Newcastle United are a huge club who have had big-name players such as Alan Shearer, David Ginola and 2001 Ballon d’Or winner Michael Owen all represent them.
However, the latter of those three is hated by many among the Toon Army over an admission that he had never really wanted to play for them, and some recent comments have led to him being slated by some supporters of his former club as “disingenuous” and “pathetic”.
How many players do Newcastle need to sign?
Five or less?
More than five?
As per the Daily Mail, he claimed that he asked Amazon to remove him from punditry at St James’ Park as he feared for his safety.
However, this didn’t wash well with some Newcastle fans who were quick to remind him why they don’t like him!
What these Newcastle fans said
“Because he literally wrote an autobiography where he said he didn’t want to be here. IN HIS OWN WORDS.” @adzy_90
“The fact he says he’d like to ask why he wasn’t liked just shows how detached he is from how supporters felt.” @DoolanPd
“He knows exactly why. The issue isn’t that he doesn’t know, the issue is he doesn’t want to accept that there is any truth to it, as it would dent his fragile ego.” @PaJaBuzz
“Is he serious? Why doesn’t he get someone to read his book to him on why we’ve little time for him.” @DanielE37142279
“Massively disingenuous of him, of course he knows why this is. He blatantly didn’t give a monkeys about playing for us, feigned injury when we needed him most to avoid picking one up so that he’d be available to sign on elsewhere. He’s still trying to take us all for fools.” @NUFCEddie
“Right from the Steve Bruce school of playing victim. Pathetic.” @Axcrazy1
Evidently there’s some bad blood among the Tyneside faithful, which is perhaps unsurprising as Owen has made no secret of his desire to have returned to Liverpool after his stint with Real Madrid in Spain.
He claimed that he was all set for an emotional Anfield return, but the Reds couldn’t match the transfer fee that the Tynesiders pitched. His desire to sign for Rafael Benitez’s Merseysiders was clear as he had clauses in his Newcastle contract which would help facilitate a move to his former club should the opportunity arise.
It seems that Owen’s heart was never there for his spell at Newcastle, so the negative reaction from some Magpies supporters is understandable. However, no pundit should have to fear for their safety just for turning up to do their job.
In other news: Simon Jordan has launched a scathing attack on the Newcastle squad