Simon Benn Muckle

Father, Husband, Teacher, Coach.

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

Football isn’t yours @FIFAcom, it’s the people’s game.

Keep your grubby little mitts off it.

[UEFA @UEFA]

Statement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 National AssociationStatement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 National AssociationStatement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 National AssociationStatement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 National Associations

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

@shiteseats The hood references is chefs kiss there marra

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

@NUFCdiscussion CB needs to show his strength there. Expects the foul, doesn’t get it, looks daft on the floor.

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

Beautiful this like!

[A LOVE SUPREME @ALS_Fanzine]

I WISH HE'D PICKED US
BY GILES MOONEY

When I was a child, about the time of my first trips to Roker Park, I watched Kevin Keegan captain Southampton. And I was transfixed. Not because he’d won two ballon d’or, won the European Cup with Liverpool and was the England captain, not because he’d been on Top of the Pops, not even because I had about 15 Panini stickers of him that I just couldn’t swap, but because he was the competitive bloke off Superstars.

Young people, check out superstars on YouTube, it’s impossible to believe it was ever a thing. Keegan was cycling on a cinder athletics track, racing against the captain of Anderlecht (no I’m not joking) falls off and after initially appearing fatally injured, he suddenly feels much better after a glass of squash and goes on to compete in something else - probably squat thrusts against Brian Jacks.

He ran the first ever Great North Run in a 50/50 Newcastle/Sunderland shirt to not cause offence… in football boots, yes, football boots. He had to stop near the end and change into a member of the public’s shoes to finish before donating to charity – 50p for every man who beat him and £1 for every woman (in those days that was a lot of money even for a footballer).

He was a charismatic, personable, but really quite normal superstar... but I guess we need to talk about the elephant in the room.

When he signed for Newcastle there were a lot of stories he might have come to us. He chose them and immediately understood North East football. He understood how much it mattered, how if you give 110%, the fans will shower you with love. And a player of that quality playing in the second tier giving 110% inevitably got the team promoted. He was the reason they had their success and what we often call hatred was, if I’m honest, jealousy. Such a personality, the relationship with the fans, I admit I was jealous. His departure after his last game tells you everything you need to know about him and his relationship with that club – it was how it would have been in a movie – if you don’t know google it.

My hope was that his return as manager would lack that larger-than-life personality and that his throw caution to the wind style of play wouldn’t convert to management. As we all know, it didn’t go badly for them, though of course he never actually won anything, perhaps I’d not feel this way if he had. This was partly because of his personality and because his refusal to change his style prevented it. He cared more about the show than the result.

Ferguson famously played to Keegan’s character, pressing all the right buttons to create that incredible melt down on Sky. To have a manager who cared that much is why he meant so much to those fans. It’s why they went, and he listened, when he sold Andy Cole, it’s why they forgave him when they fell at so many final hurdles.

Kevin Keegan was a footballing icon who brought pleasure to those who watched him play and enjoyment to those who watched the team’s he managed whether it was those Liverpool 4-3 games or the England Germany 5-1. It was as entertaining and captivating as when I saw him fall off his bike when I was a child. I will always be sad he took the decision he did in 1982 because I wish he’d been my hero and not theirs.

But he was their hero and, for once (twice actually after Bobby Robson’s death), I send them my sympathy and, of course, my sympathies to his friends and family.

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

Have your kids grow up to be like Haaland.

[Romzy @RomzyUnited]

🚨 Erling Haaland refuses to throw Sørloth under the bus after Norway's defeat to England. 🇳🇴

🗣️ Erling Haaland:

Alexander Sørloth is a great player and, more importantly, a very good friend of mine. Football is a game of decisions, and sometimes you make the right one, sometimes you don't.

People watching from home have time to slow everything down and analyse every angle, but on the pitch you have a split second to make a decision. That's football.

I'll never blame him for that moment because we've all been in those situations. Every player has made a decision they wish they could take back.

I'm proud of what we've achieved as a team. Reaching the World Cup quarter-finals was something very few people believed we could do before the tournament started.

We gave our country something to be proud of. We fought for every badge, every shirt and every supporter who believed in us.

Losing to England wasn't because of one pass or one missed opportunity. We created chances throughout the game. We had moments where we could have scored, and they had moments where they punished us.

That's football. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but you never point fingers at one teammate. We win together, and we lose together.

I'll always stand by Alexander, just as I know he'd stand by me. That's what being teammates is all about.

We leave this tournament disappointed, but also proud. This is only the beginning for Norway, and we'll come back stronger.

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

@Jon_Mackenzie Spot on but it is the hubris of place like the US who are ahead in so many other things to think that they can just “make it happen” what it really takes is time.

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

Such an easy win… less is more

[Coaching U @Coaching_U]

🗣️ “You’re in a classroom... Eliminate wasted time by naming your drills.”

🏀 Phil Martelli challenges coaches to eliminate wasted time in practice. His solution is simple: name every drill and give it structure. Every second should have purpose.

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

@THEChrisKessell Flat track bullies... massively found out against superior players. Not enough threat from open play. 3rd goal killed the momentum you had, level in players the difference.

[JJ Watt @JJWatt]

Ball did not lie.

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

@FaisalChibsah Chibs your lads defended well and deserved a pen!

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

69 degrees in Seattle… hydration break…

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

@MCameron008 And bonus… no shit alexi lalas takes

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

@swinburne_mark Albert vs. Man Utd 5-0. The impudence, the confidence, the downright unmitigated arrogance to chip the keeper…

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

@FootballRamble fizzer watch news lads

[Match of the Day @BBCMOTD]

Full story:
https://t.co/z0RNQ1GSpj

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

Football clubs are more than just commodities, they started as hubs for communities, places to gather and be one with others. It’s littered with people who work in clubs like Carla who do it because they love the club, and when the clubs love you back, that’s where the magic is!

[Men in Blazers @MenInBlazers]

Carla, a laundry worker for 27 years at Dutch club Go Ahead Eagles, was honored with a tifo and pre-game presentation before she retires at the end of the season 👏

Sometimes football is brilliant 🥹

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

Ahem… @FootballRamble fizzer related update gents.

[Jeremy Peterman𓅪 @SportsGuyJeremy]

Today's opening jog was interrupted after Sawyer Jura attempted to juggle a loose ball and fire a shot towards goal with his left foot but hit Neville's car instead. Neville ordered the players to stop and reveal the culprit. The coach did not notice Jura's raised hand. #RCTID

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

@THEChrisKessell On the whole, I can understand the sentiment, however more nuanced.

Plenty of clubs do a tremendous job providing a supporting, educational and beneficial exp. for youth soccer players.

Would agree the need for ⬆️ oversight

Shouldn’t all be tarnished with the same brush

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

@TheCoachesZone When the defenders win the ball why do they go sideways?

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

@JAdairSoccer [email protected]

[Simon Benn Muckle @sbmuckle]

NUFC’s over reliance on wide rotations to create scoring chances and lack of central combinations means we are too easy to defend and predictable. #nufc