So Long Sam

Paul Patterson wrote...

The million dollar question is- Who’s Next then, there’s the obvious clamour for Alan Shearer to stop off the BBC settee and slap his reputation on the line in the Managers office at Newcastle United, but I can’t see why anyone would want this to happen at this moment in time.

The most important fact of the matter is that this was the RIGHT decision at this moment in time.

I suggested a few weeks ago, that a good plan would be to have Kevin Keegan till the end of the season and then make a move for a proper manager, well Ottmat Hitzfeld has stated that he wants to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, so this plan seems quite viable.

Keegan short term WOULD get us into Europe.

The choice I wanted after Sir Bobby was ‘The Special One’ but that was hoyed out of a very rich Russian window, I wanted Juande Ramos after Souness, but that’s also gone the journey, Mourinho’s free at present, don’t anyone say he wouldn’t come to Newcastle- It would appeal to his ego- a club without a trophy in decades, the chance to be a God in his own right?

My next permanent manager:-

Jose Mourinho
Ottmar Hitzfeld
Martin Jol
Gerard Houllier

The one thing needed, to haul us out of this nightmare, of substandard, monotonous, and stifled regime, is a presence, an inspiration, a break from the limited and wholly scientific approach were witnessing at present.

Instead of the science and static thought of one man, we need the creativity and vision of another, to break the long standing claptrap, emitting from the club at present.

Who this revolutionary is, heaven knows? But the sooner this person comes into our lives and shows the club the way forward, to think freely and be totally creative and with self belief, the better.

‘Oh Captain My Captain’

Has anyone seen ‘Dead Poets Society’?

Note From Luke
Good points Paul, but Dead Poet's Society isn't a film I've ever bothered to see. Not sure why, not enough action for me as a young man I reckon when it was released. For me, the best choice is Mourinho, but there is a theory he is prevented from taking over another English club this season as part of his compensation deal with Chelsea

Posted by: Paul Patterson  | January 9, 2008 11:47 PM

Ronnie Lambert wrote...

Well well. I was just talking to a sports writer in town today and he didn't even flinch as our brief chat barely broached the subject. I'd hate to play poker with that guy as his steely nerve was indefatigable. Ho hum, that's a good result for me then, and thousands more who felt we would get drawn further down the table before long. Freddies final curse has backfired and some new broom will invarioubly sweep clean. He is rumoured to be a very good established English manager, Redknapp, Mouhino, Klinsman or Lippi. Okay they're foreigners but infinitely better than the oaf who's just gone out the back door. Now we'll see square pegs in round holes again, and the team will no doubt be up for it.

Note From Luke
I've already admitted I had no inclination it was about to happen! I'm smart, but I ain't that smart!

Posted by: Ronnie Lambert  | January 10, 2008 3:14 AM

Charles wrote...

I'm sure many of you sickos must be happy looking at Sam's departure. For all I know, you could be having an 'all newcastle supporters' party when you heard the news...

I'm not his supporter and I do get sick of his tactics but his timing was wayyyyyy off. He should be sacked at the end of the season but why now when we have a top flight match coming against us.

Now we are inside the damned transfer window and nobody there to do something about it, I suppose Ashley is going to buy the players alongside with Mort.

The only positives are :

We no longer have to endure crude tactics...
The job is open for some other manager, like Jose.M...
We got our wishes at last...

The bad points :

MU next game, without a manager to guide us...
Transfer window open, nobody doing anything...
And yet again proven the fact that supporters sacks managers not owners...

Note From Luke
It's going to cost Ashley a fortune either way just weeks after he backed Sam's plan and appointed all the backrrom staff he wanted. Long term plan? What is that again!

Posted by: Charles  | January 10, 2008 9:54 AM

iain nicolson wrote...

id rather be turned down by all the top managers on the continent then make redknapp my no1 choice.

the only reason sam could have gone so quick is surely that someone out of work has agreed to ne nufc manager, in terms of nayone decent that means...

mourinho, lippi, jol.

big sam talked a good game, but i dont ever remeber seeing a game that matched up with anything he talked about.

ultimatly sam tripped into the big hole he had dug himslef and if that wasnt bad enough he fell on his own sword as well.

luke any insider news that sam trying to flog taylor did for him ??? ive heard rumours that when suggested he sell some of his signings to fund new ones sam declared he rather cash in on taylor ???

Note From Luke
He didn't want to lose Taylor so I'm pretty sure your info is false Iain. There may well have been a disagreement about transfer funds which led to his departure but he was adamant he wanted Taylor to stay. It is worth pointing out that it is Taylor who has turned down a new contract and it is Taylor's camp which has hinted he is looking for a deal which will make him one of the club's top earners, at 21-years-old!

Posted by: iain nicolson  | January 10, 2008 9:57 AM

STEVE wrote...

It had to happen
His tenure saw a team without shape far too regular,A defence strung out across the pitch a midfield overan by poor teams and a strikeforce starved of service.The Barton episode was helped by poor man management why did barton stay in the north west after wigan why is he in rehab for drink related problems not picked up by sams backroom .But the more worrying thing was the lack of unity in the squad all to evident on sunday at stoke where players had nasty frustrations with each other.

Posted by: STEVE  | January 10, 2008 10:10 AM

Shane wrote...

Mourinho would be perfect but i don't think we'll get him. As much as i love Shearer - is it really the right time for him to take the plunge on his own? Surely there's far too much at stake and i always imagined he'd be weened into the job alongside an experienced manager. Shearer alongside Redknapp anyone?

Note From Luke
That is an interesting proposition. Redknapp has worked with Tony Adams as his number two at Pompey. But would Shearer's ego allow him to play second fiddle to anyone?

Posted by: Shane  | January 10, 2008 10:50 AM

Anonymous wrote...

luke it is absurd to sack a manager 8 months into a job. i certainly did not like the results or the performances in that time but we are in mid table which is all that could be reasonably expected at this stage. so we are now going on to our umpteenth manager in just a few years, why? i posted some time ago to your pages my own theory as to why. we have over the years had a huge turnover of players, we have had a huge turnover of managers, we have even had a complete change of ownership. none of this has improved the fortunes of nufc. the only things that have not changed have been the media and the fans. i believe it is there we should look for the problem. the media including the local media have made mischief at nufc for a long time, but i think an even bigger obstacle to success is the fans. the hotheads who could not tell a footballer from a hole in the ground. people who are more interested in taking off their shirts in the ground and screaming abuse at the manager and the players. people who think we should win every game. people who make it impossible because of the pressure for any manager to be a success.

Note From Luke
As ever with anonymouis posts, I wish you'd left your name with your words because you have a point here.

Posted by: Anonymous  | January 10, 2008 10:51 AM

Ronnie Lambert wrote...

Now comes the sickening bit where the press all start mourning poor Sam for not getting enough time. He wanted 5 years? So would I on his money. Trouble is you have to give value for £500+ that hard working season ticket holders have literally scraped together over the year. He didn't give a monkey's about them. All his tunneled vision allowed him to see was that HE needed 5yrs. and HE would only do it HIS way. Now there is an opinion that Fat Freddy knew he'd been sold-out by Hall and outplayed by Ashley amidst growing disenchantment amongst the fans, so he spitefully banged in Sam whilst he still held the reins as an ' up yours ' to the lot o' you, knowing full well that few wanted Big Sham anyway, and with his team of rocket scientists would cost Ashley a fortune to pay them off. Luckily Mike Ashley will easily survive this and get the last laugh when he appoints his own GOOD manager, hopefully Harry Redknap, and gets these, for the large part, decent players working to their strengths as a team, the fans will do their bit. Either way he's ruined the season with his ineptitude and intransigence and it'll take the rest of this season plus the summer for a GOOD manager to turn things around. Here's where the patience of us supporters will show itself again. Stuff what the gutter press say, they'll turn on someone else after a week, and provide the bullets for another set of fans. Have you noticed how the T.V. media always start the ball rolling by slyly slipping into interviews that whoever's job might be under pressure if he loses this or that match? They did it with Martin Jol, asking him on camera after nearly every game, it was quite merciless to watch this very humble guy go through that. I believe he would have weathered the storm as his football was nice to watch and was improving, but Allardyce? Good riddance, you did it your way.

Note From Luke
Oh yes television are very good at distancing themselves from putting pressure on managers. They don't start it, oh no, it's those nasty written press boys and girls, they just talk about it the whole time and make it all ten times worse! In my humble opinion, of course

Posted by: Ronnie Lambert  | January 10, 2008 11:22 AM

Bill-S wrote...

Did anybody ever consider that he might have been sacked for "other" than footballing reasons...............in the words of SPike Milligan, "The Jam thickens!"

Posted by: Bill-S  | January 10, 2008 11:38 AM

Andreas Kald wrote...

Hello Luke,
I have never commented on your blog before but now I just have to get a few things of my chest regarding the sacking of big Sam. I must say I have mixed emotions about Big Sam, in one way I´m sorry to se him go because given 8:ish months or so in the hot seat he didn´t get the time he needed to prove he was the man for the job. Since we probably won´t qualify for Europe this year either why couldn´t Ashley / Mort give him the whole season and if things weren´t looking better in April then he could have been sacked instead. On the other hand results have been poor and the team has in some games been a disaster to watch (Liverpool & Pompey games), and the new signings hasn´t been what I expected, Smith can´t get it right, my grandfather (79) could run faster than Viduka. Now the whole January transfer period risks going down the drain, because whoever gets the job next there won´t have enough time to get to know the squad and bring in some new faces (LB, CD, CM and F).
Another thing I´m very worried about is the manager that will follow. What if we end up with worse manager than we already had (Jol) ?!? If the chariman don´t know what he´s doing like a Mr Shepherd when he sacked SBR and appointed certain Mr Clueless. I mean the present chairman is sort of a virgin in matter of appointing new managers and we all know how it can be losing your virginity, the result isn´t always what one could expect and if you start to panic the act can be a disaster (on the bright side having a go at it the second time the results are often better).
Finally who should be our next manager? My wish for the new manager is that he will be a more attacking orientated manager and that he starts to get Owen going something that Sam wasn´t able to do. A Mr Mourinho would do for me but lets be realistic, what do we have to offer him? No Europe, no chance at the league, no LC only the FA cup this season, BUT if Mr Mourinho is up for a challange to turn thins round and get things going this is the club for him. I know AS is the man many fans wants as the new manager but he is an unproven card. So Luke what do you think about the posibility with somebody like Redknapp or O´Neill as Manager an AS as assistant manager? From both these men AS would have good mentors so he after that could be the permanent manager.

Note From Luke
Welcome to the blog Andreas, although I'm pleased you didn't go into detail about losing your virgnity!
As I've mentioned in another comment, I don't know if Alan's ego could cope with being somebody's number two, but it would be a good way for him to get some hands on experience. Mourinho, after all, learnt lots from Bobby Robson. Mourinho is the outstanding candidate and, if you were playing Fantasy Chairman, he's be the man you plumeped for. Give him £8m quid a year and a large transfer kitty. Sell him the job as the most difficult in European football and, if he can break the Big Four's monopoly with the Magpies then he really well be the Special One

Posted by: Andreas Kald  | January 10, 2008 11:46 AM

John Gilroy wrote...

Crazy. Here we go again, another manager sacked. We will not get anywhere by constantly sacking managers, and what kind of message does that send out to players we would like to sign. Nicky Butt says he has served under four managers since he joined NUFC, soon to be five, and he hasnt been here two minutes. I think we should have written off this season and consolidated for next as I believe Bid Sam would have come good.

Note From Luke
I've always said he should be given a whole season, not half of one, but he wasn't Ashley's appointment. The man wants a football club to play with and he never invited Allardyce. This is a big test for the new regime though because big questions are being asked about where the club is going now.

Posted by: John Gilroy  | January 10, 2008 11:59 AM

john wrote...

A quick message for Mr Paul Patterson. As the leader of the Get Sam Allardyce Out Campaign on both the Journal and Evening Chronicle blog spots I have greatly enjoyed your contributions in recent weeks and have come to respect many of your views most which have been intelligent, insightful and showed well balanced judgement. However, I cannot agree with three of your suggestions for the next manager. Hitzfeld and Houllier fall into the same category as Allardyce in terms of tactics. There defenisve outlook would not be tolerated by Newcastle fans. My only grievance against Jol is that I am always dubious of a manager that is willing to by £11 million for a player such Jermaine Jenas. The special one is appealing. His record is exceptional, however, I was not a fan of the well drilled mechanical style of football Chelsea Played under him. I want to watch the kind of fluid entertaining football played by Manchester United and Arsenal. With that in mind my suggestions for mangager, leaving the fantasy dream ticket of Keegan./shearer to one side, are as follows (in no particular order of preference);

1. Harry Redknapp (his teams always play attractive football. Also, as a current premiership manager he wil have identified transfer targets for Portsmouth that he may be able to sign for newcastle in the current window).

2. Jurgan Klinsman - Clearly has an attacking mentaility as showed when managing the German national side.

3. Slavan Bilic - an interesting choice that no one has suggested. He has the croatians playing very attractive football and may well be able to persuade talented croatian players to come to newcastle.

4. Louis Van haal - his AZ Alkhmar side were exceptional when they can to SJP last season.

I would be satisfied with any of the above.

Posted by: john  | January 10, 2008 12:06 PM

Sid wrote...

I understand he needs five years, but whilst I agree it takes time to turn a club around, winning games alone will buy you that time, not fans or owners or chairmen.

So, where does playing players out of position, setting a team out not to lose at Reading, Wigan etc (and still losing anyhow!), fit into a five-year plan?

Surely the five-year plan could have been achieved without it involving such negative, player's confidence-sapping, fan-frustrating tactics?

Had he gone for winning at Reading and Wigan, his five year plan may still have been in place! He didn't, he lost his job, he basically contrived to undo his own plan!

Posted by: Sid  | January 10, 2008 12:07 PM

edh1986 wrote...

A disastrous decision - we're now in the middle of the transfer window with no manager so what hope of getting any of the reinforcements we desperately need. I reckon we need some new centre backs, a couple of full backs and a creative midfielder, what say you Luke? I just hope they have someone lined up to come in quickly or how will we attract anybody. If we drop managers after eight months and get on their backs as soon as a few bad results come our way , it doesn't matter who comes in, they will struggle. Are the fans and the medias way too over-hyped expectations making the club. unmanageable? NUFC havent won a trophy for years and have no divine to right to win one, get a top 6 finish or play exciting football this season. Im based in exile in leicester and Leicester city do not fill their ground unless they draw the big boys in the cup yet, having been through their fair share of s**t and bad results, there never seems to be the vitriol, impatience and viciousness directed at their manager as there is in a near to full capacity st.james park. At a club with also a lot of potential also with a recent change in ownership, they do at least seem to have the sense to realise that change and rebuilding will take some time and won't expect instant results. Having said that they have had a three this season (!), but the pressure hasn't made it impossible for them to operate like it may have done at NUFC, other causes made megson and allen go.

Note From Luke
By the time they get a new manager in the transfer window will be about to close. I wouldn;t hold your breath waiting for any new signings this month.

Posted by: edh1986  | January 10, 2008 12:11 PM

Little Lord Fauntleroy wrote...

Let there be no more talk of this being the wrong time. I forget who it was, but someone wrote on this blog recently that if the new man came in now, we could write this season off by giving him a chance to look at the players and then 3 months in the summer to improve the squad. I wholeheartedly agreed then and nothing has changed.
Let's draw a line under this era and hope that we get a manager that we all want. Mike Ashley's been at near enough every game, he's heard what fans are saying, he's not stupid. Good decision, Mr. Ashley.

As for who it'll be..... Shearer's not ready, Redknapp's as bad as Allardyce and won't talk to the BBC either, so for me he's a NO.
Mourinho would be great, as would Klinsmann, Jol or Lippi. Paul Patterson mentioned Hitzfeld, but am I right in thinking he's going to retire at the end of the season?
One name that would get me very excited is Guus Hiddink. I thought about him before and after Roeder but he never gets a mention.
Whoever takes the job has to be able to get his team to play attractive football, has to want to talk to camera after a game and has to be World Class.

I watch and wait, but nothing that comes out of St. James' ever surprises me now.......

Posted by: Little Lord Fauntleroy  | January 10, 2008 12:48 PM

Tony Brown wrote...

Hello Luke,
I wrote to you some time ago venturing the opinion that supporting Newcastle Utd. is uncannily similar to supporting England: Great expectations are almost always followed by great disappointment. I suspect that this is the way it will always be. I must admit, however, that Harry Rednapp is one who has the potential to achieve the quick fix that has been wanted ever since the day that Keegan left. Whether that will come about remains to be seen. Meantime, pass the Prozac.

Note From Luke
You might need something a little stronger Tony!

Posted by: Tony Brown  | January 10, 2008 1:14 PM

Dale wrote...

Please not Redknapp.

We have just sacked a manager who came from a smaller club, who over acheived and who had taking them as far as he could.

Now we want to replace him with a manager who comes from a smaller club, who have over acheived and had taking them as far as he could.

My choice...

1. Lippi
2. The Ego
3. Jol

Note From Luke
I don't want the job....oh I see, you're talking about Jose when you mention the Ego

Posted by: Dale  | January 10, 2008 1:30 PM

James 09 wrote...

This relates to the next permanent manager (though I’m not counting out a short-term appointment to see the season out). I would tend to favour a permanent appointment asap but would settle for the latter in order to avoid a hasty and yet again bitterly disappointing appointment.

In an earlier post as a response to a suggestion that Newcastle United had tried every option to deliver success - I argued that Newcastle United have NOT tried everything. What haven't we tried? A truly exceptional manager – that is with an exceptional CV – that is a lot of winners’ medals.

Unfortunately, I am well aware of just how difficult (past, present, and future), it would be for us to attract
such a manager - but when have we even made a concerted effort to land such a manager?

There is no sane way that Dalglish, Gullit, Souness, Roeder, and now Allardyce (same applies to Redknapp, Hughes, Jol) could be compared with say Capello, Hitzfeld, or Mourinho. Scan those three CVs – truly exceptional.

And I'm sorry but us Geordies should not be deterred from appointing a foreign manager.

For what it's worth I never wanted Allardyce - why? Sven was available and seemingly interested. No, not because he has had an instant impact at City but because he is in a completely different league to Allardyce - the former has won a bagful of medals in Sweden, Portugal and Italy not to mention his European exploits. In fact, Sven has won 3 league and cup doubles in 3 different leagues. Slightly more pedigree than the admittedly admirable job Allardyce did at Bolton. I'd have taken Houllier over Allardyce in a second too - cup treble anyone.
And no I'm not some crazed continental football fan.

This is Newcastle United where the seemingly unbelievable is quite (and far too often painfully) believable. For that reason, with the likes of Mc Claren, Venables, Hoddle, O’Leary floating about, comes an unpleasant shudder.

The following is much more in hope than expectation:
Despite knowing all too well how unlikely it is, the undisputable first choice would be Jose – with a substantial transfer budget, we would at the very least be challenging for Champions League spots in a season or two. Surely delivering success (and by that I mean the hard currency – silverware) to a club that hasn’t won anything since 1969 (domestically 1955) would be a rather impressive addition to any manager’s CV. In the same vein as Paul, how could it not appeal to Jose’s ego? – if he won half of what he did at Chelsea, his status with Newcastle United supporters would be quite scary.

That said, Hitzfeld’s days at Bayern seem numbered and although he has been limited domestically to Germany, his achievements are remarkable. Interestingly and perhaps relevant - he completely transformed the rather barren Borussia Dortmund. I don’t think the fact that he hasn’t managed in England before should discount him (or anyone else for that matter), but do realise that it could well take significant time to adapt.

I think a more realistic and potentially successful appointment would be Houllier – again he has a lot more than a admirable record.

Jol, Redknapp, Hughes – I would easily and much prefer Jol.

As Luke et al has emphasized, Allardyce not being Ashley's appointment was always likely to be a major issue. Despite all the current uncertainty, what is clear is that Mike Ashley NOW truly has the opportunity to play a decisive role in changing the course of history for Newcastle United.

Note From Luke
Let's hope he doesn't make a mess of it then!

Posted by: James 09  | January 10, 2008 1:52 PM

Nick wrote...

First of all thank god or Mike Ashley Allardyce has gone, I thought someone was playing a very sick joke on me when they told me the news. I was so relieved when I saw the headlines with my very own eyes. I didn’t want Allardyce there in the first place and he didn’t prove me wrong with his negative outlook on the game and mercenary signings.

Now to the future and I don’t think Harry Redknapp will be the right choice to take the club forward for the next 5 years or so, he is 60 to start off with. Fair enough Ashley wants someone to inject an attractive style of play into the side but Redknapps CV isn’t great.

As for Mike Ashley, I have completely changed my opinion off him. It looks as though he seriously wants Newcastle to be a successful club and an attractive one to watch. He really will be making a great statement of intent by shelling out to get rid of Alladyce and maybe his backroom staff.

Going back to Allardyce, what was he playing at? He really didn’t have a clue did he? His stubbornness has cost him the chance to manage a big club and yes contrary to suggestions by some we are a big club.

I am fraid I am one of those who would like to see Alan Shearer appointed, if we cant get him I would like to see Martin Jol. After all Jol is the man who led Spurs to two 5th place finishes in a row, which is exactly the type of place we want to be.

Posted by: Nick  | January 10, 2008 2:59 PM

Mohamed wrote...

Go foreign!..go get Special one..Newcastle play boring football, very direct and predictable move. Even club from Asia play much attractive football now..Big four didn't hire an english manager. That's a fact. But if we want to play like Arsenal, go get Wenger. Want to play like MU..you know who to get..That's simple..

Posted by: Mohamed  | January 10, 2008 3:08 PM

James 09 wrote...

An URGENT message to JOHN who posted a quick message to PAUL PATERSON.

Is it just this lonely Geordie (that's me) who could stomach a bonanza of silverware (which in Newcastle United's case is a League Cup)but without Wenger-type football?
And that doesn't entail it has to be Allardyce-type football. There actually is an in-between which for me would be perfectly tolerable. Or is that Wenger-type football is the only kind worth watching?? If so, I think the TV companies, among a slew of other parties, are in a spot of bother.

Simply put - it is patently obvious that a team does not have to play like Wenger's Arsenal, Ferguson's lot, or Rijkaard’s Barcelona to generate successful football AND more than bearable viewing - Capello, Mourinho, and Hitzfeld teams are categorical proof of that. CATEGORICAL proof.

John (and anyone else) - So you'd be rather miffed if we didn't play "fluid entertaining football", but in the process won 2 league titles, 2 league cups, an FA Cup, and of course got Champions League football?? Hint: he's Portuguese.

What about a bonanza of silverware - including the Champions League?? Hint: his surname is Hitzfeld but could also be Capello.

What about a FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup treble?? Hint: he once managed Liverpool.

Of course, there would be nothing better to play "fluid entertaining football" AND win but well I'm really sorry to have to break this but that's errrr....a tad rare.

John - Jose's, Hitzfeld's, and Houllier's football is just not comparable to Sam Allardyce's, period.

John stated: "My only grievance against Jol is that I am always dubious of a manager that is willing to by £11 million for a player such Jermaine Jenas." What...should that rule him out then?? If so you'll be rather dubious of several other managers then.

In fact, who bought Juan Sebastian Veron for the price of a small football club?? Who bought Massimo Taibi for nearly 5 mill?? Who bought Francis Jeffers for 8ish mill?? Here's one - who bought Florin Raducioiu??

Rather obvious point being ALL managers have transfer duds (the issue of course is how many and to what extent) and I think every manager past, present, and future would have more than a few employment issues if a dubious transfer was sufficient to irk the employer.

I think maybe....just maybe....the overwhelming majority of Newcastle United supporters would tolerate their "defensive outlooks" if it bought silverware. Well at least until after the first League Cup is in the bag aye.

Note From Luke
Nice use of CAPITALS to illustrate your points James

Posted by: James 09  | January 10, 2008 3:26 PM

Anonymous wrote...

a message to John - given newcastles position, are we in a position to demand fluid passing football and systemically rule out excellent managers as their style of play doesn't quite fit the bill? beggars cant be choosers? even though i didnt agree with big sams sacking - I think now were managerless, the special one would be an excellent choice...if we could persuade him to come. But lets not kid ourselves by thinking we have the same gravitas as a top european club

Posted by: Anonymous  | January 10, 2008 6:26 PM

Paul Patterson wrote...

John, well it‘s nice to know that SOMEONE can agree with me at least some of the time, and I can’t say there are any OUTSTANDING candidates rear there heads so prominently.

I wanted Mourinho to take over from Sir Bobby, and wanted Ramos to take over from Souness, both were beyond the vision of Freddy Shepherd, under Mike Ashley, vision and ambition isn’t going to be a problem.

With Hitzfeld, he’s like a brilliant version of Allardyce, he’s certainly efficient, he’s won everything going and would be a decent manager to attract top quality players, whilst putting us where we belong,- on the continent.

With Houllier, it was only a heart condition that ousted him from Liverpool and don’t forget, he won a hatful at Liverpool, and to top it all, the football was entertaining.

James 09- John has his opinion, which I wholeheartedly respect, as I do yours, that is why this is the worst job to even start to predict.

I don’t think anyone is a perfect candidate except the ‘Special One’ but we need a proven winner, with a great track record, an ego, charisma, and hopefully, a knowledge of the area and were led to believe that the club aren’t looking at a foreign appointment, there are only two people with ALL those qualifications- Keegan or Shearer.

Not that I want Shearer- yet- nor that I think that Keegan is the answer to every question with regards to management- but short term would be a stroke of genius.

The current front runner, seems to be Harry Redknapp. What has now become the official ‘Hardest job in football’ is going to take some character to take the job on and I can’t see why the club would go for another suspect manager, not to mention someone who was arrested recently, in Harry Redknapp as it’s going to take more than a wheeler and dealer to take the club where everyone connected with it, wants to go.

There’s a real worry, with the lack of experience at board level of running a football club, they may not get the appointment right, the actual thought of Steve McLaren, Glenn Hoddle, Stuart Pearce, Steve Coppell, David O’Leary, Steve Bruce or George Graham standing in the home dug-out, really worries me.

Romantics will go for Keegan or Shearer, considered professionals within the game will suggest Mark Hughes, David Moyes or Harry Redknapp, on the other hand crazy nutcases will go for Jose Mourinho,- I’m up for the Special One.

Paul.

Posted by: Paul Patterson  | January 10, 2008 6:44 PM

Jose Mourinho wrote...

I don't zink I need to tell you, I hope you will make ze right choice- In selecting me- the only man who can manage your great club.

Pleaze don't call me arro-gant, I don't zink I am from ze bottle, you have ze special club, wiz ze special fans.

I am ze special one, if you want me- I will love you, you will love me, we will all be together, in ze game we love and one day we will be championz.

All ze best. Jose x.

Note From Luke
I think someone has been raiding their parent's drinks cabinet...

Posted by: Jose Mourinho  | January 10, 2008 7:07 PM

Jose Mourinho wrote...

Shat Ap Edwads! Shat Ap! I zank you, I zank you all, for your great commentz, I love you all, I do, zer is no reazon to look elzwhere, I am zer special one,

Maybe I bring Gallaz wiz me, he zort your defence out, I pinch him, from Ar-Zenal.

Maybe Frank Lampard to score ze goals from ze midfield.

Pleaze don't talk to me like zat again Luke- or I may never manage ziz great club, I am not arro-gant- I am ze special one and don't you forget it, oneze again, I am not from ze bottle.

I like zat Paul Patterson, he seemz to have, what I call, zomzink special,

Alzo, I like ze coverage from ze journal, very amouzing, ver amouzing.

I like Shearer, I do, hiz time will come, but not yet.

I can be, what you all want, if only your chair-man can zee what ze future could be, wiz me, Jose.

Forget ze rest, I love you all, I do, but it is time, for me to go, to plot what I may do wiz your club, and wait by ze phone for ze call from your chair-man. Good night. Jose. x

Posted by: Jose Mourinho  | January 11, 2008 12:07 AM

Anonymous wrote...

Not Redknapp or Hughes - small club mentality. Not Jol.
The chosen one or perhaps Rafael Benitez, Liverpool's board don't seem to want him?

Posted by: Anonymous  | January 11, 2008 8:29 AM

True Mag wrote...

I just don't understand this Harry Redknapp thing. Sorry, but how is he any different from Sam, other than about 20 years older and he doesn't need 20 backroom staff around him? He's done well at a small club where expectations are far lower than they are at Newcastle. Hwe wasn't a massive success at West Ham, the only comparable club he's managed and he failed miserably at Southampton!
Jose Mourinho all day every day from me, or even Martin Jol or Marcello Lipi for that matter.

Posted by: True Mag  | January 11, 2008 10:51 AM

Ron C wrote...

So it's looking like Harry Redknapp, then. OK. But please:
- none of this childish boycotting of the BBC (definitely harmed big Sam more than the BBC)
- no commuting by private jet from Bournemouth. How can a manager persuade big players that there is nothing wrong with the North East and they should come to Newcastle Utd when he will not live there himself?

Personally, I would have thought Keegan would have been an inspired choice because the "feel good" factor would have swept the team along, and Keegan's charisma would have persuaded players to come (an area where Sam struggled, it seems).

Posted by: Ron C  | January 11, 2008 10:54 AM

Dale wrote...

Luke, slightly off subject with this. But whilst reading one broadsheets sports section this morning. The writer touched on the fact BSA disliked the north east region and bemoaned the fact that Journal and old Ronny Gill carried too much clout.

Your thoughts?

Note From Luke
I'd like to know which broadsheet this was in Dale! Of course we carry clout, the North-East is a distinct region with a strong regional identity. The local media here is more powerful than in other parts of the country because more people take an interest in what we've got to say, particularly when NUFC and SAFC do not get nearly as much coverage in the national press as other clubs. It's the same in Liverpool, although they also get plenty of national coverage as well which waters it down a little. I think Sam was unhappy with elements of the local media up here, but not all of it.

Posted by: Dale  | January 11, 2008 11:10 AM

Peter wrote...

True Mag is absolutely correct!!! Newcastle may be down on it's luck, it may not have won anything worth winning since 1969 (not 1955, as some bozo on one of the boards claimed (after years of going to every match since 1952!)) However, Newcastle has one of the biggest fan bases in the country, is internationally known and has a pretty good UEFA coefficient (in fact it's 5th behind the current top 4)

It has massive expectations, and so it should when it can fill a 52,000 seater stadium when it's struggling and get 37,000 for a Carling Cup game. It has had players than many clubs in Europe would want. It currently has (yet again) the first choice England striker (that in itself should tell you of the status of the club). It has a fine stadium with the opportunity to enlarge and it has a committed and dedicated new owner with the mentality and cash to make a difference.

How can the stupid detractors say that we're above our station. Newcastle United is one of the biggest brands in European football, if only for the rollercoaster and famous fans. However, the fans are the customers and without the fans there would be no club. Which is exactly my point. THIS IS NOT A FAILING BUSINESS, in the business sense, because the fans are still here, still speding stupid money (in relative terms) on Newcastle branded goods.

Mike Ashley is no mug, despite all the layered debt. Freddie Shepherd ran the club very well financially, it may have been rubbish on the football front (debatable) but financially it was a lot healthier than many actually know. He structured the debt, built the new stadium and delivered big name players, and occasionally managers. That he did it whilst lining his own pockets is business. He was a genuine fan, but I believe, Mike Ashley will deliver the financial muscle that Freddie could never hope to.

What concerns me is that we're going to have the jingoistic, "Little Englander" mentality and insist on an English manager. There are no great English managers available that have won anything of any note or who have managed the greatest clubs in Europe....except one, who is now very, very ill.

Why would having Redknapp (or Hughes (who's Welsh)) or Moyes (Jock) be any different to what we had? Everton is a massive club, no doubt, but they have never had the buying power or the fan base we have. That's where the difference lies, in the size of the financial muscle. Little time managers duck and dive, they work by eeking the last ounce out of mediocre players. They lurk in the shadows and feast on the scraps. During the summer we were linked with players that clubs like Blackburn, Portsmouth and Everton could only dream of. We may not have got them, but we tabled respectable bids.

Whoever comes here has to have had experienced handling big salaries, big fees and big egos. That rules out everyone in this country, bar the top 4 managers (not including Grant in this, got Sven in there). MIKE ASHLEY I HOPE YOU'RE READING THIS!!!!! You wouldn't appoint an accounting technician as your finance director for your group, so why appoint someone who has no experience of the big time. THIS IS NOT A CLUB TO GROW INTO AS A MANAGER!!! IT'S A CLUB WITH MASSIVE POTENTIAL!!! GET HITZFELD OR LIPPI......or even MOURINHO!!!

MIKE IF YOU APPOINT AN ENGLISH OR BRITISH MANAGER you will get 1970s football because that's when they grew up and were coached. I have a "B" licence, and I didn't do it for several years because of what I saw on my first encounter with one of the so called top coaches in the UK. They were teaching a warm up that had "bunny hops" in, and I was shocked. They were banned in 1970 in the Japan Karate Association because they damage the knee. This was 1998 and the FA were happy to damage people's knees. I walked out in disgust!!! THAT IS WHAT YOU'LL GET, MIKE.....a regime, 25 years behind Europe....THIS CLUB DEMANDS YOU APPOINT A TOP MANAGER.....NOT AN ASPIRATIONAL MANAGER....IT'S DO OR DIE, YOUR MONEY, YOUR CHOICE, OUR CLUB!!!!!!!

Note From Luke
It lokks like your and my argument is wasted as it's looking almost certain it's going to be Harry R.

Posted by: Peter  | January 11, 2008 11:41 AM

Anonymous wrote...

Delighted Sam gone no if's or but's delighted, right next step experienced premiership manager seem's to be the way Ash is going, and obviously as its his man to tempt someone up here and expectations so high the new man needs dosh and loads of it. Harry is 60 great personality and through and through football man. many similar facts as Sam but plays attractive football, second food for thought why not bring in Shearer as his right hand an and when times up Harry we have a continuation rather than start from scratch. only an idea but food for thoght

Posted by: Anonymous  | January 11, 2008 11:55 AM

Richie wrote...

Luke,

I've written on the blog a couple of times this season insisting that, whilst things were far from pretty, we had to give Sam time to do his thing. I think this involved us as supporters adjusting to the wholesale changes he wanted to implement throughout the club from first team down. It also involved us giving Sam time to realize just how different a proposition we are as a football club in comparison to Bolton in terms of expectation, thus giving him time to adjust himself accordingly.

Now all my utterings have been proved irrelevant by Wednesday's events. Mr Ashley has clearly had enough. I was sat directly in front of him at Wigan on Boxing day, and, come full time, his face was not overly festive.....
That said, I am still shocked and dismayed by recent events. If Mr Ashley has no one already lined up, then one can only pray for some kind of divine intervention to lead us out of the mire... If he has someone lined up, and that man is Harry Redknapp, I'm not sure that inspires confidence either. Whilst the football may be slightly 'prettier' in reality we'd have sacked a 53 year old manager with an excellent track record at a smaller club, but who has won no silverware; replacing him with a 61 year old with an excellent track record at a smaller club who has, you guessed it, won nothing. Not to mention both have wonderful relationships with the BBC...Is this a coincidence? I don't see how such an appointment could be viewed as progress...

I'm with you in that Mourinho is the man we should go for....though he'd probably say no...

And a quick thought for all those saying it's too soon for Alan Shearer as he has no 'experience'. How much managerial experience did KK have before he came to the rescue... Or Kenny Dalglish before he won the double in his first season as player manager at Liverpool and numerous trophies afterwards...? You've either got it or you haven't, experience or not.

Posted by: Richie  | January 11, 2008 11:55 AM

Commulus wrote...

No more Messiahs! Please God!

I’ve never seen Shearer in the same light as the majority of United fans, so balanced argument aside, I see him not so much the Messiah as a dark brooding shadow and very naughty boy! Hope he’s enjoying his holiday with the most reviled individual on Tyneside!

When the London television crews come calling, looking for rent-a-quotes from our streets, they know what the response will be to the technique of letting the cameras roll! You point a camera at a group of youths, or a batty old woman doing the shopping, they then become instantaneously transfixed in a spotlight, like a rabbit in the headlights. What are they going to say? Probably the first thing which comes to mind! and not a thought out meditated response! Yes its going to be ‘Shear-ah, Shear-ah’ with pointed fingers and clenched fists towards the cameras. There you have it! That’s what they want, Messiahs…not a grown up thought out idea for the future of the club. This is media manipulation from London.

The disappointing thing was the small army of local media maggots who infest the airwaves, they have hung onto the coat tails of this club and dragged it backwards, they had time to gauge a mood and come up with something other than ‘Shear-ah, Shear-ah’ yet that is what we got over the last couple of days from the likes of Messes Macdonald, Beresford, Tames, Moncur, et al, add to that the local news reporters who think giving the morons ‘Shear-ah’ will be anything other than an absolute disaster and you can see why this club will always bloody well fail. I’m disappointed with John Gibson especially, you can’t sacrifice the club to someone because he is local!

The best story came from the Times where a reporter advocated giving Shearer the job, simply in order to get the problem out of the way, I would agree to those terms without hesitation if it meant getting the monkey off our backs, in order to progress. The terminal quest for the answer embodied in a single individual is the single most depressing element of this club and these idiotic so called supporters!

‘Keegan and Shear-ah’ Dream team my eye! Who in their right mind is going to work with Shearer as a trainee manager in waiting? And as for Redknnap give me strength, I didn’t like Sam but I put ‘Arry’ in the same bracket! the football will be watchable but he’s not of the calibre I thought we were aiming for!
I expected Ashley to ‘take us to the next level’ that was the promise from Sir John Hall wasn’t it?

Newcastle United play in black and white stripes, but they are not Juventus…United are an older but less dignified and shabby old lady! That’s the next level. I nearly got through that rant without euphemism!

ps. I like Paul's list for potential deification but without Gerard Houllier, who has a heart condition, it would'nt really be advisable

Note From Luke
Hurrah, I wondered when we'd hear from you Commulus. I think a lot of people agree with you about Shearer. As for 'arry, I'll always advocate giving every new manager a chance, but I think everyone is a little surprised that is the direction Ashley is going. Then again, it may all be a smoke screen and my man Mourinho is coming!

Posted by: Commulus  | January 11, 2008 12:49 PM

James 09 wrote...

WHERE the %$&* is the AMBITION in appointing HARRY *&^*-ing REDKNAPP (and his baggage??!!

Why do Newcastle United have such distaste for continental managers?? Does the unfortunate tenure of Gullit rule out all but British?

If he's appointed let no-one get caught up with the honeymoon - far too many will do - and say oh look what a wonderful appointment.

Uncertainty surrounds Jose's severance package with Chelsea but there seems persistent suggestions that he is barred from another Prem club this season. However, if that's incorrect and we haven't even approached him, that's simply INSANE.

Does HR have the burning desire and requisite managerial quality to transform Newcastle United?? I don't think so and just cannot see it. 'Arry, if (maybe that should be when) your appointed - you don't know how much I, along with tens of thousands of Geordies, are begging you to prove that wrong.

Note From Luke
I sense you're not very happy about the potential arrival of 'arry. I can't believe there hasn't been some sort of enquiry about Jose , maybe there has been on the quiet and he turned it down. Maybe the Chelsea issue was a major stumbling block, but like when Newcastle failed to get Martin O'Neill, they will not be getting the outstanding candidate as far as I'm concerned.

Posted by: James 09  | January 11, 2008 1:17 PM

McGregor wrote...

Hi Luke, I haven't left a comment for a while so hope it's ok to make some points about Allardyce and our most likely appointment.

I have had some real problems with people who simply pointed to Man United, Arsenal and Liverpool and declared, "Stability works. Managers need time. Stick with Allardyce". Many of those who called for Allardyce to be given time would often refer to the positives of keeping faith in managers in general rather than providing any decent case for Allardyce himself. I respect some arguments, (mainly on this blog rather than the often comically ill-informed national media and commentators) that called for time, but I'm absolutely sick of many of us being simply written off as impatient.

Of course arguments about stability and continuity have their merits, but there were (and remain) serious, serious problems at Newcastle. For me, Allardyce was the chief culprit, largely contributing to some utterly disgraceful performances. I was shocked when I found out that he was out, but I can't say I'm disappointed. I tried my hardest to have some confidence in him (even temporarily deluding myself into believing that coming back twice against Derby at home was some sort of achievement). Some of his decisions were criminal (playing Smith in the midfield, playing our most creative player at the back while leaving a six million pound left-back out of the squad etc etc etc). His focus on “containment� tactics was at times inexcusable. The Cold War is long gone!!! You're not facing a nuclear-armed football team in Derby or Wigan. Sometimes it’s a good idea to actually attack and unleash for periods of games before the 85th minute or when you're down!!!

Still, instead of being 100 per cent convinced he should be out, I wanted to see some flexibility in his football philosophy(e.g., with Wigan's defensive record, it may have been an idea to go to the JJB with the intention of attacking them for some of the game. When your own team has a shaky defence it's a good idea to create and finish genuine chances). He displayed virtually none, insisting that he knew what was right and wrong and that was the end of the matter.

This brings me to another serious problem with Allardyce. Although he wasn’t getting the results on the field, he managed to come up with some baffling comments, suggesting that we were creating enough quality chances to put teams away, that he was a “top man� in his field. The comment that finally did it for me was when he said he had done nothing wrong despite our troubling situation. He was so adamant that football is all about results and to a certain extent it is. What about treating the people who turn up to watch their club and buy the merchandise with some level of respect? You did nothing wrong??? I couldn’t even begin to delude myself with that one.

And yet, I’m deeply worried about where we are now. Do we have any chance of bringing in any quality players this month? We have much more than that to worry about. Can we appoint anyone who can get the best out of the very real and promising potential we already have, an area that Allardyce failed dismally in? The prospects look very dull and we look certain to repeat painful mistakes.

Appointing Redknapp will give the anti-Newcastle media some justification in their attacks against us. Harry Redknapp??? Isn’t this man on bail? What has he achieved that could justify him as the man to take Newcastle forward? Haven’t Allardyce and others proven that we desperately need someone with a really, really, really impressive C.V.? Redknapp doesn’t have one!!! Having a manager who travels to and from the south-coast will be a farce, a sick and degrading joke. Perhaps we’d be treated to a sweet honeymoon with Redknapp. Soon afterwards, a nasty and bloody divorce when we started to really get to know each other?

John comments that Redknapp’s teams play attractive football. Have you checked his performances at Fratton Park this year? Have you checked his C.V.? If Harry is appointed I think this will display a painful lack of vision and ambition on the part of Mike Ashley.

Peter, great points! A fascination with British managers and a phobia of foreigners never ceases to amaze me.

Mourinho, Hitzfeld, Houllier are managers who have really done the business but how likely is it that we will ever see that sort of quality? Mike Ashley, offer everything and anything to get someone like this to Tyneside!!! If you installed someone with that sort of experience, arguments for time would make so much more sense. The so-called horrendously impatient and mistakenly ambitious Geordies among us would be a lot more inclined to calm ourselves if we had someone who had proven themselves at the very highest level. When will the Newcastle hierarchy get it into their heads that we need a real leader!!! They also desperately need to see through the myth that every Geordie is demanding, fluent, attacking football in every game. One of my main criticisms of Allardyce was that despite all his talk (hollow, hollow!!!) about clean sheets and the necessity of a strong defence he provided poor results in this area. Successful teams generally have strong defences. We’ve got to stop conceding such poor goals. I’d much prefer Mourinho’s football to so-called attractive football that may not get us far. For me, there is a heap of merit in the sort of football the above managers play.

Mike Ashley and co, we are in desperate need of a manager who can really lead and motivate players and supporters, to get the best out of both and to restore real passion to our club! What a start to 2008. I fear it’s down, down, down. And yet, no doubt if Redknapp is appointed a whole lot of us (including myself, hoping like heck I’m proven wrong) will be forced into supporting another average appointment when we could possibly have had so much more.

Note From Luke
Summed up rather well. I agree with you about Sam, his stubborn refusal to consider changing his approach at a completely different club to Bolton let him down more than anything in the end. If he had given some indication that the style of football would improve, he might still be in a job

Posted by: McGregor  | January 11, 2008 3:50 PM

Dale wrote...

Hi Luke, it was in today's Telegraph sports section.

Note From Luke
Interesting, thanks for that. I'll have a read myself

Posted by: Dale  | January 11, 2008 3:56 PM

Phil wrote...

First of all - shut your mouth Ferguson ("Newcastle is a strange club"), just because your fan club chief, Alladyce got fired. Nothing galls me more than Ferguson having a pop at Newcastle. It's like him raving about Liverpool tapping Heinze, when Ferguson has sabotaged more clubs by poaching their best players over the years. Ferguson, you have nothing to do with our great club - so mind your own business!! Mike Ashley can pick whomever he pays!

Note From Luke
You tell him Phil, fight, fight, fight!

Posted by: Phil  | January 11, 2008 4:36 PM

Paul Patterson wrote...

Mr Edwards, or Luke if one prefers, this may reach you too late to matter, so if so could you tinker with it and put it in the innevitable new Blog, as an appointment with a used car salesman flavour is likely.

Redknapp is a glorified Allardyce lets be fair.

If Redknapp is to be appointed then how about utilising Sir Bobby as Director of Football- but why not use him as Director of Football above Jose?

I feel something in my water, I have an idea (There’s a first)

My first choices are:
Jose Mourinho- Best Manager in the world in waiting- Available in May
Louis Van Gaal- Mourinho Mark II
Ottmar Hitzfeld- Best Manager in the world currently- Available in May
Martin Jol- Harshly treated by Spurs after good top 6 finishes AND available

They are in no particular order except Jose Mourinho and all would be a fantastic appointment.

But here’s one that I’m going to throw some clout behind, that I don’t think anyone has mentioned, not even whispers, I can see him lift a trophy with us, he’s charismatic, funny, won’t stand for rubbish AND he’s English- alright I lied- he’s British.

Into the bleak arena, steps a man, the man for the moment. . .

Gordon Strachan.

Paul.

Posted by: Paul Patterson  | January 11, 2008 6:51 PM

snaggle wrote...

thats right Whiskey nose should stay out of it period!! he seems to have a lot to say about NUFC right now me thinks its another tactic he uses like the ones with arsenal and Liverpool.
If shearer does want the job in the future we will need someone with a bigger ego than She-ra and that leaves only one choice The Special One. Anything less will not please the crowds and lets face it they are the 12 man on the field. But Harry would be a good choice if he plans on playing the football the crowd like if not then he may as well not bother.
Ultimately the supporters want the type of football that we want and if we see something different the managers will continue to pay the price.
Its not rocket science NUFC want a certain type of football and we pay the wages so why cant we have what we want?
The special one may play negative tactics but we would forgive that from such a proven manager.....in the last 5 years what other manager has won the premiership and is now free....?

Posted by: snaggle  | January 12, 2008 9:56 AM

James 09 wrote...

Here's me deriding the lack of ambition in going for HR BUT what the heck do we do if HR rejects??

Hughes, Curbishley?? Fantastic stuff aye.

McClaren, Bruce, Hoddle, Venables, O'Leary? and others? Severe panic.

Note From Luke
I guess we're about to find out James!

Posted by: James 09  | January 12, 2008 11:22 AM

Colin Parker wrote...

So now we know the extent of Ashley's ambition.

Harry Redknapp.

Chelsea get a billionaire who shops at Harrods. We get one who rumages at Primark and pays (allegedly) £5m for a £1m manager.

Redknapp hasn't won or scored in a home game for 6 matches. Is that the mark of a great manager? Allardyce got sacked for better than that. Redknapp has won nothing in a managerial career 10 years longer than Allardyce. So, why, why, why, Mr Ashley do you think Redknapp is THE MAN?

If Ashley thinks we want entertaining football he is absolutely, completly, utterly and totally WRONG. We want WINNING football, and more to the point we want to WIN A TROPHY. Ask any fan who watched us win the Fairs Cup in 1969 (I did) and ask them if they were brassed off with the long ball tactics we employed - hoofing it up to Wyn Davies to knock down to Bryan Robson - or whether they were ecstatic at WINNING A TROPHY. There is no contest for the answer.

Redknapp might make us more entertaining, but it can't be better than the Keegan years and we still won absolutely nowt then. One of the worst matches/nights of my life was the aftermath of getting beat 4-3 at Liverpool. Entertaining? When I knew we'd taken another step towards throwing the title away. Entertaining for Liverpool and the neutrals, for any true Toon supporter ... ABSOLUTELY NOT.

The fantastic, thrilling, edge of the seat, 1-0 home defeat to Man U that finally nailed our title hopes ... no, the heart breaking, gut wrenching, bare truth realisation, that when the crunch came we were ENTERTAINERS first and TITLE/CUP WINNERS second.

If I want entertainment I'll go to the flicks, a concert, or roll about in the aisles listening to Ricky Gervais. I support Newcastle first, second, third, and on to infinity to see them WIN. I could'nt give a monkey's what the football is like as long as we WIN. If we can win and play good football, fantastic, but WINNING, and having a team that can WIN A TROPHY is what every true Toon fan really, really, craves.

And that brings me back to Redknapp. He's never won a trophy ... having reached the age of 60.

There is a man out of a job who won the Champions League at age 41, who won 3 successive League titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup ... step forward Mr Jose Mourinho.

Why, why, why, Mr Billionaire Ashley are you not trying to throw £5 million or more at this WINNER instead of £5 million at a 60 year old LOSER?

Honestly, I would pay £100 or more to hear Ashley's answer.

Posted by: Colin Parker  | January 12, 2008 11:31 AM

bigbro wrote...

Oh dear. Oh dear.

You have my genuine sympathy but mass delusion seem to have descended on everyone in the North East, from Ashley down to the average fan. Things aren't going to get better for a very long time now I fear.

Redknapp didn't even want the job despite an extra 4 million a year! I think that speaks volumes.

The rebuild is going to be long, drawn out and expensive whoever you get now. IMO Fat Freddie has left the good ship Newcastle holed below the waterline and listing badly.

Shearer is no way the answer. In the words of a famous ex-manager I worked with "(he is) as tactically astute as the average p*sshead in the pub". That was when he was made a pundit on MOTD but I doubt he's any more clued up now!

Mourinho? Forget it. Just not a big enough club for Jose. Money isn't his motivation. European Cups are.

In fact no BIG name manager is going to be interested in this job. However much we hate to admit it Newcastle does not even register on the radar in Italy, Spain, Germany etc.

So who are the options now?

Jol. Possibly. Good travel connections to Holland from Newcastle I believe(!) But really? Seriously? Is he a good enough manager to make a big difference?

You missed out on O' Neill and Eriksson the two quality managers who might have fancied the challenge of a failing club with a large fanbase - which is what they both took on elsewhere.

Mark Hughes? Why would he want to when he's seen Big Sam receive such vitriol and disdain and humiliation from the fanbase? After all he's surely no better qualified in either style or substance than Sam.

Your best bet - honestly? A relative unknown from the lower divisions, someone who is working wonders elsewhere on a shoestring. I don't know who that is but I do think they are just as likely to succeed as the second class BIG name manager you are going to end up with.

Paul Ince anyone? MK Dons play it pretty gung ho by all accounts!!

Note From Luke
An interesting idea actually. Why not Paul Ince? Big name, good playing credentials and he's learnt his trade in the lower leagues. He also wouldn't turn it down!

Posted by: bigbro  | January 12, 2008 4:19 PM

Ivor Clark wrote...

Relieved HR is not coming to the Toon and read elsewhere that Ashley is to take up his position in the directors box and finally sort everything out. But whoever is appointed as the new manager, what does he do with the current squad??. The best 11 are still a team of "journeymen" employed by Allardyce, playing out of position at best, at worst totally capitulating as seen against ManU. We are NOT out of a possible relegation battle yet, with some very difficult games to come, and confidence at an all time low. Easy pickings for other teams. We might get a decent manager in the end, but where will the signings come from when the transfer window closes??....I think we are stuffed!!.....

Posted by: Ivor Clark  | January 13, 2008 12:32 PM

Phil A wrote...

Finally! Louis van Gaal is linked with the toon job in the Daily Telegraph and in the Sunday Mirror! Also, Ottmar Hitzfeld has turned us down, saying that he is not interested in managing a club again and that he wants to manage Switzerland, so time to get him out of your systems lads.

For me, Louis van Gaal is the perfect choice, Big name that can attract other big names, promotes good attacking football, and has a huge ego that would be attracted into trying to awake the so called "sleeping giants". I mean imagine if he did win us silverware, he would be a GOD around these parts, and we would do it in style. Everywhere hes went - hes got his team playing good attacking football. AZ have just been beatin 6-1 by Ajax, mainly because Ajax are a much richer club, but AZ were playing the better stuff, and if they had Ajax's money and facilities - they would have won hands down.

Hiddink and Lippi are good managers - but there football is basic, not too much defending, and not too much attacking, however, none of us would moan if we got one of them - hec the whole of Newcastle would be ecstatic, but Van Gaal seems more of the perfect candidate for Newcastle, who want to play there football in a certain kind of way.

It says in the papers tonight that if Mark Hughes turns us down, MA will look for a foreign manager - and i hope to god Mark Hughes does just that. Mike Ashley has "support" for Van Gaal, and he knows that this clubs fans also like him, he is the perfect candidate, and would attract top names with the money MA has.

And why would he not come? Hes getting peanuts at AZ, just offer him what we offered Redknapp. An overpriced contract for in my opinion, an over-rated manager. Van Gaal would be here in a heartbeat if he was offered 5 million a year for 4 years with big transfer backing (which any manager Mike Ashley brings in will get.)

On the BBC 606 footballing debate, we had a vote, the "Dream ticket" of Keegan and Shearer vs. Van Gaal. Van Gaal had 14 votes, the "Dream ticket" had 1. I was suprized, but also pleased.

Mike, i hope your getting this message forwarded to you..

LOUIS VAN GAAL FOR THE TOON!

Note From Luke
I'd welcome him with open arms, although I don't know if I'd be able to get my arms around him. He's a big fella!

Posted by: Phil A  | January 13, 2008 6:41 PM

Chris Gray wrote...

Why has no-one mentioned Steve Coppell (or if they have I haven't heard him mentioned)? Great manager, solid, thoughtful, intelligent - not exactly charismatic but that may not be what we want now. The trouble with Keegan and Shearer is that it could be fantastic - but it could also be horrendously awful - as they say, you should never go back, it'll never be the same. They've both got everything to lose. They can't enhance their reputations any further - what's in it for them? However, like everyone else I'd have them in a flash and hang the consequences!

Posted by: Chris Gray  | January 13, 2008 8:36 PM

zulu wrote...

To John - good comments mate !!

Slavan Bilic - a very interesting choice and also Louis Van haal - his AZ Alkhmar side did play exceptional football last season.

Posted by: zulu  | January 14, 2008 7:34 AM

Bill Douglas wrote...

Amidst all this hoo-ha my concern now is that the few decent players who have some feeling for the club(eg Given) will say 'enough' and want away leaving a collection of journeymen who dont give a toss who they play for.This is the exact opposite of what the fans want which is a team that cares as much as we do(and which can win occasionally) .

Note From Luke
It's definitely a concern Bill

Posted by: Bill Douglas  | January 14, 2008 8:54 AM

John Low Fell wrote...

Luke ! Your deliberations are praiseworthy, your conclusions too logical. There is only one way to go with the weird and wonderful TOON and that is to 'fly with the feelings' Our traditions are unique and concentrated. The only people who know are here or who have been here. Keegan and Shearer are the answer at this time. Unfortunately I dont think Keegan will come, but if Shearer is not involved he will be a drain on achievement until he is !! Go easy on the logic Luke, tap in to your guts !!

Note From Luke
Oh alright John, for the sake of romance and a good story, I'll give my backing to the Keegan/Shearer "dream" ticket, even if it's not a dream ticket. A dream ticket, as I keep saying, would be Mourinho, or even Van Gaal, but given the farce surrounding Redknapp, just an appointment would be nice!

Posted by: John Low Fell  | January 14, 2008 10:06 AM

Little Lord Fauntleroy wrote...

I hear Hitzfeld and Lippi being mentioned, but they won't play the kind of football we want to see.

Two words.... Guus Hiddink!

Posted by: Little Lord Fauntleroy  | January 14, 2008 10:56 AM

WA wrote...

At last the name of Van Gaal is being touted. Please Mr Ashley sound him out - I believe he was interested last summer before we got Allardyce.
And can anyone please explain why our world-class (joke) goalkeeper continues to be immune from criticism. He should have saved the first goal easily. Why does Cacapa get blamed for Given's inability to kick a ball? And that was his third kicking error in the match, plus he flapped at a cross he should have caught in the first half, creating a goalmouth scramble. Lets be fair with the criticism please.

Note From Luke
I blamed Shay for the second goal in my match report, although, while he conceded six, it would have been an even heavier defeat if Shay had not made several excellent saves to deny Wayne Rooney in the first and second half. However, you are right, nobody should be immune from criticism.

Posted by: WA  | January 14, 2008 1:27 PM

Tony Brown wrote...

Hello Luke, Never mind the Norovirus, what about the melancholia brought on by news items featuring Newcastle United and almost always morale sapping in their content. I look wistfully at clubs like Arsenal and wonder how it feels to enjoy the monotonous regularity with which they win games, often playing very attractive football. We were like that too, albeit for a few short years. In those days the team earned the nickname "The Entertainers". Well the club still lives up to that sobriquet, but, regretably the entertainment that NUFC provides nowadays is not the sort that our own fans can savour. No, the entertainment that the club lays on is the almost perpetual pantomime of mismanagement and slapstick ineptness both on and off the field. Joey Barton is an example of the Midas Touch that Sam Allardyce brought with him. Perhaps Joey has employed the firm of Bowyer,Bellamy and Dyer as lifestyle coaches. Whatever the case may be, I don't see how he can redeem himself at all. Half the team is of to Africa, Smith and Butt have amassed collections of yellow cards that make them the envy of their chums, and so "The Special One" takes the opportunity to act as the perfect ambassador for the club and in doing so gets banged up. Just what keeps his ears apart? Paying millions for Barton should have set off warning lights about Sam too. He was fine when operating on a shoestring at Bolton, but gawped in wonderment when he had a few million to splash about and, coming late to the table, ended up buying the equivalent of Bling. It's all very well advocating giving a manager time provided he makes good use of it. Sam was clearly not doing that.
It's hard to know what they, Ashley and Mort, ought to do for the best at present because it's such a mess.I know we can only sit back and wait to see which way they jump, but it's not easy mustering enthusiasm for the long haul that is ahead. At the moment I half expect the next home game to begin with a car making its way to the centre of the pitch, whereupon there's a bang, the doors fall off and out spill eleven circus midgets in black and white shirts. Whoever they bring in, the next manager of "The Entertainers" will need to be known as "The Defibrillator" if he is to make anything out of this sorry season. Ashley and Mort. Hmmm. That sounds like a comedy duo to me.

Posted by: Tony Brown  | January 14, 2008 11:29 PM