After Derby Disaster, A Lament From Afar

On behalf of the blog I'm dispensing with our customary Three Points match summary because, truthfully, there aren't three worthwhile points to make. In being dismantled at home 3-0 in what is supposed to be one of soccer's hardest-fought rivalries, Newcastle United looked every bit like what it is: an ambitionless club whose squad can do little but collapse around a removed linchpin. 

The American audience was likely surprised to be told by an English commentator at the start of the derby, telecast nationally here, that Newcastle is one of the biggest clubs in the world. It has the trappings, for sure: a huge and packed home ground, a rich tradition, a well-heeled owner. Yet the club insists on portraying itself as a fixed-income retiree struggling to live within limited means, which is an increasingly flimsy mask for the truth: This is not a soccer club. This is a set of trading cards for a disinterested owner whose focus on transfer profit only makes it harder to offload an enterprise he wishes he never got involved with in the first place.

It's a tragic state of affairs for a professional sports club when talent is pumped in only through desperation, and success is quickly liquidated to the bottom line. As a result supporters as passionate as any on Earth are treated to an unending yo-yo between false hope and embarrassment. Anger at Alan Pardew's even-more-quizzical-than-usual choices and substitutions on Saturday has little purpose given the paucity of his options. It's equally hard to be disgusted with the drunken idiots who ran out their frustrations on the pitch as the debacle wound down.

Yohan Cabaye demanded freedom to join a club whose potential matches his own. Would that we the fans could do the same. Sympathies from across the sea to our longer-suffering native compatriots. May we all live to see Newcastle United find the leadership its dedicated following has so patiently awaited and deserves.

Comments

[M]

'an unending yo-yo between false hope and embarrassment'

nailed it there Bob

At least 'false hope' has the word 'hope' in it. Embarrassment sucks

[Shawn]

As a suffering member of the American Toon Army, your words ring (unfortunately) all too true.

[JeffC]

I'm really not sure anyone cared outside of Saylor.

[Punter]

With 14 matches left to go and 37 points, NUFC’s apparent target is about five more points—just enough to comfortably avoid relegation. That’s not much to look forward to for a supporter, is it?

It’s not just that NUFC won’t shell out £10 million plus for a roughly-equivalent replacement for Cabaye: since Joe Kinnear arrived as DofF, we also no longer make the sub £5 million purchases for the Carr-scouted, below-the-radar players like Gouffran, Tiote, and Cabaye (circa 2011) who can step in and contribute immediately.

I thought that De Jong looked slow and awkward in his debut but it may just be rust. My one ray of hope for Newcastle these days is that Carr has presumably been scouting De Jong for a few years now and sees something there.

[Jaeger]

yesterday was just god awful, regardless of who we were playing. in the end its only another match. i know its a local rivalry and it pissed me off just as much as everyone but there are 14 matches to go and hell, id still be ok with a 6th place finish and going to europa league.

the squad needs a massive overhaul in the summer to progress...

GOING out: santon, colo, marveaux, obertan, shola, remy (he wont sign), cisse, de jong (might stay), and if someone were to come in for a good price, HBA. i am also worried debuchy will want to go to a CL club like Chelsea or maybe to PSG.

Bringing new players in: a young CB, 2 proper outside midfielders who can cross and defend when needed, and 3 strikers, a pacey one, a big bruiser and a hold-up CF. Really wish we could have signed Gomis but it seems impossible with Kinnear in charge.