Feel the pain and love the joy it brings
We stand to be corrected but it now looks increasingly likely that Alan Pardew will be the next manager of Newcastle United. From a network of touts and snitches we are hearing Pardew is already telling people he has the job. He may even be announced as manager today (Wednesday) or Friday with Peter Beardsley in the dug out on Saturday for the visit of Liverpool. It will be Thursday won’t it?
Alan Pardew? Is that it? Is it Pardew who Ashley has gambled the unity and spirit at Newcastle United created so painstakingly by Chris Hughton on? A strictly second rate manager with a poor CV who has recently had his services dispensed with at Third Division Southampton amidst some quite salacious rumours.
Is this clearest signal yet that Ashley has absolutely no ambition for Newcastle United whatsoever? Is the plan to keep us on the PL gravy train whilst we bump along the bottom, selling players (who expects Andy Carroll to be a Newcastle United player in the longer term?). We are the new Wigan!
Is Pardew the man he really thinks supporters will rally behind, will believe in or does he even give a fuck? Plastering the name of his minty shop all over the top of the Gallowgate roof is a hard illustration that the man does not give a flying fuck what the supporters think or feel about the club. Don’t like it? Fuck you, its my club!
I am not detecting a mood of anger about what is going on at our club. I think we’re beyond that. What I am witnessing amongst supporters is a grim sense of defeat and resignation. There is a growing attitude that Newcastle United under Ashley is irretrievably dysfunctional and is going nowhere. Ashley’s Newcastle United is simply beyond redemption. The man neither speaks to us or listens to us and there is a feeling for many, some who truly love the club and have it in their ones that enough is enough and they are ready to walk away. I have no argument to them to do otherwise.
But let us get one thing on the record. Should Pardew’s appointment lead to disaffection amongst players and supporters alike, that the mood around the club sours and form and spirit abandon the team and we tumble to another relegation let no-one make any other comment but this - it will all be down to Mike Ashley and no-one else is to blame.
What have we done to deserve this man?
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