Newcastle United sit in 4th place with one third of the season already through ahead of the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, all clubs who have in recent years competed for and even won the title. More importantly, Newcastle are amongst a group of 7 clubs who have broken away from the rest of the pack, Villa in 8th being some 7 points behind a faltering Arsenal.
Although there is no doubting Newcastle have added a number of quality players to their ranks in the likes of Cabaye, Tiote and Ba, the most notable difference to Toon sides of previous seasons is a strong sense of belief and a genuine bond between the players and their manager.
In the 2008/09 season, on paper we had a decent side. One that should have finished somewhere in midtable obscurity but with no clear leader or direction they sank like a stone. Frustrated players who acted like strangers to eachother and didn't seem to enjoy eachother's company. The lack of motivation from the manager(s) is what sent us down, KK's early efforts undone by MA's meddling in his affairs.
Things are all rosy now though, the side that went down bonded in the Championship under a great man-manager Hughton and made a reasonable impact on their return to the top flight. Pardew took over when Chris left off and the spirit is still high at St James Park, no weak links in a very happy squad.
Oh but Mod Face, we've heard this all before! We know our club's recent history, don't make such a pointless article! But wait...
Move a little further North to my home town club Blyth Spartans. Under Harry Dunn, a massive character at Croft Park the club gained promotion to the Blue Square North on the back of a treble winning season, almost made the play-offs for a second promotion and had their famous cup run which saw part-timers battle their way past league outfits Shrewsbury and Bournemouth before being knocked out in the third round with a very respectable 1-0 loss to a weakened Blackburn Rovers side in front of a full house. He also avoided the dreaded 'second season syndrome'.
Dunn was not offered a new contract and fans were understandably sad to see 'the tash' leave. In came a manager with various experience managing in the region, Mick Tait who, though not as extrovert as wor Harry, molded the team into a solid BSN side, one that could play with style on the ground whilst defending well. He stabilised the club and had a clear plan he was slowly excecuting. Tait's contract was also allowed to run out.
In all their wisdom, the Spartans board decided to bring in an inexperienced pair from Whitley Bay, Steve Cuggy and Gavin Fell. Both canny lads but making a huge step up. They were not helped by the players they lost in the summer including top-scorer Brayson and Mick Tait's son Michael Tait. They underwent a massive player turnover, almost on a Charlton scale and in doing so, destroyed the spirit that was in the changing room.
The 2011/12 season started indifferently and went downhill from there. Two managers finding themselves quickly out of their depth could not instill any form of confidence in their hastily gathered squad watched their side quietly lose game after game. A massive failure in communication and signs of possible bad blood amongst the players, unable to pinpoint who was to blame.
From a club regularly pulling in gates of 500 attendances dropped, fans understandably disillusioned by the lack of heart shown by the players, previously known for their heart and determination. The club now seriously risk playing games in front of sub 300 gates but the fan apathy is understandable given the generous £10 they're charged to watch 11 men roll over and play dead as their manager stands by idly, not even giving commands.
Tonight was a quickly arranged 'practice match' against Seaton Delaval Amateurs, a club midtable of the 11th tier of English football in the Northern Football Alliance. Obviously chosen as a morale-boosting 'wininthebag' fixture with open gates, an emotionally tired Blyth Spartans side struggled to a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of roughly 100.
The difference was purely confidence. The Seaton Delaval lads who on paper should have been happy to keep the goal difference below five fought with a passion that hasn't been seen at Croft Park in months. They defended well and most played the game whilst supporting eachother, constant praise and instruction amongst eachother. Aside from the annoyed cries of Wayne Phillips, starved of service on the wing, the Blyth side played like they'd just met eachother.
The feeling I'm getting is very much like the season when Newcastle were relegated. The fans have no voice, the manager has no direction and the players seemingly have no pride. A reasonable FA Cup run seemed the only redeeming feature of the infant season but that was ended by a predictable 2-0 loss to arch rivals Gateshead, unlike last season's clash this one saw dropped heads in green and white hand the Conference side a place in the next round.
A home loss in the NSC to Newcastle Benfield, knocked out of the FA Trophy with a 3-1 loss and the last league victory being a 1-0 win against Boston mid September, the light at the end of the tunnel is nowhere to be seen. The sinking feeling has been welcomed with open arms by all at Croft Park and the bigger worry now seems to be whether we can avoid the double drop.
DING DING
ROUND 2
Names on a teamsheet, cash in the bank, exotic managers, sometimes there is no real substitute for team spirt, something both Newcastle United and Blyth Spartans are proving this season.
To lighten the mood (mine at least), can anyone name any other example of where a club has massively overachieved/underachieved purely due to the feel of the dressing room?
Although there is no doubting Newcastle have added a number of quality players to their ranks in the likes of Cabaye, Tiote and Ba, the most notable difference to Toon sides of previous seasons is a strong sense of belief and a genuine bond between the players and their manager.
In the 2008/09 season, on paper we had a decent side. One that should have finished somewhere in midtable obscurity but with no clear leader or direction they sank like a stone. Frustrated players who acted like strangers to eachother and didn't seem to enjoy eachother's company. The lack of motivation from the manager(s) is what sent us down, KK's early efforts undone by MA's meddling in his affairs.
Things are all rosy now though, the side that went down bonded in the Championship under a great man-manager Hughton and made a reasonable impact on their return to the top flight. Pardew took over when Chris left off and the spirit is still high at St James Park, no weak links in a very happy squad.
Oh but Mod Face, we've heard this all before! We know our club's recent history, don't make such a pointless article! But wait...
Move a little further North to my home town club Blyth Spartans. Under Harry Dunn, a massive character at Croft Park the club gained promotion to the Blue Square North on the back of a treble winning season, almost made the play-offs for a second promotion and had their famous cup run which saw part-timers battle their way past league outfits Shrewsbury and Bournemouth before being knocked out in the third round with a very respectable 1-0 loss to a weakened Blackburn Rovers side in front of a full house. He also avoided the dreaded 'second season syndrome'.
Dunn was not offered a new contract and fans were understandably sad to see 'the tash' leave. In came a manager with various experience managing in the region, Mick Tait who, though not as extrovert as wor Harry, molded the team into a solid BSN side, one that could play with style on the ground whilst defending well. He stabilised the club and had a clear plan he was slowly excecuting. Tait's contract was also allowed to run out.
In all their wisdom, the Spartans board decided to bring in an inexperienced pair from Whitley Bay, Steve Cuggy and Gavin Fell. Both canny lads but making a huge step up. They were not helped by the players they lost in the summer including top-scorer Brayson and Mick Tait's son Michael Tait. They underwent a massive player turnover, almost on a Charlton scale and in doing so, destroyed the spirit that was in the changing room.
The 2011/12 season started indifferently and went downhill from there. Two managers finding themselves quickly out of their depth could not instill any form of confidence in their hastily gathered squad watched their side quietly lose game after game. A massive failure in communication and signs of possible bad blood amongst the players, unable to pinpoint who was to blame.
From a club regularly pulling in gates of 500 attendances dropped, fans understandably disillusioned by the lack of heart shown by the players, previously known for their heart and determination. The club now seriously risk playing games in front of sub 300 gates but the fan apathy is understandable given the generous £10 they're charged to watch 11 men roll over and play dead as their manager stands by idly, not even giving commands.
Tonight was a quickly arranged 'practice match' against Seaton Delaval Amateurs, a club midtable of the 11th tier of English football in the Northern Football Alliance. Obviously chosen as a morale-boosting 'wininthebag' fixture with open gates, an emotionally tired Blyth Spartans side struggled to a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of roughly 100.
The difference was purely confidence. The Seaton Delaval lads who on paper should have been happy to keep the goal difference below five fought with a passion that hasn't been seen at Croft Park in months. They defended well and most played the game whilst supporting eachother, constant praise and instruction amongst eachother. Aside from the annoyed cries of Wayne Phillips, starved of service on the wing, the Blyth side played like they'd just met eachother.
The feeling I'm getting is very much like the season when Newcastle were relegated. The fans have no voice, the manager has no direction and the players seemingly have no pride. A reasonable FA Cup run seemed the only redeeming feature of the infant season but that was ended by a predictable 2-0 loss to arch rivals Gateshead, unlike last season's clash this one saw dropped heads in green and white hand the Conference side a place in the next round.
A home loss in the NSC to Newcastle Benfield, knocked out of the FA Trophy with a 3-1 loss and the last league victory being a 1-0 win against Boston mid September, the light at the end of the tunnel is nowhere to be seen. The sinking feeling has been welcomed with open arms by all at Croft Park and the bigger worry now seems to be whether we can avoid the double drop.
DING DING
ROUND 2
Names on a teamsheet, cash in the bank, exotic managers, sometimes there is no real substitute for team spirt, something both Newcastle United and Blyth Spartans are proving this season.
To lighten the mood (mine at least), can anyone name any other example of where a club has massively overachieved/underachieved purely due to the feel of the dressing room?
Cheers.
