NUFC Needs A Hero

Guest post by Phil Lavanco

“I need a hero. I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night. He’s gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast and he’s gotta be fresh from the fight” -Bonnie Tyler, “Holding Out for a Hero”

There were a plethora of problems with Newcastle United’s season-opening performance against Manchester City. The lack of effort and energy for 90 minutes whipped the fan base into the depths of hysteria, and confirmed everyone’s worst fears about the dysfunctional offseason. Thankfully for NUFC, there are 37 matches left to play, and none of them is at the Etihad Stadium.

I have been very bullish on Twitter and on the podcast about how this season will be much improved from last. I firmly believe, and still do, that there is a good team currently masquerading in black and white lethargy.

But there is one intangible sorely missing from this group — a quality that is absent from the current roster. You won’t find this quality on a tactics board or in a scouting report. This team is sorely lacking a voice, a focal point who will stand up and lead this team out of the current malaise and demand better.

When Chris Hughton was sacked in 2010 — prompting one of the many episodes of “As St. James' Park Turns” — two players in particular faced the thunder clouds head on. We all know who I am referring to: Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton. When Newcastle defeated Liverpool in Pardew’s first game in charge, it was Nolan and Barton who not only dedicated the win to the former boss, but publicly voiced their displeasure at the decision (Sol Campbell also spoke up, but he doesn't fit my narrative here).

Of course, they were labeled as malcontents and quickly shipped out of town. Then came an influx of new blood. Two seasons ago, times were good, and there wasn’t a need for a strong voice in the changing room. But in tough times, like now, leaders must stand up.

Who is Newcastle United’s leader?

It certainly isn't midfield general Yohan Cabaye, who has now had his head turned more times than Linda Blair. Maybe it’s curly-haired captain Fabricio Coloccini, now that he has pledged his allegiance to the cause for the long term. What about the current No. 9? His stance during preseason was admirable, but now the club needs him to rediscover the form, and the goals, from when he first arrived in England.

Barton and Nolan were controversial and outspoken figures. On the field, however, they gave everything they had and demanded the same from those who played alongside them. We haven’t seen enough of those qualities over the past 39 Premier League matches.

We fans are tired of the excuses, tired of the lines in print, and tired of the same listless performances. On Saturday, we want 11 players to go out in front of their home fans, put aside all the drama, and fight for the cause. I just hope someone in the locker room makes sure they go out and do it.

“Isn’t there a white knight upon a fiery steed?”

Phil Lavanco (@Lavanglish on Twitter) is a contributor to the “I Wish I Was A Geordie” podcast and one of the many, many members of Toon Army NYC.

 

Comments

[ryan]

brilliant this is too true

[John Docherty]

Well posted Matt. The display at the Etihad was marked by lack of guts more than any lack of skills. On paper we have a strong squad, but as the late, great Bill Shankly said "unfortunately the game's played on grass son".

We desperately need a leader who can inspire through example by displaying tenacity when things are going against us, but I'm afraid that this lot just want to hide when the chips are down.

The attitude rather than the football display worried me most on Monday night as it reflected the attitude that I saw in the Sunderland team when they got relegated with the lowest number of points ever achieved in the premiership and we do not want to go down that route!

We need a leader on the pitch, or at the very least inspirational motivation from the manager ahead of each game. Sadly - I see neither.

[oldbobaycliffe]

perhaps its because both nolan and barton are english not being anti french but we do need a few more english grafters in the team.

[Beardsley's Love Child]

I don't think we need a hero, we need a manager. The Players need a manager. They need to be managed into a team and not just thrown onto the pitch and told to play.

Saying that we need to have on field leadership abrogates the role of the manager to a figure head, a talking head in their position only for media purposes. Which is what we have in Alan Pardew.

"It's the terror of knowing what this world is about watching some good friends screaming 'Let me out'..." Queen and David Bowie "Under Pressure" takes Bonnie Tyler; your move...

I listened to the podcast (nice BTW!) and was a bit surprised that how little Alan Pardew was mentioned. Its as if no one wants to say anything wrong about him (...well OK you all are from the Upper Midwest so its polite...) and they are far too polite and feel sorry for him because is already under pressure and he can't get out. Is it that he is a dead Man walking and irrelevant to the fans, the media and the players? I think he projects that and is barely capable of managing himself in a very abnormal situation. See losing his mind over Cabaye's Lowball offer... So until the team is pulled together under a Manager and managed we will struggle to win games, and even play more poorly than Monday.

Because its not about playing pretty, or putting in good shifts, or working hard a on the pitch, its about scoring goals and winning games. We don't have anyone who can score goals regularly, or create chances regularly for goals to be scored from, OR have a team who can get together and win games...and thats another whole freaking podcast we could rant on. But in effect its true that if we don't get managed the players have to pull together and we don't have a Kevin Nolan or Joey Barton to do so.

Were so fooked.

Oh yes Cisse is a single entity Thtriker...he is not versatile, needs service, has quite a bit of an ego and needs to be benched every now and then. Pardew's faith in him like Jonas is godlike ,therefore they start every game.

[Belfast toon]

The people surrounding the pitch can also step up and be that here. Players respond to atmosphere being 100% positive and behind the team with as much noise as possible could bring out a hero. Great article I couldn't agree more, A hero is born he is made.

[Matt]

This is actually a guest post from our podcast contributor, Phil. It's funny that I was the one who posted his thoughts, because I'm lukewarm on Nolan and totally disagree with him about Barton.

My sense is that leadership is very much a go-to excuse people reach for when other things aren't clicking. Nolan and Barton were both in the group that got relegated, and their vaunted ability to rally the club didn't seem to do any good. (In fact, I recall Barton storming straight down the tunnel and throwing his shirt after getting sent off against Liverpool, the mark of a true leader if I ever saw it.)

On the flip side, we finished fifth with the same "leaderless" core of players, by and large, and I don't recall anyone saying anything then. It wasn't a smooth run to Europe, either, even though that's how people remember it now. For basically the entire winter outside of the Man U win, it looked more like NUFC would sink towards 7th or 8th instead of contending for the Champions League. It took quite a bit of resilience to push all the way into the top four before dropping back the last two weeks.

As players, we now have a formation that could accommodate Nolan, so I guess I could see it working to some degree, but I'd never want to see Barton in black and white again. I also think we'd need to do far better in order to get anywhere near 5th place again. Nolan's pretty much the definition of a player who can excel in a team that finishes 10th.

And BLC, I've got plenty of thoughts on our number nine later today, so stay tuned!