Born Black and White, Die Black and White

By Philip Burn

Mr. Webster defines apathy as the feeling of “not having much emotion or interest.” Synonyms include indifference, lack of interest, lack of enthusiasm, lack of concern, impassivity, etc. Need I continue?

I have always considered myself as fanatical and committed a supporter as the next proud Geordie. Living in exile in Dallas, Texas (it’s a hard life but someone’s got to do it!), I have gone to great lengths over the years to make sure that I get to see the lads play.

Today, US TV coverage of the Premier League is excellent but there was a time that my only chance of Newcastle news and commentary was via the patchy reception of the BBC World Service on my short wave radio.

The second half of this season has stretched my support like never before.  I feel like I should send an apology and ‘get out free card’ to all of my American friends that I have indoctrinated to the ways of Newcastle United. Wouldn’t it be great to be a Liverpool supporter right now? Crap, I’d even take being a Southampton supporter!

Of course, we all agree that there is simply no option to which team we support. Unlike American sports, where ‘franchises’ are bought and sold like cheap shirts in Sports Direct, there is no question of our allegiance to Newcastle. We were born black and white and will die black and white. But does life have to be so hard!? I feel guilty for my apathetic attitude right now but it’s getting harder to watch the circus that is my beloved Newcastle United and listen to the spouting of the garrulous, inept Pardon’t.

Pardon’t is really working his ticket. Hopefully, before long he’ll be buying his ticket back to whatever stone he crawled from under. The drivel he comes out with in his interviews is nothing short of scandalous. I work in Communications and I know that Newcastle United has a PR Department.

Why don’t they write him some talking points on interview days and instruct him to stop telling bare-faced lies? “We had 10 pros out today” – no you didn’t. “A win will settle the fan’s frustrations” – it wouldn’t be a bad start but with only 13 points from a possible 48 you’ll forgive us for not being too optimistic. “It’s the media’s fault” – nope, wrong again. “Stoke are a very, very good side” – no, they’re a team of Neanderthal long-ball merchants!

His tactical decisions have been typically baffling in recent weeks. Today’s 3-5-2 was horrific! Shola and Gosling? Really? Taylor’s positioning is weak at the best of times but to throw him into an untried three man back-line is nuts. How Mbiwa and Ben Arfa cannot get into that team is simply beyond me.

It’s plain to see that change is desperately needed at the club. Change in the boardroom, change in the dugout, change on the training ground and pitch, and perhaps most difficult of all, change of our expectations as supporters. I hate that a mid-table finish is considered success but I’m afraid right now it’s a fact. The season is ending with whimper. Is it too much to ask for a bit of honest hard work, passion and commitment?

I think I need a timely reminder from Sir Bobby; “What is a club in any case? It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city.”

That’s more like it. Roll on next weekend!

Keep on, keeping on. Howay the lads!

Pardew: Not the best for our Bad situation

The form of Newcastle United since the turn of the year is nothing short of a disgrace and it obvious that we would be in relegation trouble if it was not for our good start to the season. This is a fact.

Another fact is Mike Ashley is the biggest problem at St James park and I truly believe until he gone we will never return to the days of Champions League football and cup finals.  However the most unfortunate of all these facts is that we are stuck with Mike Ashley until Geordie Abramovich arrives on Tyneside. With Ashley being currently immovable we need to look at the second biggest problem at our club - this being our under fire manager Alan Pardew.

Now anyone who has seen my previous posts will know I have always had a level of sympathy for Pardew given the circumstance he is working under. However for me he has reached the point of no return - something must change with the leadership of our club & unfortunately for Pardew he finds himself next on the chopping block.

Pardew has never been backed fully by Mike Ashley - no replacement for Carroll, Ba, and recently Cabaye has hindered our progress, yet my belief is he is not getting the best out of the current squad - which is a squad he has shaped.

If we look at this seasons Premier League the standout clubs have been the Merseyside duo to Liverpool & Everton. They have impressed with not only their results, but also their style. Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez have allowed these clubs to dream big. Not even a die-hard Liverpudlian would have imagined Liverpool would be favourites to win the league or that Everton would be set for the Champions league football at the expense of Arsenal. Both clubs are over achieving and they must be given credit for that.

On paper Man City and Chelsea are streets ahead of Liverpool as you would expect with their levels of player investment. Likewise Everton have no right to be ahead of Arsenal and Spurs. The excellence of Rodgers & Martinez has been the difference.

Looking at these achievement compared to Pardew's failings I think it is clear our manager is failing to get the best out of our players. The term 'Pardewed' is doing the rounds of Twitter to suggest a reason for the awful form or Cisse, HBA, and Yanga-Mbiwa.

He must be aware that we currently take the field looking like a bunch of individual pub footballers with no game plan or tactical awareness. He must be aware that he is unable to influence a game from the sidelines (or Directors Box). When was the last time a substitution or tactical change influenced a game? When did we last come from behind to win a game? These are all questions Pardew must answer and take responsibility for.

I have changed my opinion on Padew's future. No longer will I accept him because "who else will come?" , or because "Ashley is an awful owner". Ashley is here to stay and we just need to make the best of a bad situation. Alan Pardew is not the best option.

Unfortunately for us our infamous owner holds the only opinion that matters. We judge by success, he judges by revenues and profits.