I will admit to being a little bemused this season, if not quite going so far as wanting Eddie Howe to go, the football at times has been turgid and I have not always enjoyed it.
I will admit to being frustrated.
On Wednesday, one of my very few genuine heroes was diagnosed with cancer. Devastating. The greatest of my time, the memories eternal. Mainly good, many glorious failures, in particular the 4-3 reversals against Liverpool, especially the Collymore last minute winner.
Kevin Keegan is somebody that is to this day, my favourite manager, despite my love for Eddie.
How beautiful that on the same day it was made public that our idol had been given such a horrible diagnosis, that Newcastle United recreate those iconic times, only this time in reverse!
This is why football matters, the moments, the memories, the emotion.
My daughter was overcome on Wednesday night, only 15 years old, not because of King Kev, but because of the impact and the emotion of that game.
She will now have the memory of an exhausting 4-3 fixture with a last gasp winner, only a totally positive one. This is football at its best, the thing I got to share with my child, the big thing I could smile about, knowing how she must be feeling. This is the warm glow, the reason I support, the reason I love Newcastle United. This was exactly the sort of performance I was craving, men becoming heroes.
My child asked me for a few moments on Wednesday night to settle her emotions before bed. She needed to compose herself. I was lenient, it was past her bloody bedtime! She didn’t know King Kev, she’s too young. But she still was gutted when I broke the news.
I will always be an Entertainers enthusiast, a romantic. I have so many memories of our brilliant club, truly unique, even though every fan probably says the same. A local club, for local people.
Wednesday night was a true throwback to great times, my younger days, wild stuff! Even my wife was enthralled, she went into the kitchen for Bruno’s penalty because she couldn’t bear to watch. Truly the best of football.
God bless you Kevin Keegan, we are all with you. I hope you watched on Wednesday night and I hope that the Toon made you smile.