I’m actually going to go for Sandro Tonali

We invited a number of regular/irregular contributors to The Mag to give us their Newcastle United heroes and villains.

Our thanks to Aaron Gales for taking up the challenge.

Aaron has looked back at his Newcastle United heroes and villains across the current decade, the 2020s.

My Newcastle United hero of the 2020s

I’m sure everyone will say this but it has to be Eddie Howe. What he did for our football club in his five years in charge was nothing short of extraordinary. Yes, he had plenty of money to spend but that was a small factor in everything he achieved. Remember when he took over we were on a runaway train to relegation. To take us from there, all the way to two Champions League campaigns, a Carabao Cup win and all the other incredible moments along the way was nothing short of remarkable. Build that man a statue.

Can I also give an honourable mention to Graeme Jones here (bear with me). He came in to the club at a very, very difficult time. We had a group of players who were absolutely desperate to be coached by someone who had a clue what they were doing. I’m sure many of us can remember the pictures of him with groups of players around him during matches, taking instructions while Steve Bruce gave him evils in the background.

Cult hero of the 2020s

It’s got to be Mad Dog Jason Tindall for me. He was just a great character at the club and was the perfect sidekick for the more mild mannered and measured Eddie Howe. While known for his touchline antics and his uncanny ability to find himself in the middle of every photo opportunity, he was also an excellent coach, and he proved a very able deputy when Howe was laid low with pneumonia.

Villain of the 2020s

There are too many obvious ones really, whether you look at Mike Ashley or Steve Bruce. I’m going to go for Alexander  Isak I think. The way he conducted himself during the transfer saga was nothing short of appalling (although I think the situation would have been handled very differently had the seemingly very sensible Ross Wilson been in place). I think him leaving sent a signal to other players that we had perhaps reached our ceiling as a club and too many have unfortunately followed in his footsteps in the next 12 months.

Not so obvious villain of the 2020s

I’m actually going to go for Sandro Tonali here. On the whole he made a very positive contribution to the club but I think the way he conducted himself to secure his transfer away was almost as bad as Isak. It was clear he was flirting with Roberto De Zerbi for months before the end of the season. Is tapping up players no longer a thing anymore?

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