Scottish Mag 3 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 Newcastle United Football Club are standing precariously on the edge of a pivotal few weeks which will go a long way to defining their future. After the rather unfortunate defeat to Middlesbrough on Sunday, Newcastle have been forced to suffer the consequences of the second-worst start in their Premiership history. Six defeats out of nine and one point from a possible 15 is relegation form and it is not good enough for a club which aims to be among English and European football's elite. The blame game is up and running and, four months after he was given the manager's job on a permanent basis, Glenn Roeder is under severe pressure to turn things around - and quickly. Yet the supporters who angrily protested against the defeat at the Riverside did not direct their anger at the club's former captain, centre-back and caretaker boss, who rescued them from a similarly bleak-looking position back in February. Their anger was instead aimed at the man who appointed him and his four predecessors, Newcastle chairman Freddie Shepherd. As Boro's fans taunted their North-East neighbours in the aftermath of Yakubu's decisive 85th-minute header, the away fans appeared oblivious, instead focusing their attention on the directors' box, where Shepherd sat uncomfortably until the final whistle - for the time being at least - brought an end to his misery. Shepherd has been here before and he has survived. He has heard the `Shepherd Out' chants, he has taken the flak and he has continued as chairman. It is only 18 months ago, during a Uefa Cup clash in Holland against Heerenveen, that angry calls for his removal emanated from the travelling support. On that occasion, goals from Alan Shearer and Lee Bowyer overturned a one-goal deficit in the away leg of the tie and sparked a nine-game winning streak under former manager Graeme Souness which equalled a club record. The unrest evaporated, rumbling under the surface as United's winning run came to an abrupt end and the club crashed out of the Uefa and FA Cups in four painful days in April 2005. Shepherd survived the revolt and, by backing Souness in the transfer market that summer with the signings of Scott Parker, Emre, Albert Luque, Nolberto Solano and Michael Owen, he ensured the abuse aimed at the boardroom abated. It has, however, proved to be only a temporary respite. The `Shepherd Out' chants which broke out on Teesside were born out of the anger and frustration which has been simmering among sections of the Newcastle support for years, not months. To read the club's fanzines, internet message boards and to listen to conversations in pubs, the disillusionment is not merely a knee-jerk reaction to the club's poor start to the season. That has been the catalyst, the cranking up of the heat that has caused the pan to boil over. The indications last night were that news of Shepherd's discomfort had been welcomed in Jersey, the home of the secretive Belgravia Investment Group which is in talks with Newcastle shareholders about a possible takeover bid. But will it make any difference? Shepherd is a proud man and he is a fighter. He will not give up his grip just because a few thousand supporters are calling for his head or because a distant investment group is hoping to buy him out. There is no question the mood is on the verge of turning ugly, although whether it is open revolt at the moment is doubtful. Newcastle fans are long-suffering ones, but they are not the most militant. To be a Newcastle supporter means sticking with the club through thick and thin and it is out of this loyalty that a lack of open hostility towards the board is born. There were chants for Shepherd to go on Sunday, but they were from a section of the away support, albeit a large one. Unless there are massed and sustained demonstrations they will be written off by those who matter as the actions of a vocal minority. It remains to be seen whether the level of the revolt has reached such an extreme level and in large enough numbers to unsettle the man in charge. The next few games will tell Shepherd and his manager just how precarious their positions are. United have three back-to-back home games in front of their only rightful judge and jury - the supporters. Starting with Portsmouth at home in the Carling Cup tomorrow and followed by Premiership games against two of the teams keeping them out of the bottom three, Charlton and Sheffield United. All three are, on paper, games Newcastle should be winning. The problem is they have to win them. Win them, and, just as it did 18 months ago, the unrest will fade away. Fail to win them and the revolt will increase in ferocity. Shepherd wants to remain in power but, like every public figure, he is vulnerable to people power. And when you're vulnerable, the thought of accepting several million pounds for your shares in the club will inevitably seem a far more attractive proposition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 44173 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 I assume that's from the Journal too? At least one of the local papers have journalists with some integrity who are prepared to report what's going on. Unlike the feckless simpering Oliver and his "Crisis? What crisis?" response to 6 defeats from 9 games and being only one set of unfavourable results from the relegation zone/BOTTOM of the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottish Mag 3 Posted October 24, 2006 Author Share Posted October 24, 2006 I assume that's from the Journal too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curry stained pilchard 0 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 (edited) The next few games will tell Shepherd and his manager just how precarious their positions are. United have three back-to-back home games in front of their only rightful judge and jury - the supporters. Starting with Portsmouth at home in the Carling Cup tomorrow and followed by Premiership games against two of the teams keeping them out of the bottom three, Charlton and Sheffield United. All three are, on paper, games Newcastle should be winning. The problem is they have to win them. Win them, and, just as it did 18 months ago, the unrest will fade away. Fail to win them and the revolt will increase in ferocity. There's probably not a better chance to win three games in a row this season. Pity one of them is the Carling Cup... Edited October 24, 2006 by Fat Boy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 The Journal is actually a canny local paper imo and streets ahead of its sister newspapers (which isn't too difficult admittedly). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Kelly 1217 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 Unless they're not interested in the game, I think the Portsmouth game will be fucking hard. Are many of you going by the way? A couple of seasons ago I would never have missed it (I wouldn't have missed it if we have been playing Crewe) but the way things are going there is just no way I will fork out the extra cash to. Tbh I probably won't even watch the highlights unless by some miracle we win. I still haven't seen anything of Sunday's game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig 6670 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 We haven't lost to Pompey at home for 57 years..... Oh well, records have to be broken at some point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 We haven't lost to Pompey at home for 57 years..... Oh well, records have to be broken at some point! Like the Bolton one was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig 6670 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 Indeed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill 0 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 Are many of you going by the way? A couple of seasons ago I would never have missed it (I wouldn't have missed it if we have been playing Crewe) but the way things are going there is just no way I will fork out the extra cash to. Tbh I probably won't even watch the highlights unless by some miracle we win. I still haven't seen anything of Sunday's game. I'm ashamed to say I've turned into a total part time fan. I'm struggling with cash at the minute and it's taking enough of my bloody energy going to the games I've already paid for, nevermind additional ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Kelly 1217 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 Are many of you going by the way? A couple of seasons ago I would never have missed it (I wouldn't have missed it if we have been playing Crewe) but the way things are going there is just no way I will fork out the extra cash to. Tbh I probably won't even watch the highlights unless by some miracle we win. I still haven't seen anything of Sunday's game. I'm ashamed to say I've turned into a total part time fan. I'm struggling with cash at the minute and it's taking enough of my bloody energy going to the games I've already paid for, nevermind additional ones. I'm exactly the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetleftpeg 0 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 I'm on the DD scheme so I haven't got a choice really. I'd probably still go anyway, but the couple of other lads I go with who are on the DD scheme were whinging about it last week before the UEFA game..first time I've heard them say they wish they weren't going. We keep oursleves going by saying how we'll be laughing when our cup final tickets arrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 21120 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 Unless they're not interested in the game, I think the Portsmouth game will be fucking hard. Are many of you going by the way? A couple of seasons ago I would never have missed it (I wouldn't have missed it if we have been playing Crewe) but the way things are going there is just no way I will fork out the extra cash to. Tbh I probably won't even watch the highlights unless by some miracle we win. I still haven't seen anything of Sunday's game. I'm not bothering. It'd be good if everyone took a stand and boycotted it, but that won't happen as it's half-term and there will be plenty of kids there. I reckon there will be about 32,000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Maul 0 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 I was going to go but after the debacle on Sunday I put in for some overtime at work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluke 2 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 I'm on the DD scheme so I haven't got a choice really. I'd probably still go anyway, but the couple of other lads I go with who are on the DD scheme were whinging about it last week before the UEFA game..first time I've heard them say they wish they weren't going. We keep oursleves going by saying how we'll be laughing when our cup final tickets arrive. You'll be laughing because the men in white coats will be taking you away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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