Quantcast
Transfer News

Souness: Newcastle fans should not blame Ashley for lack of trophies

|
Image for Souness: Newcastle fans should not blame Ashley for lack of trophies

Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness believes that Newcastle United fans should not be blaming owner Mike Ashley for their lack of trophies.

The Magpies last won a major honour back in 1969 and Souness claims that the club’s inability to bring home some silverware is an “ongoing problem” that Ashley should not be blamed for.

Souness has previously been in charge of United and has added that St James’ Park is not an easy place to work – but maintained that Newcastle are still a “fabulous football club.”

“When was the last time they won a trophy? 1969. It gives you an idea of how difficult it is there. And, if you look at the teams who have won trophies in that time,” Souness said in his column for Paddy Power.

“They’re a fabulous football club, but it’s a very difficult place to work, it’s difficult to be a player there. Mike Ashley hasn’t been there since ’69. This is an ongoing problem.

“There’s a frustration that they haven’t done better, as they think they should’ve done. Managing there is very difficult, you don’t get too long, you’re always firefighting.”

OPINION

Souness is yet another pundit who has laid into Newcastle’s lack of success in the silverware department. Yes, Newcastle have not won a major honour since 1969 – but he has conveniently forgotten that they won the Championship title about two years ago. The second tier is a tough league and by no means a relatively easy one to win – so it is unfair that he has laid into them the way that he has. The fact that he has told the fans that their “ongoing problem” is nothing to do with the owner is also incredibly ludicrous. Ashley is the one that has failed to provide the adequate funds to bring in top players, and if a club cannot compete with the likes of Chelsea in the transfer market, then what hope is there that they will be able to win a trophy. It is very easy to disagree with Souness here – even though Newcastle are not at the level to bring home silverware, there is still one positive to take out of this, and that is how Rafa Benitez was able to guide them to a tenth placed finish in the Premier League last season.

Share this article