I am finally returning to St James’ Park after 16 years | OneFootball

This will be my first game watching NUFCat St James’ Park since 2008, it was during and after this time that our club became suffocated by the greedy and spiteful Mike Ashley, in a calamity-stricken and ruinous regime, which affected all Newcastle United fans.

Our club is still trying to recover from the damage Ashley shamelessly inflicted, especially commercially.

Clubs like Spurs have been able to steal a march on United and our new ambitious owners are having to play catch-up with the Septic Six.

I was a member of the Mike Ashley Out Campaign that was formed by my brother Graeme and little Rob, after a chance meeting in the town between the two.

There is no way that Ashley prevented Newcastle from a catastrophic financial meltdown when he took over in 2007, like some of his lickspittle apologists would have people believe.

I include former Toon players, media scribes and pundits, as well as some of our own delusional Newcastle United fans amongst these easily influenced and convinced poor souls.

Ashley recruited those who would happily and regularly repeat these fables of ‘Kind Mike’ riding to Newcastle United’s rescue.

These included Derek Llambias, Dennis Wise, Keith Bishop, Justin Barnes, Tony Jimenez and Jeff Vetere.

We also had the likes of Joe Kinnear and then Alan Pardew installed as managers to tow the Ashley party line, spread as much misinformation as was possible in any given week. Unbelievably, the hapless Kinnear even came back as a Director of Football.

I despise every one of those I have mentioned there and will never forgive them, but I won’t give the despicable rats a second thought, when I’m cheering on my team against Pep Guardiola’s Man City.

‘Body Language’ was a 1982 song by Queen. Freddie Mercury gets excited and worked up as he blurts out the lyrics, and it is a bit of a hidden gem in the band’s massive back catalogue.

I am hardly an expert in body language myself, but whilst watching our beloved Newcastle United this season, the style of play and demeanor of some of our better players has certainly raised some eyebrows amongst our fanbase.

My mate Tony Mallaber’s aftermatch reaction after the dire defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage resonated with me.

Tony has loyally and steadfastly followed United home and away, man and boy, for over 40 years. A constant, tiring and relentless journey, on what has so far been a road to nowhere when it comes to winning trophies.

When the likes of Big Tony show a smidgen of dissent it is worth taking note. He was quite rightfully as disappointed as the rest of us, if not more, after our first defeat of the season. We have so far failed to reach anywhere near the standards or form that we finished last season in.

Without naming him, but getting back to body language, one of our blue-chip players looks like he is in need of a rest. Luckily, we already have a super player that plays in the same position and scores crucial goals.

Our Rolls Royce of a centre forward also looks jaded and is desperately in need of some proper service from his teammates.

It will be interesting to see who Eddie Howe picks in midfield for the battle at St James’ Park against Manchester City on Saturday. I believe that it is in midfield that this game will be won or lost.

City have star men De Bruyne and Rodri out but Pep has a luxury of alternatives. Whoever plays for United must stifle and snuff out the Citizens engine room, therefore restricting the ball being sent through to Erling Haaland.

This man is going to go down as one of the greatest centre-forwards of all time and I mean the likes of Gerd Muller class when I say that. He is that good.

I would be tempted to play the more defensive Kieran Trippier and Lloyd Kelly as our full-backs, as Man City will try to exploit any advantage down the flanks.

I felt sorry for our fans who had planned to go to Plough Lane for our Carabao Cup tie against AFC Wimbledon. Arrangements will have been in chaos when the match was postponed.

After how poor the team had previously looked against Fulham at Craven Cottage, I think that this could be for the best.

So can we pick ourselves up, improve on our recent performances, do the business against the current Champions on Saturday?

I honestly believe we can. When it comes to following the famous black and whites, my glass is always half full.

With it being an early kick off on Saturday, me and Wor Neale will be up and about early doors. We are meeting other members of the family but it won’t be like the old days, having endured 16 years in the wilderness, after deciding not to give Ashley my money during his cruel, asset-stripping Toon demolition job.

This is a new era where hope is at a premium. My family and friends are happier now that we have ambitious owners, a proper plan and a mapped-out route to be as successful as possible.

I’ll finish with a play on a song by Take That.

‘These could be the greatest days of our Lives’.

I truly believe that some of our dreams are going to be fulfilled in the next few seasons.