TALK OF THE TOON
Ex-Ireland star Anderson on Magpies’ new era
JOHN Anderson has seen it all at Newcastle United in his 39 years as player and pundit in a city where football is a way of life.
Next September marks four decades since the 16-timescapped Ireland defender arrived on Tyneside from West Brom with the side four years into a six-season spell in the old Second Division.
The Dubliner experienced promotion in 1984, Jack Charlton’s short stint as boss in the same year, the emergence of local lads Paul Gascoigne and Peter Beardsley into the first team and relegation from the top flight in 1989, just 12 months before he hung up his boots.
In the years that followed, the now-61-year-old established himself as one of most respected voices on football in England’s north east as BBC Radio Newcastle’s match day analyst.
Kevin Keegan’s arrival as manager in 1992, the brush with Premier League success four years later, back to back FA Cup final defeats, the managerial reigns of Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit, Graeme Souness, Bobby Robson, Chris Hughton, Sam Allardyce, Alan Pardew and Rafa Benitez have all occurred under his careful gaze.
So too have the ownerships of John Hall, Freddy Shepherd and, most recently, the 17-year tenure of Mike Ashley.
Arrival
With the arrival of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, there are few people in football better placed to assess what lies ahead following the €360m takeover.
And Anderson is urging caution amidst a welter of optimism amongst those who worship at St James Park every second week.
“The euphoria up here is just crazy,” says Anderson following last week’s conclusion of the deal, brokered by Amanda Staveley, t hat most f olk believed had been and gone.
“You can’t get a ticket for tomorrow’s Spurs match for love nor money and it’s the same for the game with Chelsea in a fortnight’s time.
“This was not the case recently, people were not going to St James’ Park.
“It’s now the richest club in the world and people are getting a little bit carried away.
“But you’ve got to crawl before you can walk and it’s going to take a little bit of time.”
Crucially, while those of a black and white persuasion are pointing to the impact that Roman Abramovich made at Chelhl sea when he bought the club in 2003 and how Abu Dhabi United’s purchase of Manchester City in 2008 transformed both it, Anderson is more pragmatic.
“People are comparing this with Manchester City when it was taken over.
“But I think that it’s going to take longer than it did at Manchester City.
“That is because I don’t think that there were as much money in the game back then.
“Now, you’re up against City,
lUnited, Liverpool and Chelsea while Spurs and Arsenal are also spending .
“These clubs have money and can go toe to toe with you. It’s going to take time, it won’t be an overnight success.” success ”
What Anderson agrees wholeheartedly with is the belief that the new owners will have to spend huge amounts of money to compete with the big boys.
Compete
“You can compete after two or three years but whatever about investing in the academy and bringing players through, as people are saying here, that’s a pipe pi dream in my opinion.
“That’s “romanticism, if you yo want to win trophies then th you have got to buy in players. It’s as simple as that. that
“Today in football you cannot be successful without money.
“You must buy players in the way that Manchester City have done, PSG have done it, Chelsea and Manchester United.
“How many guys have come through these clubs’ academies?
“There are not many. Phil Foden at City, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford at United and a few at Chelsea who produce loads of good young players but few break into the first team.”
Foremost on Anderson’s mind is the need to ensure that the Toon manage to hold on to their Premier League status this season.
“To me, some fans seem to have taken their eye off the ball with the fact that we have not won a game all season.
“We need to start winning football matches.
“Between now and the January transfer window they have got to win four games and give themselves a chance.
Squad
“Then you see what January brings and how much money is given to the new manager to strengthen the team and squad.”
With their position in the
world’s richest league confirmed next May, Anderson then sees the long term plan their unfolding.
“The club needs to bring in players in January who are good enough to keep you up because next summer you need to be still in the Premier League.
“People seem to forget that the position the team is in now is not great.
“Some of the names of players being mentioned as being signed is ridiculous.
“That is because top, top players wa nt to b e playing Champions League football and winning titles and cups.
“At the moment, the club is a long, long way off this point.
“It will be a little bit like what happened when Kevin Keegan came in and got us promoted.
“If you look at the squad that got the club promoted into the Premier League there were then tough decisions taken with those players.
Gradually
“Keegan said ‘look, where we’re going, you won’t be good enough’. He gradually brought in better players season by season.
“That is the way it’s got to happen this time.
“Then, after four windows you are hopefully in Europe and in the top six and you are better looking in terms of getting players.
“At one time in the game it was all about players moving clubs for money because they needed to ensure that when they retired that they were financially secure.
“It’s different now because all these top players are multi-millionaires anyway.
“You sign one decent contract now and you’re made for life.
“So for these boys it’s all about what they can win and about their profiles.”
Those questions will undoubtedly surface in the months and years ahead.
For the home supporters in the capacity 52,305 attendance tomorrow, it’s about hope and excitement.
“It’s great because it has been no fun going to games.
“You were going into the ground thinking ‘oh, same old, same old’.
“Suddenly, there’s a project in hand and it is exciting and something to look forward to.
Prepared
“At least the fans now see a light at the end of the tunnel where they didn’t with Mike Ashley who was not prepared to spend money and invest in any facet of the club, from the stadium to the training ground to bringing players in.
“Where it goes now, God only knows.
“It’s potentially endless, depending on which way these owners want to go.”