Published: Monday, 17 March 2025
Never mind Eddie Howe? Eddie did. And in doing so made himself immortal on Tyneside.
Some wondered Eddie why? when he got the gig at Newcastle. He’d been out of the game so long he’d almost been forgotten about. And he’d only managed Bournemouth - leaving them after taking them down in 2020.
Howe didn’t have the sort of cv that made him the outstanding candidate for the job at Newcastle. But they gambled and won. Won big yesterday.
I’m pretty sure all the neutrals watching wanted them to win. Probably because so many of us remember King Kev’s ‘entertainers’ coming up short.
But the wait is over now. Eddie’s ‘Likely Lads’ delivered. They were the hungrier team. The better team. And they’ve written themselves into Geordie folklore.
As mayhem erupted on the final whistle I couldn’t help thinking about Sir Bobby Robson - a unique and charming Geordie, who would’ve loved to have been at a Wembley to see it - and Freddie Shepherd, who gave everything to the cause of winning a trophy when he was majority shareholder and chairman at a Newcastle. Both deserve mentions.
It’ll be interesting to see how far the Saudi’s are prepared to back Howe and his team now. I’ve felt for some time they’d lost interest in the project.
It was a different when they bought Newcastle. The original idea was to make a mark on the world’s sporting stage like the Emeratis had done with City. And the Qatari’s had with Paris.
But it seemed to me the money dried up when the formula changed and they started buying sport ‘in’ - staging big boxing bouts in Saudi - football matches - tennis and the like - and setting up their own football league.
Perhaps now they’ll have another look at their involvement and give Howe the money he needs to get to the next level?
As for Liverpool. It’s been difficult all season to judge them. Until these past 10 days they hadn’t really faced a serious test. Then came Paris - and they failed. And they failed again yesterday.
They’ve won the title - we know that, so they’ve got something about them - but you have to add that all the challengers this season have gone backwards. I’ve said this here before and I repeated it on Twitter yesterday - only to set off the expected firestorm.
For me, they’re not as good as any of Klopp’s teams. I know he rebuilt this one, but they don’t play in his image. I’ll go further - they’re not as good as many of their trophy winning predecessors.
Here’s a prediction. That stadium United have announced will never get built. Something might - but the oversized tent they’ve said they’re going to put up won’t.
And now United’s long suffering fans know how to get rid of the Jim Reaper - treat him like the Glazers. ‘If I got abused as much as the Glazers I’d have to walk away’, he said last week. Fine. Do it Jim. I don’t think too many United supporters would be shedding many tears.
Did you see the story last week 530 footballers are being treated for addiction to drugs, alcohol, gambling and other mental health issues?
And last season 80 pro footballers sought therapy for issues with illicit substances such as cocaine and nitrous oxide, as well as sleeping pills.
Staggering numbers aren’t they? And where are they being treated? At the Sporting Chance clinic, which now works with the PFA. Not that it always did.
It was founded by Tony Adams, who we all know suffered with alcoholism himself at one time.
I admit I was one who thought Tony had gone stark raving mad when he set the clinic up. How wrong I was. When I needed help for a family member he couldn’t have been kinder. He’s a gem. He’s helped so many people.
The reason for my scepticism was that I didn’t believe so many players could be in trouble to the degree they were. Tony knew better. The clinic has never had down time since he opened its doors.
The next time honours are handed out I’d like to see Tony’s name feature. What he’s done for so many is incredible. What a guy he is.