Howe About Some Loyalty?

Newcastle United fans showed their true colours on Sunday, when Nick Woltemade’s unfortunate own goal turned the derby upside down.

Instead of piling on, the Geordie faithful flooded social media with messages of support for the lad, reminding everyone that one mistake doesn’t erase the fight and commitment he’s shown since pulling on the black-and-white shirt.

That’s what makes this fanbase special isn’t it.

Loyalty when it matters most, standing by a player in their lowest moments.

But here’s the thing: if that loyalty stops at Woltemade and doesn’t extend to Eddie Howe, then IMHO it’s pure hypocrisy.

Eddie Howe is the man who dragged Newcastle out of the mess that Steve Bruce and Mike Ashley left behind, from relegation scrap and into the Champions League.

He has been the architect of our resurgence; the reason St James’ Park is buzzing again.

Yes, yesterday hurt, in fact for any NUFC Fan, it hurt A LOT. Yes, the performance was nowhere near good enough.

But if we can forgive a Striker who was defending for a split-second error, how can we turn on the manager who’s given us Champions League nights we never dreamed of?

Backing the badge means backing everyone who wears it, players and manager alike. Anything less isn’t passion; it’s picking and choosing.

Not saying Eddie Howe is untouchable, far from it, he has definitely used up some of his goodwill yesterday. What I am saying is, yes, yesterday was really really annoying, but perspective is needed.

This is why I slept on it, before passing comment.

Yesterday I wasn’t capable of coherent thought, I was just really angered by the seemingly dispassionate display provided by our team. Anthony Gordon did nothing to help the cause by saying he would “put it right” on Wednesday and sounding like he didn’t know what a derby was, he of all people should know what a derby is, supporting one and playing for the other club in Merseyside!

Anyway, onwards, Howay the Lads.

Keep the Faith has never sounded so poignant!