Paul Dixon has been following Newcastle United for more than 35 years, 17 of which have been as a season ticket holder in the Gallowgate End at St James' Park. Each week in his column, he takes a wry look at all things football - from a black-and-white perspective.
I GOT talking to a bloke while on holiday the other week. After agreeing wholeheartedly that, yes, the food was nice, yes, we’re drinking too much, and yes, as a general rule, Latino women look better in swimwear than their European counterparts, the subject inevitably turned to football.
After hearing that I supported Newcastle, there was a brief pause. Then, slightly sympathetically, he said: “They’re doing quite well, aren’t they?” That is a perfect summation of us. The statement carried enough ambiguity to suggest an element of positivity, while also allowing an element of patronising. We have clearly given up on the top four and are aiming for the nice comfort zone of middle-of-the-road mid-table – we’re the Radio 2 of football.
It’s all right Pardew and Llambias droning on about ‘investing every penny of the Carroll money back in the club’, but how do we know they aren’t decorating the offices and using the money for that as well?
I also note that we’re starting to hear about the next transfer window already. This Carroll windfall is being spread thinner than cheap meat paste.
What about the money that was set aside before Carroll left? What about the Nolan windfall? How do you expect supporters to get excited?
I have tried not to say too much about transfers before the window closes – after all, we may be working diligently behind the scenes to strengthen – but I thought all this spadework was already done.
Too many times in the recent past we’ve heard these bold mission statements, more five-year plans than the Halifax and building a strong foundation. The snag is, the clubs we aspire to contend with are strengthening on what they have, rather than replacing people, as we seem to be doing.
I don’t care about the January window. If we have our usual luck with injuries and suspensions, the January window will be for jumping out of, rather than buying in.
I hope I’m proved wrong and we do bring another two or three players in, which is the minimum. I’m beginning to suspect more and more, though, that like dear old Radio 2, we’ve settled for the safety of Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, rather than turn our trilbies back to front and try the more dangerous waters of Dopey Rascal on Radio 1.
