Isak saga has become messy and tiresome

IT was Kevin Keegan who uttered what became a famous phrase upon threatening to walk out on Newcastle United before going on to build one of the greatest teams in history, The Entertainers, and cement his lasting legacy.

- By JOHN GIBSON

As his car fumes disappeared over the horizon he proclaimed: “It’s not like it said in the brochure.’ In other words United had broken promises and he was having none of it.

Now Alexander Isak has pinched the Keegan phrase book and used it to his advantage... except that there is no certainty it will work this time. Lasting bitterness resides in the house of St James’ Park and amongst the thousands of worshippers who pour within on match days. With KK it was more of a lover's tiff.

Kevin was an impulsive man of passion who wore his heart on his sleeve. He was always likely to knee jerk and disappear, only to be soothed by the reassuring words of first Terry McDermott, his trusted lieutenant, and then Sir John Hall on his return to the fold. It happened many times.

Isak’s case is very different. He has brooded, felt deep lasting injustice with a belief that he was badly done to, and views his actions as set in cement. This is a different man and a different set of circumstances. Just the same words used by the defence.

Where Keegan was loved despite his occasional wobbler, Isak has become despised, more so after taking to social media.

Oh, that he could come back and become a hero like King Kev. However Keegan's ‘stance’ over an argument usually lasted 24 hours at most, whereas Isak’s has lasted the summer with no sign that autumn will see resentment drop away like falling leaves.