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Initially everyone seemed happy to just report on the unfolding war
of words and just speculate on what might happen. It actually took
until the middle of the week before some comment of any substance
emerged for the press. The Guardian’s Michael Walker (Article)
and Kevin McCarra (Article)
amongst the first to proffer their views. McCarra in particular
gets it spot on for me about how we have to move
forward and change
our dressing room culture if we are to progress as a club. Even
Henry Winter was quite fair on us (Article)
though for how long I do wonder!
As the
week progressed, and it looked like there was only going to be one
winner, more and more members of the Fourth Estate seemed keen to
let their stance be known. The Times’ George Caulkin (Article),
Sporting Life’s Frank Malley (Article)
, Sky’s Andy Gray (Article),
Gordon Strachan in The Guardian (Article),
Simon Bird at the Mirror (Article)
and even the irritating Sue Mott (Article)
all seemed to be in agreement that Bellamy was bang out of order.
In fact I can find little support for Bellamy from the sports
writers. Even those often keen to put the boot in on Newcastle
United seem to be backing the club over the player. That said he
isn’t totally bereft of support for his actions.
Looking
through the various supporters’ polls last week certainly the fans
are divided. The split an even 50:50 it would seem. Meanwhile, The
Sun, as ever, were quite happy to stir it saying Bellamy could sue
Newcastle United (Article).
For what I wonder? Definition of character? Robbie Savage, the
other Welsh Whale-mouth, wanted to offer his support too
unsurprisingly (Article).
Gordon Taylor, a man who increasingly seems to be trying to justify
his existence in my humble opinion, also wanted to help (Article).
Keep your nose out. Oh and you too SBR (Article).
Comment
from within Newcastle United, other than from manager, chairman and
the Merthyr Motor-mouth has been scant. One thing for certain from
what has been said is that the squad are fully behind the manager.
Shearer’s (Article)
and Jenas’ (Article)
comments leaving no doubt.
By the
weekend it was obvious that Bellamy’s time at Newcastle was in its
twilight. Souness used his programme notes prior to the Coventry
game to explain his position further (Article)
leading to yet another retort from Bellamy (Article).
The Saturday press (and the Sundays for that matter) tended to
follow where their weekday counterparts had already led. David
Lacey at The Guardian (Article)
and Simon Turnbull at The Independent (Article)
are both keen to liken Bellamy to 60s contract rebel George
Eastham. At least, as they are also quick to point out, Eastham was
a rebel with a plausible cause. SBR probably wished he hadn’t stuck
his nose in either by the weekend as Shepherd blasted back that most
of the problems we were having now were down to him! (Article)
and (Article).
Now tell me Fred, just who was the chairman at that time as well?
You can’t pass the entire buck, surely you have to hold your hands
up and take some of the responsibility too.
One
Sunday headline that made me smile though was The People’s claim
that Shearer wanted to “stick one on him.” (Bellamy, that is, if
you need to ask.) (Article).
I mean who hasn’t at one time or another, and I include some of his
supporters in this one I’m sure.
So yet
another quiet week in the press for us then. I’ll leave you with
the words of John Gibson
from Friday’s Evening Chronicle, which I
think sum the entire week up nicely, without the drama
or sensation
the national media always like to add to stories about NUFC. (Article).
You know
one week I’d love to be struggling to find things to put
into this, rather than spending hours
wondering what to leave out.
My psychic powers tell me where Newcastle United are concerned
that,
unfortunately, will never happen!
NM
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Heeda-Ache! 
