This ‘Outside Perspective’ is brought to you by Stoke City fan Luke. Huge thanks to him for taking the time to answer the following questions. Despite his team playing in red & white stripes, he’s quick to tell us he’s no Mackem! What does he make of the current goings on at NUFC? Find out below:
What memories do you have of your team’s matches against Newcastle United over the years, do any particular games stand out?
At university, I lived with a Newcastle United fan and we’d often end up in deep and meaningful conversations about football, armchair managing and trying to predict results. Supporting two clubs that tend to have a predominantly local fanbase meant we could relate to one another. Results were a mixed bag, I remember sitting in a bar watching Newcastle beat Stoke 3-1 with Timmy Krul being the hero. Chanting and banter rang out around the bar with a bigger number of Newcastle fans than Stoke. For a moment it looked as though tensions were growing and an inevitable bar room brawl would happen. After the chanting and banter however, a pint was put in front of me and a friendly chat followed about how well both sides had played (and of course a slating of Sunderland!) I can’t think of many clubs where this would have been the case.
Can you think of any players who have played for both teams, what kind of impression did they make?
There have been a select few in living memory. The main one being goalkeeping legend Shay Given. Whilst we can all agree a stunning goalkeeper for the Toon, for stoke he was way past his best! Brilliant as a coach and worked hard for the club off the pitch, he couldn’t catch a cold let alone the ball in his few appearances.
Have you ever visited St James’ Park and/or the city of Newcastle, what did you make of your time there?
I have yet to visit the mighty St James’ Park, however I have been to Newcastle. One of the most random weekends of my life! Very friendly people who take pride in their team. Where football seems to be a religion rather than “just a game” no fickle or glory hunting fans just war-hardened followers of their team.
Hypothetically, if your team’s next match was at home to Newcastle in the league, would you be quietly confident of three points?
With how Stoke are, I wouldn’t know where to put my money. With a change in Newcastle manager and the right wet, windy night in stoke I would think a close game could be in order. Would I go to it? Yes! Would I enjoy the game? It would be uncertain but it would be loud from both sets of fans.
Newcastle fans have often been referred to as ‘deluded’ by some sections of the media, unfair and untrue, entirely justified or somewhere in the middle?
Seeing my team go from the old second division to the premiership and back to the championship I am used to the “maybe this is our season” and then the “we are too big to get relegated syndrome” which bands around the terraces and then social media. Growing up I remember Bobby Robson in the dug out and in the words of Gazza “feeling a safe feeling around Newcastle” I think there is a fine line between confident and deluded and I think Newcastle fans are willing themselves back to those days. I applaud Toon fans and hope their club repay the pride they have in them.
‘Newcastle United is not a big club’ How would you respond to this statement?
Rubbish! Biggest club in the north (sorry Mik and Sunderland) unsure whether current owners see this with recent appointments. Only time will tell.
What does Mike Ashley’s ownership of Newcastle look like from the outside?
I am unsure how to answer this, he has clearly taken you from relegation back to the premiership, took on Rafa and even took the club out of debt which when you look at teams like Blackpool shows the dangers of what could have happened. On the other hand, low transfer budgets, open arguments, trying to get rid of the club and getting rid of Rafa for a somewhat cheaper alternative doesn’t point to a dedicated owner. It does look like he’s using the club to advertise and every time he ‘tries’ to sell it, he mentions his brand name I shall only call the “cheap warehouse style sporty shop” as I don’t want to publicise it anymore. All I can think is it would take a lot for fans who wear no shirt whilst snow falls around them to boycott the match and there must be a reason for this.
Would you swap the current owner of your club for Mike Ashley?
No chance! We are lucky to have fans as owners. Whilst they make mistakes, cut them through the middle and ‘Stoke’ is written through them and not the name of “cheap warehouse style sporty shop”
In this day and age of TV revenue, do you believe supporter led protests such as boycotts etc still have the power to bring about positive change?
The problem is Newcastle are the pride of the north and people will always be willing to watch them and cheer them on. I think the power of the people helps though and I hope that when it’s finally sold that this is enough to get the fans back. If the owners are thinking about the good of the club then yes it can help but if they are thinking commercially its very difficult to see the true outcome.
Where do you think Newcastle will finish in the league this season and why?
I hope they get mid table again but with a new manager who knows? Optimism isn’t high at the moment and without change I’m not too sure. Some pundits have quoted “too big to go down” I hope that this is the Case.
Do you think the manager’s job at Newcastle has become something of a poisoned chalice?
I grew up with Keegan, Gullit and most important the great ‘Lord Robson’ so I think it’s possible to achieve greatness at Newcastle but they are huge shoes to fill. I remember being in a bar in Spain a few years back, the bartender gave the awkward acknowledging smile but it was clear he couldn’t speak a word of English and my high school standard Spanish stretched to just about being able to tell him that last weekend I danced in the disco or reciting a song about Spanish animals. Needless to say, we soon hit a wall as a confusing conversation dried up. My friend walked in wearing a Toon shirt, within about 30 seconds the man smiled and in perfect English shouted ‘Bobby Robson’ which whilst a little strange, this proved like striking a match- the atmosphere changed immediately, erupting with the locals. After repeating this and a few choruses of ‘there’s only one Bobby Robson’ a drink was put in front of us and the night began. I can’t see into the future, but can you really envisage this happening with Bruce? Only time will tell, but so far the evidence from other clubs would suggest not. I also think that without backing the bosses then it is hard, going from a world renowned manager to a championship manager that lets be honest has been at Sunderland doesn’t help!
What would represent ‘achievement’ for Steve Bruce in his first season as manager of NUFC?
Not getting relegated, achieving mid table and not becoming “Mike Ashley’s yes man”. In an ideal world, a connection with the fans and a sign, any sign that they are moving in the right direction.
If you could choose one current NUFC player to sign for your team this summer, who (if any) would you choose and why?
We’ve actually been linked with Dwight Gayle all Summer and I really hope he joins us.
Are there any former NUFC players that you wish had played for your team rather than the Toon?
Yes I would love to say Speed, Batty, Gazza, Coloccini, a fit Woodgate, Ginola, Lee, Cole, Keegan, Solano, Shearer or Sir Les would all be on my shopping list and would certainly be a team that despite a lot of sendings off would challenge even the toughest of opponents. I struggle to see how anyone in the current squad would displace the names above. I think this is testament to the legacy of Newcastle United and I know I have not included some other legends from before my time (sorry!), it shows what could happen and why fans brought up on legends and mythical players are struggling with some of the decisions of the current owners. My view is Rafa has done a good job with some players that if we are being honest, may not have been on his Christmas list either. Looking back, some of those Toon legends could probably still get into most teams even with their current age and fitness levels!
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