Chairman Chris Mort and Newcastle owner Mike Ashley have stood by manager Sam Allardyce this season, and according to Sam they’ve been little short of great with him.
Sam Allardyce – Sam’s under pressure at Newcastle for results
But today Sam points out today that Newcastle haven’t won anything since we took Manchester City apart 3-1 in the 1955 FA Cup Tie, when the great Jackie Milburn scored with a header in the very first minute of that game.
However, as Newcastle keep losing matches, that support he currently enjoys from his bosses, will certainly start to weaken as Chris and Mike want to see Big Sam turn around the side’s fortunes, just as quickly as possible.
Sam talked about the difficult Newcastle job with the People today:
“Nobody’s really turned it round before me, have they?” “It’s 53 years since they won anything. Kevin Keegan had a right good try and built a great, great team but didn’t win anything.â€
“Bobby Robson started it again, but it took him two years to get going. I think he finished 11th and 11th in his first two seasons.” “They didn’t win anything then either.â€
“It’s a big, big job. That’s why I said it would take three to five years, because the quality of player and strength in depth needed to get that sort of success is a big, big job.â€
“Do I have any regrets about taking over? No, not really. I had the chance before, turned it down and didn’t think I’d get another chance because of that, and I’m glad I did.” “I’ve never pretended it would be anything other than difficult to turn a club like this around into what it wants to be.”
“I am criticized for focusing on stopping our opponents playing. You tell me in whose philosophy that is not important. Was it not Manchester City’s philosophy here the other night?”
“It’s a nonsense to suggest that I’m a manager who does that more than them. What they do is wait and open you up when they’re ready because they have more talented players than most in the Premier League.”
Allardyce is adamant he is still the man to turn things around at St James’ Park. We think he can do that, and it will only take one result to potentially start that process. But Newcastle must keep playing well in the next few games, and show the fans we are moving forward. When asked if he should resign, it was obvious Sam bristled at the suggestion:
“”I haven’t done anything wrong yet. But if things went wrong, and I felt they were my fault, if that time came round, I would say it and I would go. But I don’t foresee that time coming round, although I do know that I’ve got to start winning matches.â€
“ Many managers over the years have had a defining moment. I can remember Howard Kendall at Everton, when Peter Reid was playing for them.â€
“But I don’t think I’m at the defining moment yet. I just want to make sure we go out at Stoke and win.†“We’re under pressure, we know that. We’ve got to accept that pressure and relieve it.â€
“ It’s in our hands by way of winning football matches and by getting to the next round in this game and then focusing on getting Premier League points on the board.
“The vast majority of people watching on Sunday will think we are going to get beat. What we’ve got to do is go there and say, ‘We’re not’. We have to use that talk as a motivational tool.”
There’ll be another enquiry after the game today and whether that will be about Sam being sacked or not, will purely depend on the result of the game. Stoke City bare in 6th place in the Championship and look a good strong side. They will be motivated tonight, and that all gears towards a difficult encounter for the Magpies. But the players and Sam get paid big money to perform under these conditions.
We’ll see how they do by 8:00 pm tonight.
Comments always very welcome.
45 comments so far
ChrisL
Jan 6, 2008 at 4:02 PM
Comment #41I’m quite happy with this, everyone else is hoping we’ll lose attitude. ManU did great over the years with the everyone hates us mentality. Today is the start for Sam’s Newcastle. Come on the Toon!
SPOT THE ZEBRA
Jan 6, 2008 at 4:24 PM
Comment #42Lest we forget the fans were turning against both KK and Sir Bobby before they left.Shock horror !!!!
iain
Jan 6, 2008 at 5:08 PM
Comment #43sam is his own worst enemy if hes just kept his big fu***ng gob shut and didnt make stupid comments like this one, we would talk about him less and be less annoyed.
instead every day day the big fat prick make my blood boil by spouting shite in the press.
**K OFF BIG SAM YOU BIG FAT GOBBY C***T!!!.(just dont sack him now, give him until the summer to show how shit he is)
iain
Jan 6, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Comment #44OMFG…
“Why should I?” he asks. “I haven’t done anything wrong yet. If the time came around when things went wrong, and I felt they were my fault, I would say it, but I don’t see that time coming round.”
so sam doesnt believe any of this mess is his fault ???
f**k me we are doomed i tells ya.
Stami
Jan 6, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Comment #45i agree with Nothern Monkey and Dragoner. support your bloody team no matter what! i am still 100% behind BSA! so many people expect results immediately, and call for the managers head when they dont get them, reminds me of a certain Fat Freddie wouldnt you say?
so disappointing to see all this negativity coming from the supposed NUFC ‘faithful’…