Can we stop saying things like “Kieran Tripper and Dan Burn need to be moved on.”
(In an article by David Rutherford ‘Newcastle United competing for everything by 2030 says NUFC CEO and is this realistic?’ on The Mag on Sunday)
Other players, sure, although it’s still just rude, but talking in such a disrespectful way about these two in particular, is the height of disrespect and belies a real lack of understanding of what they’ve done for the club, and what the club has done to them.
By all accounts, Kieran Tripper wanted to leave last summer, but was persuaded to stay because he was needed as back up. Which he was.
But he could arguably have had a better season elsewhere. As one of the leadership group, he’s had to shoulder a lot of the flak for a poor season, even though it’s debateable how much of that was within his control.
People have been trying to get rid of Dan Burn for as long as I can remember, yet he proved them wrong time and again. An entire season played out of position and yet he performed exceptionally. A trophy winning header. Risking life and limb in a derby.
We all know his mindset from the documentary.
The club keeps buying players in his position and he just gets his head down, keeps on proving there’s a real player in there. And there can’t be any doubt much of this comes from being a Geordie.
If anyone has earned the right to say how and when he actually leaves, it’s BDB. And if the club finally buys a player who can keep him out on merit, you could hardly find a better bench warmer.