Newcastle identity crisis

Newcastle is a special club. Their fans say it, Mike Ashley says it, Kevin Keegan says it, Alan Shearer says it: No-one else knows, no-one else understands, no-one else cares like the geordies... and the honorary geordies.

And their right of course no-one understands it - why are they special?

Their fans offer huge support befitting of a one-club football obsessed city, and are always the first to expose their beer bellies to the wintery elements, and they like to be entertained, and they would like to win something to boot. But what is it that we are all missing? Where is the uniqueness?

And that is Newcastle's trouble - they are not so unique, they are not so special. But they feel they deserve an identity, to be known as something, to matter in the modern success obsessed game. But in the current football landscape they are crowded out, the top four divide the glory and take the European recognition. At least the relegation contenders are being talked about. Newcastle are adrift in the no-man's land of mid-table.

Newcastle crave an identity and to be noticed again. In the mid 90s they fell short of success but were recognised for their ambition and their thrills despite their failures. Now contending with the top four is beyond even geordie dreams and so they are recasting themselves as the entertainers.

In the quest for attention they should be wary of becoming the court jester.

Keegan's appointment is perfection. There can not have been one disappointed football fan after last weeks revelation. For the Newcaslte fans it is the ultimate anti-alladyce and fantasy has flooded the city, and as for everyone else, well, we get to watch from a safe distance and wait patiently yet eagerly for the inevitable explosion.

How long the adventure lasts does not matter. Certainly King Kev will be all to conscious that should Shearer join the staff he.