Typical Toon
It would be easy to say that Newcastle United's collapse against Stoke City was simply unbelievable but after plenty years of practice seasoned Toon fans should be used to what unfolded in the closing stages against the Potters.
We're used to a plot that consists of two or three simple factors, last minute goals against, scored by either former players and/or players born in or around Newcastle!
It couldn't have been much better for Joe Kinnear in the first half after Michael Owen's two goals had United in full control.
And the Leazes singing section could be clearly heard singing the name of JFK as Newcastle looked in danger of netting three goals in a Premier League game for the first time this season.
But then...out came the same old tired script.
Yes, but then it all started to go somewhat pear shaped for the Mags.
Danny Guthrie's injury to the hip didn't do anybody any favours.
Not least Kinnear who had to make a full rejig which included several changes in midfield and defence.
And then came a familar script.
Having survived Rory Delap's thrown-ins, Stoke then realised they can also play on the deck as well when they try.
Ricardo Fuller's appearance turned the game and with the game heading just past the hour it was 2-1 after Mamady Sidibe's simple finish.
That made it a different game all together for Newcastle who had been coasting.
It was nervous enough before the fourth official put up a whopping five minutes of stoppage time although much of that had been generated by subs coming on and off.
But to use that as an excuse would be wrong anyway because when the inevitable last minute equaliser from a former player arrived in the first minute of it.
Sebastien Bassong may find the decision harsh but Newcastle's defence went AWOL to let a familiar face tie things up.
Abdoulaye Faye's leveller may well be ironic but we shouldn't be surprised.
Titus Bramble was still fresh in the memories at St James's Park but down the years we've had it all.
Geordies scoring against home town clubs (in the last minute as well), former players, and players that have actually been on loan from us.
You can go from Geordie boy Graham Fenton in 1996 for Blackburn to the likes of Darren Huckerby, Les Ferdinand, Lee Clark and Andy Cole to name but a few and then you have the incredible Lomana LuaLua situation at Pompey when OUR player scored against us again in the last minute to add salt into open wounds.
It's no surprise to most Toon fans but it just keeps on happening!!!
So what's next? Sylvain Distin doing the same against Pompey next weekend?
Then we'll have a late Jermaine Jenas winner in the next home game against Spurs before Bramble does us again at the JJB on Boxing Day!!!
Getting back to Mr Abdoulaye Faye and it was obvious he had a point to prove to Newcastle judging by his hush hush celebration after his summer sale.
After the game Michael Owen reflected on his contract situation and that it had been pushed back due to the club being up for sale.
Now would never be a better time to bring that forward, oh and never a better time too to ditch the same old painful script!
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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Re; fans singing JFKs name ...were they calling for him to resign?
Dear Lee
That was on of the worst games of football i have seen in years. Stoke were awful and we were no better.
If we do not have a young kid who can play in midfield there is smoething wrong big time at the club. If mark donniger had been selected for the bench it would have been deserved following his displays in the reserves and would have prevented us from being all at sea in the second half.
In the end we had a centre half playing right back (clueless) we had a right back playing midfield. We had a wide midfielder in the middle of the park along side a weak player. We then replaced the weak player with another centre half who brings nothing to the table and gets worse every time he plays. Then to confound us all JFK takes off our most potent threat and replaces him with the slowest man in the premiership.
What makes you think JFK can get us out of this mess. The guy does not have a clue.
What a mess we are in, BEAT AT HOME TO STOKE HOW EMBARRASSING IS THAT??
That is Relegation Material,
If the truth has to be said we could have lost the game?
And now Mike Ashley has reduced the price of the club, does he know something we don't = i.e = we are going down,
He will not give Michael Owen a new contract nor any of the other players we have, WHAT A MESS WE ARE IN??????????????????????????????
I have wrote articles on this page before but I must say this is the lowest I have felt in a long time.
Sorry I should have said a Draw at home to Stoke, not that it makes much difference
it would that guthrie is more important to the team than people realize. Why substitute young martins again? Kinnear once again lost his temper, who would employ this man?
Funny how a new manager always seems to initially lift a team, then if he's any good they continue with that impetus. Sadly, the true pedigree of nice Joe has shone through. His decisions for some weeks now, to take off our best player (Gutierrez) at crucial stages of games beginning at Fulham has in my opinion cost us points. And two weeks on the bounce, Martins who had arguably the best ammo in his locker to hurt Boro and Stoke. This dreadful gnawing feeling of relegation fear is something we can all live without, yet with the whole lousy structure within St. James's Park, it seems inevitable. Whoever published those Disneyland figures of 40% of fans wanting to welcome Ashley back to the stands is either tripping, or abusing his poetic license. I did my survey at half-time as opposed to buying Ashley's beer, which sadly is apparently selling like hot pies again, and out of 20 people questioned, my survey said 100% " F@@@ @FF ASHLEY! " I don't believe anything he says, and sadly, nice Joe sounds increasingly like his dictaphone.
A paper thin squad. A mediocre Manager (if I'm being kind - upset he might have been, but he's f*ck all use to us sat in the stands). And a bunch of complete tw@ts running the club.
I honestly cannot remember a time when I've felt so little optimism.
If Ashley doesn't get it by now - he needs to spend or we're dead, and Kinnear has to be allowed to pick the signings, not Wise - then he never will.
And I don't think he does get it. I think we'll be more surpised by who leaves in January than by who comes in. Come May 2009, if we scrape 4th from bottom it will be an outstanding achievement.