When it comes to birthday messages to their players, football clubs are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
Manchester City famously came in for criticism from Yaya Touré for failing to mark his 31st birthday in the manner he would have liked.
But when Newcastle sent out innocuous well-wishes to Moussa Sissoko, it was too much in the eyes of some supporters.
Happy birthday, Moussa Sissoko – born on this day in 1989. 🎂 #NUFC pic.twitter.com/g6o4b3LZE3
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 16, 2016
The French midfielder was not the most popular member of the first team as the Magpies dropped out of the Premier League last season and has been linked with a move away from Tyneside.
But he remains a Newcastle United player for now, hence the birthday message, and supporters aren’t exactly sharing in birthday cheer.
https://twitter.com/Trivialzz/status/765504195285905408
Hope he stubs his toe just after standing on his iPhone charger plug
— Mark McMeekin (@McMeekinM) August 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/Fandanjoe/status/765486402788286464
hope someone buys him the game he always wanted…for the wrong console
— fatbloke (@fatbloke70) August 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/AdamHaycee/status/765497441718300672
The most popular response was something that rhymes with cake.
🐍🐍🐍
— ToonDeepDive (@ToonDeepDive) August 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/dalemoxy/status/765490514007355392
https://twitter.com/Ryan_Adams93/status/765504378962862080
🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍
— Lee ⚫️⚪️ (@Lee_NUFC93) August 16, 2016
For the Toon Army, a move to Real Madrid would be the best present of all, for Sissoko and for them.
tell him al buy him a Real Madrid top, what size is he?
— Lewy (@nufclewizc) August 16, 2016
In addition to Sissoko’s 27th birthday, today marked a special anniversary for former Newcastle and England defender Barry Venison.
The replies to the club’s tweet about Venison’s 52nd birthday were a marked contrast to the jokes, snake emojis and general abuse sent the way of the French midfielder.
That said, it seemed there was more enthusiasm about the way they wished him happy birthday at all. Where’s Moussa’s party hat?
We're feeling your birthday love… let's pass some on to Barry Venison! 🎉 #NUFC pic.twitter.com/FXYZhjlp6j
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 16, 2016
Oooooooooooh Barry Barry, Barry Barry Barry Barry Venison!
— Dean Richardson (@Deano1892) August 16, 2016
Happy birthday, Barry! 😄🎉
— David Stølen (@StolenStones1) August 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/Starman892/status/765493985242652672
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