Glenn Roeder is a former manager and captain of Newcastle United.
Glen Roeder – an honor to wear the Newcastle Shirt
Roeder joined Newcastle United from Queens Park Rangers in 1983, and by the time he left Newcastle for Watford six years later, he played more than 200 times for the Tyneside club and was club captain.
Glenn told the Evening Chronicle today:
“If Mike Williamson can go on and enjoy his career with Newcastle United half as much as I did, then he’ll be a very lucky lad.”
“It won’t take him long to realize that he has joined a club with what I would call proper fans and that to pull on the black-and-white shirt is a major honor in football.”
“Once he gets used the surroundings he will rise to the challenge because you become almost hooked on wanting to do well for these supporters.”
“I played for almost six years for Newcastle, and my only regret in football is that it wasn’t 10 years or more.”
“I loved playing for the club and I actually saw it as an honor to not only play but also to inherit the captaincy of Newcastle after Kevin Keegan had left the club as a player.”
“Mike will never forget his time at Newcastle when he looks back on his career and I wish him the very best of luck at St James’ Park.”
Those are good words from Glenn, because there’s no doubt our new players will be realizing what a terrific club they have had the good luck to join – yes we’re biased a little on that, we know. 😀
Roeder has followed the Magpie’s progress this season and Glenn, a former center-back himself, sees 6’4″ Williamson’s role as an important one as the side hopefully closes in on promotion this season.
Mike has made an excellent start in his two games for the Magpies, and looks a bargain at around £1M, and his prowess is his heading ability, which is not one of partner Coloccini’s strengths.
Roeder added:
“Mike and the rest of the players know it is of huge importance.”
“They’ve got to finish off the job of promotion and take this club back where it belongs.”
“Getting promoted in your first year after relegation is crucial nowadays, because after each year it gets harder and harder.”
“There’s no room for slip-ups now, and the fans will be keen to see the job carried out as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
“The fans have suffered enough devastation in the last 12 months – they can’t be put through any more of that, and not winning promotion would bring more heartbreak.”
That would be true, but Newcastle fans will also take nothing for granted, not after least year’s disgrace.
But if the lads can hold their nerve and show mental strength – something we had little of last year – then promotion is still a possibility.
Roeder believes that promotion is within the reach of our now improved squad:
“The one great thing for Chris Hughton is that the lads have stayed pretty much injury-free.”
“In previous years that hasn’t been the case.”
“We had 14 or 15 injuries in my final year as manager and we had 12 major operations, with Michael Owen at the top of that list.”
And Glenn doesn’t think fans should worry too much about whether the six players added in the January transfer window can get the job done, because the club can always make more loan signings.
Glenn added:
“It’s not a big concern in the Football League.”
“Chris can revert to the loan window which opens again shortly and take players on a 93-day emergency loan.”
“If you sign players in even the last week of March, before that one shuts, it can take you through until the end of the season if you get hit with a few problems.”
Whether you liked Glenn as a manager or not, while he was at Newcastle, it’s hard to argue with his continued commitment to the Newcastle cause.
He’s become a great ambassador for the club, since he was fired as manager of the club in May, 2007.
Good on you Glenn.
Comments welcome.
5 comments so far
toon soldier
Feb 3, 2010 at 4:36 PM
Comment #1ive really got a good feelin bout williamson,but when stevie t comes back whos gettin dropped??
toon soldier
Feb 3, 2010 at 4:38 PM
Comment #2by the way this is a great site would tell my nufc friends except im irish so i dont ave any haha
Robby Bobson
Feb 3, 2010 at 4:38 PM
Comment #3How great it was to see Shearer as manager, i think Roeder should have been given the job for the rest of last season.
The last 2 clubs hes been at he has galvinised the clubs for a few months…getting us from relegation battle into Europe and getting Norwich away from the drop.
Obviously at the end of the season, thanks but good-bye :D.
chuck
Feb 3, 2010 at 8:09 PM
Comment #4WELL LETS HOPE HE WORKS OUT, NOT EXACTLY A HOUSEHOLD NAME AND CAME FAIRLY CHEAP, IF THATS ANY INDICATION OF HIS ABILITY, HE`S GOT A TOUGH WAY TO GO.
Elfy_Toon
Feb 3, 2010 at 10:06 PM
Comment #5I rate roeder highly, under the circumstances he did a great job. Would love him back at the club helping with the coaching and management, and the players he bought werent half bad.