WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE LIKELY LADS?

[Christmas Tree 4913]

 

 

IT was a day Tyneside will never forget. May 9, 1993, the talismanic Kevin Keegan and his entertainers exited the First Division stage left drenched in accolades.

 

Newcastle had already walked away with the division's title but on a balmy afternoon, Keegan's fast-emerging side had put six past Leicester before the referee had even blown for half-time. Andy (as he was then) Cole hit a hat-trick, strike partner David Kelly did the same.

 

By the finish, they had crashed seven past the slaughtered lambs.

 

Even the notorious Newcastle weather held out, the sun shone and the future looked rosy.

 

Lindisfarne crooned out some hits from a specially-built stage in the Leazes End and players took black and white scarves and black and white adoration in equal measure on a lengthy lap of honour.

 

Newcastle braced itself for its first taste of the Premiership (as it was then) with supreme - and ultimately justified - optimism.

 

And those players, exalted and excited, readied themselves for the big time.

 

Two years later, more than half of them had gone.

 

In promotion, there is dressing room delight.

 

Yet the reality is that for a high percentage, going up a league really will be the beginning of the end, not the end of the beginning.

 

Keegan was so ruthless that he ditched Kelly and his 25 goals without the forward even being afforded the chance to kick another ball for the Magpies.

 

Of the 13 players on duty on the final day of Newcastle's last promotion season in 1993, only five survived at the club for a further two years.

 

And of those five, only three - Rob Lee, John Beresford and Steve Howey - were first team regulars.

 

Here Sport of the World looks at the team that got promoted back in 1993 and sees how long the promotion Honeymoon lasted.

 

It could make sobering reading for some of Chris Hughton's players celebrating what they believe to be football's golden ticket.

 

Newcastle can make an immediate return to the Premier League on Saturday afternoon if they win at Peterborough and Nottingham Forest lose at Bristol City.

 

Tyneside is readying itself for an evacuation with thousands expected to arrive at London Road.

 

But the more intriguing clearout will most likely start the moment promotion is finalised, as the last team to lead Newcastle out of the second tier of English football can testify.

 

Pavel Srnicek:

 

Was never trusted by Keegan with the number one shirt following promotion. Mike Hooper took his place in year one in the Premier League. Shaka Hislop did the same later on. Kept fighting back but was never outright first choice again.

 

Mark Robinson:

 

Robinson was gone by the summer of 1994, 12 months after promotion. Injury in a pre-season friendly at Hartlepool wrecked his hopes and he was sold to Swindon.

 

Steve Howey:

 

Flourished in the Premier League and went onto win full England caps under Terry Venables. A mainstay at the heart of the Newcastle defence, he did not leave the club until 2000, when he moved to Manchester City.

 

Kevin Scott:

 

Lasted half a season before he was replaced by Darren Peacock. Was sold to Spurs 12 months after promotion for £750,000.

 

John Beresford:

 

Revelled in life at St James' Park as a Premier League player. Had one row with Kevin Keegan that led to a spell out of the side but this was the best period of his career until he finally moved to Southampton in 1998.

 

Rob Lee:

 

Keegan's most successful signing, Lee embraced the Premier League for a decade as a Newcastle player - winning England caps along the way - before finally moving to Derby in 2002. Rode out one rough spell under Ruud Gullit and earned a testimonial against Athletic Bilbao.

 

Barry Venison:

 

Lasted two years in the top flight before he was sold to Galatasaray. Picked up England caps and excelled with Keegan. But was still off-loaded for £750,000 in 1995.

 

Lee Clark:

 

Clark enjoyed four seasons in the top-flight with his beloved Newcastle, even recovering from a row with Keegan after being substituted at Southampton. But he was in and out of the team following David Batty's arrival and was sold to Sunderland in 1997.

 

Scott Sellars:

 

Lasted two seasons in the Premier League - starring in year one - before David Ginola arrived and his days were numbered. Sold to Bolton two years after promotion.

 

Andy Cole:

 

Ducks and water spring to mind. Cole plundered a staggering 41 goals during Newcastle's first season back in the top division, a new club record. Incredibly he was still gone 20 months after the Leicester game, sold to Manchester United for £7million.

 

David Kelly:

 

Kelly scored 25 goals in the promotion season but never kicked a ball for Newcastle in the Premier League. Sold to Wolves for £1million in the close season and replaced by Peter Beardsley.

 

Subs:

 

Brian Kilcline:

 

Started just two games the following season for Newcastle and was sold to Swindon in the summer of 1994.

 

Gavin Peacock:

 

Moved to Chelsea before the season start because of a family illness but was already a bit-part player before his departure.

[TheMoog 0]

To be expected though really, it'd be foolhardy to think the same team that were capable of winning the Championship would be able to perform to a similar level in the Premiership. Billy Davies was spot on when he said we'd need to invest a good £60m imo.

[Kevin 1]

You reading this Hughton?

[peasepud 59]

You reading this Hughton?

 

Reading it? hes on the phone to half of them offering contracts

[Kevin 1]

You reading this Hughton?

 

Reading it? hes on the phone to half of them offering contracts

:angry:

[OTF 7712]

To be expected though really, it'd be foolhardy to think the same team that were capable of winning the Championship would be able to perform to a similar level in the Premiership. Billy Davies was spot on when he said we'd need to invest a good £60m imo.

 

Billy Davies was more than a little contradictory in what he said. On one hand he was saying how we're positioned much better than any other club to have been promoted, then on the other suggests we'll need to spend £60m (not clear whether he meant just to survive). To clear it up he said 40 in the summer and 20 in January. Perhaps he was just imagining himself in the same position and making a suggestion about how much he would want to spend.

[AgentAxeman 193]

tbh, i always thought it was a shame that D.Kelly didnt have a crack at the Prem with NUFC, even as a back up to Cole/Beardsley. Not the best link up player but he could certainly finish.

[acrossthepond 893]

What is there to say? KK sold the subpar players and replaced them with better ones. If you can pull it off, that's how success is built. I doubt Hughton will have that same ruthless quality when offloading dross like Smith/Barton.

[OTF 7712]

What is there to say? KK sold the subpar players and replaced them with better ones. If you can pull it off, that's how success is built. I doubt Hughton will have that same ruthless quality when offloading dross like Smith/Barton.

 

And even if he did it wouldn't be possible unless he was replacing highly paid dross with lower paid dross.

 

Wait a minute... have I just stumbled across Ashley's 'master' plan...

[Rob W 0]

as they were saying on FiveLive last night a GOOD manager knows who to buy, a GREAT manager knows who to buy and when to sell them........................

 

I don't think anyone thinks that the bulk of the current squad are any better than top Championship, bottom half of the PL class -

 

interesting that I've only heard one rumour that anyone in the PL is "looking" at any of our players and that is Carrol