I was working all over the place back in those days, and for a time after. They were genuinely popular under Keegan. They had a good side and Keegan himself is a very likeable bloke. I've met him, and can vouch for him being a really decent kind. The popularity they had then was as much to do with his personal charisma than owt else. After another brief period of popularity under Robson,( again as much about the man) they quickly became a figure of mockery everywhere I went. I still keep in touch with a fair amount of people from elsewhere. The overwhelming view is no longer that of comic mockery but a pronounced contempt. The embarrassing embrace of an odious dictatorship as an owner has brought a widespread opprobrium unprecedented in my experience.
This. I can tell you a story from a mate of mine when we were at uni together in the mid 90s. He'd went to Birmingham to visit his girlfriend for a few days. He went into a pub down there and was served by a barman wearing a mag top, which looked a bit ridiculous as the bloke had a massive tattoo on his left forearm of the Birmingham City badge. But as you say, around that time they had a bit of popularity round the country with other fans due to Keegans personality and the kind of football they played then, "the entertainers". I think that they do mistake that affection then as still being there now when it's not. I often wonder, though, if done of that popularity was also inflated by fans of other teams because of how disliked Liverpool, Arsenal and Man U were by other fans sick of them winning regularly, with Newcastle at the time being a fresh alternative.
It’s hilarious how defensive they are. It’s sound though cos they tricked Liverpool into signing Etikike….
Sad as it is I have to agree. I could never ever bring myself to actually support the repugnant monochromatic horse abusing creatures but during Keegans initial tenure there they were an entertaining team to watch.
Gravy top watch at Ponteland Airport this morning. Seen a couple of stinking mags and one top lad in the blue away kit. Pretty quiet here to be honest, got through security just as all the Jet2 flights were taking off so I imagine it was wall to wall gravy earlier
Correct. As 'exciting' as a team they may have been, always remembered for that moment. And the 4-3 losses to Liverpool. **** them. My dad reckons waiting until they play Liverpool before selling Isak. Makes sense.
Makes sense, but it only gives them a week to get a replacement in to keep the fans happy (I know the transfer window is open for another three weeks, but losing him definitely makes them weaker). But after the way they've missed out on players it's going to be very tight for them. We've seen in the last couple weeks with the way our transfer targets have dragged on and even the Xhaka transfer being described as taking a month to complete. As the window draws to a close there's more chance of panic buys, over paying and having your pants pulled down. But it's the mags, so ****'em
