JOHNGIBSON
A FLOUNDERING Newcastle are joint bottom of the Premier League without a solitary victory to their name in seven attempts and are about to enter the Theatre of Dreams to play the most famous club in world football.
Traditionally that would leave any Magpie manager teetering on the brink of the sack, fighting for his very life, but no. It is not the visitor who is being threatened by dismissal but Manchester United’s occupant of the electric chair.
While Mike Ashley was trying to make peace with Rafa Benitez and keep him at the club by throwing a pizza party in Ponteland, Jose Mourinho is facing intense pressure with legends like Paul Scholes labelling him “embarrassing” and calling for his departure after the club’s worst start to a season in 29 years.
Amid the chaos of a mid-table slump, Bobby Robson’s former aide has been aggressively confrontational and severely critical of his players to crank up the tension when a peacemaker would perhaps have been better employed.
While Ashley was breaking bread with Benitez, news was leaked from Old Trafford that should the Reds lose to Newcastle Mourinho will be pedalled. A vivid contrast in a tale of two managers.
Nevertheless despite Benitez’s safety this battle of the two Uniteds has become a meeting of clubs in disarray - with fans’ anger on both sides rising by the match.
The Red Devils are engulfed in a cloud of negativity and playing without their trademark swagger which has brought about chants of ‘attack, attack, attack’ from their frustrated crowd - while Newcastle supporters march on Ashley’s shops in protest and spend the entire 90 minutes of battle chanting either against Ashley or for Benitez.
There is poison in the air which desperately needs cleansing.
Newcastle, reeling like a drunk tottering down Northumberland Street at closing time, are back where they started this sorry season.
Having been confronted by – and beaten by – Spurs, Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal they must now contend with another rich opponent of standing before staggering into an international break to lick their wounds.
Sure, they are not playing a Man U side in form, which gives a modicum of hope, but then the Mags are not exactly looking capable of taking