“Everything that happens once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
According to some journalists, pundits, fans, ex-players and the man on Northumberland Street holding up a ‘The End Is Nigh’ sign, it’s apocalypse now in Newcastle upon-Tyne for the football club that stands proudly like a cathedral on a hill at St James’ Park.
Tim Krul’s season-ending injury suffered on international duty for Holland, against Kazakhstan, confirmed Newcastle’s place on top of an unwanted League – The Premier League Injury Table.
With 13 players out, The Magpies are five adrift of the next most injury-hit team. Billionaires Manchester City have eight, and no doubt that 13 figure is seen as an unlucky omen to many Geordies, including one I know writing a book about the Newcastle United “curse”.
Despite being five points from safety in the true Premier League table, Newcastle were in a very similar position at the stage of the season a year ago – winless and third bottom at the October international break after seven matches. Remarkably, after five Premier League wins on the spin against Leicester, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and West Brom, Newcastle had revolutionised their season. They were fifth by the 23rd November, breathing down the necks of the Champions League clubs.
Newcastle’s next five Premier League games – Norwich on Sunday, Sunderland, Stoke, Bournemouth and Leicester – are all eminently winnable.
Right now, bottom after eight games, Newcastle possess the distinct advantage of having already played six of last season’s Top Eight, including all of the Champions League sides. As soon as Mike Ashley mentioned the words “Champions League” in his Sky interview on Survival Sunday in May, which promised ambition, spending and the appointment of new Head Coach, Steve McClaren, suddenly the club were handed the most difficult start in Premier League history.
Meanwhile, other clubs, pundits, managers, players and journalists – anyone with more than a passing interest in the past decades of Premier League history – are absolutely terrified of Newcastle United getting it right.
Most remember the 1990s when, with swagger, footballing brilliance and some of the best attacking ever seen in the history of the game – Manchester United with 5-0, anyone? – Newcastle were a genuine threat. It still irks Gary Neville that Kevin Keegan’s Entertainers side are still talked about in the same reverent tones as some of Man United’s Champions-winning teams, three of which were coached by one Steve McClaren. Rather than nobody remembering Keegan’s men as Neville claimed on Sky in May, and ironically so when talking about them himself, he probably has nightmares about being skinned alive by David Ginola before he released a 20-yard rocket into the top corner to kick-start the single worst night of Neville’s footballing life.
In the 1990s under Keegan, and again under Sir Bobby Robson a decade ago, Newcastle United punched their true stature as a massive football club with the best fans in the world, returning to title-challenges and Shola Ameobi scoring at The Nou Camp in the Champions League.
The force is still strong in black and white. At 6.15pm on Saturday September 26th, Newcastle were 2-0 up against José Mourinho’s Champions, Chelsea, a side only a fool would rule out of the Premier League title race, and won a hard-fought point. At 3.25pm at The Etihad Stadium on Saturday October 3rd, Newcastle should have been 2-0 up against Man City, but, for an incorrectly given linesman’s flag, that was a repeat of the injustice The Magpies faced at St. James’ Park against The Citizens in January 2014. Cheick Tioté’s 25-yard thunder-ball volley was ridiculously ruled out by Mike Jones’ officiating team.
“That first half, we really shook Man City. We scored the first goal, a second goal which was disallowed was onside, we had other opportunities and it might have been a different story, ”
- A defiant McClaren told The Daily Telegraph
Geordie-baiting is a favourite media sport, as evidenced by a new BBC article “Newcastle United – A blessed club with the most damned fans?” , which makes resounding wins over London-based favourites more satisfying. However, an increasing anti-Newcastle bias has spread to referees.
In the last two games, Newcastle have shown they can match the best sides. However, there have been growing concerns regarding key decisions. It has been 67 Premier League games since Newcastle last played against ten men, and have had 12 men sent off in that period dating back to Boxing Day 2013. During which time, the club have ‘won’ one penalty at 0-3 down at Old Trafford, and had seven awarded against.
Forget “Premier League proven”, Newcastle’s summer signings were excellent and money well spent; among those are proven goalscorers and title winners in France, Belgium and Holland and regular international scorers in The Champions League and beyond.
Georginio Wijnaldum scored against Brazil at the 2014 World Cup, versus Southampton and Chelsea in the Premier League, and flourished for Holland at international level notching another against Kazakhstan.
Aleksandar Mitrović opened his account against Man City after scoring against France recently on international duty for Serbia. He invented his infamous tongue-cutting celebration after scoring against Borussia Dortmund, managed by a certain man of the moment, Jürgen Klopp.
Chancel Mbemba made an instant impact in the Premier League, helping secure a clean sheet at Old Trafford and, mid-week, belted in his first international goal from 30 yards for DR Congo.
Florian Thauvin, a player rated as one of the best talents of his generation, could yet turn out to be the best of the lot – tux or no tux – having scored against Napoli in the Champions League for Marseille, as well as starring in an U20 World Cup-winning side. Thauvin has scored seven in ten France U21 appearances and could still make France 2016.
There are problems to iron out, too, though. Cheick Tioté must instantly, and for the rest of the season, play as Newcastle’s defensive midfielder instead of Vurnon Anita.
Quality and power have been seen in glimpses this season from leads against Chelsea, a clean sheet at Man United, and real spirit was demonstrated within ten-man adversity against Arsenal and Swansea. Yet, in their new McClaren model, Newcastle haven’t got out of third gear yet at full throttle; there is, however, a team to be reckoned with in black and white coming to a football stadium and TV screen near you.
It’s not the end of the world; the beginning of Newcastle’s season is here and the Magpies will not just survive, but thrive, as the best is yet to come. Don’t Stop Believin’.
Main Photo
