Hot reception for Zoggy could re-ignite the season
Charles N'Zogbia was hardly renowned for his wisecracks and banter during his stint in a black and white shirt - and whether he sees the funny side of things when he gets booed from pillar to post against Wigan on Saturday is a serious doubt.
He won't be the first player to be booed on his return to St James' Park and he certainly won't be the last, but it will happen - and that can only add a bit of spice to a game that many are already classing as "must win."
Zoggy done himself no favours with the way he left St James' and I'm told by some of his close friends he regrets the decision to leave.
On paper, it's a no-brainer, Wigan Athletic in front of rows of empty seats or Newcastle United with the potential and huge fanbase in front of up to 52,000?
But having reached breaking point after some troubled times on Tyneside, he opted to leave and on his way out came a reported punch-up with Andy Carroll before being branded "Insomnia" by Joe Kinnear.
In fairness to the Zog, he's been Wigan's best player since he joined the Latics but in a short career - one in which he managed to link himself with Arsenal and Bayern Munich - N'Zogbia wasted a chance to be a real hero with United fans for years to come.
It's obvious he's been badly advised but in the words of Sir Bobby Robson "it doesn't come much bigger after Newcastle United".
And trophies or no trophies, with heartache and controversy thrown in, it's completely right.
Newcastle's training base is one of the best in Europe, at Wigan the players train on fields akin to Sunday League surfaces.
We've already mentioned the seats but living in a town like Wigan does not compare to life in the Toon, not least because passion for football in Wigan is watered down by the obsession with rugby league.
This is mainly caused by bizarre bitterness between fans of football and rugby league in the town which ultimately equates to rows and rows of empty seats during Premier League games.
Some might say it's all a bit grim.
Therefore it's obvious enough that he was badly advised.
I mean, Zoggy lad, what were you thinking!
Nevertheless, when N'Zogbia is on the end of the hot reception in store at St James' Park on Saturday, it could well work in Newcastle's favour.
Thinking back to a few examples where it's been similar.
I remember when David Ginola came back with Spurs and endured a real going over by fans in a game that ended 6-1 in the FA Cup in 1999 and when Chris Waddle made one of his returns to St James' Park in the Premier League in 1993, it proved to be a classic encounter against Sheff Wed in a game that United won 4-2.
Jermaine Jenas in another game against Spurs in 2006 resulted in chants of "3-1 to the Goldfish bowl" while Gazza being pelted with frozen Mars Bars is a memory from a different era.
There are many more, so feel free to chip in with your own memories to share with other fans.
OK, some of them aren't quite as bad (and nobody is encouraging it) as Figo being struck by a pig's head playing for Real Madrid against Barcelona but as I say, it could all work in Newcastle's favour.
As well as the Magpies played at Man City, the fact we emerged with nothing, unlucky or not, means this in my eyes is a must win game against a team that will be in trouble at the wrong end of the table this season.
Therefore, if the sight of N'Zogbia making a return lifts the crowd that little bit more in what could be a classed as a non-pulsating fixture compared to others, getting up to 10 points after eight games is classed as a landmark of a season in which survival is the main aim.
That 6-0 hiding over Aston Villa seems a long time ago now and beating Wigan is key.
Nowt like stating the obvious I hear you cry!
But imagine we don't and then we're heading to West Ham before a crucial Tyne-Wear derby at the end of the month?
It's not even worth thinking about, before you even mention form books or windows.
Therefore if we're toasting three points after a cracking atmosphere on Saturday night, it'll be a case of raise a glass to the Zog-meister!
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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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If we play 1 up-front,as in AC who is still finding his feet in the PL then we'll get nout again... He needs some help up there to spread the load and put some more pressure on visiting teams. forget zoggy, everyone else has!
I know Jenas quite well and to this day, he swears blind he never made the `goldfish' remark. Others back up his claim. It was Souness who wanted him out.
As far as N'Zogbia goes, admittedly he didn't handle things well but wasn't it more a case of him wanting to move away from Kinnear than Newcastle?
My Memories go further back to when Brian "Pop" Robson came back for West Ham after leaving in similar crcumstances and he got the both barrels from the Leazes End. However SuperMac got a heroes reception when he returned with Arsenal "We want our Mac back" the chant from the Leazes End went. Most players get a decent reception if they have put in a good shift when playing for use, but the likes of N'Zogbia and his ilk, who are legends in their own minds, deserve all they get really.
If my manager referred to me in front of the World's press in a detrimental manner as that bufoon Kinnnear did, then I would be on jobserve within the day. I was disgusted at the ape Kinnear's treatment of him - he did the CLub far more damage than is given credit for.
As for a punch up with Carroll - well who in the dressnig room hasn't?
He did leave a big hole - he would have frightened the CL defences witless last year - and we cold do with him now.
I agree with Toonagain, it's all well and good giving zoggy stick (Hope he gets stick coz he deserves it) but in saying that, if we don't win, he will have the last laugh and he shouldn't be allowed to have that satisfaction. Anything other than a win against wigan is not even worth contemplating coz my WORD! we do need the WIN. COMEON LADS!!!
just a couple of things (re: above) "Both barrels from the Leavers end"!? hehe
... and zog leaving because of what the manager said- rubbish, how wet is that? they're all lads playing football at the end of the day and its a bit of banter. He was already lookig for an exit route and it was an excuse, i'm just so glad arsenal came in and took him away, em sorry i mean WIGAN! haha wish they had thrown him and egg shaped ball when he got there ahhahaha
and as for Jenas, well if he didn't say it he should of put it right in the papers if he didn't say it, hes has his chances. but won't argue both JK and GS were both mistakes for the toon.
I witnessed some of Jenas's behaviour on the Quayside. No wonder he looked knackered on the pitch. Speed used to cover for him and he was exposed for what he was when SBR foolishly sold Speedo.