Actions will speak louder than words

Feb 15 2009 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

NO doubt Derek Llambias thought he was saying all the right things when he finally broke his silence last week.

Unfortunately, words can sound pretty hollow when contradicted by your actions.

Or inaction, in the case of the men running Newcastle United.

And so there were more than several duff notes sounded by the Magpies’ managing director.

Not least of them was a reflection on the January transfer window which provided a different picture to that painted by manager Joe Kinnear, but one which most United fans had envisaged.

A picture of panic.

But the following statements – betraying as they did Llambias’ spectacular lack of self-realisation – jarred with me the most . . .

“In five years’ time I would hope we would be challenging for everything . . . We hope to be like an Aston Villa . . . We aren’t a selling club, we’re a buying club . . .”

So Villa is now Newcastle’s model? Oh, the irony . . .

That’s Villa, buyers of the player whose sale prompted Kevin Keegan’s resignation and United’s downward spiral.

Villa, who are only now flirting with a top-four position in which Newcastle were firmly bedded down not that long ago.

Villa, who – despite what Llambias would apparently have us believe – have spent £45 million on players in barely the last six months.

That’s £45m net . . . or roughly 20 times what Mike Ashley has shelled out for transfers in more than a year-and-a-half at Newcastle.