The Keegan feel-good factor
It could only happen in Newcastle couldn't it?
What am I talking about?
The fact that in one season morale in the stands at St James's Park has gone from rock bottom to sky high in just a few months.
And after United's superb 3-0 win over Reading a season that many people couldn't wait to see the back of is now turning into one that nobody wants to end.
Three wins on the spin, three quality wins have turned things round really with the stench of relegation no longer lingering on the streets of Tyneside.
That left Toon when ref Lee Probert blasted the final whistle as Reading were swept away just like teams were in the good old days.
At Friday's Press conference KK had urged fans to forget about the old Entertainers and wants new heroes to develop in black and white shirts.
That looks like it's starting to happen now with this wonderful 4-3-3 formation that has blown Fulham, Spurs and now Reading to pieces.
And it's not just the forwards like Oba Martins, Michael Owen and Mark Viduka who are benefiting from this.
Habib Beye was outstanding and sparkled throughout as well as showing what he can do in attack, what a signing from Big Sam! But did he know he was that good?
Then you have Jose Enrique who gets stronger game by game and Joey Barton also shone on a great day at Gallowgate.
David Edgar was called up at the 11th hour too and didn't let anybody down as part of a defence that kept a clean sheet once more at St James's.
The final whistle started another party night in Newcastle as fans once more slurped beers until there was nowt left!
Now the usual daunting trip to Portsmouth is one we're all looking forward to.
End of season game with nothing to play for?
No chance for the Toon Army, a team who will be desperate not to get injured for the FA Cup final could get torn apart with KK determined to avoid the tag of the lowest points tally of any of United's Premier League bosses.
And should the Messiah manage to break into the top 10 it's just as well for the rest of the Premier League the season is nearly finished because this team seems to be going places.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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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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It is crazy whats gone on this season,i really thought we were deep in it.....should have known of course that KK would have the effect nobody else could have.The corner HAS been turned and we now look upon a bright new era...I CANNOT WAIT.
yeah its not just the players he whips up into a frenzy .
he says all the right things through the media to get us fan's going , love the little challange to ashley , not over the top just a gentle little shove .
then the talk of his transfer targets , he know's us lot dream of our superstars , and he likes to bring em in himself aswell !!
i juts hope wise and vettere stick to building up a catalogue of players and keep their nose out of first team signings , they must be kev's call , and id prefer it if there kev's idea from the start aswell , none of this looking through a list of wise's must have's .
let wise and vettere bring in all the youth they want , but the real buys MUST be kev's call , or we'll have summit to say about it /shakesfist .
and and dare i say it , but have you slipped something into oliver's tea lately? had nowt but nice things to say and has ever stuck the boot into his southern colleagues ...... more of that please lads .
we can have a damn good crack at the league next season when this whole city is rowing the same way , and kev's great at getting it todo that .
I had been a newcastle supporter ever since i started watching football on tv. I dont know what made me a magpie, but there is something special. I had been a laughing stock among the footballing community for being a Toon fan. There are all kinds of manu, arsnal, chelski and liver fans here. Iam yet to meet a newcastle fan in person here. But now i have got something to shout about. There are going to be special times ahead.
HOWAY THE LADS
go newcastle!!
Well its all looking rosy for the toon at the minute eh?? Three impressive results for the boys in black and white.. i am looking forward to this wkend though because this match is going to be a lot more challenging than the last three coz pompey are a solid team. But i kinda think they are gonna have there eyes more on the cup so maybe we can just nick it. I live in pompey and will have a wander down my local to sit with mass of blue shirts and i hope by the end of the 90 we can nick something..coz i would love to rub it in some pompey mushas face!! i think it would also show harry redknapp what hes missed out on to. And thank god he didnt take the job. Come on the toon!!!
I think certain sections of the media were enjoying Newcastle's bad run, and are now reluctant to give any credit to Keegan now that we are winning. Comments like 'they haven't played anyone'. With the form we were in, I wouldn't have backed us to beat Carlisle, never mind Fulham. The facts are, it was brave of Keegan to go 4-3-3, and to drop Smith and Duff, also he must have maintained a degree of team morale, despite a series of humiliating defeats.
I cannot wait for next season.
HELLO-O-O-o-o-o-o ..... has anybody seen Jac Mills who's hiding in the hills cos he predicted we'd get beat 2-1 by Reading? Jac...? You can come out now....nobody's bothered what you say, you're entitled to your opinion ....howay son, there's a nice cup of horlicks for you.
Well said Lee (and Hadrian) - Kev is the maestro at spreading the feel-good factor, and gently nudging where needed. Mike Ashley will need to support King Kev in the transfer market to build on our squad. Ironically we could have had both Distin and Campbell - the backbone of Portsmouth's squad. I like Faye, but I would still like him to be joined by a couple more fast, strong, footballing centre-backs. I think that Taylor and Edgar need time, and injuries and absences could undo us next season. As Kev says, the squad is too small. The great thing about the feel-good factor is that we're seeing just how good together our current players can be - they are playing so well together, and FOR each other. Who cares how many goals each of the front three get? Just add up the total goals, and keep up the beautiful UNSELFISH play - it makes us all feel good! All credit to Beye and Enrique and the midfield for all playing so well to support the front three - these are the unsung heroes who don't get on the scoresheet. Oh, and long live Kev's reign - sign that man on for life!
Why doesn't anyone notice that all 3 strikers have now scored in 2 games running, not just the 3-0 win over reading? That's awesome! It hasn't been bandied around the town, but Owen scoring 4 in a row is. It's great Owen's scoring again, but it's more important that all 3 top class strikers are.
We were a team that relied on Alan Shearer far too much, co's a load of pilocks dismantled Keegans first quality squad. Now he can assemble another, only a few changes needed - mind on this form.
Beye looks AWESOME! I can't remember a right back doing that for the toon, mind you I'm only 22! I'm a child of the Keegan era, and can't wait for the next legacy to really start, next season.
TOON!! TOON!!
BLACK & WHITE ARMY!!!
i understand firoz i am too from india kolkata to be precise, same here my frndz all support the big four and i get ridiculed but you are right there is something special about the magpies, which attracted me and i believe that fans of other clubs can never understand it as they do not feel it.
do not worry newcastle are getting there and there is a unique satisfaction in suporting a winning geordie team
NUFC forever
Hi lee We the toon faithfull always knew Kev would put it right -and if Mike lets him he will build a team for us all to be proud of again-Pity that many people in the media still go on about Big Sam and how hard done by he was -yeah with a few million quid to soften the blow-all I can say is he brought the most depressing brand of football to the toon that I have ever seen -worse even than sourpuss. Well its all changed now the king is back and long may he reign-what the biased brothers in the media { especially the likes of Greavsie } dont understand and never will is KK means to us what Shanks meant to Liverpool and Cluoghie meant to Forest- he understands us and feels the way we do about the beutiful game- I for one hope he never goes and if he can do just half of what he did here before then Newcastle United will again gain worldwide respect-something which we lost during his years of exile. Any fool can see for themselves -we have the same bunch of players-but my god what a difference in tactics,confidence,and dare I mention the word entertainment we have all seen since Kevs return long live the king and goodbye forever Allardyce you gave us our worst nightmares.
mmmmmmmmmmm....it is never so bad as it seems and it is never as good as it seems.
We quickly forget Sounesses 9 game run, Roeders barnstorming end to the season and Fat Sams start. The current shower have had these little spells on and off for four years.
We have beaten 3 sides in the bottom half. Three teams with the worst (outside of Derby) goals conceded and poorest form outside of Bolton and Derby.
KK deserves the pressure to be off but anyone who believes the defence is fundamentally not week, Owens injuries will not return, viduka will not again be posted missing, Butt and Given are not in long term decline and Barton is not bad news are indulging in 'wish think'. Sure as eggs are eggs the 4-3-3 will unravel.
Trying to contain the OTT pessimism of a fortnight ago was pointless just like the optimism of today.
Real question marks will be asked - of ashley and KK - over the coming months.
Point taken , Andy. However the main difference I see in the team is they keep posession better and pass the ball more accurately as well as playing with almost a swagger. Far more slick than Souness or Roeder and certailnly big Sam. Infact not unlike the days of keegan last time. Remember he suffered countless defeats until the game against Liecester which now goes into folklore.
I have seen enough of an upturn to believe that better days lie ahead, but more cautiously hopeful than rabidly optimistic. We have seen too many false dawns for that. However I am thoroughly enjoying the ride as it is presently.Hope it continues well into next season and beyond..but we,ll see.
There's always one Andy, Sourness's 9 win run had run out mate, and yes Roeder played a blinder getting us into UEFA. Thing is, nobody as much as bleated when Freddie S. sacked him for not being the figurehead he envisioned for NUFC and Sam's decent haul of early points were against lower teams. And yes we've been spasmodic for a good few years ..... the years since Keegan was all but forced out by the backstabbing Halls who secretly renegued on a handshake deal to reward KK with the rapid success he'd brought the club on his return. Why do you think he returned anyway kidda? it's only cos the slimebags have been sacked. He wouldn't have returned if only one of that crew were still here, so count your blessings bonny lad, he's got as much and more enthusiasm to finish his original goal for his beloved club, region and people. Aren't we lucky to get him back? Lighten up man Andy.
I am really looking forward to the Chelsea game and the Smelly makems. These games will really be a test of how the system holds up against firstly quality opposition and secondly a highly charge derby atmos.
One thing is for certain we will not be subjected to boring football for a while which in effect is what we are all looking for.
The press seem to think we would be happy playing BS stylie football and scrape a cup. Rubbish we would rather play great attacking fitba and see how we get on.........Lets face it is very seldom a negative team wins anything, at least you have a chance of winning if you know where the onion bag is
Howay the lads
I live in a small village in East Africa Uganda but people have been laughinh at me about NUFC but these days people nolonger do so coz KK has brought the good times back. Thank U KK
Ryder's reply: It's been some turnaround Abiya! I'm sure the hard work is just starting though