It was Philip Larkin who once wrote that a miss was ‘as bad as a mile’ – whether it be an apple core rebounding off the rim of the bin or the millisecond that cost you the race, the outcome would be the same as if the apple core had hit the person in the next classroom or if you had lost the race by a millennium.
These so near but yet so far moments are the reasons we love the beautiful game and the miniscule margins of error are what separates the greats from the rest. There is one club in particular it seems are always teetering on the edge of both brilliance and insanity, without ever managing to get in the bin themselves.
Newcastle United have self destructed more times than a year 7 chemistry lesson during their history, but have also come so close to actually making it. The glory years in the Premier League were however built around their ability to open the cheque book; a luxury ill afforded under Mike Ashley and this is why they are once again becoming a selling club.
Selling History
The Magpies have throughout the years had a habit of selling their better players; Gordon Lee outraged fans when he sold Malcolm McDonald in his first few weeks as manager. Kevin Keegan faced a similar backlash years later when he allowed Andy Cole to leave for Manchester United. In the 1980s they has three of the most exciting English players on their books in the shape of Waddle, Gascoigne and Beardsley- yet instead on building a team around the trio each was sold as the board chose profit over potential. Mike Ashley looks to be of a similar mould and is held in the same esteem as his previous post holders.
Further Departures
Worryingly for Toon fans Andy Carroll may not be the only big name on his way out of St James, as the top draw performances of Jose Enrique and Cheick Tiote have attracted the attention of some of the so called bigger boys.
Enrique has only 18 months left on his current deal, and although he has already stated he is happy on Tyneside( haven’t we heard that before) and is adored by the Geordie faithful, the Spaniard has refused to negotiate a new deal until Newcastle’s Premier league future is decided.
Tiote on the other hand has ample time left on his deal, but his wonder goal against Arsenal has seen him linked with a move to Old Trafford with even Alan Pardew admitting it may be difficult to hold onto the Ivorian, saying:
“I am hoping there are no bids, otherwise we will have a problem.
"Tiote is a very important player, very talented and someone we want to be a big part of our future."
Like Enrique, the central midfielder has reiterated his desire to stay on Tyneside- however the decision could well be taken out of his hands if Carrollesque cash is flashed to Ashley- with even Pardew seemingly conceding the fact:
"Ideally, you would like to keep someone like Andy Carroll, a young player who is from the area, but financially we could not keep him. “
“But we like to think, certainly I have that ambition, that in two or three years' time, if we can sustain our status and keep getting the TV money invested wisely, that we can hold off that next bid which might be for Cheick in 18 months' time or so.”
"We have to get ourselves in a position to do that because at the moment we're not and we have to accept that."
Arsenal Structure
The owner has been specific on what he sees as the long term strategy of the club- aside from putting the transfer budget on red or black.
Investment in youth is key to the Ashley era as he works towards the blueprint created by Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal- and who can blame him after years of excess on Tyneside that would have made Robert Maxwell proud. However there must have been some missing pages in the copy attained by the Newcastle owner as even though Wenger sells- he does it with a replacement in mind.
Henry was allowed to leave as Robin Van Persie was considered a natural successor. Fabregas has shown that Patrick Viera’s departure did not have a detrimental effect on the team and the list goes one; Clichy into replace Cole, Pires brought in for a fraction of the Overmars fee. Granted the Frenchman has made mistakes, not replacing Lehmann and Campbell in recent years highlighting that, but the fact he continually produces and finds top draw players, justifies the sales as the replacements are just as good as the departed.
Paradoxically on Tyneside, Pardew admitted that they didn’t have a replacement lined up if Andy Carroll was sold and so when the big striker made the switch, it left them scrambling around in the bargain bin for 34 year old Shefki Kuqi. Nobody can argue that it was crazy money for Carroll, but to put it bluntly, you can’t play a cheque up front.
The Future
It does seem that Alan Pardew is in tune with the Ashley way of thinking, and whether this was forced or agreed upon when he took over the role, you can hardly blame a man who began the season managing in League 1. It does make one wonder if Hughton leaving had anything to do with his refusal to acquiesce, but that’s an argument for another day.
The underlying problem is that the current chairman is a business man and in his world money speaks. Andy Carroll was a commodity, rather than an emotional attachment or a symbol of what the club was capable of. Further departures do seem likely and it will be a difficult time for the fans as Ashley’s narcissism looks set to continue to rule and the pound being the only judge. With many sceptical that any of the £35million will be re-invested, it’s not just a question of are Newcastle a selling club, more a case if they’re anything else.
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