MARKS COLUMN - FEB 2004!

Well here we go again. More Toon goings on to mull over and give my tuppence worth on. Results wise, the last month saw a cup win at Southampton, league victories over Leeds and Fulham, draws at Man Ure and Birmingham, as well as our cup exit at Anfield. It has also been the much lauded transfer window. More of my feelings on that particular can of worms in a moment.

But first the results. The win at Southampton was nothing short of excellent, remarkable, and down-right surprising. You know the drill. Toon goes to the south coast, Toon get done over. Simple. But not this time. Dyer gets a game upfront (following my previous article which was nearly titled “Dyer: What does he actually do?), and proceeds to turn in a great display capped by his first two goals in an eternity, the second of which was a superb run from the half way line, a jinking run, a burst of speed and an arrow-like left foot finish into the bottom corner. It was a moment of magic and one which deserves praise. But (and you know where I’m going with this…) why can’t he do that more often? It was only a matter of time before I received the “So what do you make of Dyer NOW” email, and it dutifully arrived. And my answer was the same as always. When Kieron Dyer starts to do that more than once a season, then I will be interested. Otherwise, I still remain convinced that he is a very much replaceable player. But nevertheless, an excellent 3-0 win.

Leeds turned up at SJP for my personal extra derby (my return to the North East last summer after seven years living in Leeds territory means this will forever be a grudge match for me!) and they brought with them a decent support. However, I don’t think I will ever forget walking down Barrack Road towards the stadium just as the away fans were getting off their coaches, and hearing one Leeds muppet say to his friend, “Oh it’s just like Elland Road……”

WHAT??? Are you sure mate? I mean, really sure? I had to say something! “Sorry mate. Did I just hear you say St James’ looks like Elland Road?” “Aye” comes the response. So I stumped him…. “In what way exactly?”…. Cue much deep thinking, the kind of which this particular Yorkshire mind had not seen for some years. “Well, just that part of t’corner where t’car park is……” I repeat. Are you sure mate? Really sure? I’ve been to Elland Road on a number of occasions. Away end obviously. I’ve also driven past it on countless occasions. And I can honestly say that it bears absolutely no resemblance whatsoever to our glorious SJP. At all. In the slightest.

And they have a stand called the Lurpak stand. I mean, really. I always said I’d loved to have been a fly on the wall at that particular board meeting! “Right lads, here’s the list of potential sponsors, so take your time and make sure we get this right…. Carlsberg, Jimmy’s Motors, Lurpak………”

Leeds United. Couldn’t happen to a nicer club.

(Oh by the way, we won 1-0!)

We then proceeded to get an excellent point at Old “Mna Mna” Trafford, courtesy of a pair of refereeing decisions. Shearer gets denied the most cast iron penalty you’re likely to see, Silvestre has a goal disallowed for being in the same post code area as Andy O’Brien. But Jenas hit the bar as well so I was feeling hard done to…. Fulham were dispatched 3-1 at SJP thanks to a decent first half display and another wonder strike from LLLAAAAAAUUUUUUURRRRRREEEEEEEENNNNNNNTTTT etc. This one was what was described by, Nick, a mate of mine as a “Matrix-like finish!”. Really quite astonishing overhead, back-heel, triple salso with lutz, 9.7 for artistic impression finish.

Then it was off to Anfield for the next round of the cup. Me and my fellow North West Corner cronies drove down and had four pre-kick off hours of great crack with the rest of the 7,500 away support. The pubs next to the stadium were crammed to the rafters with black n white and it was an excellent atmosphere. Every old Toon song and anti-Pool song were given countless airings, and deep down I think I was quietly confident. 70 odd seconds into the game, mind and things were a touch different. 40,000 muppets suddenly decided to sing as Cherou gave Liverpool an early advantage,

Mind you they soon shut up when Robert unleashed a scud-missile of a free kick from 35 yards into the top corner 3 minutes later. Picture book, perfect timing, and the look on the faces of the scousers we could see was quite, quite beautiful. The rest of the game was pretty poor to be frank, although we played some nice stuff in the first half with Solano in particular, shining. Alright, so they scored a winner after an hour, and on reflection they probably deserved it, but my abiding memory of the game will be the vociferous singing of “Nobby Solano” from the away following when he was substituted. Again.

Actually, folks, I don’t think I can write any more of this without getting onto what I really want to. And now seems like the time to do it. (Yes we drew at Birmingham on Saturday after a crap performance, a storming Speed goal, and a last minute equaliser. Poxy draw (again) against poxy opposition (again). Make of it what you will).

OK. Here we go…

I’m fuming. The club has insulted my intelligence in the transfer window, and I demand an explanation. A public one. Now. One which every fan can understand and digest. Because, quite frankly, the absolute utter crap that we are being fed by the club at the minute is a disgrace.

Here are the facts. We have shifted out:

Dabizas: fine, no problem, loyal servant but not up to standard, will forever be well remembered. Cort £2m in the bank, in many peoples’ eyes a waster, but in my eyes victim of a completely out of proportion media reaction, a generally unlucky chap who I’m not disappointed to see the back of but wish him the best. The Caldwell brothers: were never going to break into the first team on a regular basis so send them on their way, OK.

Lua Lua: desperately wanted him to succeed so we could see them somersaults, but just not good enough I think, plain and simple. And Solano……

I cannot remember being so annoyed at a Toon player being sold. Bobby Robson is a man for whom my previous immense levels of respect are waning. Fast. I cannot accept, will not accept, and cannot believe I am being asked to accept, that the statement that “selling Nobby Solano makes good financial sense for Newcastle United” is anything other than rubbish. FOR £1.5m?!?? Less than Carl Cort? What we paid for Des “WHO” Hamilton???

We are talking about a proven, quality, international player, who has consistently delivered at this level. He is a great passer, works hard, tracks back, is capable of superb crosses, and chips in with the odd vital goal. And he loves the club. And the fans. And we’re going to sell him to Aston chuffing Villa for the price of less than a third of Titus “I only keep missing the ball cos I’m thinking so hard” Bramble?!?!?!?

AND THIS IS “GOOD FINANCIAL SENSE”!??!?!?!?!?!?!!?

No it isn’t sunshine. That’s crap. Plain and simple.

And then you want to pacify the fans by bringing in Michael Bridges? Lord have mercy. This is the player who has a consistent track record of serious injuries (Carl Cort anyone?), who has been unable to score a league goal in three years, and who now, ladies and gentleman, is deemed surplus to requirements at the club who are currently bottom of the league (mainly because of inability to score goals), and are plummeting faster out of the Premiership than Swindon! Give me strength.

This is absolutely unbelievable. In a month where the top three have spent a combined £40m pounds on strengthening their squads (squads that are already between 15 and 21 points ahead of us), we have replaced Nobby Solano with Michael Bridges. I am lost for words.

And I have heard some quite staggering explanations for our lack of spending.

Apparently we didn’t spend in the summer because we had “bought Woodgate early”, afraid that we wouldn’t get him in the summer. Which begs the question of why didn’t we have a January budget? Then, when the fans saw various players being shifted this month, and we dared to think this must signal a new star arriving, we were told, actually “if you think about it the money we’ve got in from Solano and Cort could be thought of as paying for the cost of Bowyer and Ambrose”. Folks, are we really supposed to swallow that? Nothing here is making any sense. We are supposed to be one of the soundest financially run clubs in the country. But we can’t afford a million quid for two players?

We got £12m for second stage Champions League qualification last year, and we have well in excess of 40,000 season ticket holders. We buy club merchandise for fun. And we’re skint? Is that the only plausible explanation?

Look. If the simple fact is that we decided to pay off a massive chunk of our stadium debt, or it went to paying for the new youth academy and training complex, then although I’d be frustrated, I’d understand. BUT JUST TELL US! Stop pretending that we’re going to achieve this, that and the other with the current squad of players. It’s not going to happen. Not this season. Not next. As I have been saying for some considerable period of time, we need proven players, not young potential. And I’m sorry, but Michael Bridges is not that, and Nobby Solano was.

So I say to anyone at NUFC who is reading this, please. Let’s make proceedings more open, let’s explain the master plan (if there is one), let’s be honest about our transfer budget to the fans, let’s admit where the money we undoubtedly have going into the club is going, and let’s tackle this situation head on. Because if I, and many others like me, continue to be fed the impression that we are on solid financial ground and that we should just trust the judgement of the powers that be on the club, when everything we are doing suggests we are utterly skint, then our grievances and frustrations are only going to grow.

I want answers. Or I want somebody, anybody, to take responsibility and walk. Either or. But it has to be NOW.

Till next time

Mark

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