The transfer deadline closed last night at midnight, with possibly Newcastle's chances of ever reaching the top four closing too.
The big losers in the amazing sale of Manchester City weren't Liverpool or even Chelsea. No, the big losers were Spurs, Aston Villa, Everton, and Newcastle.
How the managers, chairmen, and supporters of these clubs feel after the revelation that now City are a power to be reckoned with will only be seen in the next few weeks, as the slow realisation dawns on them that not only are the top four positions out of reach, but now the fifth position is gone too.
Kevin Keegan awoke this morning, looked at himself in the mirror, the hair that was once his famous trademark now gray with age. He saw the pronounced lines of age on his face where laughter lines should be, and realised that the club he loves so much had not only taken a step back in their transfers over the summer, but now the land that he dreamed he'd bring to the Geordie hoards was just that, a dream.
Kevin Keegan, once the most optimistic man in football, had been broken, again. But to fully understand why he resigned, we must first understand the man.
Keegan's first professional club was Scunthorpe, he signed his first professional deal at 15 but was quickly dismissed as being too small to play professionally. This only served to make Keegan train even harder, putting in double sessions every day and then training by himself at home.
Keegan eventually broke into the first team at 17 and went on to play over 124 games across three seasons in the old Division 4.
What was remarkable about this feat was Keegan's young age in such a tough league. In English football during the late 60's prisoners weren't taken on the pitch, especially in the lower leagues. The fact that Keegan played 124 times at such a young age in such a tough league marked him out as a player to take notice of.
In 1971 Bill Shankley did just that. Shankley had been monitoring Keegan for some time and, impressed by his work rate and superior fitness, he brought Keegan to Liverpool for a fee of £35,000 (this wouldn't happen today, div 4 to div 1).
Shankley immersed Keegan in all that was Liverpool during his first summer there. Training was done right, eating meals was done right—nothing was left to chance.
So impressed with his new signing from Division 4 was Shankly that he put him straight into the opening game of the new Division 1 season against Nottingham Forest. Keegan duly responded, returning the favour by scoring after 12 minutes of his debut.
Kevin Keegan had reached Division 1 at the age of 20. He had been rejected twice as a teen, and had worked harder, and trained harder than anyone else to achieve his dream.
But instead of being satisfied with Liverpool and playing in Division 1, now Keegan wanted to win the league and to play for England. To achieve this he knew he would have to be fitter, faster, and stronger than his rivals, so Keegan again took extra training to try to fulfill his new dream.
The extra work and playing regularly for Liverpool soon payed off, as Keegan made his debut for England U-23s in the old Home Nation Tournament.
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3 months ago
got my vote.
from 2 months ago
Ta John, glad you liked it.
3 months ago
Great article mate, learnt some new things which is always good. Interesting to see the mention of Keegan and his disappointment at the club and its lack of ambition. I mentioned something silmilar in an article about Manchester City I wrote.
I like how you just kept writing, it is never good to stifle your idea's and you managed to sustain interest in the piece right through, with relevant topics and points, which is obviously a skill. Great piece.
from 2 months ago
Thanks Illya. I must check out your article on City. Thanks for the nice words. But Kevins football career was really interesting so I hope I made it easy to read.
2 months ago
Thanks for an excellent read Willie. I always liked that maniac (meant in the nicest possible way of course.)
from 2 months ago
Thanks J.C. Keegan is one of the most infectious characters in football. The Premiership without Keegan in it doesn't sound or feel right.
2 months ago
Great writing, puts into context why this may just have been the final straw for Keegan.
Very good point as well at the start that Newcastles hopes of challenging for the title may have gone after the whole Man City debacle. Keegan is clearly seeking the means to take Newcastle to the top of their game and it wouldn't have suited a better man in football for them to achieve that success.
from 2 months ago
Thanks Ricky,
Keegan is always loved by his fans because of his ambition. He wants to win. And It looks to me that Newcastle as a club and Ashley in particular don't match his ambition.
2 months ago
Great, great article. As a newer football fan, I loved reading about Keegan's history. I didn't know he was that good. Brilliant mate!
from 2 months ago
Thanks Marcus,
As a player Keegan was one of England's all time greats. Unfortunetly he never matched that as a manager.
2 months ago
"Ashley was furious, but Keegan had drawn attention to the lack of ambition at the club."
NOOO Keegan was refering to the gap in wealth between the Top 4 and the others.
Its a good history lesson but you blatantly wrote this as Keegan was supposedly sacked!
Bullshit from SkySports and today the King is still on Tyneside.
Everyone who doesnt understand Newcastle, please refrain from talking about stuff you don't know.
This isn't a slight on you Willie, a fellow Irishman I'm a big fan of your work, keep it up!
from 2 months ago
Marc,
Keegan was referring to the gap between the top 4 and the rest, yes. But he was also drawing attention to the fact that Ashley treats Newcastle as a play thing and is just happy for them to be in the Premiership.
How else can you explain the transfer dealings on Tyneside and Keegan's lack of knowledge of them.
Of course I wrote the article yesterday. I wrote it to give people an idea of Keegan as a man and how he views football.
I understand football quite well thanks. I know how the game works at most levels. And the idea of the game is to win not to exist. Keegan wants Newcastle to compete and win things not just be there, otherwise why do it in the first place.
I do take that last line as a slight. But I'm big and ugly enough to accept that you don't agree with some of my opinions so it won't give me sleepless nights.
I am glad you gave me your feedback though. Gives me a chance to hopefully explain myself a little better. And if I feel the criticism is right I will edit the article accordingly. So please send me your feedback.
Thanks for your critique Marc.
2 months ago
Good article mate. I think when Keegan said in May that Newcastle had no chance of challenging the Big Four he was just being honest and I think he is right. Newcastle don't have the resources to do so, unless they secure some heavy investment like Manchester City have just done.
from 2 months ago
Thanks Alan,
Mike Ashley is no sultan, but he is a billionaire. I don't expect him to throw money willy nilly at the club and the club has to look after itself at some stage but his chairman-ship hasn't given Keegan anything.
2 months ago
Excellent article !!.. POTD for me.
great job
from 2 months ago
thanks Zahi. appreciate it.
2 months ago
Great writing Willie but I have a different opinion of Keegan. I think he's a quitter Newcastle deserve better and they don't even realise it.
from 2 months ago
Thanks Anthony.
I think that as a player Keegan knew his destiny was in his own hands and that everything depended on him.
As a manager I think Keegan can't take the fact that he can't control every facet of the game and that some things are just out of his control, and when it gets to that stage he quits.
2 months ago
Btw division 4 to 1 has happened. paul Ince bought his old captain at mk dons.
from 2 months ago
yep it has. but Ince is a manager and Keith Andrews is a journeyman midfielder who was brought to Blackburn by his old manager. Don't get me wrong I'd like to see Andrews succeed, he is Irish and any addition to the squad is welcome.
Keegan was 20 and went to the top club in the country.
Andrews is 27 and has flirted between League 1 and League 2 for the last 6 years and has joined Blackburn.
It looks the same on paper, but it's not.
2 months ago
5 stars and potd from me as well...
from 2 months ago
Thanks Ismail.
2 months ago
great piece willie, a bit of a history lessin merging to the present day...
from 2 months ago
Thanks Ricky. Nice Bike. If thats you, you should write something on racing.
2 months ago
Well written mate... I never knew some of these things....
from 2 months ago
Thanks Salomon. Thanks for the potd too.
2 months ago
Great article...KK has a place in the hearts of many football fans including me, being a Liverpool legend.
It's a shame what has happened to him but it is inevitable, the game is being run by consortiums and directors and honest, hardworking managers like Keegan are being overpowered and made to fulfil the roles of first team coaches more than anything else.
I hope he does resign, it would be better for his sanity in the long run, and Ashley will be made to realise what he has done.
from 2 months ago
Ta Karen. I follow Spurs for my sins. And I've a soft spot for KK too, as you probably guessed.
2 months ago
Good article about the comedy 'up the road'.
Only one point –
Ossie Ardilles, who had steered Newcastle towards relegation from Division 3.
That should read ‘towards relegation to div3.’ or 'towards relegation from div 2.'
from 2 months ago
Ta Kev,
Will edit it later.
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