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.
"HELLO again from the - 'Get 2 – pasties – for - one if you spend a fiver' Dome"! From the people who brought you - "What? I didn't think I had to put money in every season like the supporters."
You don’t need to believe people who run football clubs, but this crew take the biscuit, and the large slice of cake. “Andy Carroll is not for sale.” – “The ground will not change its name during our tenure” – “Alan Shearer’s appointment is the best we have made here” – all from the mouth of the worst leader since Roman Consul Sempronius told his armies “Don’t be ridiculous, what idiot would bring elephants over the Alps”?
The weekend revelations about his rant at Shearer, Keegan and Carroll, reveal Llambias thinks he is on The Sweeney.
He should have been sacked after the embarrassing (now familiar) scuttle round the last hour of transfer-window day, which raises an interesting question in itself.
The sales of Carroll, Nolan, Enrique plus the savings on their wage, along with Barton, released many funds.
Therefore, why are we hawking round the naming rights to our stadium like the agent of a deadbeat cabaret singer of the 70s trying to get their client on ‘I am a loser, get me out of here’?
Unfortunately, what we see is synonymous with modern football since Sky arrived.
Everything is for sale in the headlong rush to earn the right to play the third-placed team in Macedonia in the Europa League.
The saddest aspect of this is supporters are now so detached from the process – flooding message boards and newspaper columns are merely toothpicks thrown against charging dinosaurs.
Sure, we can bellyache against the hapless manager and influence his position, but the modern-day owner is so rich, so omnipotent, so surrounded by ‘yes’ men, they can apply any practice with impunity.
It also ill behoves previous grandees – Sir John Hall and Freddie Shepherd, to chip in with their £145million’s worth.
I don’t remember growing up and standing in the ‘Sir John Hall’ stand, or indeed the ‘Brown Ale’ or ‘Exhibition’ stand, which they were quite happy to accept.
This current lot are a product of what cash-rotten football has become.
