I Wish I Was A Geordie - The Blog of Newcastle United in the US

ON FORTUNE, FATALISM, FANS AND FOOTBALL

"It's amazing how you can travel one-quarter of the way around the world and still wind up among Cubs fans." - American sportswriter and author Chuck Culpepper, on his first visit to Newcastle

In my relatively brief time following Newcastle United, I've been struck not only by the passion of the club's fans, but also by their fatalism. Their reaction often seems oddly opposite to the situation before them. Down 4-0 against Arsenal, they exhort their team back to a historic draw. Then the hero of the game is signed to a long contract, and there's hardly a hint of celebration or relief. As the Irish NUFC fan @El_Mantis put it on his well-followed Twitter feed, "People are being insanely negative about #CheiksyBoy signing a new deal. When players sign people moan. When they don't, people moan."

In America I follow two teams whose fans are widely recognized as among the most loyal in their sport: the Green Bay Packers of the NFL, and the Chicago Cubs of major-league baseball. Both sets of fans fill their stadium regardless of the team's fortunes, and travel in such droves to road games that their rivals have had to adjust their ticket procedures to prevent takeovers. One big difference, though: the Packers' fans are noted for their dogged optimism, while the Cubs' fans are noted for the same curse-minded fatalism as infects Newcastle.

The Packers have won more championships than any other NFL team. The Cubs haven't won one since 1908.

A fan might assume that losing causes fatalism, not the other way around. It's not so simple. Covering the Cubs as a young sportswriter I came to realize a team's play and its surrounding culture are intertwined. Some players tune out the fans. Others obsess over every whistle and boo, and it can't help but affect their performance. Before an early-season game in the 1980s I was among a group of writers at Wrigley Field discussing the Cubs' prospects with then-manager Don Zimmer. "If I could make them believe," Zimmer said, gesturing at the stands, "I might be able to make them believe." And he pointed into his team's dugout. Imagine how much more vulnerable players are to fatalism now, in an age when fans blog their own columns of commentary and tweet their laments worldwide.

Watching a first half yesterday in which Newcastle dominated Bolton in every respect but the score, I couldn't help but wonder whether a ball delivered before an open net to the head of Peter Lovenkrands and then to the foot of Leon Best wouldn't have failed by an inch each time if a goal was a belief rather than a hope. Does United convert on a perfect serve after the run of the game by Jose Enrique if Ryan Taylor isn't surprised the ball is there? Does yet another critical borderline offside go in Best's direction for a change if he plays for the team everyone expects to win? Bad luck, the commentators aver. But a curse can persist only so long before it's apparent something other than luck is going on.

I don't mean this as a trite paean to positive thinking or unquestioning fan fealty. Newcastle fans are right to bemoan the alternating extravagance and cheapness that has defined NUFC as a business. Newcastle fans should be critical of public communication from the club that veers between silence and ineptitude. In the absence of proper communication, Newcastle fans were right to question the seemingly arbitrary termination of a popular manager, Chris Hughton.

But the fans weren't right, in their disappointment over Hughton, to deem his successor unfit before he worked a game. The "Pardew Out" movement that greeted someone who is looking so far like one hell of a manager is a classic example of constructive criticism turning into potentially destructive fatalism. Not only has Alan Pardew raised the club's form while losing key player after key player to injury and transfer, he has revealed himself under fire to be a man of refreshing forthrightness and honesty. He deserved better than he first got. And if he and his club had been gifted with the bright side of doubt from the start, perhaps, given all the close calls since, going from relegation to Europe in one season would be more than a cloudy dream right now for Newcastle United and its indefatigable fans.

TIOTE DEAL BRIGHTENS MOOD (FOR NOW)

Did that actually just happen?

Here we all were, worrying about the futures of Joey Barton and Jose Enrique (full confession: I had an ominous post looking ahead to the summer all ready to go) — and then, BAM! Cheik Tiote has suddenly signed a new six-and-a-half year contract that, in theory, would keep him at Newcastle until the summer of 2017.

Of course, it's worth remembering that you-know-who had signed a five-year deal just a few months before being sold for you-know-how-much. But United manager Alan Pardew has said that owner Mike Ashley "wanted to make a statement" after a somewhat depressing January for Toon fans.

Well, at least the club is saying the right things and showing some intent.

Between the apparent stall in negotiations with Barton and Enrique basically saying he will be off in the summer (before backtracking), it was shaping up to be a worrying lead-in to the close season. Both are under contract through next season, meaning this summer is the time to either extend them or cash in. The rumored interest in Jonas Gutierrez from Serie A side Lazio and the host of big clubs sniffing around Tiote only added to the uncertainty. Would Newcastle try to build on this season and make a push for Europe or merely try to hold onto mid-table status again?

Obviously Manchester United or Chelsea could still come calling for Tiote with the sort of mega-offer that Newcastle won't be able to refuse. But today's news shows that United's hierarchy, while fiscally conscious, is making an effort to retain the club's top performers.

Last week representatives of the fan union United for Newcastle met with NUFC Head of Customer Relations Simon Esland, and UfN, not having a Web presence aside from its Facebook page, sent a summary of the meeting to a number of NUFC web sites for publication, including ShiteSeats.

During the meeting, Esland told UfN that Newcastle isn't a "selling club," of course with the caveat that every player has his price. He also said United is keen to hold on to some of the aforementioned players, but conceded it will be a "difficult summer."

Hopefully today's news means it will be slightly less difficult.

TOON PLATOONS: PUBS AND CLUBS WHERE NUFC FANS GATHER

A major reason we started this blog is to help Newcastle United fans in North America find and interact with one another. In that spirit, we offer Toon Platoons - a reader-generated listing of pubs in the U.S. and Canada where NUFC fans are known to gather for games, and of local fan clubs catering to the Toon Army.

The list is below. To add to the list, e-mail newcastleunited.us@gmail.com. We'll move your additions to the main post as they come in. Feel free to add any information about your club or gathering place that might be of interest to fellow Toon supporters. This list is reader-updated and not regularly vetted by the editors, so it's a good idea to contact before arrival to make sure pubs are still open and Toon-conscious.

USA (see below for Canada)

NATIONWIDE

Toon Army America - national NUFC supporters club

CALIFORNIA

San Francisco: Toon Army SF

Los Angeles: Toon Army LA

San Diego/Southern California: Shakespeare Pub - more info on NUFC support in southern California here - e-mail to join

San Diego: Phileas Foggs - owned and operated by a genuine Geordie!

COLORADO

Statewide: Toon Army Colorado

Denver: The Three Lions (meeting place of Mile High Magpies - see Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or email milehighmagpies@gmail.com)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Washington, D.C.: Lucky Bar

Washington, D.C.: Ireland's Four Courts (Arlington, Va.)

FLORIDA

Boca Raton: Lion & Eagle

Miami: Toon Army Miami

Miami: Fado Irish Pub

GEORGIA

Atlanta: Brewhouse Cafe

ILLINOIS

Chicago: A.J. Hudson's

Chicago: The Globe Pub

Chicago: Fado Irish Pub

INDIANA

Indianapolis: Union Jack Pub

MASSACHUSETTS

Boston: The Banshee

MARYLAND

Baltimore: Mobtown Magpies

Baltimore: Slainte Irish Pub, Fells Point

MISSOURI

St. Louis: Tigin Irish Pub (also check out the Twitter and Facebook pages)

NEW JERSEY

Bradley Beach: D'Arcy's

Red Bank: The Dublin House

NEW YORK

Astoria: Raven's Head Public House

Buffalo: Mes Que, NUFC_Buffalo Twitter

New York City: Legends 33 Bar, Toon Army NYC Facebook group

OHIO

Columbus: Fado Irish Pub

PENNSYLVANIA

Philadelphia: Toon Army Philly - meets at The Bards

TEXAS

Austin: Fado Irish Pub

Dallas: Toon Army Dallas meets at Off the Record - Deep Ellum

Dallas-Fort Worth: DFW Toon Army on Facebook

Houston: The Richmond Arms Pub

VIRGINIA

Arlington: Ireland's Four Courts

WISCONSIN

Milwaukee: Milwaukee Boot Boys - check here for weekly meet-up plans

Milwaukee: Highbury Pub

CANADA

ONTARIO

Toronto: Toronto Toon Army

Toronto: The Dog and Bear

ENRIQUE EXCUSES DON'T CHANGE REALITY

In case anyone was in need of further evidence that Jose Enrique will be departing Newcastle United this summer, Saturday brought this quote from manager Alan Pardew in The Journal:

“We haven’t given up on keeping players at the football club – absolutely not,” said Pardew, who allegedly will be signing Joey Barton to an extension — although the delay in that announcement is somewhat concerning.

“We’re going to try and compete to keep Jose but the reality is that it’s going to be difficult. He has one year on his contract by the time the summer comes and in some ways the ball is in Jose’s court, and he has a lot of control over the situation. I look forward to talking to him once we are safe.”

Now, Enrique's comments earlier in the week may have indeed been taken out of context — a favorite excuse used by pro athletes in any sport, although it does seem a little bit more legitimate in this case since the original interview was in Spanish.

But that's not really the point. Whether Enrique's words were taken out out of context or not, the point is that it's overwhelmingly likely that Enrique will push for a move after this season is up. Newcastle just has to hope it fares as well in those negotiations as it did in the Andy Carroll deal.

So go ahead and add a left back to your summer shopping list, Alan.

SLINGING THE BULL: ENRIQUE PRACTICES HIS BACKPEDAL

The Newcastle United Football Club has wired up a ventriloquist's dummy of Jose Enrique to say his recent comments about wanting a shorter commute to the Champions League were taken "out of context."

Hmmm. In exactly what context are we supposed to take "I'm OK at Newcastle but I aspire to more"?

"Newcastle is a great club with some excellent players and I hope we can kick on and continue to progress," continued the disembodied voice of NUFC through the Enrique-like vessel, clarifying Enrique's previous comment that "we have to be honest. Newcastle aren't performing well." It's easy to see how that could've been misunderstood.

As a public relations move, this is about as graceful and convincing as a guided tour of Pyongyang. Better would've been "I didn't mean it" or "I was caught in a bad mood" or "I screwed up." Any of which would've been understandable, reassuring, and maybe, true.

NO BULL: ENRIQUE AS GOOD AS GONE

Earlier this week we learned that Jose Enrique isn't willing to open talks about a new contract at Newcastle until the club is safe from relegation.

It was hard to read that without wondering how likely it is that Enrique will be back on Tyneside next season. His reasoning is understandable. But it also seems to be setting the stage for a summer departure to a club that could offer him Champions League football, a bigger payday or both. After the Andy Carroll saga, thinking anything else seems a bit naive.

And thinking anything else seems more than a bit naive after Enrique's further declarations yesterday to the Daily Mail: "It is flattering that Liverpool are interested. I’ve also heard that Manchester United and Aston Villa have asked about me. They are both big teams and I’m not closing the door on anyone. I’m ambitious and want to play in the Champions League. I want to win things. I’m OK at Newcastle but I aspire to more."

Translation: "I am as good as gone."

Enrique, of course, has one year left on the five-year deal he signed in 2007 after joining United in a £6.3 million deal. It would be in the club's best interest to either tie him down to a new deal this summer or cash in. Newcastle would be silly to risk losing Enrique for nothing after next season, and holding onto him until the January transfer window doesn't seem like a good idea, either. At that point, he'd have only six months left on his deal, which would limit the size of the transfer fee — not to mention he could sign a pre-contract agreement with another club under the Bosman ruling. 

I really can't blame Enrique for wanting to move for more money and/or the chance to play at a higher-profile club. He's developed into one of the best left backs in the Premiership after a somewhat shaky start on Tyneside. His partnership with Jonas Gutierrez on the left wing has been a crucial dimension of Newcastle's play over the past two seasons. Losing him would be a significant blow.

But it has to be said that Enrique is prone to mental lapses. He has a tendency to try to play his way out of trouble — two bad giveaways in the first half of Tuesday's win at Birmingham, a match in which he otherwise played quite well, come to mind. 

So what exactly should Newcastle do?

There are only two factors that can keep a player at a club: winning and money. While owner Mike Ashley will be called cheap once again by plenty of United fans if Enrique's wage demands aren't met, he has brought a level of fiscal responsibility to the club that didn't previously exist. As for the winning side of things, Newcastle has put together a fairly impressive first season back in the top flight. But not even the most optimistic fan would say Champions League football will be returning to St. James' Park anytime soon.

And so, it looks like the Toon Army will once again be waving goodbye to one of the club's top players in the not-too-distant future. Like it or not, that is life at today's Newcastle.

THINGS ARE LOOKING UPWARD

It's still a bit premature to say Newcastle United has secured Premier League status for next season.

But after grinding out a 2-0 win at Birmingham Tuesday, it's certainly fair to say everyone connected with the club can start peering upward when looking at the league table, rather than nervously looking at the cluster of teams duking it out in the bottom half. And that's why Tuesday's performance could turn out to be a turning point in a season that's been full of them. It may well be the moment when this season truly became about pushing on instead of simply surviving.

The win pushed United up one spot into ninth place in the table with 35 points, one more than the 2008-09 squad managed in the whole of its relegation season. With 11 matches to go, Newcastle is eight points clear of the drop zone — a healthy position, no doubt. 

Newcastle's display in the West Midlands wasn't a work of art by any means. But the visitors outworked a Birmingham side known for its doggedness, were efficient in front of goal and defended solidly. Leon Best was a handful up front, winning header after header. His goal will get the headlines, but it was all the unglamorous graft he put in that, for me, helped set the tone for the entire team.

It was, simply put, a professional performance from a group of players who likely learned a few lessons while traveling to some of the unglamorous outposts of the Championship last season. Those trips were about knuckling down and battling for three points, regardless of the disparity in quality between United's squad and those of its opponents.

Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan talked about the need to "keep churning out results" in an interview with the BBC after the win, and that sums up the performance for me. St. Andrew's isn't an easy place to go — only Everton and Arsenal had won there previously this season, and Birmingham only lost twice at home last season — particularly with a pitch that looked worthy of lower-league action.

St. James' Park is certainly a more comfortable place for United, and three of its next four matches are at home. If Captain Kev and the boys can churn out a few more results, Newcastle might be able to challenge the likes of Bolton and Sunderland for a Europa League spot.

That sure beats the constant stress of a relegation fight, doesn't it?

PARDEW ON RANGER: JUST AS WE SUSPECTED

Yesterday we speculated on these cyberpages that the reluctance of Alan Pardew to play his most talented striker, one Nile Ranger, was not about football. About the same time we were writing it, Pardew was confirming it.

“We keep talking to him about professionalism, and his timekeeping’s improved, and his training-ground standards are improving," Pardew told Newcastle's Evening Chronicle. “That bodes well – he’ll improve as a player. He’ll only get better.”

Alan. Buddy. Teach him to tell time after we're not relegated, please?

The Green Bay Packers in American football just won the Super Bowl in part because they stopped being picky about a talented young running back's practice habits. The Packers didn't come to their senses until they were one loss from extinction. Let Newcastle United not wait so long.

TIME TO STOP PADDLING THE NILE

It took about 30 seconds into Nile Ranger's late appearance against Blackburn for him to make an "oh my" run past everyone. 

That's when I snapped.

Earth to Newcastle: You need a talented striker. You have one. Maybe it's time to play him.

Look, everyone knows about youth and character and fitness and readiness. But that's in the normal world. This is the holy-shit-we-just-lost-Andy-Carroll world. And Saturday looked too much like that world for Newcastle United. Served to a striker a quarter-step faster than Leon Best or a decade younger than Peter Lovenkrands, at least two beautifully played balls would've been in the net. Instead the waters of relegation rose another point. Flood horns sounding. Aaa-OOO-ga! Aaa-OOO-ga!

Whatever the reason for not starting Ranger, I hope it's about football and not about punishing him for his well chronicled immaturity off the field. It's no use sending a message to one player if the whole team ends up with a one-year minimum sentence in the Championship. Not that I don't respect Newcastle United's long tradition of impeccable behavior from strikers. But now is not the time for a character lesson. And what message is the team sending Ranger as it is? That his character suddenly improves at the 77th minute?

It's not certain Ranger is the answer. But he's got to be closer to the answer than a 34-year-old from the Arctic whose U comes before his Q. After Shola Ameobi went off with his shattered cheekbone, Ranger had 30-plus mostly quiet minutes in Newcastle's dreadful showing against Fulham two weeks ago. But the midfield was a no-show that day, and it still took a breathtaking save to keep Ranger off the sheet. He's a striker, OK? The worst that can happen is he doesn't score the goals his team already isn't scoring. Playing him now will help him develop that much faster into the player he's destined to become. Whatever that is, it's time to find out.

TOOTHLESS, BUT NOT HOPELESS

There were always going to be days like this in the post-Andy Carroll era at Newcastle United.

Anyone who watched Newcastle's scoreless draw with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park would agree that the Magpies controlled the game. But, while they dominated possession, piled up corner kicks and pumped crosses into the box, the visitors failed to produce enough clear-cut scoring chances to collect what would have been three valuable points.

The obvious conclusion most observers will reach is that had Carroll been leading the line instead of Leon Best and Peter Lovenkrands, some of the crosses whipped in from the likes of Jose Enrique would have ended up in the back of the net. Beyond the obvious counterpoint — that Carroll wouldn't have been playing anyway since he's still recovering from that pesky thigh injury — there's this: There were days like this even when Carroll was still wearing the No. 9 for the black-and-white.

Now, that's not to defend how Best and Lovenkrands played against Blackburn. Lovenkrands hit the post on a chance that he really should have buried early on after a brilliant long ball from Enrique, but was otherwise anonymous. Best showed endeavor but not much quality. And neither could profit from what seemed like adequate service from Enrique, Gutierrez and Barton. Substitutes Nile Ranger and Shefki Kuqi couldn't provide a late winner, either.

But, while the point leaves United just five points off the relegation places, it's reassuring to know they're still 10th in the league — and that means there are seven teams between them and 17th. And, they looked far and away better than Blackburn, a team they figure to battle with in the middle of the table. A similar performance Tuesday at Birmingham would likely bring a better result.