Arsenal v Newcastle Live Online

Kevin Keegan’s first match in charge created few highlights for the cameras apart from the sight of owner Mike Ashley proudly displaying ‘King Kev’ written on the reverse of his Newcastle United shirt.

‘King Kev’ with ‘1’ beneath replaced that of his usual ‘17’, the number worn by club captain Alan Smith. The sight of the self-made billionaire jigging around in his tight-fitting black-and-white shirt fitted in well with his reputation of being ‘one of the fans’ - travelling on the away-trip buses, getting some massive rounds in and now in the populist appointment of Kevin Keegan as manager.

'Ultimately there is little room for Keegan and once inevitably he has walked out declaring that he has “brought the club as far as I can” and Shearer limps back to Match of the Day, so the real team building can begin'


The joy and relief that erupted on Tyneside was remarkable, matched only by the sniggers from the rest of the country. It seems that Ashley has gone native, influenced too much by fans sitting around him at matches and the 1996/97 season review video.

A belief that only a Geordie can give Newcastle the success and the style of football they feel they deserve led to Sam Allardyce’s doom and Keegan’s appointment. If Alan Shearer is added to the mix this week, the ‘Dream Team’ will be complete.

However, it appears to me that Ashley has in the appointment of Keegan and possibly Shearer, made a hard-nosed business decision akin to any of his brutal business acquisitions. The Newcastle fans' constant insistence on a particular style and personality made previous managers' jobs largely untenable. Now Ashley has faced down this problem directly by giving Newcastle exactly the style and personality they want.
Not only does he boost his popularity further but when they fail, which I think they will, he will have a clean slate to begin with.

The appointment midway through a season where Newcastle are safely in mid-table ensures that even a total disaster shouldn’t result in relegation. Keegan, who has admitted he hasn’t watched a football match in three years, will find the Premier League a more difficult, spiky and cosmopolitan establishment than the one he left in 2005.

The top four is largely sewn up with beneath that Everton, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Tottenham all increasingly stable. And who is to say that with massive cash injections, other clubs won’t be up there - how about the world’s richest club QPR, anyone?

I have no doubt there will be some good times over the next few months. But ultimately there is little room for Keegan and once inevitably he has walked out declaring that he has “brought the club as far as I can” and Shearer limps back to Match of the Day, so the real team building can begin.

Ashley can then pull on his black-and-white stripes with ‘Houllier’, ‘Deschamps’ or ‘Coleman’ on the reverse, leaving the coach to work unhindered by a fantasy of a season in the mid-nineties and the spectre of  Shearer. Never in football has a calculated decision been met with such popular acclaim - but then you don’t become a self-made billionaire for nothing.

Will Keegan be a success or a failure - and what part will Shearer play at Newcastle in the future? Post your comments below or submit an article of your own to Sportingo.