Colin Calderwood was brought in by Joe Kinnear last January after he had been sacked as manager of Nottingham Forest after 30 months at the helm.
Chris with Colin Calderwood
And right through the end of the season last year it was obvious that Colin loved being on Tyneside, as more than once he had told the press he loved working at a club as big as Newcastle.
When Alan Shearer came in during April Colin stayed on but it was clear he didn’t fit into Alan’s plans for his background team, and he eventually left Newcastle in the summer.
But he was back again on Jul;y 1st to help our Chris Hughton, as it looked at the time the club was in a very bad way, to put it mildly, as everybody was clamouring for Shearer to take over.
And lo and behold some 10 weeks later he has helped Chris Hughton put the club back on track, and rather amazingly the side is now top of the Championship after 5 league games with 13 points.
We said during the summer that even with all the nonsense going on at the club, just imagine what it would be like if Newcastle won their first 5 league games in August. If that happened we thought people in Newcastle would be walking around with their feet 2 inches off the ground.
And that’s almost happened, but the feet are maybe just one half inch off the ground, but that will increase if we can beat Cardiff on Sunday, which promises to be a good test for our reborn side.
Whatever happens from now on, we are thankful to Colin, for doing such a stalwart job in getting the club off to a good start, when few others wanted to head towards Newcastle, as most players wanted to go in the other direction.
Remember that when Sunderland won the Championship in 2007, they lost their first 5 games with four of them being in the league. Then Roy Keane came in and they beat WBA 2-0 in late August, and went onto to win the league and get automatic promotion that season with 88 points.
What does that say? Well we’re not sure – but we’ve just wanted to mention that fact for some time now. 😀
But it probably shows it’s a long long season, and we must maintain our winning ways and pile up those points whenever we can.
Chris talked to the official site yesterday and he said some interesting things. The 36 times capped 44 year-old former Scotland international defender said:
“I’m very, very happy here.” “It’s been a really rewarding time.”
“It was quite refreshing to come in last year and be part of a Premier League club.” “I’ve taken a lot from that and it’s been a great experience.”
“In terms of learning and adapting to situations then it’s definitely been a worthwhile exercise.”
Colin has more management experience than we had realized having been at Northampton Town from October, 2003 through May, 2006 and he won 74 of his 154 games in charge for a win average of 48.1, and at Nottingham Forest he won 57 of 136 games in charge.
And Calderwood is keeping his feet firmly on the ground as his management experience in the Championship no doubt is giving Chris and the players some great input:
“It’s been an excellent start, but that’s all it is, a start – we’ve got to build from here,”
“But we’re enjoying things so far, and so too are the supporters who have been magnificent.”
“The people around the club are wonderful to work with and they really are Newcastle United fans.” “They make you understand the passion and what it means to the fans.”
“The supporters here are whole-heartedly behind the club and we hope to do the best we can for them.”
As we often say it’s always great to have people at Newcastle who bask in the football mad city that is Newcastle Upon Tyne, and Colin makes no secret of the fact he just loves life on Tyneside.
And what Newcastle fans need now is for Chris and Colin to keep the good form and good results going, even as the usual uncertainties of who will own the club tomorrow are ongoing – for however long.
While Chris and Colin had very little success last season – and we panned them for it – they somehow have since created a mini-miracle at Newcastle.
We change our minds about things based on changing facts – and that seems to have annoyed some of our readers – but who do you think we are – politicians?
And like the rest of the Newcastle fan base, we are delighted with the work that Chris and Colin have done so far and the success they have been able to achieve, under conditions created by the owner, which are hardly conducive to success.
It really is a mini-miracle on Tyneside – well at least so far – and long may it continue, because the Newcastle coaches have somehow revolutionized things at the club.
Just think of the plaudits Alan Shearer would have been receiving if he had done this.
Howay The Lads!!
6 comments so far
WELSHMAG
Sep 10, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Comment #1they are d0ing a great job but it’s still early days, a loss on the weekend and we might see the heads drop a we could go on a downward spiral, that’s when good management and coaching comes into play.
sirjasontoon
Sep 10, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Comment #2Agreed welshmag….few injuries,couple of suspensions and as we know the rot can set in pretty quickly.
Great we are doing well but as stated it is the start of a very long season.
sirjasontoon
Sep 10, 2009 at 11:22 AM
Comment #3P.S If Lovenkrands can keep his fitness up I think he will smash it in the fizzys 🙂
dave 1961
Sep 10, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Comment #4just hope that when the first defeat comes we don’t have any plonkers wanting a sacking, remember hes only got these tools in his bag to work with, and they are not the best tools, or ones of his choice, i for one intend to back him until a change comes about, i intend to give him credit for all the pluses, but not to hold him responsible for any negatives. and when all is settled i will say thanks, and if we go up under someone maybe shearer, the part Chris has played is more vital as he did it under the most difficult of circumstances.
premier
Sep 10, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Comment #5mini miracles? might even make messiah status!!
sirjasontoon
Sep 10, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Comment #6Don’t feed the trolls 🙂