Loyalty.
The word that provokes reverse lips, tuts, paks and tired shakes from heads.
I remember the first time that the scars, as a certain Mr Fender, could croon for me. Andy Cole left us. I couldn’t wrap my head around the almighty betrayal.
Perhaps it was my 11-year-old sensitivities, or my forced movement from my beloved northeast to ‘Darn-Sarf’ who played with my emotions.
I had seen one of my first heroes make his debut, a replacement for the provincial land of Swindon Town. Because of romance and memory, I try to forget to hear the abuse that he got a small group of his own supposed supporters.
I saw how this not -announced prospect wrote in Toon History, an absolute goal machine, loved and honored by everyone. His collaboration with Peter Beardsley, his connection and chemistry with Lee Clark, this man became a Newcastle United Icon. And then he left.
From all places he went to Manchester United. Man you! Why would he leave? How could he become a member of our greatest rivals? Why didn’t he care like I did?
I had no idea at the time of the tensions behind the scenes with Kevin Keegan, or that Cole itself was not the most important agitator behind the move. And I was just too young to understand that Andy Cole just didn’t like Newcastle United as much as me.
Almost exactly two years later, Kevin Keegan left us. This was even destroying for me. The Messiah itself ran away.
My parents are still married to this day, but I could only equate this betrayal to my father who ran on my mother and us!
Later that year Princess Diana passed Tragic, World News. I remember told my father that it was almost as shocking as when Keegan resigned a few months earlier, so was the impact it had on me. “Keep that thought with yourself, son!”
As the years passed and I grew up, I witnessed a variety of ‘betrayal’. Lee Clark, another idol of mine, joined Sunderland. Bloody Sunderland, Agh!
Shay gave the left -wing pursuit ambition, although to this day he has retained his support for the tone, indeed referring to “us” when discussing NUFC about media people.
Les Ferdinand rejected the opportunity to stay, albeit after he had been treated with completely contempt by a certain Lord Dalglish, who had already agreed to sell him against his wishes before he changed his mind due to an injury crisis.
Enrique, Debuchy, Cabaye, Carrol, Ba, Perez, went on, one -off heroes who dump the club for new meadows (and fortunes!).
And so it is with the newest hero, Alexander the Great, or Isak the rat, depending on who you ask!
Make no mistake, I am shocked about how this spoiled superstar led itself.
But I am not surprised. I was not destroyed. I am indifferent. It is a great shame, because this man could have been a adopted Geordie -hero.
But that is the keyword – accepted.
Alexander Isak has no loyalty to Newcastle United, even though the club is making him. He has no idea what it is like to hurt when the club is faltering, or the pride of supporting fighting against Underdogs against the world. He is an employee, paid to wear the shirt.
We don’t have to mourn, he came in, did the work and went on. No pride, no love, no loyalty. Just don’t expect a back.
When I think of supporting Newcastle United during my life, I can really think of one player with a real ‘loyalty’, and that is Alan Shearer.
He could learn a few about that dirty word, loyalty. We will continue.
How do you want the boys!
#dirty #word #football