Newcastle Stay Afloat Again

Fuck this fucking club. Fuck Steve Bruce.

Name another FIFA-licensed manager in any professional league who has his squad play like this up two goals and with an extra man on the pitch? Name another manager who wouldn't start Joe Willock, one of the best players on the roster?

Enough. I have had enough. I want the murderous Saudis to buy this club now. Yes, I resisted. I don't care about human rights anymore. I want new ownership yesterday.

Do not step inside the stadium until there are new owners. This is not football. This is not a normal club. A normal club with this roster would be comfortably finishing 12th.

And I know what you Geordies say. I respect you. You know this sport better than any other city in the UK. You will say, 'piss off, we know, we've heard it all before.' But you need to hear it again. Your country invented professional sports. But here in the States, even the worst-run MLB, NBA and NFL teams have a faint level of normalcy in their front offices. Even the Washington Department of Football and the New York Knicks. Newcastle are not normal.

How many more times must a club this big, with a giant fan base, barely stay afloat in the English Premier League? Why does there have to be a relegation scare every December through April? Because the owner, that’s why. The owner and his transfer policy. The owner and his neglect of the youth academy. The owner and his neglect of the training facilities. And that all led to a once great club unable to attract a competent coach to mange it. Rafael Benitiez was a saint. He tried in vain to make Newcastle normal. But it can’t be normal until it is sold. It’s time to sell the club and give this city a normal sports franchise.

Newcastle Rescue Themselves

Newcastle have rescued themselves from relegation for the second consecutive year. Last year it was an improbable home win against Manchester United. This year it was an even more improbable win against a red hot Manchester City. In both matches, Matt Ritchie scored the winner.

Newcastle are too good to be relegated this season. I didn’t believe that a few months ago, but it is apparent now. Even when they were failing to win points, their defense was holding together. Their back four have helped keep their goals allowed total one of the lowest in the league. And they were unlucky. They’ve lost points due to final conceded goals in injury time. They have drawn matches that they should have easily won. They’s been an odd team, finding more success on the road than at home.

They practically got a new midfield in January. Issac Hayden, who repeatedly asked to be transferred, accepted his situation and decided to focus on his football. He got selected to start more as a result. Back in September, their best passer was arguably Jonjo Shelvey. Now, with Shelvey on the injured list, their most expensive signing ever, Miguel Almirón is in charge of counter-attacking. Together with wonderkid Sean Longstaff, Issac Hayden and Matt Ritchie, the Newcastle midfield is getting balls closer to goal, and is driving wins.

Before Almirón joined the club, Newcastle whupped Cardiff on their home pitch. Another big step towards safety.

Then with Almirón, Newcastle pulled themselves within 6 points of safety with back to back wins over Huddersfield and Burnley on just 2 days rest.

Their dominance over Burnley was notable. The first half brought the goals, and the second half closed the clean sheet.

There are nine matches remaining in Newcastle’s season. They ought win four of them. I think they only need to win two and draw some others. I will see half of one of their future matches in the Toon next month.

Newcastle’s talent and growing English Premier League experience have gotten them through another season in the top league. The question remaining is whether Rafael Benítez will give the club another year to find a new owner. Newcastle never do anything the easy way under Mike Ashley.