This one was for David Ginola (and me…) | OneFootball

Like all other Newcastle United fans I loved December 2024, enjoyed it for what it was, while anticipating a reality check once we got into 2025.

I’m almost 65 and used to lows, quickly following highs.

The last 10 days and three results though, have blown me away.

I went to bed on Tuesday night a happy old git, looking forward to hearing from my son who was lucky enough to be among the 6,000 happy souls at Arsenal.

This morning, I’m even happier, reading articles rightly enjoying Arteta’s misery, couldn’t happen to a more deserving fella.

Looking for even more reasons to look back fondly on this win (bearing in mind, still work to do). I drifted back to 10 January 1996.

Newcastle United lost 2-0 at Highbury in a League Cup quarter-final. It was horrible.

Lee Dixon (yes him) and Nigel Winterburn took turns kicking, tripping, nipping and goading David Ginola, no interest or intervention from the shameful referee, Ginola finally reacted and was speedily red-carded. He’d been suckered in, they’d done their job and they loved it.

We lost 2-0 and unlike our current crop, we’d been shown to be a bit naive.

What really stuck with me was David Ginola looked devastated as he slumped off, muttering apparently about “not being allowed to play.”

I’m not sure if this is actually correct but I don’t think we saw Ginola fully recover in a black and white shirt. That might just be my memory playing tricks but that’s how it seemed.

In his pomp he was fabulous, but maybe not as tough, not as well looked after by management, team mates or match officials as the really skilful players are looked after now? We’re much better at looking after each other now. Real band of brothers this lot.

When you look at the disappointment of missing out in 1996, it’s easy to focus on Schmeichel at St. James’ Park, Graeme (bliddy) Fenton, Anfield 4-3, but I do think collectively we lost quite a bit, not just Ginola’s edge, during that Highbury cup defeat.

We had some great players, great belief and team spirit, but we had only one way of playing which was “score more goals than them”, it was great to watch but plan B wasn’t for us and eventually it cost us.

King Kev was great at three card brag, all gung-ho and attack. By contrast, Eddie Howe is a chess grandmaster, loved Almiron last night, coming on and indicating formation as 5 and 5, job done and wasn’t it sweet!

Lee Dixon was obviously gutted and I hope Winterburn was too.

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Hope David Ginola watched and enjoyed it as much as Shay Given and I did.

We need to remember, it’s not over yet, but I so trust Eddie and his boys to do all they can, we can ask no more. Bring it on.