May 2011 Archives
Given the incredible low of 2009 and the consequent huge high of promotion in 2010, I don't think a bit of mid-table mediocrity should really come as a major surprise.
Somen Tchoyi's hat-trick may have felt agonising and was painful to watch but if anybody was in danger of getting carried away at St James' Park on Sunday against West Brom, we were provided with a short, sharp shock.
Finishing ninth and above Sunderland would have been a good way to end the season but the reality is that nothing has changed moving forward.
Newcastle United unveiled their new kit today with mixed reaction from Toon fans.
Looking back I think that the style of a kit is usually associated with the memories of how the team performed when wearing each particular shirt.
The history books tell us that United don't usually stray away from black and white stripes with the last non-black and white striped shirt coming way back in 1894 when we donned red (the colours of East End FC).
The big wigs from Sky TV, the prawn sandwich brigade and the new found fan from the middle classes will tell you that football boils down to money.
The traditionalists, those who used to stand on crumbling terracing drinking cold tea and over-priced pies, the thinking coach, the working class man on the street and anybody who has ever played the game will tell you that football boils down to goals.
At Anfield this could not have been more obvious for Newcastle United.
Without goals or a goalscorer, you would not have points, wins - or even £35million sitting in the bank.
For four games now this has been obvious to the observers of Newcastle United who have watched their side yield a solitary goal from 360 minutes of football.
Profile
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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