Newcastle United take Mike Tyson’s advice to deliver brutal Premier League knockout blow
Premier League clubs are already looking defeated before the enter the St James’ Park colosseum - Newcastle United are following in one of the great’s footsteps.
Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face. Mike Tyson, once dubbed the baddest man on the planet who became a global superstar, revered the world over and an international sporting icon to this day, certainly said it best.
Legendary boxing trainer Teddy Atlas, his friend turned foe, once claimed Tyson’s boxing record was 0-6. He dismissed the 50 wins, including 44 stoppages and 24 first-round knockouts, as worthless.
Because without the fear factor, Buster Douglas, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis were able to overcome the monster. The mere thought of Tyson’s granite, explosive frame swinging hooks and uppercuts from that signature peek-a-boo stance was enough to make most professional fighters tremble before they entered the ring. Intensity was also his identity, one could remark.
And in St James’ Park, Newcastle United have their own knockout artist that evokes fear across the Premier League. How many times have you heard ‘Ah, they have to go to Newcastle next, a tough place to go’ creeping out of a rival pundit, fan or player’s lips in recent years?
What was once a charity venue, where teams rock up and expect three points doled out on a red carpet, is now a fortress. The Magpies have won 59.7 per cent of their home Premier League fixtures under Eddie Howe - giving match-going fans plenty to shout about following years of stagnation.
Wolverhampton Wanderers were the latest club to face the Tyneside roar and must have left the ground thinking ‘How did we lose 3-0?’ Newcastle barely got out of second gear as they put the Midlands club - who fluffed two big chances - to the sword.
Shortly after Alexander Isak’s opener, the Magpies knocked the ball about like they were having a kickabout in Leazes Park. Wolves had all 11 men on defensive duties, the sign of a defeated team despite the slender scoreline.
Was there any belief that they could launch a comeback? Not likely. That pessimistic tone emanated throughout the visitors, with Wolves boss Vitor Pereira paying tribute to Newcastle’s bulldozing style.
“I’m proud of my players and proud of my team,” he said. “The difference is this is a difficult team (Newcastle) playing at home who are a very heavy team and strong in the duels.
“In the end, we tried everything. We scored a goal, which was cancelled. We had more chances, but it’s ok. The players tried everything to get a different result. We recognise that they (Newcastle) are strong.”
Strong was not an adjective that fit Newcastle before the Saudi-backed takeover. This club was milquetoast under Mike Ashley, possessing a weak underbelly prone to a hiccup or blunder on or off the pitch.
In truth, the bottle-job mentality has bled throughout Tyneside for almost 70 years. Older readers do not need reminding, they recall that 1995-96 campaign vividly.
But under Howe, the Magpies are made of sterner stuff. Could this finally be the year to end the barren spell? It certainly feels like something special is in the air.
Like Tyson in the squared circle, sides are being forced to launch their gameplans out of the window once they step inside St James' Park. The challenge will be when Newcastle travel south - whether that is in March or beyond - and aim to banish their Wembley demon.