Sometimes as a Newcastle fan, you can't help but feel like you're supporting a feeder team for the more elite sides in Europe. Perhaps it's the lack of European football in recent years, or the wage structure which Mike Ashley has in place that has encouraged the departures of fan favourites such as Demba Ba, Andy Carroll and former club captain Yohan Cabaye. Again this isn't an unfamiliar occurrence. Who can remember when Andy Cole left for Manchester United? Fans gathered outside the ground waiting for an explanation. As a man of the people, Kevin Keegan came out to speak to the disgruntled supporters explaining to them that when he arrived as manager at Newcastle their biggest rival was Southend United and now it was Manchester United. With those wise words echoing outside the club, the situation was de-escalated with faith restored in his running of the cub. The same does not happen these days. One exception to this rule is local hero and all time Premier League top goalscorer Alan Shearer who famously snubbed Machester United in 1996 to join his boyhood club. Although being unable to captain the side to any silverware, he remains a legend upon Tyneside. Are you a Newcastle United fan? Share your pain below in the comments thread.
