Derek Llambias, who effectively is the Newcastle United Chairman, has today hailed Alan Shearer’s start to the biggest job in English football.
Derek Llambias – Alan was the only choice
Derek told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle today:
“It’s been a tremendous boost for everybody in the town and around the stadium.” “The players are very upbeat and looking forward to the next game.”
“We had to weigh up the situation. We were in a position where we had to make a move, and Alan was the best move.” “He was the only person we approached – we felt that was our only choice.”
“He has made a difference, he’s a straight talker. I like that about him. There is no nonsense, I’m really upbeat about it.” “He’s got the respect. He’s loved in this town and so he should be.”
There was some news over the weekend that Mike Ashley had first approached former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier, but Gerard was too tied up with the French Football Federation and turned the opportunity down, although we don’t know how true that story was.
And apparently even last January (2008), Alan was keen on the job when Sam Allardyce was sacked, but once Kevin Keegan came in that was it, and Alan obviously wanted to manage himself, even though he has no previous experience.
Llambias has admitted that staying up is the only thing on anybody’s mind at the Newcastle club right now (that’s good), and anything else will need to wait until we know our fate at the end of May.
Derek continued:
“This is basically a new page. It’s imperative we stay up. Alan is the man to do that.” “The energy he’s got into the club already and around the town is great.”
Llambias watched, along with 7,500 fans at St James’ Park yesterday at the Newcastle’s open training day, and saw the former Newcastle number 9 scoring two goals before wheeling away with a trademark celebration.
Derek added:
“I should have signed him as player-manager!” “But on a serious note, Alan will have the team right for Stoke and we can move forward.”
“Alan has got Iain Dowie with him and that’s a good balance, but Alan is making the decisions. Iain is assisting on the football side of it and the energy within the training camp.
“I’m really encouraged by it all.”
That’s what we have in place until the end of the season, and we think Derek has made the right move, if a few games late.
Comments welcome.
20 comments so far
WELSHMAG
Apr 8, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Comment #1i’m really scared about the stoke game! they’re an amazing team and very very hard to beat at home, I’d take a point right now for certain. Also watching man u last night sunderland are playing them at a very good time as they all look knackered! please god, let us beat stoke and the mackems lose.
sahota
Apr 8, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Comment #2I think better late than never.
Hey guys, I just thought to start a voting/knowing views of everyone on here about what you think about survival. Its not about getting prediction right, its just to know what we all think.
Here is link for you to give your view: (You can give your views without creating a login so don’t worry about that)
http://www.squidoo.com/newcastlewillsurvive
batty
Apr 8, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Comment #3“I should have signed him as player-manager!” “But on a serious note, Alan will have the team right for Stoke and we can move forward.”
yes you should have
batty
Apr 8, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Comment #4sahota you can now register on dooceys blog m8
sahota
Apr 8, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Comment #5You are right Batty, He must have scored few still.
Toon Graeme
Apr 8, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Comment #6Ah the voiceless one speaks.
Still dont like him – but nowt I can do about that.
Why leave it so late to bring Shearer (or manager) in. Shame that.
Anyway on May the 24th 2009 – we can sit back and look back at what is done being done and look forward to the Championship (worse case scenario) or a fresh start in the premier league.
I do think we will see a different team on Saturday.
Toonkistan
Apr 8, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Comment #7Just wondering what is he clapping for….we’ve done nothin in recent past which deserve clapping …. 🙂
sahota
Apr 8, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Comment #8Batty Thanks for letting me know. Cheers
Micky Toon
Apr 8, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Comment #9Welshmag – you must be kidding. Stoke aren’t an amazing team. ManU are an amazing team, Barca are an amazing team. Stoke are a bag of crap. Just like we are currently a bag of crap.
Doocey
Apr 8, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Comment #10Four managers 1 season.
We’re actually lucky to be in 18th!
Boro have stability and still down there!
If we had stability we’d be 10th-12th – easily.
RyanToon
Apr 8, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Comment #11http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBU53blJqPM&feature=related
EVERYONE. GREAT DAY LADS WERENT IT
REMEMBER IT WELL
TOTTENHAM 1-4 NEWCASTLE
Doocey
Apr 8, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Comment #12Micky Toon // Apr 8, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Welshmag – you must be kidding. Stoke aren’t an amazing team. ManU are an amazing team, Barca are an amazing team. Stoke are a bag of crap.
Couldn’t help but laugh! Stoke are a bag of crap!
Couldn’t have put it any better 😀
sahota
Apr 8, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Comment #13Everyone might have seen this video, just thought to share
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7988276.stm
WELSHMAG
Apr 8, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Comment #14Guys, have you seen their results at home?
Stoke 1-0 Middlesbrough
Stoke 2-0 Bolton
Stoke 2-2 Portsmouth
Stoke 1-0 Man City
Stoke 0-0 Liverpool
Stoke 2-1 Arsenal
Stoke 1-0 Sunderland
Stoke 2-1 Tottenham
Stoke 3-2 Aston Villa
then have a look at our away results?
we couldn’t beat them at home so i’m pretty nervous about playing them away!
WELSHMAG
Apr 8, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Comment #15Sorry I didn’t mean an amazing team, what I meant was they’re VERY good at home and VERY hard to beat.
bowburnmag
Apr 8, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Comment #16I sort of agree with both schools of thought. I think it’s amazing that a bag of crap has done so well against some half decent sides.
Marty-Toon
Apr 8, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Comment #17Sorry to be the pessimist in all of this guys but it doesn`t look good.
Who is gonna keep Beattie under control and Delap`s throw-ins are gonna be a serious problem for our short ass squad
Tom_Toon
Apr 8, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Comment #18/
Sav
Apr 9, 2009 at 2:01 AM
Comment #19‘He’s a straight talker. I like that about him. There is no nonsense.’
Do us all a favour, Derek and ‘do one’. Weren’t you the author of that despicable ‘It is a fact’ document? You self-serving, greasy, two-faced useless prat. I hope after Al keeps us up and dictates his terms to take on the Toon permanently, you are next after Wise on his agenda of things he wants removed.
Tom_Toon
Apr 9, 2009 at 2:43 AM
Comment #20//