We're pig sick of Ronnie Radford man!
FA CUP SPECIAL - YOUR CHANCE TO JOIN IN THE PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION
They can't wait can they?
The minute the draw was made they just couldn't wait to arrange for the TV cameras to make it a date in Stoke on a Sunday night.
Just like they did at Hereford, just like they at Stevenage and just like they did at Yeading, they did it at Peterborough too and they are doing it all over again!
I think they see it, yet again, as a banana skin tie.
Yeah, yeah I know, romance of the cup and all that goes with it and I know that the cameras will be at Luton for the Liverpool games as well as Burnley for the visit of Arsenal
But is it just me or does the rest of the country just love watching Newcastle United and the Geordie public suffer?
We can all put our hands up and say that Newcastle have been poor at times this season.
And after going a goal down in the last SIX away games it's not a surprise that away fans have took delight in chanting "you are getting sacked in the morning" to Big Sam.
But this problem of fans, not just down the A19, taking delight of knocking the Magpies and waiting to see us fall runs pretty deep.
In modern history it was petrified Manchester United fans - previously scared they were about to lose to a team playing the best football the world had ever seen - gloating that they'd pipped us to the title in 1996 with chants of "we saw you cry on the telly" but beyond that nobody has been allowed to forget Ronnie Radford's goal for Hereford in the FA Cup in 1972.
In fact the Radford goal is shown more times than anything related to our total of SIX FA Cup wins - it's rammed down our throats isn't it?
They conveniently ignore the fact that we are still in the top five of the Premier League table since it started, forget the fact that we've got the best fans in the world and don't even mention we gave the world Shearer, Gazza, Chrissy Waddle, Peter Beardsley, Sir Bobby Robson, Milburn, Broon Ale, The Tyne Bridge, a watering hole to have your stag/hen do in the shape of the Bigg Market, the Metro Centre, Sting, the Evening Chronicle, Viz, Byker Grove, The Blaydon Races or the Great North Run!
No they all mean nowt to the doom merchants out there, just put on a clip of Ronne Radford to sum us lot up, I mean would you credit it?
I mean I wasn't even born for the Radford goal and I feel like I was there on that muddy pitch and wearing one of those stupid coats!
You watch before the Stoke game, Ronnie Radford all over again - just like Stevenage - just like Yeading, or any other FA Cup game that we stand a chance of being "humiliated" in.
We don't actually hear a squeak from Stevenage these days although I have to say I always have a wry smile on my face every time I go past it on the train to London.
I mean why not? It's my moment.
After all the whole country got behind the plucky southereners and it was such a "disgrace" that after trying every dirty trick in the book to beat Newcastle they went out to a Shearer goal that didn't cross the line! What a shame.
Then you have Yeading. Who? Oh yeah the other team the whole country got behind and a nice easy home game for the BBC cameras but it was Newcastle who went through - and we even had Boumsong and Babayaro playing!
So now we have to go through it all again on Sunday with the whole country baying for our blood at the Britannia Stadium to see if Stoke can dump us out!
Oh it won't be as big a "humiliation" as say Hereford but remember Wolves in 2003 the BBC describe on their website today still as an FA Cup classic.
Well, love him or hate him, Craig Bellamy actually got it right that night.
Remember? After being beaten 3-2 and suffering the taunts of the Wolves fans - who sent the national Press into a frenzy that night - Bellers simply responded to the taunts by pointing at the Premier League badge on his shirt and mouthing "Premiership."
And what division are Wolves still in?
Oh I know it sounds like sour grapes but just why does everyone apart from the Geordie public want to see this trophy drought go on and on.
And if you think I'm paranoid, you watch if we go a goal down, the cameras will be straight over to our fans and zooming in order to tee up the commentator for something along the lines of "Is it another year of waiting for this lot."
We haven't been giantkilled too many times in the FA Cup but you'd think we'd gone out to minor opponents every year.
So the message to the players this time around is, let's give Stoke a proper hammering and try to show the great British public exactly what NEWCASTLE UNITED and the TOON ARMY are all about.
Time to show some pride boys.
Let's roll.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS THE WHOLE COUNTRY READY TO REVEL IN THE TOON'S DOWNFALL?
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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Yes its Ronnie Radford time again
! But itâÂÂs always the case with the FA cup. The Match of the day ethos was always to attract as large an audience as possible to the masculine domain of footy, and that meant dramatizing what is a essentially a sporting event, in order to appeal to women, leprechauns and other transient beings that have less of an appetite for a straightforward contest. The arena which surrounds the contest is full of the individual pains and sufferings and joys and hopes which are deemed necessary in order to fulfil the primary aim, to stoke up the appetite and fire the furnaces.
This means dragging out the clip of Ronnie Radford along with the invasion of the âÂÂParkaâÂÂsâ it doesnâÂÂt mean they all hate us, but they have to back the underdog itâÂÂs the âÂÂRomance of the cupâ â see âÂÂDramaâ not âÂÂSport!âÂÂ
Ps We didnâÂÂt give the world the Tyne Bridge I think IâÂÂm right in saying that it is a copy of the âÂÂHells gateâ Bridge in New York, and not, (as many think) the forerunner of the Sydney Harbour bridge inâÂÅ ehm Sydney.
Ryder's reply: New York isn't the capital of the US any more but New Yorkers still go round saying it is! Not that any of that has anything to do with Stoke v Newcastle!
Hello Lee, not everyone wants the Geordies to suffer m8! Look at cAshley Cole, he likes Geordies! Ha ha Only joking m8, I hate cAshley Cole! As u can tell i'm a Gooner, and I've met many Geordie and they are my fave people after cockneys! I think ur all quality and overdue a trophie. If Arsenal dont win the FA cup this year, I hope u boys do! Good luck boys!
I actually do love the FA cup, itâÂÂs something IâÂÂve wanted for some time, to scrap the League/Carling Cup, or in the interest of fairness, leave it to the âÂÂleagueâ clubs and leave the Premier League out of it, I mean itâÂÂs not as if the so called big boys are interested in it.
That would allow the F.A cup to have pride of place as the only competition that ALL clubs can play each other in, just a thought.
IâÂÂve loved all our cup runs in the past, especially that one under Sir Bobby in his first season in charge, we actually deserved to beat Chelsea at Wembley that day, story of our lives isnâÂÂt it?
The difference this time is that a cup run would be a distraction to whatâÂÂs really going to matter, getting to around 40 points ASAP, for if you look at the remaining fixtures in the league, IâÂÂve only tipped us to get 11 points at best. Go through them at judge yourself, itâÂÂs a daunting run.
I donâÂÂt really buy into the school that a good cup run can rub off on a league campaign, because surely, if your not motivated (Or good enough) for one, then the other is hardly going to change matters.
The fact that you have pointed out Lee, that Stoke are going to be up for it. And the whole country are waiting to split their sides at our misfortune is going to weigh heavy on this squad (And a good squad at that) but the manager will probably play defensive.
On the subject of the line-up, Whats all this rubbish about Martins playing in one game and not the other (Stoke-Man United) before going to Africa? Whats the point in wasting him in the pointless Man U game? We never win down there at the best of timeâÂÂs and now Allardyce has said, he probably will play against Man U but not Stoke- Is this guy insane??
Paul.
Thank god the Fa cup is starting up again, a really welcome break from poor results and performances in the league. We really should beat stoke on sunday, bloody hell we need to because its the only thing that will keep our season going. Anyways onto big sam, a few weeks ago I admit i had turned on him and wanted him out. But recently ive took a step back and thought maybe just maybe he needs time. I think we should accept a mid table position this season, yes nobody wants a 9th to 14th place finish but i feel we are gunna have to accept it as a transitianal season then build from there. Look at the likes of everton and villa, their good positions in the league at the moment reflect a patient approach. I reckon we should only spend small in the January transfer window and keep the funds for the summer because effectivly this season is already over in a way. Top 6 next season though, and the one after that we will be top 4 challengers once again. GIVE SAM TIME!!!
Sundays Prediction, Newcastle to edge it 1-0 with Michael Owen the goal scorer.
I think large sections of the press, particularly TV, have intensified their glee at the failings of this club in recent years.
They feed off the many many problems we have to endure - both bad fortune and self-inflicted idiocy that blights us are lapped eagerly by the hungry hacks.
This banana skin tie with Stoke is exactly the kind of thing they want to drum up more of the "fans want Allardyce out and Shearer in" stories that make for good TV or copy but are not entirely accurate. By playing the Radford goal at every opportunity I just get the feeling that they are desperate for us to fail to give their shows/stories something sensational.
It's like watching a car crash watching this club at times and recently we have been helping them out with our actions as a club, as players and even dare I say it as fans (stop with the booing!).
We have to all pull together and hopefully wallop Stoke and shut them all maybe not once and for all, but for the time being at least.
your deluded to think you played the best football the world has seen
"previously scared they were about to lose to a team playing the best football the world had ever seen"
and i disagree that geordie fans are the best in the world theyre probably the most impatient fans in the world i give u that. for me celtic fans and portsmouth fans are the best in the world. the problem is that u lot hype yourself too much and that ur the victims
Ryder's reply: Impatient - we've only been waiting since 1969! The style of play was fantastic under Keegan and if we had won the league it would have changed the way football was played.
Ah yes the romance of the cup and the Ronnie Radford 40 yard screamer from the mud laden Hereford pitch, the John Tudor diving header. I was around when that all happened and I can tell you it was'nt a nice experience, Stoke City cannot be compared to the then non-league Hereford United.
Stoke City have been going well lately especially at home. But we all know that there is huge gulf in class between the Premier league and the championship and I hope this will be proved to be the case on sunday, when the TOON win comfortably 2-0 and Big Sam can breathe more easily.
Newcastle United have got a good record against the so called underdog sides and we should look forward to the 4th round draw and I would take another championship side.
So come on TOON ARMY lets leave all the pessimism behind and get behind the lads on what could turn out to be a great cup run, and the start of something good for Big Sam.
Don't forget Sam this is the starting line up.
Given Beye Taylor Faye Enrique
Milner Butt Emre N'zogbia
Viduka Owen
First of all Lee, I wouldn't print these agitaters like Sam, who is probably Allardyce getting his own back. I've said it before in blogs and letters to local press, that this acrimony towards Toon fans, especially at F.A.cup time, is purely cultural jealousy from a miniscule segment of the media and population, see Gooner Wrighty's comment. Unfortunately, they are on the microphone and screened off from fair reply from us. They are like the skinny little road rager who gives the 'V' sign to a big lad cos he knows he's safe in his car. In the bad old days of crowd trouble, before fan segregation, many visiting fans would be cautious as to the level of abuse they'd direct towards Geordie fans. Why? Because they were aware of our tribal pride, and knew they had to make it to Central station in one piece. Now don't misconstrue this as condoning that neanderthal attitude, but you wouldn't poke a stick into a lion's eye would you?. Nowadays you can't bop someone for insulting your wife without serious legal repercussions, come to think of it, you can't even insult anyone without the same, unless you're a visiting supporter. So it's now dead easy and safe to slag off Geordies cos we can't do anything about it, and in the case of the Beeb, can't reply. It's very possible that some program controllers in London, were once visitors to St. James' in their youth, and gleefully encourage this annual Geordie baiting. I strongly feel also, that some referees relish coming north to show how brave they are in frustrating and opposing us, like the skinny road-rager, safe in his car. I can imagine them cackling in their local southern wine bars with their chums on Saturday night saying, " Didn't I just show those Geordies how tough I am?" The real reason behind this ' cultural jealousy ' is because they lack a true sense of identity, that's why many of them chose to support Man. U. when the likes of Chelsea and West Ham were in the same limbo as us for years. I don't know of any Geordies that jumped ship to a successful club even as kids, because where you're from is what you are and this loyalty irks the jerks. They also tremble at the prospect of this ' cliched ' sleeping giant awakening, because our passion, now manifestly recognized, would be ubearable to this minority with our club's success. It almost happened with John Hall and Keegan, and the whole country was endeared to everything Toon and Geordie. This is what astute, successful businessman Mike Ashley knows only too well. Once he and Chris Mort get past the teething troubles of managing this strange new type of business, and establish a fully competent staff, we will again be the nation's darling second team. That's why many of them ( London press/media ) harbour this jealousy and mischievously plant negative stories in the nation's consciousness. Of course some of it has been deserved with seedy stories emanating from people like Hall jnr., Shephard, Bowyer and Barton etc.. And at the risk of sounding paranoid, I'd even guess that the BIG 4 were very nervous of Newcastle United, under the new clout of Mike Ashley's money and boyish zeal, at last finding that elusive missing link to success. Hey, they might just think that the Radford goal is a bit of overkill this year, especially with the fact that under BS, we're not really going to challenge for anything except Premiership status.
think your self lucky mate I happen to have lived in Stevenage and Barnet now not many people know this but Barnet is where the great Ronnie Radford lives and cant help himself ramming it down anyones neck about how he sunk the great Newcastle ,but as ive had to remind him on numerous occasions he only scored the equaliser and as for Stevenage this little bolthole from London believed all the hype about how we were lucky ,how we shouldnt vhave been on the same park as them I believe this is all down to the certain newspaper offering goalkeepers cars to keep a clean sheet etc but what they didnt write was how Stevenage got gate receipts from both games signed shirts balls etc to raffle for there club there gratitude was immense thanks Stevenage
the FA cup will always be a special event even though its 53 years since the toon won it.herefords fairytale win will always be shown,thats life.The stoke game can be won but whats the point if the draw for the 4th round throws out Liverpool home or away?or Man u/man city,Arsenal or Chelsea or even mighty Wigan or Derby away?get real we havn't a hope.
Ryder's reply: Let's get past Stoke first Salty!
LEE,you are absolutely bang on with everything you said....they all want us to fail...and they still regularly show keegans rant and all laugh (richard keys et al)....that was total passion and pride but they all take the micky, how we could do with that now!!! personally i wud av im back tomorrow) Every year they roll the same tapes on bbc, licking their lips in anticipation that were gonna get done in spectacular fashion by some non league southerners.They even voted the best games in the prem as the 4-3 liverpool games....not for me they werent....how about 5-0 v manu....oh,sorry they darent say owt about them cos they are scared of fergie and all the supporters are southeners.We cant even moan when we are watching rubbish football...and when we change managers we are told we expect too much and that we should stick by them(always quoting the fact that fergie was one win away from the sack but look at him now......in reality how many have stuck with c**p and been relegated?) We are told that the NUFC managers post is a "poisoned chalice" and that its OUR fault cos we are so demanding..DEMANDING??? its totally the opposite....how many would watch...lets say Arsenal if they played like us and had won nowt for 39 years? not 52,000 i know that.Yes the ronnie radford goal being replayed to death is irritating but no more so than any other time of year when we are slagged in the papers and on tv...so to andy gray,richard keys,mark lawrenson,oliver holt,brian woolnough and all the rest of you so-called experts.....you will never,ever understand what it takes to support nufc cos you aint from up here,you can assume....but you will never know.We will always be 100% behind our team and manager...but we also arent fools....we know football inside out....and you lot slagging us off for WHATEVER reason will only make us stronger and more united.And when things do go wrong...its anybodys fault but the fans...personally i cannot stand the media and couldnt give a monkeys about the rest of the country or their teams,and hopefully in the not too distant future we will click again and maybe,just maybe, win something,so we can ram it down THEIR throats......UP THE MAGS.................
Your piece sets the tone perfectly. Never mind the blather, just do the business lads. No messing. Just get there, play them off the park, score however many we need & gan haem, with a crate of beer in the back of the bus.
Remember, they're a Championship side. We're a little better than that, even at the moment.
C'MON LADS
I just read that Emre may be on the move. In football they don't have 30 years to be patient in their careers. I wouldn't blame him, he's 27 and may have 5 - 8 years left. Is that long enough to sit on a bench when a Manager comes in rips the place apart and the likes of Dyer, Solano, and Parker become expendable? If he sits next year too, his value goes down as well as his inner spirit. I was an athlete and would relish just one day back when I was younger playing sports and would practically do anything for it. I just hope there isn't any animosity in this because a sport life isn't forever.
just read in sunday sun that sam wants kevin nolan please please please tell me thats an early april fool