Juande Ramos has insisted today that he could return to the Premier League, even though his first stint in England at Tottenham Hotspur was an unmitigated disaster, and that’s putting it mildly.
Juande Ramos – wants to return to Premier league?
The former Spurs manager left England with his reputation very severely tarnished after he lasted just 12 months at White Hart Lane. And he was given money to spend and brought in some expensive players last summer, and most pundits thought Spurs would be a top side this season.
But when you get just 2 points from your first 8 league games in the Premier League, that isn’t good.
And what happened with Juande, after he was rightly sacked by Spurs before there was no hope for them, he ends up at one of the best clubs in the world, Real Madrid, and exactly how that happened is still a mystery.
Real are 10 points behind their Spanish rivals in the La Liga this season, with little chance of winning the league.
The reports back in England are that he has already turned down an offer to return to the Premier League, with an unnamed side.
Juande told the Daily Mirror today:
“My priority is with Real Madrid, but I would also like to have a clear idea about my future,”
“Just because I left Tottenham, that does not mean I cannot return to the Premier League.”
“That league still holds many challenges for me.”
But any news that Newcastle have sounded out Ramos has to be wide of the mark, and we suspect the club that may have offered him a job is Portsmouth, who are looking for a manager to replace Tony Adams.
As far as we know Newcastle are not looking for a new manager, but are simply waiting for Joe Kinnear to return to fitness, although it will be hard to stop the gossip press from linking the Tyneside club with almost every manager on the planet in the next few weeks.
That’s hardly good reading for Joe Kinnear, when he’s trying to recover from major heart surgery.
Comments welcome.
45 comments so far
DanToon
Feb 18, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Comment #1lol… Wouldn’t be surprised.
repo
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Comment #2ohh the mighty players he signed at spurs..
bentley, wank modric wank ,dos santos wank..
keep it local and take a gamble on bruce or shearer..
magpieboy6
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Comment #3I’m sick and tired of all these so-called ‘top managers’ being touted as the next Toon Manager.
We need to get a man who is passionate about Newcastle United.
Local if we can.
Let’s face it, the only good times we’ve had over the last few years have been with Sir Bobby & King Kev who were (and still are) Newcastle through & through.
Replies welcome!
neblexa
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Comment #4This is nearly as good as the bryan robson links. Why not get peter reid in. I’m never amazed at what i read anymore. We are holding out for JFK’s return. That says it all really. Lets seize the moment and at least use this as an excuse to try and get someone in. If there actually is a manager who would ever want this job…I wont be renewing my ticket under the current regime. I’ve done my time, 10 years, im due parol surely.
Jan Stavik
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Comment #5Why gamble when Sven will be available soon?
One of the best club managers in the game, there is no point of hiring mediocre managers like Bruce when a top class manager is available.
macn0ble (Finland)
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Comment #64 repo. hmm, those players were signed by Comolli (got sacked too)
And are people really so stupid that they think that Ramos is shite just because he couldn’t steer Spuds to a winning trot?
Well they aren’t winning with ‘Arry either (thank god).
And do you think Ramos won 2 Uefa cups with plain luck.?
neblexa
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Comment #7I agree on shearer, he cant f it up any more than whats currently happening. A decent coaching staff and the moral boost of him coming in would hopefully lift people. Although doubt he’d come while wise and llambis were involved.
Toon_Factor
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Comment #8HE IS GOING TO POMPEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RyanToon
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Comment #9he DIDNT say he has been offered a job, he just said he may return, hopefully not to us!
danuneek
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Comment #10This is really annoying me, i’m sure every Newcastle fan has compassion for JK and we certainly didn’t want this to happen. I hope he gets better because football is just a game and not worth someones life. We know this. BUT by us discussing what has to happen next is not disrespectful to Joe, he’s probably going to be out for the season so a decision has to be made. The fact is, are clubs like Wigan going to be compassionate to Joe when they play us and loose, no their not. Imagine playing in the Championship next year and saying “well at least we were compassionate to Joe”. If this happens in a business, then something is usually arranged to take the pressure off the individual while maintaining the business. Its just ludicrous blaming the Geordie faithful, the Press probably have more to blame for this than us.
RyanToon
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Comment #11Newcastle, who are also said to be keeping close tabs on Olympiakos’ highly-rated Spanish coach Ernesto Valverde, are said to have sounded out Ramos about a possible summer move to Tyneside.
olympiakos coach linked, i remember someone on bbc 606 said his brother (who lives in greece) said he could be our new manager???
ginkoh
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Comment #12As long as Joe sill be our manager, I will support him. Who’s next our manager I absolutely don’t know but whoever come I will give him full support also.
Sav
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Comment #13Are we ‘Spurs Light’ now?
Tom1664
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Comment #14Ryan – I know that’s the textbook definition of a tenuous rumour, but I’d be pretty happy with him. Olympiacos are 14 points clear at the top and are on an unbeaten run of 15 matches…
Hopefully he can manage in the premier league (I know there’s a massive difference between the two leagues)
MAG PIE
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Comment #15Keegan
Micky Toon
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Comment #16I’ve heard Ossie Ardiles is available. Jim Smith too.
Tom1664
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Comment #17Also Olympiacos have won all their home games, have only lost one away game and drawn 3 others. They’ve also only conceded one goal every other game.
LoonyToon @ graft
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Comment #18Micky
Wot about Jack Charlton…local lad with bags of experience…. 🙂
For me, whoever comes in, they will get my full backing….it seems as though if the majority of fans dont agree with a certain appointment, they will not give him (whoever he is) a fair crack of the whip….I am not talking about 3, 6 or 12 month either….It takes 2/3 years to build a side and be truly judged….
Like I said, whoever comes in, the side will get my full backing….my 3 year direct debit is still set up and I am willing to put my hard earned cash where my mouth is to back the lads…..
anyone who aint up to the challenge….nip down the boozer and moan at the 50 inch toshiba widescreen
peace out
Rodzilla
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Comment #19I sincerely hope this is bull5h1t. Fk me.
…..did Bennytoon write this article as a wind up?!?!?!!!
Mimo
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Comment #20I think Ramos would be brilliant for Newcastle United but we can forget about it. Since He went to Madrid he has turned the club around and they are playing very well at the moment a point I’m not surprised ED missed because it hurts his point. Secondly Comolli the Director of Football and the chairman Levy, undermined him by selling Berbatov and Keane leaving him without a decent striker at the club unless you include Bent. Ed if you are going to pluck a fictional story out of cyberspace and link it to Newcastle, try and do some research on the subject first. This article reminds me of Woodgate on who signing for Ramos talked of his aura and presence only to put the boot in after things started going wrong at the club. Leave the man alone his record outside a traumatized Spurs who are vying with Newcastle for joke club of the year is excellent.
LoonyToon @ graft
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Comment #21oh and I wouldnt mind Ramos either…..
granted had a poor start to the season at Spurs but shine a light, the bloke worked wonders at Seville….he took a small club, on a limited budget, to the brink of la liga and 2 UEFA Cups…
If he took us to the brink of the Premiership and 2 UEFA cups, we would be popping a statue up outside the ground…..
make no mistake about it….he is a top manager who would have a massive point to prove in England….anyone who makes Freddy Kanoute look top class is infact a bloody genius…
He also wouldnt have a problem working under our current management structure….
Doubt Bruce or Shearer would agree to that….
Whumpie
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Comment #22…but that’s still the Greek league. Exeter United could go on a good run there.
Not sure about Ramos – I think Ed’s given him a bit of an unfair write-up there, based purely on the last 8 games before being sacked, and ignoring the fantastic job he’d done the previous season.
But I also agree that it may be time for another manager with passion to match the club. Much though I like Joe I’ll be watching every match terrified of him keeling over and I just don’t think it’s right for him to continue. He’s earned his million; he should take a lower-stress job at NUFC and sit back a bit knowing he’s earned the Toon’s respect.
The guys from the Journal seemed to think Bruce would be up for it, and he’s not exactly done badly with Wigan, has he? It doesn’t mean he can cut it right at the top, but how else do we find out? Rather that than some unintelligible foreign bloke. You can also argue that Bruce’s prem record is better than Sven’s.
Little Willie
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Comment #23It’s from the Daily Mirror who have already linked us with Poyet and Bruce in the past 7 days.
Whumpie
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Comment #24Ah. The only thing that mirror reflects is a pile of male cow output.
Born Again Geordie
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Comment #25No thanks, Pompey are welcome to him !
Could make a return at spuds though given their recent re-signings lol 😀
Whumpie
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Comment #26What about Ashley’s current strategy, i.e. stick with the caretakers till the end of the season (with a fall-back of getting some help in if things don’t go well), then get the right man in then?
It’s a risk, but it also:
1. Allows us to choose from far more managers
2. Allows that manager to be involved in recruitment in the summer
3. Saves us millions in compensation and inflated demands (always part of any in-season change)
Hate to say it, but I think Ashley may have it right.
Waldo P. Barnstormer
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Comment #27nice point magpie yeah lets get Keegan back just so he can walk away again. dont give me the guff he loves the club.
He walks and now he wants 8 million that we can ill afford if he wins his case I will lose what little respect I have for him of his second tenure.
sweendog
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Comment #28Ramos can’t be judged on what could only be described as a joke club with a joke policy of director of football running the club .. sounds a bit similiar to us .. ironic that.
But he is actually a very good manager .. wouldn’t want him at the moment though .. rather shearer/venables or martinez .. but definately not steve joke bruce .. he’s turned us down already and he only loves Man U .. so no thanks.. I’d go for bruce is after next season or the season after Wigan are still fighting for europe .. next season they’ll in there with us fighting relegation I reckon.
Whumpie
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Comment #29Anyone else think we should wait until the summer?
sweendog
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Comment #30Whumpie .. yep Ashley is playing russian roulette .. a win on sat. and we should get 2 more and be safe .. a draw or defeat and things could go pear shaped .. seeing as we now have a decent squad if I was ashley .. I’d waddle round to Venables and shearer and splash the cash and get them in and watch us challenge for europe next season .. shearer as main man and venables to help out.
sweendog
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Comment #31Whumpie .. nope definately not . .we should have got some new boys in before sun and everton .. its a must win and it could turn around our season..
workyticket
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Comment #32neblexa // Feb 18, 2009 at 11:07 AM
“Lets seize the moment and at least use this as an excuse to try and get someone in. If there actually is a manager who would ever want this job”
neblexa, those two sentences are closely connected. We have a perfectly decent manager who tried to save us when no one else would, and we have denigrated him and made jokes about him ever since he arrived. We have done everything we can to ruin the morale of both Joe and his team. Now the poor bloke is in hospital, we can’t wait to throw him in the dustbin.
It isn’t hard to figure out why all the other managers would hate to join us!
NUFCDavid
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Comment #33I wish joe all the best but if he doesnt come back then get Bruce or even better SHEARER!!!!
batty
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Comment #34ED thought you would have wished sir bobby a happy birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIR BOBBY YOU WERE AND STILL ARE THE BEST .
sweendog
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Comment #35NUFCDavid .. shearer in but I think we’d need someone with alot of experience to guide him but yep he’d be my no 1 .. as for bruce .. not a chance .. touched lucky this season but on the whole it would be a toss up between Kinnear and him to see whos better .. I’d rather stick with kinnear.
Whumpie
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Comment #36sweendog – good point. I think I’d be happy to see that.
sweendog
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Comment #37batty .. agreed Bobby Robson .. a living legend .. happy birthday.
Nick D
Feb 18, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Comment #38I would have loved Bentley and Modric coming here !!
Most good managers have a blip somewhere down the line, but lets be honest if Ramos came here and won the league cup in his first season, like he did at Spurs, he would have been given god like status!
Jol was another good manager who had a one season blip at Spurs.
Spurs loss could be our gain. Ed you talk up bruce cos he is a geordie, but he took brum down and has never won nothing and alrest reports are he doesn’t want to come anyway.
Nick D
Feb 18, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Comment #39seeing how England were ripped apart by Spain with 2 little guys in Villa and Torres and killer passes from Xavi and iniesta i would be all for a Spanish coach which is what Ashley should have done in the first place.
neblexa
Feb 18, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Comment #40workyticket // Feb 18, 2009 at 12:30 PM
The point i was trying to make was, he was only ever short term prospect and although he has sort of stabalized things the poor bloke is literally gonna kill himself trying to solve the impossible.
He should be moved aside with his digniy in tact so that someone take hold of the situation, whether its full time or temporarily. I wish the guy all the best, but at the end of the day he’s not up to it, whether it is tactically or physically.
I agree he’s taken alot of flack, much of which he has brought on himself by the way. I wouldn’t wish him to be thrown to the scrap heap, im sure while Ashley is in charge a position would be available to him. I just think this joke has gone on for long enough now. Which unfortunately started when we sacked Sir Bobby. Stability is indeed the key, unfortunately JK can not offer this in his current state and time is running out fast if we want to avoid the very real possibility of the championship.