When Newcastle United’s harshest critic starts heaping praise on the club you know we’re moving in the right direction.
Gabby Agbonlahor, who less than a year ago claimed that players would rather take a £10k-a-week pay cut to play at Brentford that move up north to Newcastle is now lavishing praise upon the supporters.
Newcastle are just a month away from embarking on their first Champions League adventure in 20 years and speaking on TalkSPORT, Gabby Agbonlahor says he feels Newcastle have the tools to be successful in Europe’s top competition.
Agbonlahor says the St James’ Park atmosphere will be crucial
The former Aston Villa striker said: “I look at the group of players and I feel like they’re going to be able to handle it. I feel like you speak to players and you hear players talk about the atmosphere at St James’ Park, these European teams go in there – you know you used to say back in the day about going away in Europe and you couldn’t handle the atmosphere? You go to Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, that atmosphere?
“I feel like Newcastle, St James’ Park tops the Premier League for atmosphere and it wouldn’t surprise me if they won every home game in their group in the Champions League.”
Agbonlahor has been quite complimentary about our fans in the past, praising the atmosphere the Toon Army created in the Carabao Cup final, so as much as we think he hates our club, he certainly seems to have an affinity for the fans.
Champions League nights at SJP are going to be special
In another twist of fate, I find myself agreeing with Gabby again, I think that’s twice this year, but the atmosphere our fans can generate for a regular game can be intimidating enough, but when there’s more at stake the Toon Army is always capable of reaching another level.
Champions League nights at St James’ Park promise to be magical this season with the excitement of being back amongst the best, the Wor Flags displays which you just know are going to be breathtaking, and the fact that our players genuinely fear nobody these days all strongly favour a 100% record at home.
Regardless of who we end up in a group with, St James’ Park will be Newcastle’s fortress.
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