Kevin Keegan

[Tiresias]

Imagine having Rafa and Keegan together to sell the clubs vision to potential signings.

 

'So Rafa you asked me to sell the club to some centre backs and a defensive mid, that didn't work so I've got you 4 strikers'

[James]

Imagine having Rafa and Keegan together to sell the clubs vision to potential signings.

 

Do you think Rafa would want Keegan around the place?

 

I'm not convinced by the Keegan story. It sounds like the kind of thing that would get made up. If true, I think it would be a mistake to detract any attention from the manager, who will be trying to make his own history. And of course the minute anything goes slightly wrong, there's going to be a crazy section shouting for KK to take over.

 

Rafa has worked at a number of clubs were ex-players and managers are doing ambassadorial duties behind the scenes. It’s no big deal in fact it’s something that anyone should expect from any prestigious club

[Cronky]

Imagine having Rafa and Keegan together to sell the clubs vision to potential signings.

 

Do you think Rafa would want Keegan around the place?

 

I'm not convinced by the Keegan story. It sounds like the kind of thing that would get made up. If true, I think it would be a mistake to detract any attention from the manager, who will be trying to make his own history. And of course the minute anything goes slightly wrong, there's going to be a crazy section shouting for KK to take over.

 

Rafa has worked at a number of clubs were ex-players and managers are doing ambassadorial duties behind the scenes. It’s no big deal in fact it’s something that anyone should expect from any prestigious club

 

Yeah, but this is Keegan and Newcastle. That does make it a big deal.

[NG32]

Kev in an ambassadorial role to help the new owners bed in and help with communication of ideas from the new owners.  I'd imagine that Stavely will be swamped in the initial days and weeks of ownership.  Kev knows how to speak with the fans directly and via interviews. He'll also help bring back some self respect to the club.

[Guest chopey]

Getting Keegan on board would be a master stroke (I'm sure he has some link with the Saudis from years ago) because he would need to be briefed first on the plans for the future and you can bet your bottom dollar he would only come back if he approved the project. 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Even if he just wants to come to games and wave from his seat, I’m in.

 

Having him answer questions about Saudi Arabia could get uncomfortable.

[STM]

Him being allowed in the ground would be a fucking start.

[TRon]

Even if he just wants to come to games and wave from his seat, I’m in.

 

Having him answer questions about Saudi Arabia could get uncomfortable.

 

He'd just say he only deals with the football side of things and that's what he's paid for. Tbf, that's what any manager we hire will say as well, because it's true.

[NEEJ]

All they have to do is invite him to the first game not behind closed doors, pop him in Ashley's seat, a half-time hero job and a seat for life. Beyond that I don't think he'd need nor want an actual role.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Me and the man himself, my absolute hero, a legend, a great great man and a true gent who I love dearly and hold so close to my heart who without there would be no me and my love of football or our great club 

 

 

My Kevin Keegan 

[NE27]

Me and the man himself, my absolute hero, a legend, a great great man and a true gent who I love dearly and hold so close to my heart who without there would be no me and my love of football or our great club 

 

 

My Kevin Keegan 

 

His talk-ins are sublime tbh.

 

I never bore of his stories and just the aura the man has. He really captures the entire audience with his stories, people just sit silently taking it all in.

 

The fact this man has barely any affiliation to the club is probably one of the worst things Mike has done really.

 

 

[Ikon]

Me and the man himself, my absolute hero, a legend, a great great man and a true gent who I love dearly and hold so close to my heart who without there would be no me and my love of football or our great club 

 

 

My Kevin Keegan 

 

Surprised to see that you have only 5 fingers on your left hand. Nice photo though.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Me and the man himself, my absolute hero, a legend, a great great man and a true gent who I love dearly and hold so close to my heart who without there would be no me and my love of football or our great club 

 

 

My Kevin Keegan 

 

Surprised to see that you have only 5 fingers on your left hand. Nice photo though.

 

4 and a thumb

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Me and the man himself, my absolute hero, a legend, a great great man and a true gent who I love dearly and hold so close to my heart who without there would be no me and my love of football or our great club 

 

 

My Kevin Keegan 

 

His talk-ins are sublime tbh.

 

I never bore of his stories and just the aura the man has. He really captures the entire audience with his stories, people just sit silently taking it all in.

 

The fact this man has barely any affiliation to the club is probably one of the worst things Mike has done really.

 

 

 

Aye I could listen to him all day and night, not sure the feeling is mutual though

[George Bailey]

We know the feeling.

 

 

(wink)

[Paully]

Me and the man himself, my absolute hero, a legend, a great great man and a true gent who I love dearly and hold so close to my heart who without there would be no me and my love of football or our great club 

 

 

My Kevin Keegan 

 

Great photo mate! I’ve got two from his talk-ins - what a man!

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Aye he’s the best like!

[frankpingel]

To have him return in any capacity (that suits him) would be incredibly positive.

[Pandamninator]

Imagine having Rafa and Keegan together to sell the clubs vision to potential signings.

 

Do you think Rafa would want Keegan around the place?

 

I'm not convinced by the Keegan story. It sounds like the kind of thing that would get made up. If true, I think it would be a mistake to detract any attention from the manager, who will be trying to make his own history. And of course the minute anything goes slightly wrong, there's going to be a crazy section shouting for KK to take over.

 

Rafa has worked at a number of clubs were ex-players and managers are doing ambassadorial duties behind the scenes. It’s no big deal in fact it’s something that anyone should expect from any prestigious club

 

Yeah, but this is Keegan and Newcastle. That does make it a big deal.

 

Rafa was on board when the Scousers bought Dalglish back to Liverpool.

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/kenny-dalglish-returns-to-liverpool-1730833.html%3famp

 

[gjohnson]

https://www.football365.com/news/kevin-keegan-newcastle-andy-cole-man-utd

[LFEE]

https://www.football365.com/news/kevin-keegan-newcastle-andy-cole-man-utd

 

Great article. Thanks for sharing. Said it before. Can't go against the narrative created by the media. Fergie mind games. Biggest load of rubbish ever.

[Mr Logic]

https://www.football365.com/news/kevin-keegan-newcastle-andy-cole-man-utd

 

[toontownman]

https://www.football365.com/news/kevin-keegan-newcastle-andy-cole-man-utd

 

Had a read of that this morning. Nice little article and spot on.

[TheGuv]

OTD in 2008.

 

Kevin Keegan said:

 

"During my time here - and I've got three years left - Newcastle will not be a Champions League club.

 

"That's what I want to tell the fans, I don't want to mislead them. We'll try our best and if one of them (the top four) hits a brick wall and falls by the wayside and we can jump in there I'll be delighted, but realistically it's going to be tough.

 

"At the moment we're a million miles away from them (Chelsea).

 

"This league is in danger of becoming one of the most boring but great leagues in the world. The top four this season will be the same top four next year.

 

"But what I can say to Newcastle fans is that we'll be trying to get fifth and win the other league that’s going on. We should make a run of that.

 

"Providing the owner backs me - and I've no proof of that yet, but no doubts he will - I can get three or four players in and if I can do that - and we have luck and no injuries to key, key players - then we might be able to win the 'second league' in the Premiership.

 

"I think it's very, very exciting to finish fifth in the league for Newcastle. You'd be mad in my position to say we can get in the top four next season. You can't ask an owner to spend that kind of money or get the players to come to this club that you would need to get in the top four.

 

"We lost out on Modric to Spurs and that tells you something. It's a blow - it's not the end of the world.

 

"I'm still optimistic for this club in terms of where it's been in the last couple of years.

 

"Six weeks ago I asked the club to tie him (Owen) up, it's not happened yet. It's disappointing but it's not the end of the world. I've not told Michael in the six weeks I've been talking to him about staying that if he stays here he'll get Champions League football or we'll win the Premier League.

 

"I'm not misleading anyone there. If we finish fifth it'd be a massive achievement considering where we are now.

 

"I didn't say I hadn't got any money to spend this summer, I said I haven't got enough to make up that gap to the top four.

 

"I think Mike Ashley will support me. I don't think there will be a problem there, but the problem might be getting the players. I get on great with the owner because I never talk to him! That’s better than some managers at the moment! No communication is good now!

 

"But however much money he gives me the biggest challenge is getting players to come to you when they've got three or four alternatives. And if they're really good players they will have three or four alternatives.

 

"Even if someone gives you a barrel-load of money you have to be honest and say you're not going to get the best players. There's a pecking order - If I'm a player and I get the option to go to Chelsea or Newcastle, the Press would slaughter me, asking where my ambition was (if I chose Newcastle).

 

"All the great players will go for where the honours are and if they don't make it there they'll drop to a Newcastle.”

 

 

 

Chris Mort subsequently echoed those sentiments:

 

"We don't want to do a Leeds. It doesn't make sense.

 

"This club had £100million-worth of debt which has now been cleared and it would be foolish to stretch it beyond its limits.

 

"I thought Kevin's comments were quite sensible.

 

"I'm not sure what people's expectations are but I don't think most Newcastle fans would be greatly surprised by what he had to say.

 

"There are those who are naturally optimistic but it does no harm to come out with some realism and say that if we get fifth we will have done well. He's right.

 

"I wasn't taken aback by Kevin's comments. He says what he feels. We have just come out of a relegation battle so you can't have people surprised when the manager says we aren't going to get into the Champions League.

 

"This is a long-term building project and we are very happy with Kevin. He's a very enthusiastic character who has got the team playing good football.

 

"We were disappointed to lose to Chelsea but he's got the team playing well.

 

"We have started talking about who we will be bringing in and Kevin will have the final say. He has to have that.

 

"We are very happy with where we are but Kevin is quite right to say we shouldn't expect Champions League football.

 

"It's going to be tough for anyone to break into the top four. Someone might sneak in there occasionally and there are a number of sides who will have a go but it is incredibly difficult."

[Yorkie]

Those four did have a pretty tight hold of the Champions League places after 2003. Think there was only Everton once and then Spurs once who disrupted the top four in 7 or 8 years, then Man City came along.

 

Those quotes and the ones immediately after the Chelsea game are often brought up in a context of Keegan sticking it to Ashley, or whatever; but he's not. The relationship hadn't soured so horribly by that point (though it wouldn't be too long obvs). He was showing his frustration at the chasm that had built up in the league, particularly given that he'd had us fighting for the title the time before.