Just support the team

Forget the statistics. Statistics are for commentators and pundits, of which we are neither. I am fed up of people spouting out stats with authority. That’s not our job.

Our job, as supporters, is to support.

Alan Pardew is a man who carries himself with a certain dignity. Now, I know some people will strongly disagree with that statement, but, with all the hatred piled his way, it must take a certain kind of person to still applaud the fans at the beginning of a match, despite him being acutely aware of the protests some of them are making against him.

He has an owner who lets him hang in public (anger and all), he has a public (the fans), who is gunning for him and attacking him at every opportunity and a set of players who have not come out to the fans and apologised for their dismal performances, especially the one against Southampton. Whether Pardew and his coaching staff have told the players not to speak out, I do not know, but, I would not be surprised. In his interviews, the manager has taken the pressure off the players. However, some would argue that this could be his undoing, by letting them get away with too many poor displays.

As for the protests against Pardew, they appeared as futile as the ideas behind them. The real villain of the piece, in my opinion and for reasons I have already stated in this blog, is Mike Ashley.

And herein lies the dilemma for Newcastle fans:

Mike Ashley is a businessman, not a football man. In order to hurt him, we have to hit him in the pocket and to not attend matches or to buy shirts. But, NUFC fans are a proud lot and will never miss the opportunity to see their heroes play and so, will pay to see matches and will buy their shirts with pride. And on and on we’ll go.

Can we talk about football now?

The match against Hull showed the Jekyll and Hyde sides of Newcastle United. Good build-up play with flat finishes in the first half, before two good strikes put us two down. The roar and the passion of the fans driving the team towards a climax that Papiss Cisse has come to know quite well in his time on Tyneside.

Two goals in the last twenty minutes, along with a respectful dedication to Jonas Gutierrez (who, this week, it was announced was fighting testicular cancer), shows that Cisse, despite his frequent goal droughts, has bought into Newcastle United. At the moment, he is probably the closest we can get to having a fan on the pitch.

Hopefully, his two goals against Hull City will spark a resurgence in his, and the team’s, form. No disrespect to Riviere, but, with an experienced spearhead that can capitalise on the efforts of Cabella, Sissoko, Colback and Goufrann, Newcastle could soon be heading in the right direction.