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Opinion

Newcastle United season capped off by idiot pundits explaining why we’ve never had it so good!

3 years ago
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So, Newcastle United have avoided relegation, probably, so why am I not excited?

Over these last few weeks, the Graeme Jones impact on the players looks to have had the desired affect and we’ve probably avoided relegation.

And whilst the points ‘accumulated’ certainly help, three very much worse teams in the Premier League remain the deciding factor.

And Arsenal, Leicester and Man City are likely to be the main barrier to a 40 point final tally and ‘safety by your own devising’.

Another dour Newcastle United season capped off by the idiot pundits explaining why we’ve never had it so good!

So it got me reflecting on the mad schemes hatched in the walnut panelled smoking rooms of the private members clubs, clubs that are inhabited by the self styled royalty of FIFA and EUFA and the owners of the ‘big’ clubs around Europe. And lets be clear here – none of those schemes has anything to do with supporters. It is all to do with personal power, prestige – and money.

So we have Perez (el Pres of Real Madrid and chairman of the Super League sect) claiming that the European Super League would be: ‘… giving fans and amateur players a regular flow of headline fixtures that will feed their passion for the game…’

The only place fans are given a mention, squeezed in between commercial considerations in their press release..

Then we have Fifa and their ‘Vision 2020-2023’. They seem undecided as to whether they are making football ‘truly great’ or ‘truly global’ but reading their marketing, fans do not seem to be all that relevant. Same with UEFA.

I don’t know whether I am ‘truly representative’ but I actively follow the Toon; watch World Cup finals and Euro finals (selectively – I have a wife – and I certainly don’t watch the qualifiers) and I occasionally dip into the Champions League if all the stars align (and there is a decent chance Man U will get a pasting).

Apparently, throwing yet more Champions League games at me, plus this new dodgy European third competition (Europa Conference League) and maybe a Super League as well, is meant to excite me. And by excite, I mean compel me to give them some of my attention and money.

Are these people mad?

Football is a funny old game (as someone once said). When they happened very rarely (like the World Cup, or a Champions League final between Real and Bayern) I can be interested in watching a footballing spectacle. It’s occasionally nice to remember the beautiful game as it can be played. It reminds me of the Keegan years and Asprilla and Shearer as players and so many others of that era.

However, sadly I’m a Newcastle United supporter and we are told repeatedly that apparently we should be concerned with different things. Apparently it’s the grinding accumulation of points. It’s league survival.

So here’s the funny thing.

If I was to take the little red pill of Champions League, Super League, national championships and the rest; if I was to get excited by these (apparently almost spiritual) contests between the maestros of the game; and if I were to give over my limited funds to support these already rich clubs, what on earth would I get from supporting the Toon?

Why on earth would I want to put up with the tripe we’ve all endured this season and excuses served up by that grinning potato we call our manager?

I really cannot see myself doing both.

And too much of the ‘good stuff’ might just further alienate me from Newcastle United.

So for me, the international break is a time of no football. It’s a time for injuries to (hopefully) heal and for speculation on a change in manager or ownership to run rife. It’s a time to get on with other things.

You see, I’m a Geordie first. A Newcastle United fan. Not so much a football fan anymore.

As anyone who has followed the Toon this year knows… being a fan of the beautiful game, played well and competitively, with passion and commitment, is not really part of the package any more.

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