Manchester United visit St James’ Park on Wednesday evening, and the World Club Champions will be followed shortly after that by both Chelsea and Arsenal, also at home.
Chris Hughton and Joe Kinnear
These are the some of the next few games Newcastle will be faced with after gaining just one point in a home game against a weakened Everton side, and an away game at Bolton yesterday.
Many would have expected Newcastle to pick up 6 points in those two games, but because we didn’t, we must now ensure we get some points against the three powerhouse teams to visit St. James’ Park next.
If we don’t we’ll be in serious trouble of being relegated, that’s for sure.
Hughton talked today of playing Manchester United on Wednesday night:
“If you asked me if I would rather not play them, that goes without saying. But this is what we are faced with.”
“On the other hand, these are the type of games as a player you must surely look forward to.”
“It was a bitter blow to lose to Bolton, but all we can do is pick ourselves up and focus on Manchester United.”
“We know there are a lot of teams in a similar situation to us – but all we can do is concentrate on our own game.”
Hughton is hoping Nicky Butt and Damien Duff will both be fit for the Wednesday game, with Nicky having to leave the game yesterday with a knee problem , and Duff not even being able to make the bench, necasue of a calf injury.
And there must be questions surrounding Chris Hughton, and whether he is up to the job having now gained just one point from the last two games, after previously losing all 5 games at the beginning of the season, before Joe Kinnear was drafted in.
There’s not much the club can do before Wednesday’s game, but if the team loses to Manchester United, look for a new temporary manager in charge for the Hull City game a week on Saturday.
Comments welcome.
46 comments so far
magpie6699
Mar 2, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Comment #1How about Lazarus? Only chance to resurrect this team?
magpie6699
Mar 2, 2009 at 8:56 AM
Comment #2First?
Toon Sweden77
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Comment #3We could sure use somebody cause Hughton doesnt seems up to it.. anyone has a list of unemployed managers out there?
Hugh de Payen
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Comment #4It’s not a temporary manager we need – it’s a permanent one.
Kinnear was only ever a temporary appointment and Ashley was just stupid to say things like “JK will be here as long as I’m owner”.
Ashley needs to pull his head out of the sand and see the plight we’re in. The only thing he can really do now is try to appoint a decent manager to make sure we survive.
And it may as well be a permanent one (if we can get one).
Jk’s health probably isn’t up to managing Newcastle (or probably any other PL club) in the long term anyway.
bennytoon
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:13 AM
Comment #5Hate to say it but i think this season will be newcastles last in the premiership. Bolton was a must win game. I think middlesboro will get out of trouble and portsmouth who are below newcastle have a game in hand.
NepToon
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:15 AM
Comment #6joe kinnear might be the right person to stabilize us, but he’s not the way forward. we have lacked a proven manager since SBR left. KK would’ve been the best option if he’d stayed, but after the end of the season we need a manager who can work wonders.
sven comes to mind if you think about what he did at lazio but a few other names come to mind.
rafa anybody?
NepToon
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Comment #7and we do need a better chairman. a football guy; whos been at it for a while. not a person whos an amateur i.e has never ran a football club before. this is Newcastle United, not some semi-pro football club.
Toon Sweden77
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:21 AM
Comment #8Eventhough im from sweden and would love to see Sven at Newcastle it has been proved that he needs a lot of money to have success, and Mike is not willing to provide these kind of money
DanToon
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:23 AM
Comment #9We can’t wait for Kinnear to recover we need to take action now and get a new full time managerin. I’m sorry but we can’t rely on these muppets to hold the fort, if we do we will go down. Shocking team yesterday, R.Taylor MOTM for me!
Toon Sweden77
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:27 AM
Comment #10Agree with DanToon. Cant wait for Kinnear and he is not the man to take us forward. The results speaks for it self!
Toon Graeme
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Comment #11If you saw the shot of ashley at full time – not a happy man!
DanToon
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Comment #12Toon Graeme – Not un-happy enough to spend on a big manager!
Toon Graeme
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:46 AM
Comment #13Dan toon – good point!
ginkoh
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:47 AM
Comment #14I’m so sick with our team and I know everyone be the same. — —
Some of our player is not good enough to play even in devision1. You know who they are. XXXX!!
Mimo
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Comment #15Well it’s not looking good at the moment. Seems to me the the two most obvious problems are an inability to score and a lack of quality at management level. With the first one there is a problem caused through injuries up front and this could improve in the next few weeks but this can only happen if there is some kind of guile shown by a very one paced and clueless looking midfield. Secondly I am totally perplexed by the talk of continuing with Kinnear and his backroom buffoons. The clueless marking for Gardener’s goal sums up the lack of tactical nous prevalent at the club and I believe it must be addressed now, before it is too late. There are many managers out there looking for work and we need one who can come in with the passion, belief, and nous to save the day. My own personal favorite would be Deschamps any other ideas?
Toon Sweden77
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:59 AM
Comment #16People might say that we change manager to often and lack consistancy but if we for once could hire a good manager we wouldnt need to that! Souness, Roeder, Allardyce, Kinnear etc… we should either have kept Robson or aimed higher when Shep sacked him. Ottmar Hitzfield is just one name that comes to my mind..
Kash
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Comment #17The next 5 games are a sobering reality of the fact that if we don’t pick up 6 points in the next 5 games, we’re going down!
What I don’t understand is why we’re playing such rubbish football. Why a team like Bolton out possessed us in midfield? Why can’t we string passes together?
murvar
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Comment #18Another month – another crisis. The whole club is out of its depth. Inept owner, inept chairman, inept manager, inept temporary manager, inept coaches, probably an inept tea lady too. Not to mention too many inept players and, given the number of injuries we suffer, probably inept physios too. There was an air of utter predictability about yesterday’s result. After 35 years I’ve lost interest. I used to take a national interest in our teams in Europe too, but when Liverpool’s team against Real had just one English player in it (Carragher until Gerard came on) I can’t identify with them either. Chelsea are just as bad. I’m thinking of watching rugby instead. My locasl club plays local lads, they give it their all and get hammered in the process and then they go to their day jobs on the Monday. No prima donnas, no jiving of the ref. Sport as its meant to be. Football has lost its soul.
ELFER
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Comment #19Kinnear has serious health problems and needs all his strength there…why does the board not see, that we’re in the same situation again??
We need to act much quicker now! Get a manager, otherwise we will let teams pound and we will be relegated for sure!
Graeme
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Comment #20A new manager would take time to get this shower playing as a team, but its probably the only throw of the dice we have left to stop the ship sinking!!!
This lot seem to think that Tactics are some sort of minty chewing gum; there was certainly none on show yesterday. We looked clueless, some of the players were clueless, there was no evidence of any team spirit on display at all.
The problem starts with the owner being clueless, but he wont be the first in that position. A wise man hires in the skills he needs to complement the business; MA brings in a casino manager who knows less about a football club than he does himself – great move.
The man needs to get a grip on the situation by employing the very best man for the managers job – we end up with JK!!! There is simply no football knowledge being employed, from top to bottom.
Is it any wonder we look like a sinking ship??
THE MAGPIE
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Comment #21People keep saying get another Manager but i see very few names been mentioned.
The reason the Board want Kinnear is that they think he wont rock the boat in transfer dealings and that is their main consideration-they dont want another Manager in case they cant control him+no other Manager would put up with our management structure.
A club can only make so many mistakes before it reaps the consequences and the sacking of Robson for Souness was the beginning of the end.
hitman
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Comment #22no decent manager would touch the toon right now.
Prince Bassong
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Comment #23We need someone in charge who at least has some managerial experience – hang on, we have 2 already at the club in Money and Calderwood!
We may as well put a magic 8-ball in charge.
Toronto_Toon
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Comment #24Too late for that now. The decision had to be made back when the news broke about JFK. The last two matches were must win games thanks to his inability to gain points in similar must win matches.
I agree with the Magpie about why the Board is loyal to him.
The irony of how events have unfolded is that Keegan’s hand couldn’t be stronger now. If rumours that Wise is going to move on and he’s willing to come back are true, which I doubt, then bringing him back might actually be the best scenario in a terrible situation.
But a combination of farcical management with cruel luck has placed our beloved NUFC in dire straits.
Toronto_Toon
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Comment #25But the idea of bringing in a temporary manager in for someone who was surely only a temporary manager just continues the farce.
Ashley had better compromise on his management structure, or he’s going to be looking at an even bigger loss than the one caused by exorbitant operating costs.
lesh
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Comment #26Let’s speculate:
NUFC and KK settle their differences and KK comes in on a consulatncy basis?
He knows most of the players and can certainly motivate.
Just a thought!
Toronto_Toon
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Comment #27Lesh, I think it’s an absurd scenario that is unthinkable if the circumstances weren’t as dire as they are.
lesh
Mar 2, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Comment #28Toronto_Toon
Absurd maybe but just a thought. After all said, the circumstances are pretty dire. Wouldn’t you agree?
Sav
Mar 2, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Comment #29Jeez! Where’s all the Ashley supporters today?
Ed, I think your ‘IF we lose against ManU, expect a replacement temporary manager’ remark is a bit harsh on poor ould Chris Hughton. For heaven’s sake, do you think Joe Kinnear would mastermind a victory in this one if he wasn’t in his jim-jams and holding onto a drip?
I think Chris is warming to the task as manager with this quoted remark on our relegation prospects:
‘A series of wins or non losses can creep you away from that.’ ……Non-losses? That’s a useful addition to the lexicon of desperate manager-speak. Sounds as if he’s been here before.
In fairness to the bloke, he’s had rotten luck in centre-midfield. It isn’t his fault Nolan got himself red-carded and banned, or that Barton and Guthrie are crocked. the strain seems to be telling on Nicky Butt as well. If we field Smith and Taylor on Wednesday they’ll need an abacus to keep the score.
THE MAGPIE
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Comment #30It was very noticeable that in the last transfer window Joe contacted Llambias when he wanted that emergency meeting not Wise who seemed out of the loop-it was Llambias doing the contracts as well.
Wise seemed to be reduced to what we originally thought he was-chief scout for u-21 players.
Stuart79
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Comment #31No Ed, we need a permanant manager!
The problem has been that we’ve got a temp manager in for our temp manager!
Stardust
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Comment #32Sav – still here – still supporting – not knee jerking.
I posted on another thread “A season is a long time, but in a campaign when 1 or 2% can make the difference between success and failure – I hope the Mob understand they cost the club 15% this year – if we go down they will have to shoulder their burden of blame.”
WILL YOU TAKE YOUR SHARE SAV?
Stuart79
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Comment #33Stardust is BACK!
Just for reference my opinion is not a knee jerk reaction. My opinion has been consitstant since Kinnear suffered his illness.
I have seen nothing that has changed my mind.
You DO NOT replace a caretaker manager with a caretaker manager!
Were up the creek without a paddle and I lay the blame at Ashley and Llambias’ door. I’m happy to give them another chance, but they have made another cock up with not replacing Kinnear!
They must take more blame than anyone as they make the decisions not the fans!
Stardust
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Comment #34Back Sturat?
The fact of replacing Joe is a personal one – I can see both sides with regard to it. The pro remove JK brigade have is that Ashley and Derek hold joe dear to them as he jumped in a trench with them when the Mob and you were throwing bombs at him – he then picked the club up and carried us. Joe has ended up in hospital for what he did for us – and Ashley is being loyal.
You will advicate loyalty has no place in any successful business but in fact it has – people work hardeer and better for those when appreicated. That slogan is for cowards who arent prepared to do the right thing in difficult circumstances.
I for one on the replace JK call fully accept any decision the board make – its so subjective – ithe the fine side of a thin line.
Stuart79
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Comment #35Startdust
You must surely see that were a rudderless ship at the minute going into the eye of a shocking storm!
We need leadership, I think Joe did well under the circumstances but good god man, he’s not even available to do his job and we need someone to do the job!
It’s not like he was the receptionist! It wouldn’t have been too bad if we were halfway in the league not in trouble but we are in serious trouble
Stardust
Mar 2, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Comment #36Sturat – I can actually see positive in JKs position, if you as a man ever needed more drive to do well for a man that put himself and life on the line for you would you need any more encouragement to do well for him and by him.
…..errrr no – you personally havent chosen that – you find it easier to kick the man who jumped in to fight for your club as you campaigned against it. But thats your choice – you have to live with what kind of man you are.
Stuart79
Mar 2, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Comment #37Stardust
Whatever-I’d rather we stay up and if that means JFK doesn’t have a job, so be it!
If you would rather wait for Joe to come back and we get relegated I truly believe you are a mackem!
Stardust
Mar 2, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Comment #38Sturat – you always change things to a black and white view – decisions are far harder than that – choose to oversimplify if you wish. But if the rationale behind a decision was sound in the first instance – i will not criticise a man for making it.
You seem to prefer to await outcome and thereon for a view. Your solution for a repplacement guarentees nothing.
danuneek
Mar 2, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Comment #39We are getting relegated.
DJG
Mar 2, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Comment #40People are saying get a new manager, a top manager.
What top manager would come to this farce now? We could only get Kinnear and that was when we had time to turn things around.
This is the season that will brake the camels back. Too many years of incomptance and now a season of crisis and too powerful competition.