters,
who like me, have little faith in the man. Who like me wanted him
to resign back in May. Some even wanted him sacked and still do.
But Bobby's fighting his corner as he always has done. From the spectre
of Cancer, to the time-bomb that ticked away under the hot-seat of
the England and Barcelona management throne and now at Newcastle,
the club he supported as a boy, the club he dearly loves - his dream
job. The job he so badly wants to do, even with that ticking time-bomb
firmly strapped to his seat.
Is his sheer faith in himself strong enough to convince a sizeable
doubtful Army, an Army including your's truly and maybe yourself reading
this?
Well It hasn't convinced me but it's won me over. If there are two
character traits that I want at my club Bobby is showing them - belief
and fight. Who am I to deny a man his belief even though I don't quite
share it. Who am I to deny a man his right to win a fight, even though
I don't quite believe he will win it.
Now is the time to get behind Bobby, to sing his name loud and proud.
To show him he has our backing. You never know, he may well just prove
us all wrong. Although following the Toon makes you cynical if there
is one thing I've learned - anything can happen at our club because
we are that type of club. Nobody foreseen last Season.
Freddy also has to get fully behind Bobby and purchase the player
he would like to add to his squad - a right-back. Shearer too has
to get behind his manager, a manager who has shown him loyalty in
the past 5 years, a manager who has built a team around him so that
he could continue to do what he loves best - banging them in.
I want to see a United Newcastle on the 14th not a disparate Toon.
Lets fight together! |
 |
Toon
Shirts |
|
Sponsors |
|
|
