The Newcastle United Blog

Steven Taylor has come out again with some more positive words related to the current playing staff at St. James’ Park.

Steven Taylor – this strip seems to get worse with time

Steven talked to the Newcastle Journal this morning:

“The Dublin trip was the best thing that could have happened to us all. We had to spend every single day together. Three times a day we spent training, getting up at 7am.”

“Most players didn’t fancy that, but after the first day everyone was pushing each other, it was good to see.”

“There was never anyone hiding away, that to me highlights that none of us wanted to be seen as coming last.”

Steven is doing the best he can to put a positive spin on the goings on at Newcastle, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all.

Steven is and always will be a leader, and even a potential future captain of the club,  so it’s good to hear these positive words from the local lad, when everything else seems to be falling apart under Ashley’s hopeless “leadership.”

Steven explained:

“The fans don’t understand. Because it seems the club is a shambles, they probably think that the players are fighting every day in training, but with us it is completely different.”

“I just wish they could spend one day on the training ground to see just how we are going about this and getting along with each other. There’s a much better team bond now.”

“The worst thing about it is that no matter what I say it seems that I’m just putting over a message the fans want to hear. We were accused of that after the Shamrock Rovers game, but it isn’t.”

“They don’t realize what it has been like and I can assure you that Dublin was definitely the best thing that could have happened to Newcastle United. We have to stick together.”

This period must be as difficult for the players as it it is for the faithful Newcastle fans, who are seeing their club being wrecked and made a laughing stock, by the current owner.

There will come a time within the next couple of weeks when he will need to sell to the best offer he’s received, or else retain ownership of the club.

If he keeps the club his only chance is to get Shearer in as manager, but Ashley is putting himself into a corner as time marches on and nothing happens.

Taylor talked about how sick the players are of the current situation at the club:

“We get sick of hearing differing things and reading different things in the papers. Every day is different.”

“It’s been said it’s going to get taken over one week, then it’s the week after and it still has not happened. Until we see it finalized, that’s it.”

“Fitness is the main thing and the score (in pre-season) doesn’t really mean much. We have three weeks left and we have to make sure we are in the best possible condition, shape, because we know it will be a difficult start for us. We will get on with it.”

“It’s frustrating, but all we can do is get on with our jobs because if you think too much about things off the pitch, it will affect performances on it.”

“You have to look after yourself and each other. It’s a small squad now, but that’s Newcastle United now.”

“Colin and Chris have done a fantastic job. For them to get us in the great shape that we are, in the circumstances, is fantastic. They have not complained, they have just gone about it the right way.”

Of course Mike Ashley has given Chris and Colin a thankless task, so it’s good news to hear the players are gelling so well, and getting on with the business at hand.

Of course we have to say it’s a pity that couldn’t have happened more towards the end of last season, so we could have survived in the Premier League – but that’s water under the Tyne Bridge now.

And Steven is right – job one for the players is to get themselves ready for the Championship, and hopefully a win at WBA on 8th August, and that will surely do a lot to lift the sagging spirits on Tyneside.

Comments welcome.