It wasn’t supposed to be like this when the season started last August when most Newcastle fans were confident of a top 6 finish after we had brought in 9 new players to augment our squad.
Mike Ashley and fans – what happened – we have actually scored a goal
Note: This photo was not taken yesterday
But something has gone drastically wrong this season and the decision to fire Sam Allardyce seems to have backfired as the team has had to get used to a completely new way of playing, half way through the season.
It”s akin to trying to change the engine of a jet while the plane is still flying – not easy.
It turns out that Mike Ashley was targeted by angry Newcastle fans yesterday, during Liverpool’s 3-0 annihilation of the Magpies which would have been a lot worse had Liverpool not settled for a 3-0 win ahead of their crucial Inter Milan game on Tuesday night.
They were streets ahead of Newcastle in everything they did, and while captain Michael Owen didn’t get any service up front, he looked a pale shadow of the once rampant goal scoring striker of the past.
Once the 3rd goal went in after 51 minutes, (Rafa at half time – let’s get a quick 3rd goal and we’ll call it a game at 3-0 and Jose and Steven will be rested), some fans threw accusations at the owner of not coming up with the money to buy decent players.
This has become one of the most disastrous Newcastle seasons on record, and that’s saying something.
If we get relegated it will go down as one of the best squad probably every to taste relegation, although we may still be deluding ourselves here.
That says something about the characters of the players we have doesn’t it?
If we go down let’s clear the boards of these players who are just in it for the money – there’s quite a few of them as we all know.
Then we can bring in players who actually want to fight for the club – what a concept.
142 comments so far
geordie_jordan
Mar 9, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Comment #1gonna watch the scum and wigan lose today! whos with me??!!! howay the lads
Michael
Mar 9, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Comment #2Fans turned on Mike Ashley, Well this is about the time Mike may play his next card. Bring Alan Shearer to st James park. No doubt many of the not very thinking Geordies will deify Ashley.
Keegan is what you wanted????? Mike has returned your Messiah, Saviour and pawn.
I always said it, the masses do not know what they want you are already turning on Mike, what he did not buy his usual round at the tavern after the game.
This is for what you asked, be angry with yourself. Quick to blame someone else when this is for what you asked.
Fraggles all of you
Nev
Mar 9, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Comment #3it should be keegan and certain player e.g owen, butt, smith who should be taking the sh*te not MA
i think everyone has to agree that that keegan was the wrong choice as manager, hes has done nothing positive apart from get more shirt sales threw the club shop door
Gordon
Mar 9, 2008 at 3:22 PM
Comment #4Jose Torres?!?!
Errrr…. Fernando!
walker
Mar 9, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Comment #5i hope keegan finds the balls to drop the likes of smith butt owen and even zog who doesnt want to be here anyway
mercinary
Mar 9, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Comment #6ashley wants to set up a table in the centre circle after every match and pay each player infront of the crowd in £20 notes,counting it out.
ObaFan2
Mar 9, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Comment #7How can you blame KK for the players giving the ball away so so easily. We had a fluke goal against us and the majority of players gave up again.
I have seen in recent games a big improvement in the play by Newcastle but there is no consistency.
I cannot however understand why Smith is playing so much, he for me has been a huge disapointment. Drop these under-performers even if we have to bring some of the younger players in for them.
Harper/Shay,Feye,Beye and Oba have been the only players for me playing for more than their wage cheque.
KK needs to be ruthless with this squad of players, he needs to send a message to the team and that has to be drop Smith and maybe even neccesary to bench Owen and start with Carroll n Oba.
I hope that the message will get through to KK that Smith has been like this all season and not just from January.
It’s a shame that MA has suffered at the hands of the (few) fans as I don’t think he deserves that at all, however I hope that someone had a quiet word in his ear and told him to burn his Smith shirt! (preferably with Smith in it 🙂 )
Dock their wages.
We have a good mix of young and experienced players, some with flair and some like Faye with a level head but it’s a team game and the few obviously can’t carry the majority!
kelvin
Mar 9, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Comment #8i think the gamble not to buy anyone in january is really starting to backfire. we desperately needed some midifielders and now we are stuck with smith week in week out.
Gallowgate Channel
Mar 9, 2008 at 3:48 PM
Comment #9These professional whingers who call themselves United fans – who do they think they are shouting abuse at Mike Ashley?? Who do they think they are telling KK who to pick for the team ? Why dont they just bugger off and leave our owner, manager, team and club alone – WE DONT WANT YOU HERE. If you can’t stop throwing your toys out your pram or running to mummy every time things go wrong – piss off. We need real United fans who are prepared to get behind the team – not professional whingers.
Nev
Mar 9, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Comment #10gallowgate channel – did you accept this type of “banter” when big sam was manager ?
Davy
Mar 9, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Comment #11I think that Ashley has already admitted his biggest mistake. He didn’t go with his instinct from day one and stcuk with Allardyce when he knew (as did many of us) that his style of play and negative tactics would more than likely not work at NUFC. He should have risked the wrath of the press and Allardyce himself by just getting rid straight away and getting a manager in with money to spend straight away and build for success.
It was a mistake to allow Allardyce some funds to buy what he admitted himself were his 3rd choice players. No one was excited by BSA’s appointment and it showed in the transfer market last summer. If Keegan had been given the job stright away we could have enticed better players to play with the best of what we already had.
Ashley should maybe have got rid of Sam before Christmas at least to try and give more time to KK to see what was available in the window and to stop the rot before it really started.
However, Ashley assumed that we would simply not go down with the players we have and then hopefully rebuild starting next season. It’s always next seaon at NUFC and we may be in the Championship next season.
Consolidation under BSA did not work and we are now in crisis. In some ways Ashley and Mort do have to therefore shoulder some of the blame but I feel that BSA is mostly to blame. Players with zero confidence cannot possibly perform at St. James’ Park and his style of management led to exactly that.
We need to get right behind the team and paly our part in the survival.
daiv
Mar 9, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Comment #12Ashley’s masive mistake was sacking sam when he did. He should have waited until the summer. sam would have kept us in Prem comfortably. Nobody was talking relegation then just boring football and under achievement. Keegan is only any use when he has money to spend. He could not spent it in january because of the timing of sam’s sacking and was left to make the best of sam’s blunders. Keegan does not have the tactical ability to make the best of poor players. |We may pay the panalty for MAs poor judgeemnt. same old story at NUFC.
ToonKing
Mar 9, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Comment #13Everton leading 1-0 against the scum, hooray 😀
Hadrian
Mar 9, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Comment #14out of order having ago at ashley like that .
how many times have we heard allerdyce calling to ‘stop the rot’ this season ?
its brushed over the fact that we have been heading downhill all season , with a few lucky goals and last min pens thats flattering on allerdyces reign .
we screamed all season that not picking up results against derby , reading ect would come back and bite us in the backside , they are doing just that and poor old keegan is stuck reciving the brunt of it , face it we should have 40 points already , there hasnt been any game since keegans arrived that we should have won when you consider the teams and how they are doing and playing this season .
as for allerdyce , half of his games he should have won .
you cannot say sam would have taken more points from these 8 games and keep a straight face when you take into account his results for the season and the last months on his reign .
as for ashley , the clubs finances for last year were published for a reason , the clubs debt was structured badly and there was god knows how many contract clauses thrown about , enough to have our previous owner barred .
there should be fingers pointed at nobody but the players .
Michael
Mar 9, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Comment #15Davy: It is everyone else’s fault but Keegan. Keegan has the answers for everything but he needs a perfect squad. An assorted fruit cake can do well with the best players as Keegan did in the 90’s but again his tactical naivety lost us the title when we were 12 points ahead. Keegan cannot work with decent players. Roader achieved 7th place with Souness’s players and Roader did not have his coaching badges. So do not make the excuse that Keegan is working with Sam’s Players, we are not asking him to win the premier league just keep us up.
While Sam was boring, he did not compose a relegation fighting squad, certainly not under his management. Keegan has made Sam’s mid table squad a relegation threatened side.
We are a better squad now than when Souness left for Roader but Roader did not make excuses, he got on with the job and took us to 7th place, 7th place. Why is it hard for Keegan to do it if he is as good as you “buttock kissing Keegan advocates”.
You talk about hiring Keegan before Christmas and giving him time to procure players???? Keegan had not seen a game since 2005, he does not know who is hot and who is not.
The blame game should go to Keegan as Sam did not leave him a relegation threatened squad that is the hard fact.
Tripp
Mar 9, 2008 at 4:37 PM
Comment #16I don’t see how you can say that SA would have comfortably see us out of the relegation dog fight. Look at the trajectory we were on… Started brightly and then just faded. We had a brief run which gave us hope… Gooners (who were massively depleted), then two lucky games against Brum and Fulham. After that we lost to Wigan and drew DC at home! The Chelski game was the beginning of our horrible bad luck, as we deserved a draw, I think. I think we were on track to be where we are with SA or KK. SA would have lost all the same games and I doubt he’d have won anything either. He might have gotten the point against Blackburn, but maybe not. We would have been trying to “contain” them for 90 minutes.
George
Mar 9, 2008 at 4:37 PM
Comment #17It sounds like some of our fans have sharpened their knives for Mike Ashley now, but please put things in perspective.
1, SA had made most of his signings pre MA, but MA allowed SA to sign after he took over as he obviously thought SA knew who he was buying.
2, Like us all SA did get us off to a goodish start, then we slowly got worse.
3, MA gave SA a chance to turn it around, but after so long he went.
4, KK is brought back and by his own admission did not know much about what and which players were available to buy, but at this point lets ignore all the papertalk of who we were after and who was available.
5, KK has not panicked bought, and well done, as far too many would be too willing to condem him for that.
6, Just remember the state we were in when KK arrived the first time and the what he did, even though this is no guarantee for future success.
7, Why has MA become the target all of a sudden, has he not done what we wanted of him. He got rid of SA, he brought back KK, the money was there for transfers, but as stated earlier, KK did not know the market.
MA and KK have both said the funds are there, so what has MA done wrong.
8, Look at recent headlines about what Fat Fred and his cronies did with sponsor money. But look at how much MA has put in to clear debts.
9, If FS was still here what state would we be in financially now aswell as faceing relegation.
10, MA has proven himself to be successful, please be patient, unlike most of you, i am in ill health and on borrowed time and will probably never see a championship win or cup win again, but i do know for a fact, progress takes time.
Look at Alex Ferguson, one game away from the sack and look at what he achieved.
Hadrian
Mar 9, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Comment #18Michael
An assorted fruit cake can do well with the best players as Keegan did in the 90’s
stopped reading there , it’s like keegan waved a magic wand and we had all the players and were suddenly challanging .
Geordie Joe
Mar 9, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Comment #19These fans who are having a go at mike ashley are a disgrace and obviously havn’t a clue about football. He spent nearly 100m of his own money to clear our depts. Everyone who blames him for no players coming in in january are again stupid. There was no one available apart from woodgate and we tried for him. please let me know of anybody good enough that was available.
CRAIGG
Mar 9, 2008 at 4:53 PM
Comment #20Michael you a wanker, Roeder had boumsong, bramble and ameobi yep well observed he also had:
Given
Harper
Taylor
Elliott
Moore
N’Zogbia
Dyer
Solano
Bowyer
Emre
Parker
Shearer
Owen
You are selective on the players you mention arent you, I liked Roeder but im sure you wanted to keep Glenn on last season didnt you? and i bet you spent all the first half of the season fighting Sams corner didnt you?
Fickle little pricks like you are the reason why this club is the butt of so many joke on SkySports and the papers ETC. because we are all tarred with the same brush that we all want managers out after 5 minutes and we have no patience and have unrealistic ambitions.
KK came in when the players were in disarray and the recent results were shocking playing for a draw with stoke, Wigan, Derby and losing 6-0 to man utd, Yes under KK we’ve passed up the odd winnable game and i dont agree with Smith starting over Martins, But anyone who was at the matches will tell you we were robbed against Boro and Blackburn, Bolton never wanted to leave their 18 yard box and what did you really expect against Man Utd at home, arsenal away twice, Villa away and Liverpool away ???
Of Course Roeder got on a fine run his first match was pompey who were second bottom at SJP, Then Villa who were 1 place above the drop zone, then Southampton at home in the cup not the hardest start then Everton who were below us at home, then charlton and bolton at home, we also beat Spurs, Wigan and West Brom at home and Boro who were resting half their side for the UEFA Cup final and Sunderland with their record low points total away from home harly impressive when you actually know what youre talking about hey…
When we played any sort of quality side like KK has done since he came back we lost: Man Utd away 2-0, Chelsea away 1-0, Liverpool home 1-3 the only side of any quality we beat in that run was Chelsea reserves on the last day of the season 1-0 after they wrapped the league up a month before we played.
Why dont you do some research before you write you pathetic bile on this site.
LONG LIVE THE KING AND ALWAYS OUR MESSIAH
Michael
Mar 9, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Comment #21Keegan’s reputation allowed him to attract the host of player he did. Keegan is like Capone when he emerged from Jail, lost contacts, no influence and that is all he had. Tactics we know Keegan is oblivious of such a thing, and thinks they are “little white mints”
So this is what we have in Keegan:
To tactics, no contacts and no pulling power, no talent spotting ability, Smith and Butt as regular selection over better options on the bench. No recent experience, he has no experience in this modern age of football save perhaps Championship manager on the PC.
The only thing of he has a replete are excuses.
I am sorry if my remarks cause you offense but the reason they do cause any of you offense is because they are true.
ToonKing
Mar 9, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Comment #22Toffees won, great.
Geordie Joe
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Comment #23I am sick of some newcastle fans dragging our name through the mud. There are far too many idiots get in st james park for my liking. people with no football brain. people who expect miracles. I was amazed how many fans expected us too win every game when king kev took charge. It just does my head in when people talk about football and clearly have not got a clue.
Michael
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:09 PM
Comment #24Craigg: – It is to people like you whom refer when I say “not very thinking” Geordies. The lack of depth in your arguments should surely have you questioning your intelligence, or lack thereof in this case.
You are naming the same players we have today save Shearer, Dyer, Solano who may have made a difference, Dyer more so than anyone. Yes we had world class player like Moore, Elliott Bowyer etc….. Hardly.
No Consider we have the likes of Martins who we can agree is one of the better prospects out there in world football. We have options upfront more than what Roader had. Roader had Shearer and Ameobi as Owen was injured and so was Dyer.
Sir if you wish for me to read your arguments, then add some substance to them.
TheRealSuperAl
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:12 PM
Comment #25Ed, I hope that you are archiving some of the negative rubbish that is being written, at the moment, so that it can be replayed when KK & Mike Ashley et al get us back where we belong.
I’m with you CRAIGG. We are in a sticky spot now, and we need to have a few things going our way for a change, but I’m staying positive. Let’s get this season over & get the rebuilding underway.
Howay!!
Geordie Joe
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Comment #26micheal f**k off. I suppose you think sam had great tactics. you are just rambling on and not making a valid point. its our players fault not keegans. And the players are not his.
Stocksy
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:16 PM
Comment #27How crap are our fans…..shouting for Big Sam to be sacked….they then got their wish and were very pleased in the appointment of King Kev. They are always looking for someone to blame. I dont know how many times I have said this but get behind the team and SUPPORT as there is absolutely nothing we can do now to change the players we have until the end of the season!
ONE MORE QUESTION…..do we think Alan Smith will prolific in the Championship next season?
CRAIGG
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:17 PM
Comment #28You really think KK with all his contacts in Germany, Spain and England has no idea what is going on and what about Jeff Vetere with his contacts and knowledge of football here and overseas doesnt know whats going on. KK has a large set of scouts that have picked up plenty of gems and if he was so out of touch then he would hire an up to date set of scouts.
Aurthur Cox has been KKs best ally for years he knows virtually everything about football and was a fine tactitian in his own successful managerial career.
KK did fine when he kept us in Div 2 when we hadnt got a prayer and won Division 1, Got us in Europe for the first time in 25 years and finished 3rd in the Premier league at the first time of asking with just Terry Mcdermott and Derek Fazackerley alongside, not bad for a guy with no tactical ability.
Cox joined him at the end of that season and maybe did take it to a new level but KK is better Tactically than given credit for.
LONG LIVE THE KING AND ALWAYS OUR MESSIAH
And finally thanks to Everton for making me happy and giving us something to cling to.
The other teams around us have just as hard a run in as us if not worse.
We have the points there for the taking against Brum, Fulham, Reading and the Scum.
SO LETS F**ING GET THEM
doc
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:19 PM
Comment #29I dont really think we can blame any of the current management for our current situation
fat fred appointed sackless sam which i think he did as a deliberate act to spoil our club sam brought in some faces who are not up to the job
if we get relegated put the blame squarely on fat freds shoulders
I dont think we will and look forwrad to next season when kk can bring in some skill and commitment
lee
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Comment #30how can you critsize M A he broght kk back its not the fault of m a he couldnt bring any 1 in he had no time you cant blame him for being cheap theres more 2 tr ansfers than cheques who ever keegan wantedit would have taken a while to bring in cos firt he has to identify players 1st you cant identify you cant just buy players for the sake of it thats what so many other managers and have done and notice how i said managers not chairman because he doesnt pick who to buy its not his decision and if it was wed have a whole different set of problems like an e-mail had said b4 it is people who do this that make our club a joke
these people are stupid and never give anyone any time 2 acomplish anything this is the reason why we have not won a trophie for só long this why we arent in the top 4 this is why every one who comes to the club wether it be chairman managers or players find it so difficult which digresses me to my original point there was no time to buy players we made a few bids and they didnt come we tried for giles barnes and woodgate unfortunately woody went to tottenham and barnes bid was rejected
Michael
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Comment #31My argument Geordie joe, is that similarily Roader took over Souness’s squad but he achieved 7th spot. Keegan has not done anything for us save render us tactically oblivious.
You also say it is not “Peasant Keegan’s” fault but the players. Well my “not very thinking” Geordie Joe, who selects these players, no doubt they select themselves or is Sam still selecting them. If the players are not playing at all is it only an idiot that would select them.
It is about time he took the blame now. You asked for Sam to be sacked because he was not entertaining, well Keegan is neither entertaining nor is he achieving results.
Look at the Wigan vs Arsenal Game on TV, not as much quality as we do but they are better managed and have tactics.
Geordie Joe
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:26 PM
Comment #32just watchin wigan arsenal. I fear that wigan might get something out of that game.
CRAIGG
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:31 PM
Comment #33Michael
If you had seen the impact that Craig Moore had on our defence you wouldnt take the piss
and the influence he had on Bramble and Ramage was extremely positive.
Elliott was a solid left back much better than Babayaro, Bernard and Carr
Dyer was injured a lot but played and but won the saints game and played in 3 of the games at the end of the season where we got 7 points.
Bowyer on top form is as good as any midfielder ive seen live.
Solano scored 5 goals in that run and set up god knows how many.
N’Zogbia has not got near to the form he had that season since.
Owen played in the brum game wher we got a vital point.
Parker who you forgot to mention was awesome all that season.
And Shearer scored 5 and set up a couple himself.
My lack of depth in my arguments as you so put it is none existant as the games that Roeder won were against less quality sides than we have played under Keegan thus far, and the players he had at his disposal were of much higher quality than the current squad. available to KK.
ronaldeano
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Comment #34Dont take any notice of the boring dribble Michael babbles on about Craigg.
He is just a sad, lonely little mammys boy that obviously knows fook all about football or our club. He probebly hasent grown a single pube yet.
Shut your hole micheal and log on to the c.beebies site, there should be some good little games on there you will like!!!
CRAIGG
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Comment #35How can you honestly sit there and compare the games that Sam had in the first half of the season to that what Kev has had to play.
Ronaldeano i try not to take notice but the same set of idiots.
But they fail to look at the whole situation and blame KK for the recent results against top sides what about Porky Pig wasting the easy games trying to contain Wigan, Reading and Derby twice and Boro away when they were in awful form and there for the taking and going to sunderland to play for a draw against a shit side and trying to contain Portsmouth at home!
Geordie Joe
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:34 PM
Comment #36Firstly i never asked for sam to be sacked. I did think he was sh*t but i was willing to give him time.
Secondly i can’t believe you think this squad is better than the one roeder inherited. it is no where near as good.
Thirdly he selects those players because there is no one better on the bench.(exeption of martins, he should be on for smith) But he has only been available for the last two games and he might not have started because he wasn’t fit enough after his ankle injury.
Geordie Joe
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Comment #37micheal you havn’t a clue mate.
ronaldeano
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Comment #38Fat Sam tried to buy a team that were goin to play football like bolton did…
in a word…
BORING
Just like Michaels baby babble 🙂
ronaldeano
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:40 PM
Comment #39Cat got your tounge Michael? !! 🙂
Time for beddy byes !!!! 🙂
Gooderz
Mar 9, 2008 at 5:42 PM
Comment #40How many results have we achieved in the equivalent fixtures Keegan has faced over the past 5 seasons? I sincerely doubt that anyone could reach double figures by selecting the best results in that time frame. The only result we get fairly regularly is the Blackburn fixture, and we shoul have won that game and we were bitterly unlucky to lose at the death. But Arsenal (x2), Man U, Villa, Bolton and Liverpool at the respective grounds are always tricky fixtures.
The next 2 weeks are crucial and must win. Winning both matches and looking at the fixtures for the teams around us means we would have at least 5-6 teams still below us in the table but with a healthy gap opened up. After that we still have the Reading and mackem games to come, and these should help gain some more confidence and perhaps get some other results.
Safety remains in our hands unless we slip up this coming fortnight, which shall not happen.