There is little doubt that the task Chris Hughton has at Newcastle right now, is the biggest challenge of his football career.
Chris Hughton – biggest test of his career
Success for Chris would be having Newcastle pick up a reasonable number of points in the games he will be in charge of, and at least keep us clear of, and above the relegation zone.
But with getting just a single point from the last two games, which were both winnable, at least on paper, a defeat tonight against Manchester United may have Ashley think again about bringing in an experienced manager to work with Chris over the following 3 games, until Joe Kinnear can return for the Stoke City game.
If Mike doesn’t, he will be playing with fire because a defeat against Hull City in our next game, will be a huge loss indeed.
We’d be a lot more confident about tonight if Kinnear was in charge, because while he’s not the greatest manager in the world, he has that ability to get the lads to give everything they have, and just never give up, whatever happens.
Chris said today:
“It’s one of the biggest challenges I’ve had.” “The way you have to look at it is that we have to look after ourselves now and acknowledge that it’s a big challenge for everybody around us too.”
“Our main aim is to just do what we need to stay in this division.” “It’s not just about Man United. It’s looking onwards.”
“All of them are equally important and an opportunity to get points.” “If it’s not to be it’s an opportunity to get confidence from a good performance.”
“Everybody should be looking forward to the game.”
A draw is looking like the best we can do tonight, and it also looks like we’ll need to keep a clean sheet if we are even to achieve that.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
75 comments so far
OHurley
Mar 4, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Comment #1I’m scared… lol
lesh
Mar 4, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Comment #2These coming games are not only Chris Hughton’s biggest challenge but the Club’s.
Tonight’s a massive one and sad to say, only an optimist would expect a win for us. It’s afterwards that CH comes into play as the players will no doubt feel totally deflated and in need of a massive massive lift. They could understandably face Hull and the rest in a state of total despondency and I could understand and sympathise after the season they’ve had.
Might it be a good time to blood some of the younguns?
We need a strong presence in the dressing room – Kevin, Alan get yourselves up there and gee these guys up otherwise it looks like bye bye to the Prem and some gems of players.
For the crowd tonight and hereafter, get behind the lads – believe me they’ll need you!
Kash
Mar 4, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Comment #3There’s a reason why Hughton hasn’t cecome a manager to date!!!!
Because he’s SH1T!
I’m becoming more and more apprehensive as it gets closer to kick off!
beyethegreat
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Comment #4i think it is unfair to blame ughton he didnt have to accept the role as caretaker manager he done it coz the club needed him he knows he isnt a manager which is why he hasnt tried
o’hurley
have faith
ObaFan2
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Comment #5We should have/could have got better results in recent games…
this ones a right off really already but (as ever the Geordie optimist) I hope I’m proved wrong by a good heads down no nonsense performance by the Toon tonight.
OHurley
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Comment #6Beye-
I love your optimism, man! You’re always talkin’ sense. Man, I really feel like it’s a David and Goliath thing. I mean, yeah, david beat goliath and all, but I sure do hope we have one helluva slingshot! I’m not a prayin’ man, but I’m feeling awful religious right now, lol!
batty
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Comment #7i think it will be a draw for the simple reason i think man u are due to drop points in the leauge
OHurley
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Comment #8Batty-
a draw would be heavenly, to be sure, m8!
OHurley
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Comment #9anyone got Manure’s team lineup for today>?
Ross
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Comment #10i too feel sorry for hughton. he’s admitted the managerial role isnt his strong point, or even something he’s interested in taking up-yet every time we’re in the brown he’s told to just get on with it. imagine being told you’re no longer going to repair the bus, but you’re going to drive it. oh and there’s a ticking time bomb strapped in a hidden destination on there too. i’d be bricking it aswell!
Gonna need a bit of luck the night, or at least im hoping for it. Viduka NEEDS to start!
batty
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Comment #11well they got drop point shortley why not tonite pluss i cant see us loseing 3 home matches in a row so we must get summit out ov one ov our next 3
toonarmyuk
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Comment #12I think it would be very harsh to judge any manager who would have been in charge tonight if we don’t win. Man Utd are on fire…AGAIN…and we can only dream of a draw, let alone a win.
The fact is, that we should have at least have got a point from Bolton, but we didn’t.
Regardless of the result tonight, I think if Hughton starts with Ameobi (or even uses him at all tonight) then he should be ashamed. That useless heap of crap brings ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to the team. Hughton seemingly (from the interviews he has given) thinks that Ameobi’s spirit make him worthwhile of a starting slot. Is that not the biggest pile of crap you can ever think of? It’s not spirit we need from our strikers….its out and out goals! Spirit from defenders and midfielders, yes. But not from the strikers.
I really am dubious about Hughton being in charge, and what’s worse is that I think Kinnear will be just as bad when he gets back. Look at the results – he has done awfully since he arrived.
We need to get someone in now, full-time, who can save us from relelgation this season and then look to take us up the league over the next 3, or 5 years.
bozo
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Comment #13Best possible result tonight is heavy snow and the game called off.
OHurley
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Comment #14Bozo- lol!
Maybe their entire first team will come down with an explosive case of the apple splatters and not be able to play…. 🙂
JonnyNufc
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Comment #15Agree that Ameobi starting will be a clear indication of how clueless our management are.
If he doesnt however, GET BEHIND THE FCKING TEAM
Its all we can do, no use whining about how crap we are anymore. We HAVE to avoid relegation, we have to.
Ross
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Comment #16bozo-or some genious decides to pour man utd a complimentary pot of tea before kick off to keep them warm, miraculously containing laxatives-meaning Rooney, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Vidic and Rio all spend 90 minutes in the visitors bogs rather than on the field.
..Should maybe add the rest of man utd’s starting 11 to the list above. And the majority of their reserves too come to think of it.
OHurley
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Comment #17Ross-
Funny, we just had the same idea! Beat ya to it, though!! hehehe
beyethegreat
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Comment #18o’hurley lol
religion could pay a part tonight coz were definately gonna need some divine intervention but apparently we are 7-1 to win foreman was 8-1 to beat ali so i can only hopewe have a rope a dope or some other unpredictable trick
Ross
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Comment #19OHurley-which one of us is taking that pot of tea along the night then? haha 🙂
beyethegreat
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Comment #20http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/15531/Agent_reveals_Premier_League_tussle_for_Croat.aspx
OHurley
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Comment #21And as far as Ameobi. Bring him on for fresh legs once we hit 85 minutes. NOT BEFORE. EVER. I’m not even sure I’d trust him to take a penalty shot…
OHurley
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Comment #22Beye- LMAO!!!!! Yeah, we definitely need a Rope-a-Dope! I’m not exactly sure how that’ll work, but yeah…
Ross-
that’d be you bringin’ the tea, man. I’m all the way across the lake;) If I was there, though, I’d DEFINITELY bring the pot o’ tea! I’d even dress up as old grannie to do so. Parasol and everything, lol!! Black and white parasol, that is 🙂
OHurley
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Comment #23Ross-
LoL, I’d absolutely love it if Ronaldo sh!t himself on the pitch. God that would be the absolute funniest thing in the history of the world.
cartoon
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Comment #24Where’s the fight??! Or the personality for that matter!! – He’s already talking down the inevitable loss. Joe would be confident of a win, not making excuses before the games begun…
beyethegreat
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Comment #25o’hurley during 1 of the world cups didnt some 1 have a pi$$ on the pitch
komfort
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Comment #26a shot or two on target is probably the best we can hope for.
OHurley
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Comment #27Beye-
lol, didn’t hear about that one. That’s great though!
TheToonKing
Mar 4, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Comment #28something to at least bring a smile on our faces….cause the game won’t
http://www.normanhood.co.uk/NEWCASTLE.htm
Lew Davies
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Comment #29Effing doom and gloom mongers the lot of you.
Give it a break will ya.
The glass can be half full too ya know.
Look at it this way, a 2-0 win tonight will put us up to 12th, and ahead of the scum.
Now there’s something to play for.
Howay the Lads. Toon Toon.
beyethegreat
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Comment #30Kev sold the Toon Army a dream,
He gave us a magnificent team.
We all knelt at his shrine,
But our tears filled the Tyne
When he wouldn’t be part of Hall’s scheme.
So along came a dour Scot called Kenny,
Whose successes and triumphs were many.
He dismantled Kev’s side,
And so started a slide
As for trophies, we didn’t win any.
The dreadlocked young Dutchman called Ruud
Put quite simply, was no bloody good.
That night in the rain
The Mackems caused so much pain.
So he left just as soon as he could.
To our rescue came old uncle Bob,
Who did a magnificent job
On a Champions League night
We gave top teams a fright.
Then finishing fifth he was slagged by the mob.
An even dourer Scot was that Souness,
Who did nothing at all to impress.
Players lived by his law –
There were punch-ups galore!
He left us in one heck of a mess.
So into the spotlight came Glenn,
Who gave us our pride back again.
But the glow couldn’t last
And we fell rather fast.
Pity, cos he’d been one of our men.
Fred’s last act was to give us Big Sam.
Up from Bolton, he was nowt but a sham.
When the crowd started booing,
“You don’t know what you’re doing!”
Mike Ashley said,”Big Sam, just scram.”
Then, lo, the Messiah came back!
Looking nervous alongside Terry Mac.
The recovery began,,
Then they shafted our man.
Did he walk? No, they gave him the sack!
Riding up as our saviour came Joe.
“I’m just here for 6 games, don’t you know!”
With his effing and blinding
It looks like we’re finding
He’s our future – the new Fabio!
beyethegreat
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Comment #31http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/03/03/need-cheering-up-about-united-try-our-forum-61634-23065936/
Marty-Toon
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:04 PM
Comment #32O`Hurley
The Manure line-up is as follows
…………Superman………
Silver Surfer..Ironman…Ernie….Bert…….
9Portugese diver.Bat man.Duracell..Nanny
………Shrek………Ninja turtle?
Marty-Toon
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:09 PM
Comment #33Nice one BEYE liked it
komfort
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:09 PM
Comment #34in the not to distant past tonites game would have been our biggest of the season but now its hull , yes HULL and the fact is if we cant compete and beat them then am affraid we will be dropping down a division , painfull but true
beyethegreat
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Comment #35marty toon i wish i could take credit but some 1 posted it on the link i gave
Hugh de Payen
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Comment #36Another 5-0 to us would be nice!
Ah, those were the days.
nimo
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:34 PM
Comment #37does any1 know if there will be link 4 game tonite
nimo
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Comment #38?
nimo
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Comment #39any1??
Tom1664
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Comment #40Try iraqgoals