Byline: By LEE RYDER
VID GINOLA has urged Newcastle United to let Kevin Keegan build
another team of Entertainers.
The flamboyant Frenchman was part of Keegan's team that almost
changed the face of football back in 1996 when the Magpies'
mouth-watering style of play almost delivered the title with a brand of
attractive attacking football that left Toon fans in dreamland.
And many of them still argue that only Special K has what it takes
to do the same again.
With Keegan's future surrounded by doubts this week after a
series of heated meetings with the United board, Ginola has reflected on
the team spirit - created by KK's presence 12 years ago - that
almost delivered the Premier League trophy to Tyneside.
Ginola told the Chronicle: "It's bad to live with the
past.
"There is only one Les Ferdinand, there is only one Peter
Beardsley, there is only one David Ginola and there is only one Tino
Asprilla.
"And you should not compare a team from 1996 to 2008.
"But I do think that Kevin Keegan can recreate the same spirit
we had at that time. That is possible.
"I hope that people let him rebuild the club again.
"With Keegan's spirit, we bonded together on and off the
field and he was allowed to build a team.
"We trained together, went out together and had parties
together.
"It's the best way to succeed together and Kevin did all
of that, he was the glue.
"Look at it. I am French, Tino is Colombian, Philippe Albert
is Belgian - we came from different parts of the world, we didn't
know each other or share the same culture but we were best friends.
"We played on the same pitch and we wore the same shirts, so
it was very important to know each other.
"To know each other is the most important thing and Kevin
helped us do that.
"Now I hope he will be recreated this time around and he is
able to do that."
Ginola wooed Gallowgate for just two years in a black-and-white
shirt and his two seasons in Toon coincided with two second place
finishes.
Newcastle haven't been there since.
And Ginola reflected on the agonising period in which Manchester
United somehow overturned a 12-point deficit to lift the crown.
He told me: "We were very close to winning the Premier League
but not quite.
"We didn't expect not to win it.
"When were 12 points clear there was only one team that looked
like winning it.
"We had a big game at Liverpool and we lost 4-3.
"From this game onwards we started to have problems.
"We started to concede too many silly goals and we started to
fear Manchester United because they were right behind us.
"We feared they would take over us and that is exactly what
happened in the end.
"At the end they finished four points ahead of us.
"That was very frustrating for us because we had put so much
into that and worked very hard that season.
"It was a big effort.
"We'd made a big effort to stay together as a team.
"We trained as a team and we produced very interesting
football for our fans.
"We scored goals and the quality of the goals was brilliant.
"After that we played well the next season and beat Manchester
United 5-0."
Ginola - now promoting his own brand of wine - is the sort of
player Newcastle fans still crave today.
And with the stadium expanded since his days in Toon and millions
of pounds pumped into players since he left, he admits he is mystified
that Newcastle are still waiting for that first trophy since 1969.
He added: "There were some fantastic things for me in my two
years here.
"But it was always a case of 'not quite'.
"It's sad because it is almost as if some cloud hovering
above Newcastle that is preventing them from getting any success.
"I wish it would blow away.
"Since I left they have not achieved much else.
"I have always thought that Newcastle United and their fans
belong at the top.
"Look at the ground, the fans and the money that has been
involved.
"They should be there - right at the top where they deserve to
be and I think Kevin can take them there."
Ginola's Coste Brulade 2007 rose won a silver medal at this
year's International Wine Challenge.
But when asked if it compared with chasing medals for Newcastle, he
quipped: "I don't have to sweat that much!
"It is a different world.
"I gave a bottle to Kevin Keegan last week when I visited him.
He put it in the fridge.
"I was pleased to offer him it!
Football is about running and creating things.
"When I was at training at Newcastle, I wanted to be one of
Keegan's players and help him get the team up the league.
"They were great days and I think he is still the man to
deliver."
CAPTION(S):
PALS: David Ginola and Keegan last week
COPYRIGHT 2008 MGN Ltd. Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
Copyright 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights
reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.
NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.