Chris Waddle has just become the latest in a long line of former Newcastle players whose opinions are no longer welcome with a great deal of Magpies fans. He has defended Alan Pardew, and the team's performances, and Mike Ashley's financial commitment to the club in one sweeping statement that misses several key points and proves once more that no matter how many people pay you for your opinions as a pundit, it doesn't mean you can't spout torrents of bullsh*t. Forgive the venom, but Waddle has hit nerves that were already raw, and the worst of what he has said is not only that Newcastle should only ever aspire to mid-table, because that's where we deserve to be (spoken like a true impartial Sunderland fan), it's that we shouldn't protest or grumble about the current state of the club. Apparently, the protests are unsettling the team and are having a negative impact on results. Garbage. Here's the truth of the matter: since Newcastle fans started to protest with any kind of organisation - at Southampton would be the most sensible point to focus on - the side has come back from 2 goals down twice to pick up two paltry points in the Premier League. In stark contrast, before Southampton Newcastle had drawn twice, against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace to pick up a mighty two points. The difference in success has been astonishing really when you think about it. And then of course there's the Cardiff game last season that saw loud criticism of Pardew for sustained periods, which resulted in a deeply disappointing win for the side. 3 frustrating, unwelcome points, and all because the protests had a negative impact on the team. So remember, no matter how many ex- or current players come out and say that protesting against Pardew and holding up banners suggesting he might consider a change of career have had absolutely zero effect on the team. The points haul is the same, and if we win against Leicester, will be considerably better, which Pardew and his bosses will no doubt take as some sort of endorsement of his ability as a manager, while simultaneously dropping any suggestion that the protests are distracting. Presumably they will become distracting again when we play Liverpool and Tottenham after that though, because they can be the only reason the team aren't performing. It obviously has nothing to do with the coaches, the management, the motivation, the system or the tactics...