Newcastle's Players Are The Tools So I'm Blaming Them
Another must-win game that hasn't been won. Another performance which made a mockery of the bold pre-match predictions about fighting, battling and devoting themselves to the cause and another missed opportunity to pull away from relegation trouble.
Newcastle United's players need to take a long hard look at themselves after an abject afternoon at Hull City because this simply isn't good enough when you think of the ability these players are supposed to have.
They said this was their cup final. Then again, when you think back to the FA Cup finals of the late-90s this was a typical Newcastle cup final performance.
I'd say Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood should be dragged across the coals for their team selection and tactics, but what is the point? They aren't a proper management team, they are a stop-gap, an emergency measure to hold the breach and the players know it.
They are doing the best they can, but Hughton has been a coach all his career for a reason and Colin Calderwood's managerial experience has come exclusively in the lower leagues.
They are ill-equipped to lead a Premier League side, but that does not get the players off the hook because they are supposed to be big name stars, with the quality and experience to do things for themselves. It is a DIY survival bid, but Newcastle are botching it up and I'm blaming the tools.
Let's consider this. In Michael Owen, Newcastle are supposed to have one of the best strikers in world football, in Obafemi Martins they are supposed to have one of its most explosive, in Jonas Gutierrez and Fabricio Coloccini they have two vastly experienced Argentina internationals, in Nicky Butt and Alan Smith they have two former title winners with Manchester United.
On Saturday, only Butt had any right to come away from the depressing KC Stadium feeling as though he had done his bit, that his personal contribution to the cause was fitting for the reputation he brought with him to East Yorkshire.
As for Geremi, why on earth did he play instead of Ryan Taylor and why did Jose Enrique only start to sort himself out after a couple of verbal roastings from Butt on the pitch?
This was a pale shadow of the side which ran Manchester United so close at St James's Park, but why? Clearly motivation is not a problem when it comes to facing one of the glamour clubs, but it is away from home against some ugly scrappers from Hull.
The point gained wasn't a complete disaster I suppose. It even moved them up a place in the table, but it's still two vital points dropped in my opinion and I assume everyone else's.
The only ray of sunshine I can bring you is that Newcastle will not be playing under so much pressure against Arsenal and Chelsea because they are not expected to win. That can sometimes bring out the best in teams in Newcastle's situation.
I hope so, because by my reckoning they need to take at least a point from those two games, if not three.
In fact, sod it, no, they need to beat one of them, they need their superstars to stop going through the motions, they need their best players to be just that and they need to prove that they really can - in the words of Eurythmics - do it for themselves...
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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.
Key difference from last season being that we had an inspirational figure at the helm.One the players and the fans believed in and respected.One who had us playing good football since he came back to the club,and we approached this point with green shoots of recovery clearly visible.This season we have two failed coaches acting as caretakers,while our caretaker manager,who is a relic from bygone era,is on a leave of absence due to heart surgery.An existing condition we knew about.This isnt a call for Keegans return.This is a call for competency.A call for leadership.Does anyone at the club currently know what they are doing?The players currently dont look like they do.The owner doesnt.The chairman doesnt.The caretaker coaches most certainly dont.Geremi?????Ameobi???Owen starting,Lovenkrands on the bench after his performance in tandem with Oba against Man U? R Taylor dropped.What will they do next-drop Bassong for Cacapa again?If there is a God or Gods then we should pray for their help because no one down here seems to be doing anything for us
Newcastle are now just dirty. What can you expect with 2 Argies and Alan Smith in the side ;-)
More interested in fouling the player than winning and playing the ball. Fagan get's another assault from a toon player, first it's Guthrie, then Butt, now Taylor!
Look no further than Alan Smith who needs to get his head from up his backside, loads of talent but just full of spite.
I feel sorry for you toon fans, you deserve better. Don't knock Hull, they're just doing what you should have been doing.
Thank Gardener cos if he'd stayed alert Taylor should not have seen the ball to score!
Amen, Luke. These guys need to start playing like they're supposed to be. If we get relegated, about all of our starters are going to be picked up by bigger clubs because they're supposed world-class players. Unfortunately, they rarely play like it. For the sake of their own pride, you would think they would be fighting a bit harder for some victories, and for Newcastle United to not be sent to the Championship. Hopefully they wake up against Arsenal.
Thank god someone has finally said it! It's a absolute joke that Hull City have taken 4 points off us this season, and it's an absolute joke we are being led by Houghton and Calderwood, what does Ashley think he's playing at? I know he likes a gamble but he stands to lose hundreds of millions on this one! I felt Hull was a must win, now Stoke is and if you'd have asked me before the game I'd have favoured the Hull game to pick up three points! We are going down, I cant believe it yet, but the harsh reality is that we are. Unless we can beat Arsenal on Saturday I think we are doomed, those players are spineless, pampered idiots. All we can do is roar them on and hope that some respond? Also I'm sick of all this 'we are nervous' talk. How dare they? The vast majority of us are working under the cloud of recession and redundancy and these guys have the cheek to moan about being nervous. NO, being nervous is worrying that you will have to sell your house because you cant pay the bills, get your fingers out and grow up. Every single one of you has been a disgrace this season, I only wish football players could be fired, as I would sack you all!
I think Phil Brown hit the nail on the head last week when he said there was a lot of talk coming out of the toon camp but that needed to be translated into action. How right he was. Personally I'm sick to death about the comments that come out of the newcastle camp from players who just don't perform when it matters - and hughton's post match interviews are an insult to fans. Does he watch the same game as the rest of us?
The club's in an absolute shambles. We have an owner who has appointed his mates, none of whom have a clue about running a premier league team. Llambas knows nothing about football at all, our director of football is a failed championship manager, our manager as said above 'is from a bygone age', our coaches were sacked by their previous clubs because they were going nowhere. If their team selection is anything to go by you can see why (geremi, smith and butt in midfield - where is the creativity?). Ashley is clearly preparing for relegation to the championship if he thinks a 3 year contract for Shola and a management team of kinnear, hughton and calderwood is the answer.
The blame for this shambles goes to our 5 year plan owner, Mr Ashley.
I still cannot work out what is his agenda for the club. It certaintly hasn't to do with 1st team footballers or good management. We are actually sliding towards relegation with one of the worst management teams in any of the divisions and he is rewarding the team with long term contracts. The guy could lose millions on his asset by taking a gamble on his so called plan.
Luke, if you could explain what the hell Ashley is thinking, I would be very grateful.
couldn't agree more luke, fair enough you're printing what everybody has been saying for some time now but at least you're putting down what is clear as day..
I think over the lst 4-5yrs there are a couple of constants, ok or a few: the wrong manager (or no manager and a coupe of stand-ins and these 2 are the worst so far); far too many injuries(?); directors without a clue.
MA & DL said they had made mistakes in the past but will put them right??? so you've left a massive club with to players drifting around without a manager! how is that putting it right? -idiots, the lot of them...
I also see that Mark Viduka has hung up his boots now he knows he is not going to get a new contract.. he dodged the Jan sales got himself off the treatment sofa for the last dozen games and an extention on his contract. now hes been snubbed for the extn hes put his fat feet up again. i swear the smoggies knocked up a replica of the real MV our of parts from a stripped down cargo ship and sold him to us as some sort of footballing time bomb.. i.e everytime he sees a football he bombs.. hes the biggest tool of them all.! i say we flog the smoggies amimpossibletobecalledafootballerobie- job done!
Leadership and vision is lacking and has always been lacking under Ashley, he follows, appointing KK was a mistake and we need to forget him he is a serial quitter and will never get involved in a struggle. Chelsea went out and got Hiddink, master stroke we fumble about with Hughton and Joe in IC. It is too late now but maybe Venebles, or some other top name should have been approached, but when we need leadership it is sadly lacking
I take your point about the players being crap this year Luke but we are deluding ourselves if we think we are better or worse than those below the top four teams. The fact is there`s not that much to separate us and the difference between winning and losing is marginal. Every game since the end of January has been played in a backdrop of dissillusionment and malcontent and the blame for this lies squarely at the feet of our dysfunctional chairman Mike "I didn`t read the small print" Ashley. Appointing KK was one of only two things Ashley has done to give the fans any cause for optimism (and this was obviously just to fool us into buying season tickets) the other being that he was going to sell when he became aware of just how much of a mess he`d made.
If the players are the tools then Ashley is the incompetent cowboy holding them botching the job.
Get a manager in now.. fit and full time!!
I've just read that CH has dropped MO to the bench. Ok fair enough, a week late but never mind.. and also that he is going out to win the last nine games. right ok! but i've also read that he is going to play OM up front on his own with a five man midfield!????? -I hope this is complete rubbish printed by the london press. goals win games not passes. i'm starting to think this bloke is not very bright.. i would really like to be proved wrong and as i say i hope its just the london papers doing their thing again..
Luke
shouldn't you have dropped the out of the title? Saying that our lot aren't playing any better at the moment so same could be same for us lol