An Unenviable Task
I appreciate this subject remains pretty raw for a lot of you but with Kevin Keegan gone who do you think is the best candidate to replace him as manager?
I have to admit, given the emotions of the last week or so, I haven't been able to give it much thought myself and I'm sure it's been a lot worse for the fans. After all, it's difficult to think about hooking up with anyone new when you are still mourning the loss of your old flame isn't it.
Although I'm sure we've all ended up pulling someone on the rebound before and regretted it. In terms of a football manager that would be like replacing Keegan with Paul Gascoigne, but I can't see that happening.
Whether we like or not, Newcastle are going to have to appoint a new manager at some point and that man is going to have a major bearing on what happens at St James's Park in the future. On recent evidence, that future may only last a few months, but you know what I mean!
It is open to question whether any top manager would want to come to Tyneside to work under the present management structure, but you can assume someone will be happy to give it a go. There are plenty of out of work managers out there looking for a wage and a chance to rebuild a shattered reputation and Newcastle, control over transfers or not, remains a golden opportunity to do just that.
Certainly, former Fenerbahce manager and Brazilian legend Zico has already expressed a public interest in the vacancy, as has Turkey head coach Fatih Terim. Both have a decent trackrecord, both say they are happy to work under the management structure, but neither have any real knowledge of English football.
Oh and then there is another out of work continental name, Didier Deschamps, who is believed to have thrown his hat into the ring - I wonder where that expression comes from. Anyone? Why don't we say put his car keys into the bowl. Oh, hang on, maybe not!
As for Tottenham's assistant manager Gus Poyet he is busy denying he is interested in the job without actually denying he would be interested if it was offered to him. He's Wise's mate, which inevitably helps, and he lives next door to Tony Jimenez. Very cosy, pops round for a cup of sugar, leaves as the manager of Newcastle United. Don't laugh, the way things are apparently run at SJP, it could happen!
Let's not forget that Mike Ashley failed to land his number one target to replace Sam Allardyce back in January when Harry Redknapp knocked him back because his wife liked living on the south coast too much! 'Arry's from London, of course, which would have instantly given him an advantage, but I don't know which London managers are available. Alan Curbishley would appear to be a no as he quit at West Ham because of interference from above. Terry Venables anyone!
God, that's enough to depress you isn't it? Okay, well what about Frank Rijkaard? He's from Amsterdam, which instantly makes him cool, he likes playing attacking football and he's out of work after losing his job at Barcelona. A possibility I suppose, but then so is just about everyone else it seems.
Paul Ince, Steve Bruce, David Moyes, David O'Leary, Bungle, Zippy, Rod, Jane......... Anyone else?
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Luke Edwards - is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.
"Newcastle are going to have to appoint a new manager at some point and that man is going to have a major bearing on what happens at St James's Park in the future."
That's the crux though, isn't it? Whoever is appointed, are they really going to have a "major bearing" on things? Or are they going to be little more than a puppet, their strings pulled by the chubby fingers of Big Fat Mike (and Dennis the Poison Dwarf)?
Sir Bobby knows a thing or two about football management. He reckons "no manager worth his salt" would touch the job under the current regime and structure. I reckon he's right. So, the next manager will be nothing more than a bit part player - and a yes man.
To my mind, the next appointment is an irrelevance. Until Ashley goes, the post of Newcastle United Manager is redundant, in any meaningful way. And the holder of it is certainly impotent.
ASHLEY OUT.
We've got a fatty Chairman. So why not have a Fatih manager too?
100% agree with previous comment, the post of Newcastle manager has been made redundant until The Fatman and his vertically challenged poisoned dwarf of a mate go. This is not a pro-Keegan message, it is an Anti-regime at this moment in time message. to me it just seems like a circle of friends keeping friends in jobs and you can not run any businness like that. Whoever the manager be, let him stand or fall by his decisions or get Wise to do it (officially) and show everybody he has not got a clue.
ASHLEY, WISE and the other cronnies OUT
WHY DO WE NEED A NEW MANAGER? SURELY WE ALREADY HAVE ONE IN DENNNIS WISE. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS SOMEONE TO COACH THE PLAYERS HE DEEMS TO BRING IN. ANY MANAGER WORTH HIS SALT WOULD NOT TOUCH THE JOB WITH A BARGE POLE.
David O'Leary is probably a good bet because he has little to lose by taking the job but could come out of it well. And of course he could get tips on what to do from his Irish mates down the road.
Otherwise I'd not count Shearer out of the picture irrespective of what he has said so far.
I agree with what is being said, we are not looking for a manager, we are looking for a training coach who will in position to take the blame if the results don't come.
He will have limited input into who plays and who goes and if an on the opitch position is weak may not be allowed to get a player into that position.
I can see the top managers around the world queuing up for this one.
Wise has to go before any good can happen, we need to support the team to ensure we are still in the premiership and increase the pressure in any way possible to ensure this Sunday League management team are got rid of. I hope the majority of the fans don't forgive and forget over this one, whether you are a KK supporter or not this low skill and low ability management team must go.
The next appointment is an irrelevance, that is absolutely correct.
It will continue to be irrelevant until Ashley and his mob are gone. That's why we, as fans, need to boycott the game on Saturday, and future games as well.
Chanting at people who aren't even there, not buying a few pints and pies, and not buying merchandise will do very, very little. Those aren't boycotts.
The only effective boycott is for Ashley to see an empty stadium. It will make him sell, and then we can move on from this to a point where the manager is relevant. Until then...
Hi Luke -the criteria seems to be in order to get the job you have to be a friend of Dennis Wise -Well one things for sure it wont be anyone from the North East -as he does not have any friends here-there that narrows it down -oh yes and you might have to do everything you are told -no free spirits allowed then-personally I dont really care now -the present lot have ruined my appetite and I am never going to forgive them.
id like there tobe a larger criteria than simply being a friend of the board with no experience , we can see how far that's got us already with the board itself employed due to who they know not what they know.
id like us to stop giving managers their chance at the big time aswell , bar keegan the last few guys in the job havent really had the credentials .
if they do have to work within this god awfull structure we now have in place , with nobody really having the qualifications tobe there, were forced to look abroad at foreign managers id think .
faith terim and zico seem the obvious ones of the names already mentioned , but there hardly going to set the city alight like keegan did , or do the huge amount of work within the community but thats another story.
if we are to talk about new managers (first team coach in disguise) let it be someone who's won something for a change and high profile at that .
i suppose rijkaard is availible and won things , and altho there maybe a few question marks on his CV , thats the kind of high profile person we should be aiming for .
id be getting the likes of van gaal in for talks before poyet any day of the week .
Well Zippy is a puppet, so he fits the job profile.
Restless Native sums up the feelings of most of the fans I've talked to.
If they bring in another of Wise's mates
(especially Poyet), I think I'll start watching Gateshead instead.
Guys, who wants Dick Advocaat, Hiddink, Gus Poyet, Zico and Paul Ince at Newcastle...
We are a club, who is bigger and better than pretty much of anyother club in the world. We have 1 of the best supporters around the world and 6000 + who travel thousands of miles to see away games. Who else does this, week in and week out.
We have an owner, who thinks NUFC is a playground and for him to earn money. We are a club, who is always in the media and i'm sick to depth, like most of us.
We need a Manager, who is from the North East and who has played for Newcastle United.
We need an owner who is a toon fanatic and willing to help the manager bring in the players.
Mr Wise is a fat lard, who drinks shandy, like most sothern softies and hides behind closed doors.
He has built a structure that will not work at Newcastle and it's been proven.....Shearer, legend, also commented on the fact, that Ashley is not the person who should be in charge. The LMA agree + Mr Alex Ferguson.....
Wise, what's he done?? SFA....otherwords, for thoose who don't understand (swa) nothing.....
I think, we should have posters in the ground, outside the ground and have your granny wear with pride as she does her afternoon shopping in the Toon....
If we the fans, want what's best for Newcastle, then stand firm, don't walk away and make sure we keep pushing to get Ashley and Wise out....otherwise, Ashley is gonna take this club to division 1. Look what happened to Leeds!!
Ashley and Wise, no nothing about the North East, the passion for the club and most importantly, what the fans want....It's a bit like having a sunday dinner without Yorkshire Puddings!!!
Anyway, must dash, but make sure, Fat Ash and little brown nose Wise is out before October......
Bring on the Indian who is the 6th richest man andf is an avid Geordie supporter!!!
Reject any manager Ashley employs, except KK. Simple as that.
Luke, if we're all to be honest Keegan aint coming back anytime soon barring the miracle of miracles. Bored yesterday afternoon, I chose to read some profiles of some of the names we've been linked with on wikipedia. For me there can only be one choice and that is Fatih Terim. A previous recomendation from our own great Sir Bobby Robson, a man famed for attacking, flowing football. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatih_Terim
Drastic measures are required and that I feel is our only option. The thought of being left with Poyet, Ince or any of those Spanish no namers sends a shiver through my spine. Hopefully the protests will be in full swing on Saturday, and Mike Ashley feels the venom or at at very least the financial cost of sacking our leader Keegan
100% agree with the first comment.
It doesn't really matter who the coach is if he doesn't have much say in who comes and goes.
As long as it's not someone with the mind set of Big Sam, the coach will get decent performances and results with the less-than-100% committment the England players give their coach. Why should a player form a good relationship with the coach if he never sees the puppet master and might be on his way to Portsmouth or Spurs during the next transfer window?
Lets look at the facts as the Newcastle regime clearly like to do.
It is a FACT that any real credible Managerial candidate with genuine ability and integrity wont go anywhere near this job right now.
It is a FACT that whoever the Ashley regime appoints, will be someone who will have to accept interference into team affairs.
It is a FACT that whoever is taken on will have no control over which players come & go.
It is a FACT that the NUFC team composition will be dictated by Denis Wise, someone who will never be able to set foot into SJP again!
It is a FACT that whoever takes the job will therefore be of sub-standard calibre, taking the job merely for the money and to enhance their CV and not in the real interests of the Fans.
It is a FACT that the Ashley regime is an absolute disgrace, as will be any puppet appointments they make.
To be honest Luke, at the moment i could not care less who they employ as manager, simply becase who ever does come in will be a yes man and will not be able to put their own mark on the side.
We had the best manager we were ever going to have. It was there for all to see Keegan got us playing again.
I could go on and on about how ridiculous top flight football is at the moment, due to all all of the money in the game, but I cant be bothered to rant on all day.
I really do feel as though I am falling out of love the game.
Lawd above! Gawdon Bennet Whose going to remove this fawlty tower an call for his fergal Sharkeys. One thin' is certain da next manager'll 'ave ter vialli chalk ter Mike in a language 'e knows.
OK? Apples and pairs, awright geeezzaa! Seems ter me what Ol Mike’s a bi' ov a rabbi' in a 'at, an' needs a sherbet dab, eez is a bargain 'un' who killed aaahr kev. Whe are donald ducked if 'e carries on!
Lor' luv a duck! Nuff said, Sorted mate! innit. Know what I mean? I 'ope 'e gets farmer giles on his effin fife and drum!
I believe this is the standard colloquial Buckinghamshire English
Hi Luke, loved the article and agree with the restless native. Not sure how the pound translates to the Turkish Lire but it must be pretty substantial -so my thoughts are vote Turkish. My other vote would be to - boycott all homes games, and travel to shout your lungs out in the away games. Ashley businesses seem to be hurting more thn most in the credit crunch, so lads turn up the heat !
Hi Luke,
You seem to be trying to step back and as a neutral Orient supporter ask questions about who'll be next manager.
Shame you didn't support Wimbledon or Chelski and you could be in line for the job yourself! Or at least a seat on the board. ;-)
Actually Luke, Keegan is still our manager.
In our hearts at least until Ashley goes.
Then KK will be rightfully reinstated and all monies owing to him in wages will be repaid.
Keeeeeeeeeegan!!!!!!
Ashley OUT!!!!!!!!!!
Chris Baker - you've hit the nail on the head mate
"Bungle, Zippy, Rod, Jane........."
Freddie?
Note From Luke
Up above the streets and houses, rainbow climbing high. Everyone can see it climbling
Through the sky. Paint the whole world with a rainbow!
Given the mess at SJP here, it might need a puppet in charge!
I said in the immediate aftermath of Keegan's departure that I didn't give a stuff who was next, and most of my thoughts remain that way.
What's changed though is the sheer dread that this ongoing joke will continue with the appointment of Poyet or Ince. To be honest, none of the names mentioned have given me any sort of excitement, and I still believe that there's no better man for the job than Keegan at this point in time. However, of all the names mentioned, the only one which remotely interests me is Rijkaard. If nothing else, he tries to play football the right way and only lost his job at Barcelona because he lost Eto'o and Messi to long term injuries, Deco to loss of form & Ronaldinho to pies, meaning Real Madrid beat them to the league title. So looking forward, he'd get my vote.
But I'm far more interested in the issue of the club ownership and upper management though. I'm sick of all the conflicting reports we're getting like Ambani wants the club - now he doesn't - Ashley doesn't want to sell - now he does, as with most of us I'm more than ready for this ridiculous saga to be resolved in the best interests of Newcastle United and its supporters.
I decided that I was just going to forget about it and watch only how the players react on Saturday by hopefully getting three points - then hear that the one player I didn't want to come back injured - Jonas - has dislocated his shoulder and will likely be out for weeks. Typical.
All the talk of a new manager revolves around "mates" of Dennis Wise Gus Poyet, and now Paul Ince. There is no chance that any of these guys will take the job, simply because they know Dennis Wise only too well. Any manager with any reputation at all won't take the job either, irrespective of wether he is unemployed at the moment or not.
That will leave us with the following possibilities:
(a) Some relatively unknown that wants to make a name for himself.
(b) an unemployed manager with a tarnished reputation ie O'Leary.
(c) A take the money and run merchant
None of these options are in the least bit attractive. It looks like we are stuck with the caretaker manager for the forseeable future, and I wish him well but I'd bet my house on the fact that Dennis Wise doesn't see him as the long term manager. As I've said wee Dennis wants a friend in charge unfortunetly he doesn't have any friends
I read the comments with interest and as a true black and white exiled down here in Wiltshire can only imagine the mood and atmosphere in Newcastle to be one of sorrow, anger, dismay and bitterness. Fair enough, that is how I feel about how the board have turned over KK and the fans. What I can't understand is why the average NUFC fan is still happy to go to the game this Saturday and chant at an empty space in the ground where Ashley, Wise et al are supposed to be demanding that they fall on their swords....how laughable is that.....we are the laughing stock of the Premier League at this time, and complain bitterly about it but we will insist on looking even sillier protesting to no one. Not buying Ashley's products is hardly going to ruin him as the Mackem's are buying all of his products to keep him in charge of this sorry mess.
Boycott the game, the players know this is not aimed at them, BOYCOTT THE GAME NOW!!!!
"Throwing your hat into the ring"
The ring in question here is a boxing ring. These, of course used to be circular spaces in a crowd of onlookers, rather than the square, roped 'rings' of contemporary puglism. Any Jack the lad who fancied his chances in a bout would throw in his hat - presumably this was a more reliable way of putting oneself forward than just shouting over the hubbub of the crowd.
Maybe we could get Dennis Wise to set up a ring and take on all comers. I thing 40000 hats would land in the ring at once!!!!!!
Note From Luke
Now you see, you learn something new everyday. What if everyone had a hat like Odd Job in James Bond?! That could be interesting, if slightly dangerous for everyone at SJP, let alone Dennis Wise, who probably won't show up anyway the tough guy that he is!
A the moment it would appear nobody wants the job, but is that really the case, at 5million a year I'm pretty sure there won't be a shortage of takers. The top established managers certainly won't risk it, despite what we think Allardyce was respected and if he is asked to give a testimonial it won't be a glowing report. It will have to be a young up and coming guy who has the enthusiasm and desire to succeed. Chris Brown at Hull would be worth taking a risk on definetley done a job at Hull and he is from the area which is a big plus he will understand the people and their love of the club, maybe Steve Bruce. Bryan Robson would take the job but he has not been sucessful but again a local lad. Other than that I think would be a risk for who ever came, not Poyet not Deschamps a local will need to put Newcastle back into the Town to understand who they represent and play for, thats been missing for long time
This might be clutching at straws but if Hughton is going to be in charge for 3/4 weeks this may suggest that Ashley is in the process of selling the club. It's a much more attractive proposition for a new buyer if he can come in and choose his own manager without having to pay anyone off first. Just a thought like... Here's hoping!!!
You might know more about this Luke but i think Ashley wants to sell and will want to sell even more after Saturdays game. Any ideas....?
Note From Luke
As Ashley refuses to talk about Newcastle United we simply don't know for certain. I suspect he will jump at the chance to sell if a decent offer comes in, but there has to be an offer in place.
will everybody stop panicking the indians are coming they know fat ash and his gang will crumble under intense pressure from the fans and in the will be glad to sell at a reduced offer just to get the h... out of toon who ever comes in as boss is only keeping kks seat warm untill the take over. the protests that we will see tomorrow have been on the cards for years, we have to stick to our guns to get what we want and now is the time, but we must also get behind the lads tomorrow especially the new boys signed last week.it is not their fault that they have been caught up in all this lets give them a big welcome. dont forget this is the fans and players versus the board, lets get them out and get our club back stu
I've never been so uninterested in who will be our new manager.
this is because no matter who comes in the man pulling the strings and making the decisions will be Dennis Wise.
I don't really mind the club being run like a business, but let it be run like a good business, which means getting results. A lot's been said about the so-called continental approach of director of sport who buys the players, and technical coach who works with them on the pitch. it's not necessarily a bad system, just depends on the quality of the people you bring in to do the job. If Wise had signed more and better (and presumably he's responsible for buying Coloccini and Jonas, two excellent signings), there would be no problem. If the problem's lack of cash, with 52,000 people turning up every home match, then Ashley et al aren't doing a good job and should go. It's that simple.
Having watched Rijkaard closely over his time at Barça I can say he'd be a good choice. He's modern, thoughtful, he understands good football, he's diplomatic, charming, he defends his players to the death.
How about Chris Waddle if he has his coaching badge. He was a good player for NUFC, Tottenham and England and I'm sure he would give it a go as good as anyone else
I think most regular readers of your stuff in The Journal and on this blog have come to regard you as the most reliable and informative journalist covering Newcastle United, but I'd like to echo some of the earlier comments here by saying your article on Ashley's fatal mistakes was absolutely spot on. As for the people who have attacked you for not being from Newcastle, I hope they feel suitably ashamed. I still think there is a chance that Ashley could remain in charge, but he has to get rid of Wise and Jimenez. That doesn't mean he has to get rid of the management structure, just appoint people who can do their jobs properly. Llambias and Wise out. Ashley just do the right thing man!
I post this as a complete neutral. I have no affiliation to any football team but just appreciate the beautiful game. At this present time I will therefor pay out as much of my hard earned cash as is needed to go anywhere to watch Arsenal and any other team that can promote all that's best about the game. When then, will I be able to transfer this admiration to Newcastle United?
Harry Rednap was clever enough to spot how poisoned the chalice was a year ago but the second choice Keegan didn't have the gumption to ask the right questions before walking out on the balcony to the adoration of 60,000 daydreamers. It wasn't Keegan the man that the fans wanted, it was Keegan the myth! Undoubtedly an excellent player in his time but manager? There is much more to being a successful manager than getting the crowd to chant your name. Keegan dropped the England team in the manure when he threw his rattle out of the pram so why is anyone so surprised that he does it again? Many unblinkered neutrals have seen the warning signs of tantrum and petulance in Keegan's recent actions; one of he most notable being the outragously stupid sending on of Barton for the last few minutes at the Emirates. The best advice to NUFC fans at this time is to take on board Michael Winners catch phrase of 'Calm down Dears'. At the moment they are appearing to the rest of the nation, via the media, as being ignorant of any logical idea of what the situation is and what it needs to put things right.
In Mike Ashley you have the money with soccer passion, unlike many of those clubs who live in constant fear of their foreign glory hunting owners puling the plug and asset stripping.
If I made an investment of
£250 million I also would want to protect that investment by employing people(Wise etc,)who I could trust to deliver a safe future for the investment and not risk losing it all by giving it to an excellent ex-player and coach with no proven business acumen.
If there are any Newcastle fans who can appreciate the football that is played by the likes of Arsenal and can also appreciate how it has been brought about, I would suggest you look again more carefully at Ashley's statement and start thinking with their heads rather than their brown ales.
I repeat, just a few thoughts from a compleat neutral who would hate to see a great club die due to the shortsightedness of its fans.