This 'Outside Perspective' is brought to you by West Brom season ticket holder Andy Jones, huge thanks to him for taking the time to answer these questions on The Toon:
What memories do you have of your team’s matches against Newcastle United over the years, do any particular games stand out?
As a West Brom fan, I have been fortunate to attend many of the matches against Newcastle over the past 6 – 7 years both at The Hawthorns and at St James’ Park. The two games that have stuck with me most though are probably the defeat at home in November 2014, with Ayoze Perez’s magical finish being the particular highlight of that match and the 2–2 draw a couple of seasons ago, the final match before the fateful Alan Pardew era begun. The reason the 2–2 stays with me is because it was the match where one of our young lads, Sam Field, a Baggie through and through netted his first goal for the club.
Can you think of any players who have played for both teams, what kind of impression did they make?
I suppose it would be rude of me not to mention a couple of highly influential players over the past few seasons for both of our clubs – Dwight Gayle and Salomon Rondon. Firstly, Dwight Gayle created a real buzz around The Hawthorns last season and both myself and fellow Baggies are gutted that he hasn’t returned this season. In all of the years that I have held a season ticket at The Hawthorns, I don’t recall one player creating quite as much excitement as when Dwight Gayle picked up the ball and slotted it into the opposition’s net. He really did steal the hearts of many, and I’m still convinced that if he had not received the highly controversial red card in the playoff first leg against Aston Villa, that I’d be sitting here discussing both of our teams being in the Premier League this season. With regards to Salomon Rondon, he really did give his all over the 3 seasons that he spent with us but frustratingly he lacked any kind of support and service which resulted in him not reaching double figures for his Premier League goal tally. I can’t say I was surprised that he managed to net 11 league goals for Newcastle last season as he was certainly provided with more support and found himself surrounded with a better quality of players.
Have you ever visited St James’ Park and/or the city of Newcastle, what did you make of your time there?
I have been to two matches at St James’ Park, both as an away supporter in the dizzying heights of the Leazes stand. The first match I experienced was the 2–1 victory for Newcastle back in 2013 with Moussa Sissoko (yes, really!) of all people netting the winner on that occasion and the second match I witnessed was the 1 –1 draw in 2015, a typical end of the season clash in May which didn’t really live long in the memory. I remember the one thing that struck me as I stepped foot into the ground for the first time was the sheer noise that was being made and the passion being shown by the supporters both before and after the game. The sheer size of the place and the fact that it is quite unique being in the centre of the city really did leave quite an impression on me too.
Hypothetically, if your team’s next match was at home to Newcastle in the league, would you be quietly confident of three points?
If I had been answering this question before a ball had been kicked this season I would have probably said yes, with a certain ‘feel good factor’ slowly creeping back to West Brom with the appointment of Slaven Bilic. However, based on the first 3 games of the season and a very poor Carabao Cup elimination at the hands of Millwall, I’d probably have to say Newcastle would just edge it. Time will tell whether the very good signings that Bilic made on deadline day will be a real hit but at this moment in time I think I’d settle for another top 6 finish in the Championship this season.
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?
I think there will always be a clutch of fans at any club that will fit the ‘deluded’ bracket and feel that their team should be challenging for European places year in, year out but I certainly feel that the majority of Newcastle fans cannot be branded as this. As a West Brom fan, I’d have to say a certain club just down the road (Aston Villa) probably have some of the most deluded fans I have ever come across, clinging onto past glories for far too long. I feel Newcastle are a massive club who have huge potential and with the right ownership, could most certainly be a consistent top 8 club in the Premier League. I think the word that should be used to describe 99% of Newcastle fans would be ‘frustrated’ as until the miraculous day does come when Mike Ashley finally packs his bags and clears off, the shackles will remain firmly on and that potential will remain unfulfilled.
‘Newcastle United is not a big club’ How would you respond to this statement?
I think that you only need to look at St James’ Park and the sizeable, passionate fanbase to see that this statement is not true. Yes, if you were to judge the club on the success that they have achieved on the field in recent years then many would argue that in no way, shape or form can Newcastle meet the criteria of being a ‘big club’ with just a few Championship titles and the Intertoto Cup being the most notable trophies to have been won during the past 30 years or so. However, growing up in the 90s some of my personal memories are of Newcastle challenging for Premier titles, especially the 95/96 season and Keegan’s infamous rant. If you were measuring the impact that a club has on a city or particular area of the country, then there is no doubt that Newcastle are a massive club. You only need to step foot in the Toon to see that the majority of people in the city live and breathe the black and white stripes.
What does Mike Ashley’s ownership of Newcastle look like from the outside?
Truly awful! Unfortunately, you’d have to draw comparisons to a soap opera as there is always some sort of drama associated with him. I think you only have to look at the failures he made with Rafa Benitez’s contract situation at the back end of last season to see that everything always seems to come back to him. Rafa had brought somewhat of a ‘feel good factor’ back to the club, something that all Newcastle United fans have deserved after the misery they have had to endure over the years he has been in charge of the club. It almost appears as if he is the kind of guy who takes a great deal of satisfaction in winding up the fanbase – I think the appointment of Steve Bruce as manager backs up my argument on this point.
Would you swap the current owner of your club for Mike Ashley?
Since West Brom got taken over by Lai Guochuan, a Chinese billionarire (supposedly) a few seasons ago, the general consensus amongst fellow supporters is that he has not appeared overly interested in the club and has failed to back up his so called ‘billionaire’ status during our transfer windows and part of this resulted in our drop back down to the Championship. However, given the appointment of Slaven Bilic as manager this season and some shrewd acquisitions both on a permanent deal and on loan, it does appear that he is slowly winning over most of the fans. I think this is something that Mike Ashley will never be able to do at Newcastle so in answer to the question, not a chance would I want to swap owners!
In this day and age of massive TV revenue, do you believe supporter led protests such as boycotts etc still have the power to bring about positive change?
I feel there is still a place for these protests, but they must be carefully conducted and by the majority of fans and not just a small minority. If everyone was to get involved in the boycott of games at St James’ Park then there is no doubt that it would damage the team’s performances on the pitch, as the age – old saying of fans being the twelfth man definitely rings true. However, it is somewhat of a ‘double edged sword’ for fans, as watching your team play at a weekend is a big highlight of the week and it is very much a question of how far would you be willing to go to get rid of the owners of a club. If an empty stadium week in week out resulted in relegation and a change in ownership would it be worth it? Perhaps. But in Newcastle’s case would this be enough to finally make Mike Ashley walk away from the club? I highly doubt it!
Where do you think Newcastle will finish in the league this season and why?
I think it is going to be a long, hard season for Newcastle and I think with Bruce at the helm, and the loss of two highly influential players in Rondon and Perez they will definitely be fighting relegation. I’m going to say 16th and would feel this would have to be viewed as a success for the season. I just don’t see where the goals are going to come from as although Joelinton has been brought in for a very hefty fee, he is unproven in the Premier League and I think he’ll be doing well to reach double figures for the season. I hope he proves me wrong!
Do you think the manager’s job at Newcastle has become something of a poisoned chalice?
I think in recent years the answer would have to be yes. However, Benitez aside, there have not been any fantastic managerial appointments made for a very long time from John Carver and Joe Kinnear to Steve Bruce. The days of the late, great Sir Bobby Robson must seem like an eternity ago now for fans. The Newcastle job will always be appealing to many top-quality managers given the huge fanbase and the potential the club has to offer but unfortunately, as with Benitez, these managers will continue to steer clear of the position whilst Mike Ashley is still at the helm. I feel this is why the calibre of managers who will be linked with the job now will continue to worsen and this is something that Mike Ashley has realised and why he was so determined to appoint Steve Bruce as manager.
What would represent ‘achievement’ for Steve Bruce in his first season as manager of NUFC?
Keeping Newcastle in the Premier League! As mentioned earlier, I feel that the squad this season is not as strong as it was last season, especially in the attacking areas, and this would prove difficult for many top-class managers yet alone Steve Bruce. Don’t get me wrong, I think Steve Bruce has been a good manager in years gone by but feel that he has long passed his sell – by date now, especially at the highest level of management.
If you could choose one current NUFC player to sign for your team this summer, who (if any) would you choose and why?
After the success he had with us last season, it would have to be Dwight Gayle. Any player who can fire in 24 league goals will always result in you challenging at the top end of the Championship table and that is exactly what him and Jay Rodriguez allowed us to do last season. What’s more frustrating is that I now feel on paper that we have a stronger squad than last season and would create more chances for Dwight Gayle to get on the end of. It will certainly be interesting to see how much (if any) game time he gets this year under Steve Bruce.
Are there any former NUFC players that you wish had played for your team rather than the Toon?
I’m always a sucker for a proven out and out goal scorer so would have to definitely say Alan Shearer or Andy Cole. Watching Alan Shearer play both for Newcastle and England over the years, made him the perfect striker to watch, especially with his ‘world class’ aerial abilities and some of the outrageous volleys that he delivered time and time again. I think Andy Cole’s goalscoring form through his career speaks for itself too. Another player high up on the list would also have to be Laurent Robert, mainly for some of the ridiculous free kicks he hammered in.