Back to School...

One of the things I like about getting older is the realisation that I’m still learning. It’s a cliché (and an old one at that) but most days I tend to find out something that I hadn’t previously considered.

Take the match against Tottenham. At two nil up I was exhorting the lads to batter them and go on to get four or five. I probably wasn’t the only one either, people around me were saying or intimating the same thing, but then Spurs scored and the momentum of the game swung back their way.

That’s when Sam earnt his money.

Even though the opposition were getting the upper hand and an equaliser, while not looking likely, was certainly a possibility, he didn’t panic. Spurs were retaining posession and building pressure.

Now in the recent past the team would have got increasingly nervy and this would have transmitted itself to the crowd, leading to a long last twenty minutes and probably one point instead of three.

Not Sam’s team though. The defenders simply concentrated on defending, clearing their lines with a safety first approach while the boss made his move.

He brought on Milner in order to stretch Tottenham's over committed defenders and it paid off, young James hitting a peach into the corner of the Spurs net.

Then came the moment of education for myself and the rest of the crowd when he took off Michael Owen and brought on another defender, the very handy David Rozenhal. In doing so he sigalled that pragmatism is going to be the way forward for Newcastle United.

The crowd, force fed a diet of tabloid myth about free flowing attacking football, in the main weren’t pleased. Going five at the back indicated that we’d settled for three goals and were consolidating our lead but it was the correct thing to do.

It’s what successful teams have done since the inception of football as a sport and it’s what we have to not only get used to but also learn to appreciate.

Sam knew that if Spurs had got another one back then the game was in the balance again and, bearing in mind they came back to force a draw from being four-one down against Aston Villa, with the quality in their squad they were quite capable of even winning it.

So for me it was an educational moment and one which shows that our club, after the ridiculous antics of the former regime, are intent on approaching everything in a professional manner once more.

With that I have to touch upon our new leader again.

Mike Ashley is fast becoming a cult figure at Newcastle. He was already popular just for deposing Shepherd and his cronies but his obvious enthusiasm for our club, and indeed our city, is plain for all to see.

He was spotted in The Strawberry pub before the game and then appeared in the directors box with his best mate (The former Spurs vice-chairman) wearing his now obligatory short sleeved Newcastle top.

He had a one hundred thousand pound bet with his friend (with the proceeds going to charity) on the outcome of the match and appeared to thoroughly enjoy himself, no doubt having a few drinks in town after the game as well.

Ally this to the fact that he has introduced very good value season ticket deals for next year (interest free credit, gratis cup games etc.) and gives free drinks to fans who get to the ground early and he is making the (London based) journalists who constantly claim he’s trying to sell the club look a bit silly.

It’s all looking rosy on the good ship Newcastle United at the minute – long may it continue.

Howay the lads.