Newcastle players left the field in awe at the strength of the protests about Alexander Isak
Lee Ryder follows Newcastle United home and away as our Chief Newcastle United Writer. Lee has reported on the Magpies from China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and across Europe. Covered England at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.
Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes applauds the travelling fans at Villa Park(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)
Newcastle United fans branded Alexander Isak “greedy” as the teams went off the pitch and the air suddenly turned blue at Villa Park.
During the full 90 plus minutes the fans had stuck to what they always do when backing the team with 3,000 fans chanting: “Eddie Howe’s black and white army” and “Toon, Toon” as their team battled to what could turn out to be a precious point.
But the second that fans had shown their appreciation to the players that did play, they used the away section at Villa Park to demonstrate what they see as a serious lack of loyalty from the Sweden star who has made his name on Tyneside.
As the ‘greedy’ chants were belted out first-teamers such as Lewis Miley and Aaron Ramsdale looked back towards the huge away following in awe at the magnitude of the Isak chants.
No sooner had the game finished, Isak will have witnessed the chants via social media as clips of the Toon Army went viral but what happens next will be interesting.
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Will Isak be shocked into returning to action and fulfilling his duties in a Newcastle shirt against Liverpool?
Or is there no way back, and the more likely response is set to be that he doubles down on his will to force a move to Anfield before the end of the window?
As the dust was settling club legend Alan Shearer stated on Match of the Day stated: “He is going about it the wrong way.”
Newcastle United players turn back towards the fans at Aston Villa
And the truth is it feels like there is pretty much no way back for the man Newcastle paid £63m for.
Up next for Newcastle is a home clash with Liverpool and you could hardly make that up but the narrative is clear from within the dressing room.
The Isak situation can be used to galvanise the Magpies and Eddie Howe and his players are already tapping into that.
Think of games during the Howe era against Arsenal, when Mikel Arteta was left rattled, think of Paris St-Germain, when early tackles left Kylian Mbappe and co shaking in a 4-1 defeat or even go back to the Carabao Cup final itself when Newcastle got all their homework right and stunned Liverpool at Wembley.
After the 0-0 draw at Villa, one of the leaders Dan Burn emerged to say: “I’m sure St James’ Park will be buzzing next Monday.” Before Anthony Gordon stated: “I think with everything that’s gone, I’m sure the atmosphere’s going to be a bit wild.”
Whether Isak plays or not, the reaction at full-time at Villa is a small taste of what could come against the Reds at St James’ Park on Monday night.
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