Harry Rwedknapp still thinks that Alan Shearer can keep Newcastle in the Premier, despite Newcastle appalling record this year.
Harry Redknapp – thinks Newcastle can beat the drop
Newcastle suffered their 15th defeat of the season yesterday, and have just 3 points from our last 8 games and just 8 points from our last 15.
Why are we second bottom? Because we have just 3 points from our last 8 games and just 8 points from our last 15.
Yes, after 18 games played we actually had 22 points, and that was after the Tottenham win at home in December. But Harry Redknapp still thinks Newcastle can stay up and he thinks it’s the 3 games at St. James’ Park that can do it for Newcastle.
Harry said:
“They’ve still got a big chance of staying up. They’ve got three winnable home games and they will be all-important.” “They’re not in a very good position, but I still think they’ve got every chance of getting out of it.”
“Let’s be honest, Hull can’t win a game. St James’s Park can be an intimidating place, and they have to use that to their advantage in their final three home games.” “They have three games now where they’re going to have to lift the roof off the place.”
“If they do that, they can win all three games.”
It’s true that both Middlesbrough and Hull have tough run-ins to the season, and if Newcastle can just get out of their comatose state we’ve been in for nearly four months now, we still can survive, and that would be a massive achievement. given our position in the league right now.
But our players have to show more skill, courage and guts, if we are going to do that. And we would have to win all three games at home, not just a couple. We hate to say this but we don’t have high hopes of that, because our players have let us down too many times this season.
We hear all about how they are going to play well in the next game, and that they’ve been great in training, and they will be trying their hardest , and they say all the right things before each game, and then they turn out and put in 45 minutes like the first half yesterday.
To say that is disappointing to the multitudes of Newcastle fans spread all over the world, is one massive under-statement.
Comments welcome.
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Shearer, who felt aggrieved by referee Mark Halsey’s decision not to award a penalty following a rash tackle by former United defender Jonathan Woodgate on Martins, also explained his decision to start with a strange formation. He added: “It was a 3-4-1-2. We tried to get Jonas (Gutierrez) in behind Michael Owen and Andy Carroll.
“I felt I had to play that way because we have one left-back at the club and he’s injured. That’s why we started with that.
“I felt it worked at Stoke and I was hoping to carry that on in this game.”
55 comments so far
Dr Mackem - Inbredologist
Apr 20, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Comment #41i beleive we will stay up
all we need is 9 points
Pompey: 3-1, we beat them away and they drew with WBA at home!!!!
Boro: 3-0, they cant win a game to save their lives!!!!
Fulham: 2-1, horrible away from the cottage, but this game will be difficult
i believe we can stay up,
cmon lads do it for the toon army!!!!
Bosck
Apr 20, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Comment #42I know there is a lot of pessimism going round, and we were shocking for 65 minutes yesterday, and even though i have supported him the whole time owen has been at the club on yesterdays performance i wouldnt pick him again (how can a captain and a striker only be noticeably in a tv shot once in 90 minutes?), and harper should have easily held bent’s first shot. but lets be a little bit clear headed here:
In the last 20 minutes if we had had a little more luck we could have won that game once martins and viduka came on who were both more threatening in 20 minutes than owen was in 90. if martins goal had stood and/or the potential penalty had been given, tottenham would have had their backs to the wall and we may have picked up a massive boost of a win.
I would start possibly martins viduka and carroll up front in the next game, owen offered nothing yesterday and if team is picked on form would be dropped.
I went on the premiership predictor today and predicted the following results for us till the end of the season:
v Portsmouth (h) 2 – 0 win
v Liverpool (a) 3 – 0 loss
v Middlesborough (h) 3 – 0 win
v Fulham (h) 1 – 1 draw
v Aston Villa (a)
ObaFan2
Apr 20, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Comment #43Only one person to blame for this situation and that is the owner, every recent transfer window we knew our squad was not going to be strong enough and certain positions like left-back were not strengthened AND STILL NO CREATIVE PLAYER brought in and Emre left ages ago.
We need goals and here’s some stats from yesterdays game:
Carrol : 1 shot – off target
Owen : 0 shots !!!!!!
Smith : 1 shot – off target
Duke : 1 shot blocked
Oba : 5 shots – 1 on target, 3 off target, 1 blocked.
Even Bassong had more shots than Owen yesterday, says it all really.
As soon as Duke n Oba were on we were able to hold the ball up and actually threaten their goal. Jonas does ok but no one else seems to support him.
but this is all rubbish because it’s obviously my fault and every other Toon fan who came to the conclusion that Ashley was not running our club into the ground!
ObaFan2
Apr 20, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Comment #44oops:
but this is all rubbish because it’s obviously my fault and every other Toon fan who came to the conclusion that Ashley WAS running our club into the ground!
Bosck
Apr 20, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Comment #45I know there is a lot of pessimism going round, and we were shocking for 65 minutes yesterday, and even though i have supported him the whole time owen has been at the club on yesterdays performance i wouldnt pick him again (how can a captain and a striker only be noticeably in a tv shot once in 90 minutes?), and harper should have easily held bent’s first shot. but lets be a little bit clear headed here:
In the last 20 minutes if we had had a little more luck we could have won that game once martins and viduka came on who were both more threatening in 20 minutes than owen was in 90. if martins goal had stood and/or the potential penalty had been given, tottenham would have had their backs to the wall and we may have picked up a massive boost of a win.
I would start possibly martins viduka and carroll up front in the next game, owen offered nothing yesterday and if team is picked on form would be dropped.
I went on the premiership predictor today and predicted the following results for us till the end of the season:
v Portsmouth (h) 2 – 0 win
v Liverpool (a) 3 – 0 loss
v Middlesborough (h) 2 – 0 win
v Fulham (h) 1 – 1 draw
v Aston Villa (a) 2 – 0 loss
these results i think are fair going on our last 20 mins yesterday.
These results would leave us in 16th 2 points above 18th placed hull whose last 5 games include liverpool, villa, and man utd plus bolton away and stoke at hull. the current run they are on they would be lucky to get a point in this run. we would also be 4 points clear of 19th placed boro who have to play us, arsenal, man utd, villa and west ham at upton park to play. assuming hopefully we beat them then i can see them getting a point at best from the other games (against villa at the riverside).
enrique is due back next game as is barton, viduka and martins will have had a week more training, carroll will have had another week working with shearer, and the team should (if we really do as fans want them to stay up), have 52000 fans screaming support as load as possible from 1st to last minute, irrelevant of our previous opinion of how the players have been perfoming. if i could be there i would and i wouldnt have a voice once i left!!
sahota
Apr 20, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Comment #46Only worrying thing is we don’t start playing well from start of game. I think thats root cause to where we are. Just try remembering how many games we played 2nd half better than 1st, I think whole season. And unless Alan Shearer takes all playing 11 into a dark room and then gives them a stick it won’t change. These guys need a real hard kins on there back side.
Micky Toon
Apr 20, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Comment #47Does anyone seriously think that ALL of this is Ashley’s fault? Do you think he has caused our current situation or do you think, like me, that he just doesn’t know how to fix what was wrong with the club?
Like durhammag, I also know the club has been on the slide for years, but the cracks were always papered over by Shepheard and his headline signings. When Ashley came in we all though that this was the turning point, we had finally ousted the fat one and his cronies. Unfortunately it didn’t happen. Ashley has not got a clue how to run a PL club and has been shafted by more experienced players in the game. Once again we sold players without having their replacement already signed. We should have had deals rapped up for Zog, Milner and Shays replacements before we let them go. What we did was sell them and then hunt around for a replacement. I don’t care what you say Harper isn’t good enough. Shay would have kept hold of that shot yesterday.
Unlike durhammag, I don’t blame the fans. We are just the paying customers. Realistically what do we know? We all THINK we know who is the best manager, but do we really? We have an opinion and that is all. Listening to the fans for who to appoint as next manager is a bit daft. If we shouted for Ed Harrison for manager would it happen? I would hope not. If Ashley DID appoint Keegan and Shearer off the back of fans chants then he is dafter than he looks. He should be taking notice of advisors who actually know what they are talking about, rather than some largered up fans, shouting at him on a Saturday afternoon, and I include myself in that.
The club is in a huge mess and was BEFORE ashley came in. Unfortunately he isn’t the man to rectify the mess and hence he will be blamed should we go down.
I will be absolutely gutted if we go down. We won’t do a Leeds or a Charlton or even a Southampton, who by the way are in debt and look to be going into administration for the person who posted earlier. I’m not convinced we would bounce straight back up either. I’m going to be keeping an eye on Wolves next year, as McCarthy has done a really good job there. He has built up a team of youth and experience, costing next to nowt, over three years. He said give him three years and he would get them promoted, they did and he has. Something to think about for the impatient people.
durhammag
Apr 20, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Comment #48Stuart and Komfort.
When I said WE have to share part of the blame for the situation, I mean the collective we; the fans of NUFC. I believe you when you say that you supported neither Shearer or Keegan’s appointment, but there were enough NUFC fans that did -collective responsibility.
Stuart79 – Ashley may have had some personal reasons for sacking Allerdyce, but surely you can remember the vitriolic abuse SA was getting from the fans about his style of football. Can you not remember the TV pictures of SA standing in the dugout, with fans screaming “You don’t know what you’re doing” whilst MA sat watching. You can’t tell me that that didn’t influence Ashley.
As regards your examples of which clubs are a success, and which fail, you have illustrated my point perfectly. Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal are all successful because they have a long term plan which has been implemented on the field by one manager over 5 years, not a procession. Ferg, Wenger and Benitez are 3 of 4 longest serving managers in the Premiership; the other is David Moyes, who has just lead his team to the FA Cup final. Being in debt has F all to do with being successful. They are successful despite the debt, not because of it, and the debt is managed due to the increased cash flow that success brings. You cannot state that by going into debt, success follows. Incidentally, Man U are only in the debt they are as a result of the Glazer buy out. Prior to that they were running at a profit, and still doing pretty nice thank you and Arsenal have just built a new stadium.
The clubs you listed as failures are failures because they, like us, kept chopping and changing managers. Norwich, Charlton both sacked managers during a bad run. Southampton are about to go into administration, so I can’t see how that is a healthy balance sheet, but also failed to support the single manager.
All I am trying to say is that for a club to be a success it has to have a plan, one that is conceived by the club and executed by the management staff, from purchasing strategy through to youth strategy, and no plan can ever be delivered when key personnel are sacked half way through it’s execution. The whole reason why Ashley implemented the Director of Recruitment role was that he realised that every manager would bring in new players at a cost, sell the previous managers purchases at a loss, get sacked 12 months later and the whole process would repeat itself. Unsustainable.
So, if it is Shearer and Ashley in charge next year, instead of baying for blood in the boardroom, get behind them, give them time and even if it takes 2 years, lets get NUFC back to where they belong
Stuart79
Apr 20, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Comment #49Duramag
You have missed my point totally.
Man U were running a profit agreed,but to buy their players they had to borrow money. Same as Arsenal and Liverpool. They still do!
Southampton had a lovely nice balance sheet when they were in the PL because they kept selling their best players (like us) the same goes for Charlton, Coventry and Norwich.
They hit money troubles when they got relegated!
Don’t count on us not doing a Leeds. We have no money to spend whether we stay up or not and that means another struggle next season whichever division were in.
You mentioned Everton- Why? Their not successful, what have they won? Think you’ll find their in debt to the tune of 50-80 million too.
They spent 15m on one player in Aug, they don’t turnover enough money to be able to afford to spend that on one player. They borrow the money like every other club.
We buy players with money up front and sell players on tick. Why?
Utter disgrace!
Micky Toon
Apr 20, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Comment #50Stuart79, I’ve got to admit, that I’m bemused as to why we allow teams to buy in installments. If we are going to sell good players for good money then we should get it all upfront so we CAN invest it back into the club. There’s no point in getting £2m now and the rest over four years interest free. Who are we? DFS?
ian
Apr 20, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Comment #51We can argue what went wrong in the championship.
Ashley made the wrong board appointments, Keegan was right look where we are, he saw the same as me and I shouted loud enough at the time, so did Craig Chisolm, that they were making moves towards relegation, they even continued those moves with Nzogbia and some fans said it was right he should go!!! This was obvious last summer.
People said to us get behind our team!!! What a load of rubbish and now look at us.
To fix it and try and survive, we need Guthrie, Barton, Lovenkrands and Jonas in midfield, Carroll and Martins to start.
That is the only way we have a chance of winning, then bring Owen on ten minutes in to the second half, Viduka as well if needed.
This stupid notion of playing Owen from the first whistle needs to stop, Maybe even try Ranger with Martins from the first whistle and swap with Carroll if he looks lost.
If we do not win the next game convincingly we are down in my opinion, mathematics or not.
mohtools
Apr 20, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Comment #52Ian that is so true.
I believe we fans have done our part up until now. We supported the club and will continue to support the club. It is time for the players and management to do their job. Now is not the time to do favors or be philosophical. We need players that care and will deliver their best one the pitch.
Nile, Carrol, edger, Guthrie and other young player are the ones that will make the difference if used correctly.
ian
Apr 20, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Comment #5352 mohtools I agree, we have to shout at Shearer to make a change if he has made a mistake not remember him as a good player and let it be, the fans shouted for Martins, he was thinking of a swap anyhow and went with it, I like Edgar too, he ahs done nothing wrong in my view.
Lovenkrands was a midfielder even though he has been used like Sibierski (also a midfielder) as a striker, but he needs to be down the centre so he clan play Martins, Carroll or get something himself, then when Owen comes on later replacing Carroll, and if Viduka ia brought on as well he can assist those players in some build up play, Lovenkrands can hold a ball, find the pass, go on goal himself and he has good movement, he has to be involved while thew other strikers are on the pitch.
Tom_Toon
Apr 21, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Comment #54/
Tom_Toon
Apr 21, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Comment #55//