Jimmy Greaves was a great player in his time, but now he is in the journalist business and today gives his views on Keven Keegan’s chances of success at Newcastle, the second time around, and thinks (or is that “hopes”) it will be a nightmare.
Jimmy Greaves – in his playing days at Spurs
This is what Jimmy Greaves said in his Sun column this morning:
“Is it just me or has the second coming of Kevin Keegan at Newcastle got the look of disaster about it?”
“Some are already wondering whether Mike Ashley was hasty in sacking Sam Allardyce. I am convinced of it.”
Well, there’s nothing like launching a major attack on a manager after 5 games, is there?
Greaves continued:
“While Allardyce is a manager for the time Keegan is a manager behind the times – from a distant, if exciting, past,” “People only had to witness the way Keegan’s Manchester City team played in his final season to realize the magic had gone.â€
“In the three years since he quietly departed Eastlands he claimed he had not watched a match. Hardly preparation for one of the high-pressured jobs in football.”
“Mere knowledge of what this special club and area was all about was enough, he claimed. So why did he allow the appointment of Dennis Wise?â€
There they go again. Let’s get this straight. Everybody at Newcastle have admitted that when Keegan joined, he was fully informed of these appointments that were going to be made, and Chris Mort and both Keegan have both addressed this. In fact Kevin has said that was one of the positives about the job, that he would get big help in the recruitment area of the game.
Kevin was even told that Dennis Wise was one manager in the running for one of the jobs of Recruitment Executive. But the press continues to bring it up, as though it’s some dark cloud over Keegan – it’s just utter nonsense.
Greaves continued:
“Allardyce proved at Bolton he was at the cutting edge of what was new in football. He used the latest technology and methods to get the best from his players.”
“He was trying to do the same and needed time for the team to adjust. But it wasn’t the football of Keegan’s era we were told so it wasn’t good enough.”
“But this nonsense about preferring to lose 4-3 rather than win 1-0 is just that,” scoffed Greaves. “I’ve not met a Newcastle fan who came away from Anfield happy at having lost 4-3 in 1996.â€
“ I have met plenty of fans happy at having won a game 1-0. The point is (Keegan) was the right man for a certain time at St James’ but that time has gone.”
“Dreams are just that. This one is turning into a nightmare. Next game up is Manchester United at home. Good luck!”
Newcastle fans would like the team to play good football and win, and that’s it.
We cannot stop great players like Jimmy Greaves from make their living as sports journalists. But aren’t they a little worried they write nonsense most of the time? It doesn’t seem to faze them at all, but there again maybe we are just too old fashioned, in our older years. 😀
But as we’ve said before, the only way to answer these gossip journalists, who seem to be looking forward to another Newcastle failure, is to have Newcastle be successful again, that’s really the only way. We know that’s exactly what Kevin thinks too.
Jimmy Greaves was a great player for Chelsea, Tottenham and England. Maybe he should have left it at that.
Comments welcome.
31 comments so far
Hadrian
Feb 16, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Comment #1isnt he dead yet ? chroist ive not heard nowt from jimmy for going on 15 year .
what next jimmy hoffa in the press saying keegan will fail , elvis ? maybe tupac ?
sick to death of these hasbeen’s looking for a quick buck by sticking their unwanted and irelivant opinions down in print .
greavesy is still gutted emlin hughes made a better football game than him .
ToonKing
Feb 16, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Comment #2twat
Ausgeordie
Feb 16, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Comment #3We need to start using this sort of shite as motivation
CRAIGG
Feb 16, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Comment #4Keegan said in his autobiography that Jimmy Greaves his taken the piss out of his every move throughout his career:
As a Player Keegan:
Two-time european player of the year 78 & 79
3 xEnglish league titles
1 x German league title
1 x European Cup (Champions league)
2 x UEFA Cups
1 x F.A. Cup
1 x 2nd Div Promotion
As a Manager:
2 x Div 1 Titles
1 x Div 2 Title
2 x Runner up in premiership
Compared to:
As a Player Greaves:
2 x F.A. Cups & 1 x UEFA Cup
He was dropped for the world cup final
(Alf Ramsey knew caught him wanking on a Bobby Morre photo)
As a Manager :
Sorry he just went on the piss and did a shit T.V. Show
Sweardoon
Feb 16, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Comment #5Craigg, spot on. Greaves is a bitter bastard and I don’t mean what he has in his pint glass/IV drip.
The man’s an arse of the highest order and a c**t to ‘everyday’ folk. I’ll not forget trying to interview the f**ker, only to see him patronise a young Hammers fan (this was some 5-6 years ago), then sign an autograph (he realised he happened to be with his pa) before then calling him a ‘little c**t’ to me as if I’d be sympatico.
Overall, a lovely chap and I hope he drops dead.
Soren
Feb 16, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Comment #6Don’t care to listen to all these experts, journalists
and former players. We know they don’t like us, but what do we care?? As long as we stay positive and stay in the premier league, we can always come back strong next season and prove these tw*** wrong.
kenkit napier
Feb 16, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Comment #7Funny old game, first the southern press lamblast Newcastle supporters for wanting fat Sam out without giving him a chance,now it appears the Southern Press want Keegan out after just five games, hypocritical or what! Mark my words Keegan will succeed even though he was not my 1st choice
brian
Feb 16, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Comment #8Think its worth recording that when Keegan got us promoted in his first spell as manager Greavsie said we would be battling relegation and be lucky to stay up…. we finished 3rd.
Hammy
Feb 16, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Comment #9Stick to the booze Jimbo…..
ronaldeano
Feb 16, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Comment #10I nearly choked on my toast this morning when i read Greaves article. Jimmy Greaves, you are a fat ugly prick. I hope you get a big boyle on the crack of your arse and you cant sit down for a month, i hope your cat shites all over your favorate armchair and i hope all your windows in your greenhouse get put out and all your prize leeks get stolen. You fat bastard
CRAIGG
Feb 16, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Comment #11Has anyone noticed how these “experts” never backtrack and say i was wrong if thier right the never shut up about it i saw Lawrenson and Hanson at the start of this season say Arenal would struggle to finish fourth above spurs!
I read the second day of the season after we beat bolton ian wright in his article in the sun say Newcastle would finish 5th above spurs!
jeff
Feb 16, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Comment #12Its easy press,he is obviously a lazy fat b*****D….he is just picking on Keegan and the toon because things havent gone right as yet..But these same people all say we shouldve gave Allardyce time and are blaming us fans for not giving time,yet these people are not exactly giving keegan time are they….Everyone seems to forget this is Allardyces squad and big sam couldnt get them even to win one nil so what the f**k is he on about….
The witch hunt against the toon is incredible..
Have you noticed everything what is being said is all from people down south…They are all getting their wish since keegan was appointed and that was for it to be a failure…..Cant wait for them to be eating humble pie when things start going right,and they will……BUT IT TAKES TIME!!!!!!!!!Southern Twats!!!!!!
Geordie Joe
Feb 16, 2008 at 1:34 PM
Comment #13Why do people slate him for his time at man city. It is he who got them promoted and made them a recognised premiership side.
Scottyt
Feb 16, 2008 at 1:56 PM
Comment #14same as toonking
GP
Feb 16, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Comment #15Shouldn’t he be in a home somewhere? Senile old cockney bastard.
Leo*
Feb 16, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Comment #16ill do my ole routine towards him in a al murrey fashion
shame on you (with finger pointing)
shame on you!
Astidores Sanchez Blanco
Feb 16, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Comment #17That is the great manager Jimmy Greaves. Who did he manage again?
nufctj
Feb 16, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Comment #18once again, irrelevant drivel. Time will tell if KK was the right decision. I have my doubts, as I think many of us do with the start we have got off to, but I am 100% behind the club and KK. Once we are in the safe zone, then I feel we will have a great chance to really build something special. Relegation would be a disaster, in the short term, and probably would result in the sacking of KK.
saint
Feb 16, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Comment #19well said jimmie
ronaldeano
Feb 16, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Comment #20I dont think they will sack KK if the unthinkable happend. The team is not KK’s and the owner and the board will only have themselves to blame for not strengthening the squad in January. KK is thair appointment and they will stick by him if we went down im sure
buckaroo
Feb 16, 2008 at 8:30 PM
Comment #21Jimmy greaves is a kiddie fiddler.
daiv
Feb 16, 2008 at 8:44 PM
Comment #22Greaves is entitled to his opinion. i think he is wrong. I hope he is wrong but nobody can say KKs appointment has been great and that it may all end in tears. greaves is taking the easy option but it may be the right one. I think not, but I’d rather KK had won the last 5 games rather than the team playing like morons.
Marcus
Feb 16, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Comment #23Sounds like the bitter old t**t is back on the sauce!
CJ
Feb 16, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Comment #24What the fook has NUFC got to do with Jimmy the grave Greaves
will
Feb 17, 2008 at 12:57 AM
Comment #25we are now playing better football. king kev has had 5 games. 2 against arsenal away. bolton played with 11 behind the ball and against boro we were unlucky. what keegan is showing with us playing better football (only saw 1st half versus villa but were a couple of really good spells of football) is that many of the players we have at the club are not up to it. we would have been safer under allardyce because people like butt and smith can hoof a ball anywhere, but when we get the ball down on the floor, players such as these and carr are all showing that they don’t have the quality necessary to do this. This is why i was disappointed against villa that smith butt barton and carr were all still on the field at the start of the second half, because in the first they looked poor. basically if we survive the drop i expect to see a lot of quality coming in with some rubbish going out. shearer, a player who papered over many cracks has now left and we have lost a certain air of quality. on top of this nobby and dyer have not been replaced, unless you consider barton and smith to be of the quality of the former 2, and yes i know that dyer was a prick but we have to admit that with the ball he looked class. Now that kev is back, unfortunately it means that with his style, players are being shown up. this is not his fault and no one else who wanted to play good football could do better because unfortunately past managers have clearly not invested in the quality needed to play this football. under allardyce you can get away with this, and as i have said, we would definetly not be relegated because sub standard players dont get shown up in that style.
Paul
Feb 17, 2008 at 4:28 AM
Comment #26Well I think it is wonderful to know that Jimmy managed to take BOTH hands off the bottle.then was able to focus on the keyboard long enough to be able to produce an article of unrivalled bile and, bandwagon jumping, spite.Take a bow Mr Greaves (being careful not to collapse to the floor) then try to come up with something of merit,you tired old, drink-soaked, has-been.
mitch
Feb 17, 2008 at 7:29 AM
Comment #27This is why he writes in the Mirror because he is a shithead who know’s nothing fat prick
thehudge
Feb 17, 2008 at 8:36 AM
Comment #28he does touch kids. totally agree.
Dev
Feb 17, 2008 at 8:49 AM
Comment #29It’s the media who are out to get Newcastle Utd. And going by the amount of disallowed goals and bad decisions against us…it seems some of the Referee’s are too.
It’s almost like a dark plot to get Toon relegated.
UTD111
Feb 17, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Comment #30Lets just put things in perspective here.
1. It was The Sun – nuff said
2. If you bung a miserable old cockney 50 quid he’ll say anything you want.
Cheers
catchy
Feb 17, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Comment #31if keegan is behind with the the time, then where is he… i think keegans main asset is his motivasion skills. you simply dont forget how to play because youv not seen a game foe three years.. granted he has not had the best start to his new stint at the club. but anyone with steven carr in there team is bound to loose. and i bet next year we are above his beloved spurs..