It was a tough first game at Old Trafford and we were under pressure but Oba Martins scored after 22 minutes, but then the Red devils equalized through Darren Fletcher after another two minutes.
Kevin Keegan – 4 points in first 2 games
But we got a 1-1 draw and although disappointed we didn’t ge the win. we comfortably beat Bolton 1-0 is our next game so we have 4 points from 2 games – not a bad start to the season.
And Newcastle remained the only side not to be beaten at Old Trafford in the league this season, until Liverpool dismantled the Champions earlier this year.
And who, in their right minds, would have thought after another 35 games that Newcastle would pick up only 30 points and be almost relegated with just one game to go in the season?
Not too many.
We’re not sure what the initial odds of Newcastle being relegated were, at the season start, when Kevin Keegan was at the helm, but it was a wild bet.
But then came early September and the spat between Kevin Keegan and the club – especially Dennis Wise – who now has thankfully left the club after leaving the place an utter mess. And this ,man is trying to get some money out of Ashley – why?
We also assume Wise is wise enough (sorry I couldn’t resist) to never be seen on Tyneside – ever again – he should stay in London – it’s safer down there.
Kevin was sacked or resigned – we still don’t really know and we’ve had Hughton, Kinnear and Shearer managing the club since then, and generally we’ve been hopeless.
But all’s well that ends well, and unlike WBA we’re still in with a chance.
Not particularly a good chance because no points against Fulham necessitates we need at least a draw on Sunday.
If we had managed just one point on Saturday we could have been safe because surely Manchester United are going to finish their season with a win at Hull – with the European Champions League final coming on the following Wednesday.
As Shearer said after the great Middlesbrough performance – yes it would be good to get the win against Fulham – but Newcastle always seems to do things the hard way – and it was with a wry smile he delivered those words.
Most Newcastle fans wouldn’t care less on Sunday night how we do it – as long as we survive in the Premier league.
But if we are relegated it will be a huge tragedy for the Newcastle United club, let’s make no mistake about that.
And Newcastle fans, ourselves included – as you may have noticed – never do things in half measures – and things are either just great or it’s doom and glloom.
One of those states will exist next Sunday night – let’s hope we can get drunk on Newcastle Brown Ale.
Howay The Lads!!
10 comments so far
DevonMag
May 18, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Comment #1My best mate is a villa fan. He’s been taking the piss all season that they’re gonna send us down on the last day but now he regrets it a bit cos he wants us to stay up. I made a bet about 3 months ago that we’d stay up on goal difference with Hull, Borough and West Brom going down, that’s not possible anymore but I was bloody close! A win next week would be a dream come true. We can do it as well, surely!
DanToon
May 18, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Comment #2Ed your killing me, I will be devastated if we go down!
Stuart79
May 18, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Comment #3Since Christmas there has been a truce btween the fans and the owners.
I believe that the truce is just about to end. At about 6pm next Sunday.
If we beat Villa we will stay up, unfortunately we have no fckin chance of beating them!
Chizzy_Toon
May 18, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Comment #4If the “Men” from Newcastle turn up on Sunday, i think we have a good chance to beat them. I also beleive that the lads that Fergie will be playing will be out to prove a point. They will want to show Fergie that they are ready for a first team place.
Nothing less than a win next Sunday, surely they owe us that?!?
DJM TOON
May 18, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Comment #5devonmag, urely your bets still on? if we draw and hull lose then we survive on gd and boro hull and wba go down???
but all in all, if were honest with ourselves,we dont deserve to stay in the best league in the world, because this season, we’ve been bloody awful and i’m embarrassed and ashamed, not to mention powerless to do anything, thats what really twists the knife.
Sav
May 18, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Comment #6Ashley must be thanking the fixture computer that its Villa away and not at home or things could turn very nasty.
As for Wisey, he didn’t want to be caught dead in Newcastle most of the time when he worked for the club, so staying away will be no hardship to him.
In fairness, he has got our academy going again and I always thought he was made a bit of a scapegoat between Ashley and Keegan – his opinions may have been different to KK’s but Ashley put him above Keegan in the hierarchy and that was his biggest mistake.
Any further news of the KK/MA settlement?
Billy Bunter
May 18, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Comment #7Cant believe I am seeing that scumbag KK’s face smiling and laughing on a NUFC blog when we are in a real bad situation. Flogging is too good for him.
Anis
May 18, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Comment #8did anyone get the feeling that our new kits looked like ‘championship kits’?
geordienp
May 18, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Comment #9Yes, we got a good draw at a slow-starting Manure on the opening day, but who are you kidding: “we comfortably beat Bolton 1-0 is our next game so we have 4 points from 2 games – not a bad start to the season”. We were actually extremely fortunate to beat Bolton – they dominated much of the match, created several good chances and close shaves and we only won because Given saved a penalty after some dreadful defending by Taylor. A sign of things to come in retrospect. And as for: “And who, in their right minds, would have thought after another 35 games that Newcastle would pick up only 30 points and be almost relegated with just one game to go in the season?” Sorry, but after the drubbing by Arsenal in match 3 followed by the close of the transfer window and Keegan walking out on us (again) I predicted the drop right then.
Tom_Toon
May 20, 2009 at 2:11 AM
Comment #10#