Geordie fans have a right to ask why in a two-horse race Newcastle United regularly finish second. If they have no competition for a player, fine, he'll sign, but if a late entry is confirmed for the Transfer Sweepstakes then we're in trouble.
Geography is not a barrier
One main reason put forward by football's pundits is that we're in the far North, as though we are on the edge of the Arctic Circle. Players much prefer London. Or Birmingham. Manchester or Liverpool.
Why? Have they seen Bamburgh's beautiful golden sands topped by the castle peering down from a vantage point overlooking the sea? It's been officially voted the best beach in Britain for countless years.
Have they driven by the Angel Of The North with its open welcoming arms? Walked down Grey Street and gazed at the architecture? Visited Alnwick Castle with the kids where Harry Potter ruled as king? Gone for kippers at Craster, viewed the rhododendrons in Cragside, walked Hadrian's Wall, or dipped a toe in Kielder Water?
Have they played at St James' Park, one of the most atmospheric football grounds in the country dripping with passion and purpose? The cathedral on the hill.
Players who stayed
SuperMac is a Cockney but having finished his career as both player and manager he came back here to live rather than the smoke. So did Fairs Cup skipper Bob Moncur, a Jock, once his managerial life ended. David Craig from Northern Ireland, Jinky Smith (Scotland) and John Anderson, a Dubliner, never left. Neither did Joe Harvey, a teak hard Yorkshireman who became an adopted Geordie.
Nobby Solano is from South America and travels the world to work in football but whenever he is out of a job he rocks up in Newcastle.
No, in the main those who have walked among us and bothered to immerse themselves in local culture know what we have to offer topped off by a huge dollop of footballing passion. Only those who haven't witnessed it for themselves don't want to join because all they seem to see is Andy Capp with his whippet on a piece of string and pit heaps scarring the landscape. Don't they know we no longer make our living from coal?
Wages and Europe
I can accept that wages may see a footballer's head turned. Poor souls they need a crust of bread and can have a whole loaf if they play for one of the Elite Six who are not bound and gagged like Houdini by bureaucracy and thrown in the nearest river.
Maybe Europe can play a part too in diverting the gaze, though we have just enjoyed two seasons in the Champions League and were looking forward to our second excursion last summer when we were knocked back more often than a tail ender's off stump.
Personal reflection
I lived in London when I worked Fleet Street before coming back home to follow United and one of my daughters lives there now which means regular visits, but I wouldn't swap Buckingham Palace for the Cathedral On The Hill any day of the week.
When SuperMac signed for Newcastle our original No 9 Legend Jackie Milburn took him round Northumberland in his car pointing out the advantages of life in black and white. Perhaps we need a Wor Jackie now to blow our trumpet and act as a signpost when modern day players are thinking of living in town.
Thank you, King Kev
I'M still stunned over the death of Kevin Keegan. He led such a charmed life I expected him to overcome any obstacle placed before him.
When he came out of hospital where he had been receiving treatment for stomach cancer he even talked of coming back to St James' Park next season to 'say a proper farewell to the fans'. He has now been deprived of that and so have we.
I've been inundated with phone calls since the announcement of his passing this week. Sir John Hall rang up to say: "No one will ever forget the Keegan Years. What we did together saved our football club. Kevin was an inspirational manager."
Peter Beardsley, who was closer than anyone, will be devastated. They spoke several times a week. True confidants. So will Arthur Cox who is 86, was Keegan's manager here, and returned to join his backroom staff during the days of the Entertainers. They too talked on a regular basis.
Kevin took me with him in his car to sign Ruel Fox and with Sir John's support brought his star-studded Entertainers over to Gateshead when I was chairman for a pre-season fixture. It was the first appearance on Tyneside of new signings Les Ferdinand and David Ginola and we sold out the International Stadium at 11,000-plus inside 24 hours. It is still the club's record attendance.
