21 Jan 2008(Mon)

January 19, 2008: The other day I wrote about JEF United being the "crisis club" of Japan.

The equivalent in England, though for different reasons, was Newcastle United. All that changed, however, with the appointment of Kevin Keegan as manager for the second time -- the "third coming" in total of the so-called "Geordie Messiah".

For Japanese students of English football and culture, a Geordie is a person from Tyneside. Keegan is not a Geordie as he was born nowhere near the River Tyne, and many Newcastle fans are not Geordies, either.

But Keegan is a hero for the Geordie masses, and his return has put a smile back on the faces of Newcastle fans around the world -- including me! The Magpies were a laughing stock at Old Trafford last weekend, losing 6-0. They were a parody of what is expected from a team wearing the famous black and white stripes, but now there is pride and hope again.

I actually remember Newcastle losing 7-2 at Old Trafford in a League Cup tie in the mid-1970s, but at least they were competitive in that particular game and the fans had no reason to feel embarrassed. (The result is still referred to in a Newcastle chant to this day: "We hate Man U, 'cos they beat us 7-2!")

On the subject of Keegan and Japan, I wonder how many Gamba Osaka fans were at the match against Newcastle at Banpaku in the summer of 1996. Keegan was the manager at the time, "Sir Les" Ferdinand scored a wonderful header in a 3-1 defeat, and the manager of Nagoya Grampus Eight, a certain Arsene Wenger, was watching from high in the stands.

I was reporting on the game for The Journal, the morning newspaper in Newcastle, and it came at the end of a three-match tour that started in Bangkok, continued in Singapore and ended at Suita City.

I must admit I was expecting a laidback assignment following the mighty Magpies around the Far East, and arrived at the team hotel in Bangkok to see Keegan rushing through the lobby, chased by fans. I introduced myself, but Keegan had more pressing business. "I'm sorry, I haven't got much time at the moment," he said. "We've just signed Shearer. We'll chat later."

Yes, Newcastle had just broken the world transfer record with a 15 million pound deal for Alan Shearer -- and he would be joining his new teammates in Singapore.

So much for my leisurely summer assignment!

ends