Newcastle United - How not to do it
February 14th 2008 01:50
There is no doubt that the core of Newcastle's supporters are amongst the most vocal and proud in the land, but I'm sure that comes as little consolation when your club makes one avoidable mistake after another after another. The recent management team debacle being our latest instalment.
Let me first state, I get it. I understand the appointment of Kevin Keegan, who was the last manager to take Newcastle to the top (or very nearly anyway). It certainly drew the crowds to St James's Park and the praise from Newcastle supporters around the world, which, let's face it, is the first battle won. But football is a fickle business in a fickle fickle world and it will be interesting to see how Keegan is being greeted by the Toon Army this time next year.
Look at Big Sam and his short reign. Barely had his initials been stitched onto his new black and white scarf before he was thrown to the wolves. Apparently it wasn't his poor results that got him the boot, but rather his unattractive playing style, said the Newcastle board. This is Sam Allardyce. Did you not see his Bolton teams?
Now I'm no prophet so I can't predict with any certainty how Keegan will do, but I can't help thinking that Newcastle shouldn't be moving backwards and turning to a man who, by his own admission, hasn't watched a live game of football since his last game in charge of Manchester City in 2005. It's not exactly the kind of 'finger on the pulse' management I'd be welcoming with open arms.
Then you throw Dennis Wise into the mix, with what I believe to be the most bizarre appointment by any club for quite some time. Leaving alone for a moment the fact that nobody is quite sure of his exact job role and even turning a blind eye to his unfathomably thick pay cheque, what has he done? What qualifies Wise to be given that position in the first place? Yeah, it baffles me too.
The current Newcastle team is poor and whoever it is who's pulling the strings has got a big job on his hands, if they are going to bring any success to St James's Park. And let's not forget they have a replacement already being groomed.
Yes, there is Mr Alan Shearer waiting patiently in the wings for his chance in the hot seat. And I think he'll get it too, despite being one of the least inspiring pundits to ever be given a regular spot on TV, and God knows, there have been some shockers. If he attacks management with the shallowness he displays on Match of the Day, then they may as well appoint Barry Fry or Ian Holloway - at least they've got some charisma.
The Newcastle United fans are now looking over their shoulders at the teams below and finding that a mere six points above the drop zone is an uncomfortable place to be. Whilst I think Newcastle have enough to stay in the Premier League, nobody has the divine right to be there and if results don't improve sharpish, Mr Shearer could well find himself dusting off his tired old cliches sooner rather than later.
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Comment by Anonymous
The current situation for me stems from some appalling decisions made by the board and the delusions of the fans who still think the toon are a top 5 club.
With the lack of any success in last 40 years the board have been desperate to appease the fans.
How have they done this? By signing big name managers but given them very limited budgets (or at least not the budgets Keegan had). In more recent years they've turned to smaller named managers and given them no budget. That really sounds like a recipe for success.
Meanwhile the fans are demanding that someone brings the good times back and plays the football that the fans want to see. And no doubt the board will bow to the pressure of the fans once more as soon as they get bored with Keegan. It's just a downward spiral.
I hope Keegan turns it around but without the patience of the fans and board and the money to invest in the squad I fear he has a limited shelf life.
It summed it up for me when Woodgate went to Spurs over Newcastle. And why wouldn't he?
Comment by pooks 667
Comment by Wooderbeen
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