Waved Out

I’ve not set foot in St James’ Park at all during 2018. The last full calendar year that happened, or didn’t happen, was 1972, mainly because my first ever visit was for a 2-2 draw with Leicester City on New Year’s Day 1973. Indeed, during the season just ending, I saw Newcastle United a mere twice in the flesh; firstly, a dreadful 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest in the League Cup back in August, then a dismal, sterile 0-0 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion on December 30^th that was considerably inferior to a game with the same score against the same opponents in front of 13,000 bored and frozen onlookers in February 1991. In The Bodega after this latest stalemate, I made the solemn promise I would not return to watch Newcastle United while Rafa Benitez remained in charge. So far, I’ve been as good as my word.

The single point secured during the turgid, Festive non-event with the Seagulls had seen Newcastle fall to 16^th place, their second lowest position of the entire season, bested (or worsted?) only by a short stay in the relegation area after the away loss to Arsenal in early December. However, it seemed certain, on the cusp of another grim and depressing transfer window that would doubtless be characterised by silent inertia from the boardroom and clamorous social media discord among the support, that NUFC would soon inevitably sink into the drop zone and remain there until season’s end and the seemingly unpreventable return to The Championship. Obviously the enduring, malignant factor in the decay that plagues the club is the owner. However, as 2017 moved towards 2018, I found absolutely no grounds to have any faith in the complacent, shiftless Benitez, who seemed concerned only with deflecting any blame from himself for the club’s privations and endlessly slaughtering his squad in public, seemingly unaware of the basic psychology underpinning self-fulfilling prophecies.

Full time after Brighton, Newcastle had 19 points from 21 games; 14 of those were harvested during a 7-game window of adequacy in September and October that had seen the team rise to the baffling heights of 6^th in the table. Unfortunately, 1 point from the next 9 games had seen hopes plummet, though astonishingly Benitez was absolved from blame by the vast majority of a supine, brainwashed support that appeared to have as much intent in questioning their leader’s motives and performance as David Koresh’s congregation in Waco.

Then events took a decided turn for the better. Consequently, I am happy to admit that I got it wrong and that Rafa Benitez was the right man to keep Newcastle in the top flight. The statistics simply don’t lie. In the final 17 games of the season, NUFC collected 25 points; an average of 1.5 points per game, as opposed to 0.8 until Brighton. The reasons for this turnaround in form and fortune are complex and complementary; new blood in the shape of Dubravka, an excellent goalkeeper whose calmness under pressure was a vast improvement of the agile but nervous Darlow, and Kenedy, a vibrant, creative talent who proved a cut above the unimpressive Atsu. Defensive solidity from Dummett, Lascelles and Lejeune. Midfield strength from Shelvey and a rejuvenated Diame. Attacking prowess from a great spring by Perez, Ritchie and Gayle. Most importantly; the penny dropped with Benitez, who suddenly realised it was time to play the hand he’d been dealt and that he’d be better off concentrating on coaching rather than castigating the squad, radiating positive vibes rather than stern-faced criticism.

Alright, not everything went to plan after New Year; Islam Slimani’s time on Tyneside as a loan-signing centre forward was more akin to the performances of Doumbia and Ferraya than Loic Remy. Gamez, Good and Haidara will undoubtedly leave without achieving anything of note in a black and white shirt. Joselu, Hayden, Manquillo and Merino from the Benitez signings, not to mention the legacy players such as Mbemba and all those out on loan, especially the cumbersome, petulant walking disaster that is Mitrovic, may not have sufficient time left at the club to state their case for a permanent stay. However, the annual business of squad overhaul is the core close season task of the manager and, on balance, I have to say I’m content that Benitez is offered the opportunity to continue in his current role. Indeed, there is an argument, that I’m still agnostic towards, that he needs a longer contract to establish stability from the top downwards. Possibly. What he really needs is enough money to improve the squad; two top quality forwards are absolutely essential purchases. As ever, Ashley’s role in the club going forward is the critical and unpredictable one.

That said, I feel the final day evisceration of a plainly pathetic Chelsea side, whose only efforts seemed focussed on removing Conte from post, has given Benitez a much stronger bargaining position that prior to the game. Victory, after 4 successive losses, when only the second half at Watford and the Spurs game showed the team to be doing anything other than treading water once safety had been assured, resulted in a top half finish, a whole 11 points clear of danger. From where we were at Christmas, that represents an astonishing change in fortunes, completely unlike the end of the 2015/2016 campaign where Benitez’s inability to coax a win from games against Norwich, Villa or the Mackems saw him take Newcastle down. It appears that Newcastle United has done Benitez some good, as he has learned how to manage in straitened circumstances. The payback for this can be found in the way the squad has learned to play the way he wants them to. Alright, at times it has been utterly abysmal to watch, but home wins over Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are not to be sneezed at. The football has never been expansive, but it has certainly been far better than functional. This tangible achievement is why Benitez deserves the unqualified, though not uncritical, backing and support of the owner to take the club forward. However, the fans, who have elevated Benitez from el Jefe to el Rey, may need something of a reality check for, as is often the case, Newcastle supporters are highly strung, emotional beings, wont to lose the run of themselves when in thrall to passion.

I was at the surreal 5-1 demolition of Spurs at the end of the season 2 years back where, with relegation already assured, the whole stadium was a cauldron of organic positivity. Perhaps it did enough to persuade Benitez to stay; I really don’t know. However, the crass metamorphosis from natural enthusiasm to manufactured, choreographed flag days that began to take hold during the 2016/2017 season really does leave me cold. While the farcical last day walkout against Cardiff in 2014 that saw only about a couple of thousand take part and the baffling PR disasters masquerading as days of action by the likes of Pardew Out and the frankly unhinged wannabe Baader Meinhoff Gang of Willington Quay, MAOC, were bad enough, this series of fawning displays of Nuremberg Rally style mass adulation for Benitez is as unnecessary as it is undeserved. Tawdry, demotic and hysterical, the irony of displaying toadying, obsequious messages of simpering affection and supposed solidarity against big, bad Ashley underneath an enormous Sports Direct badge is lost on some people. Remember, the only flag that caused any dissent among the self-selected superfan standard bearers was the wonderful NUFC LGBT+ rainbow banner, which tells us quite a lot about the weltanschauung of the South Tyneside authoritarian populists in the Gallowgate. This is such a shame, as the positive support for the West End Food Bank has been a shining beacon of positive community action from the support.

However, contrast this with the utterly ludicrous, insistent clamour for Benitez to be named Manager of the Year. For finishing 10^th. Surely, we ought to reward success not mediocrity? Guardiola has steered Manchester City to the title, gaining 100 points along the way, not to mention the League Cup as well. Klopp has taken Liverpool to the Champions’ League final. Sean Dyche has led Burnley into the Europa League. If Nigel Clough, whose Burton Albion side relegated Sunderland, or Martin Allen at Barnet had pulled off unthinkably heroic escapes, they would have been in with a shout of the award in my book. All of the above, plus Paul Cook at Wigan and John Coleman at sunderland’s League 1 rivals Accrington Stanley, are in with stronger shouts than Benitez when it comes to the LMA gong.

Let’s look even closer to home. If it was the North East Manager of the Year we were selecting, there are plenty of more deserving candidates. My old colleague Marc Nash at North Shields has singlehandedly raised the cash for a defibrillator in response to one of his Tyne Met College players suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch. Fair play to Nashy and everyone at the Robins for this wonderful and life-saving gesture. Then there’s Mark Bullock at Hazelrigg Victory; five years on from forming the club, he’ll be managing them in the Northern Alliance Premier Division next time around, showing selfless dedication and a love of the grassroots game so often ignored by those who think football begins and ends with the Premier League. Four promotions in successive seasons is an amazing achievement.

What about Richie McLoughlin? The man who, for 30 years, piloted Jarrow Roofing from a Sunday league to the semi finals of the FA Vase. He built the ground, looked after the pitch, funded the team and squared up the fines to the Northern League and Durham FA. When necessary, he managed and played, all the time existing on paltry gates. In all that time, he gained as much ignorant, unwarranted criticism as he did praise. Now, in his 60s, he’s called it a day; Roofing went down from Northern League D1, so he folded them, as you simply can’t pass on the baton in such circumstances. It’s time for him to enjoy his retirement, so how about some recognition for what he’s done? He’s been an unsung hero and an inspiration for 3 decades. Like Nashy and Bully, he’s not in this for adulation or material rewards. He just loves the game. Not for those lads the political machinations of top flight football; they’d rather wash the strips than give a press conference.

Undoubtedly, Benitez has done well for Newcastle in 2018, but let’s keep things in perspective. He’s not a credible contender for the title of Manager of the Year and if he leaves SJP, he lseave. Whether it’s him or another hired hand in the dugout come August 2018, you’re still lining Mike Ashley’s pockets whenever you set foot in the ground. To pretend otherwise is not just disingenuous, it’s deceit. Try thinking that through before you wave your next flag.