Ashley Untenable?
Newcastle were dispirited, flat, and lifeless against Hull. The lack of a quality left-back (the position Kevin Keegan had specifically identified that needed filling) was never more apparent than for Hull’s second goal, when Newcastle’s makeshift defence was torn apart.
N’Zogbia is a decent enough left-sided midfielder, but is not Premiership standard at left back. Edgar has a poor game. The midfield didn’t have enough creativity. Shola Ameobi simply isn’t good enough for this level (although we’ve known that for years). Not enough strength in depth, and not enough quality.
We’re headed for a season of struggle — and we may even need to strengthen in January to avoid the drop. But I don’t think Mike Ashley will be here that long.
Will the supporters boycott (or even ‘boycoutt’, for those banner-makers who can’t spell) games? Well, no-one is going to cut off their noses to spite their face, and season ticket holders will continue to turn up — but I would expect a much, much lower attendance in the League cup against Spurs. It will be under 30,000. It may even be under 20,000. After all, it’s on the telly anyway…
Watching — and indeed taking part in (to a limited extent, I had my little kid with me) — the protests against Mike Ashley at St James’ Park against Hull, a couple of things struck me. Firstly, he won’t be forgiven easily. Maybe if he brings Keegan back, ploughs in £300 million into player transfers and we win the League, we might forgive him. But even then, the fans willl never trust him again.
He’ll never, ever, be welcome to sit with the fans again. Yes, it’s his club, and he can do what he likes with it, but he won’t get another drop of enjoyment out of it, and the longer he hangs on to it, and the protests drag on (and indeed as the club continue to spiral downwards), the less he’s likely to get in return when he sells the club. The sooner he sells it, the more likely he is to get out of it the money he put in.
With the current club hierachy, will he be able to attract a manager that will appease the fans? No. More importantly, will he be able to attract a manager that will be able to inspire a paper-thin under-quality squad to perform expectations and stop the club sliding down the table? No.
Funny that… there was one chap who was able to inspire a team like that. What was his name again? It begins with a K, I think…
There’s simply no point in Ashley hanging on. If he actually does have the bottle to attend any more games, he’s just going to be roundly abused by the fans the whole time…
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