Good Times, Bad Times

Interesting that Wor Flags would do what might be described as their first political gesture since their foundation as Gallowgate Flags back in 2016 and reference the mental KO times which impact upon Mags more than any other set of supporters in the PL. Another evening KO added by broadcasters means we’ll be travelling to Chelsea for a Monday night 20:00 KO and meaning many from the NE will either have to book hotels or accept getting home in the early hours by bus on Tuesday. Many supporters have noted the scarcity of London clubs having to travel to SJP for Monday night KOs and wondering what’s going on here.

The subject has barely been picked up by the mainstream football media who remain largely disinterested in supporter issues.

Tangled Up In Blue

To the astonishment of most people who go and watch football matches, those who administer the game are piloting a new Blue Card addition to the officiating of football matches.

This seems baffling to those (most – including the Premier League –  click here) who believe its addition to the game has been clunky and is in considerable need of improvement. With this outstanding then it seems counter-intuitive the game’s authorities should press on with an addition with so many clear and obvious implications for referees, many of whom have their performances pulled apart on a weekly basis.

The obvious stuff that jumps out is what impact this will have on the game tactically (and therefore as a spectacle) as teams go down to ten men, the impact upon the player who takes an enforced breather from a high intensity game, the de-facto Red Card this turns into for what might be a yellow card offence depending upon the point in the game it is handed out, the obvious inconsistencies that will develop and create yet more teeth grinding angst for fans who just want to go and watch a match with as few interruptions as possible.

There will be other impacts too not least of which will be the media having yet more talking points to chew over outside of the actual playing of the game itself.

Don’t do it.

Swede Head

Emile Krafth has signed a one year contract extension which has set off a discussion amongst supporters regarding the strengthening the squad in what is increasingly looking like a pivotal summer for United.

On the one hand it seems odd Krafth, who is rarely selected even in the teeth of an injury crisis (and when fit) and I can’t help feel he might have figured when Trippier looked dead on his feet, should get another year at United. Throw in the widely considered view Livramento will succeed Trippier when that sorry day comes KT’s age catches up with him, the signing of Harrison Ashby from West Ham (now on loan at Swansea) who also plays right-back and it is fair to wonder what’s happening.

Krafth can play at central defender but the Swedish international seldom has done.

The alternative view is the pace of change at United might not be as quick as we might hope it would be and Krafth’s presence with his experience and professionalism will still be useful to Howe. He might be (eyes roll) good around the dressing room.

For Krafth himself he has rejected the overtures in his native Sweden from Brondby and Copenhagen to stay on Tyneside. The money will be better on Barrack Road but he would unquestionably have played more football back home.

An interesting one and I concede there are other talking points related this too. That said, after an awful start to his career under roll of the drums … Steve Bruce … Krafth has put in some assured performances, particularly the season before last when he covered for Trippier.

Howay The Lasses

United’s women team make a welcome return to SJP for their semi final game in the National Women’s League semi final on Sunday 25/Feb/2024 (KO: 14:00) v Portsmouth. There has to be a result on the day so a possibility of a penalty shoot out.

The Lasses have been really well supported at SJP and the ticket prices of £5 adults and £1 for children and other concessions is outstanding value.

Money And Share

We heard this week that Premier League clubs met this week to discuss potential changes to the Profit and Sustainability Rules (aka FFP) which many believe act to stymie competition and protect a cartel of six so-called “big clubs” who wish to insulate themselves from challenge. This is becoming a hot topic in the game (and not just for Newcastle United) as Everton bend under the weight of a 10-point deduction which could result in relegation, Forest face similar scrutiny with Man City facing 115 charges (which appear nowhere near resolution) and Chelsea coming into view for the manner in which their finances have been run under Boehly and Abramovich.

What the changes will end up being have so far only been hinted at (and focused more on managing debt as per the UEFA model) but many Mags are cynical the changes will afford more competition or anything like the removal of the glass ceiling on aspirational clubs such as ours by Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea (irony klaxon), Arsenal, Man City (even louder irony klaxon) and Spurs.

And in other news …

Just as I start getting this lark ready to go online news breaks  an unnamed club (it’s obviously Man City) may be about to take the Premier League to court to fight associated party transaction rules of the type which have put a choke chain on the Saudi PIF getting money into United via lucrative sponsorships with businesses with whom they have an interest.

The news leaking out of the Premier League (sound familiar, takeover veterans?) suggests the unnamed club (it is Man City isn’t it?) will seek arbitration on the basis it believes the PL’s intentions break UK anti competition law – which is something widely discussed amongst Mags when the PL, being played by the cartel, adopted a whole raft of measures to put the block on United getting some revenue from Saudi with the clear intention of protecting the top clubs.

What United makes of this latest development remains to be seen but it is of massive interest to us isn’t it? Let’s watch this one closely.

Getting a Brazilian

Nice to hear Joelinton speak so positively about loving life at United and about resolving his contract negotiations with the club. We all want Big Jow to stay I’d guess.

 “Yes, of course I want to stay. I feel at home here. My family feels at home, my son has friends here. I love the city. “There have been talks [about a new deal], there’s nothing close yet but there’s been conversation and it’s a good start.”

A New England

The England fixture for SJP has been confirmed as being v Bosnia & Herzegovina on Monday 3/Jun/2024 (7.45pm). It is the first England game in Newcastle since 2005. There is no information on tickets, pricing etc just yet but it’s a positive the national team is playing in the city and it will hopefully afford local Three Lions fans an opportunity to see their side. Well, dependent how many remain after corporate, sponsors, staff and players have had their pick of tickets of course.  I can’t imagine they will be cheap either.

Equality Acts

We mentioned this last week and it has appeared in the media again – It is surprising there has been little local coverage of this issue or that the Premier League hasn’t responded to the previous coverage in The Telegraph or The Mail (not newspapers yours truly would usually identify as champions of human rights to be honest). I don’t think I’ve seen anything from United With Pride, NUST, the FSA or any number of our proliferating so-called supporters groups either. The same can be said of our local MPs, some of whom aren’t slow to give opinions on matters Black & White either.

That’s very disappointing regardless of how awkward and sensitive a subject this is.

It is outrageous Linzi has been banned, she has privately held views which have nothing to do with her support of Newcastle United.

I hope this isn’t forgotten about and Linzi gets back to watch her team at SJP. Hopefully, this doesn’t become weaponsed as a cause celebre by the right wing ghouls who really couldn’t give a toss about Linzi or free speech beyond what they believe to be restrictions on their own hate-filled rhetoric.

Wake up United!

Keep On, Keepin’ On …

Michael Martin, @TFMick1892