The London media have long had a problem with thev Toon, none more so than the 'News Of The World'. I've seen it first hand when being interviewed as a fanzine editor, and the fact of the matter is ... the hacks HATE travelling up here!
Sir John Hall, to a certain degree, got rid of the Geordie cloth-cap image the Cocknies had of us. But Freddy Shepherd took us back 20 years.
And now they don't quite know what to make of Mike Ashley. If he has a shady past, I'm sure they'll find it. If he hasn't ... well ... they'll just make one up.
As for Keegan? Well he's and old hand, but they know he doesn't take to criticism too kindly. That is his Achilles heel, and they play on it.
And this week they report: Newcastle United players were reportedly stunned by a simplistic team talk with a 'club insider', saying: "The players were waiting for Kevin to give his instructions but all he said was 'Arsenal are a great passing team. We must make sure we pass the ball better than them'.