Chris Hughton is top of the pops – the favorite – to be the first Premier League manager to be relieved of his duties when the season kicks off tomorrow.
Chris Hughton – huge task ahead
And now that Martin O’Neill is back looking for a job, having just resigned from Aston Villa, Hughton will need to understand there will be increased speculation about his role at Newcastle, if – and only if – the team starts poorly.
But positive and achievement oriented people like Chris Hughton, don’t dwell on the maybes, the ifs and buts and negatives of life – they leave that to others.
Chris talked today about the speculation that comes with any manager’s job, and particularly so with the Newcastle United manager position:
“It’s something that you expect. There is only one important thing and that is trying to do the best that you can,”
“If I am able to do a very good job then the talk and speculation and rumours will be dampened, as always.
“That comes with the job, it comes with the territory of being the manager of a big, high-profile club like Newcastle United. Personally, I will ignore it.”
It seems like O’Neill didn’t emerge from his resignation from Aston Villa smelling of roses, and there’s a few things we don’t particularly like with the way Martin carries out his management duties.
He seems to pick the same team every week, and ignores some of his players almost completely, and Nicky Shorey and former Newcastle full-back Habib Beye will attest to that – since they played very little at Villa Park last season.
And if Martin was upset with Villa’s American owner Randy Lerner for not coming up with enough transfer money, why would he be interested at all in taking over at Newcastle, where it is an open secret that owner Mike Ashley wants to balance the books on Tyneside.
As we said earlier – speculation will only happen if the lads get off to a bad start – and we are hoping that will just not be the case.
Comments welcome.
14 comments so far
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 13, 2010 at 9:19 AM
Comment #1TBH, no matter how bad things get this season, I cant see Ca$hley weilding the axe on Hoots.
I think Mancini may be first to go.
Ericles
Aug 13, 2010 at 9:25 AM
Comment #2Typical media weedling about CH. It is the workmanlike manner of CH the press cannot stand when compared to the “big name” darlings of the media. After all they did not see the goings of O’Neill and Coppell before they happened did they? Carry on CH – we and the players are with you.
tynesidetommo
Aug 13, 2010 at 9:33 AM
Comment #3Don’t believe a word of it. Chris will be around for a while and he has nothing to fear from Martin O’Neill. The Irishman will have no interest in the Toon job cos there’s no spending money. It’s that simple.
Moreno
Aug 13, 2010 at 9:36 AM
Comment #4It’s always funny when you see these anti- Newcastle reports from certain tw*ts in the media.
Being honest, my money is on Steve Bruce to go first. He has had money to spend, hasn’t signed anyone decent, seems to alienate certain players and I am not saying this because I am black and white. I think if the makems get off to a poor start he could get the chop.
Geordiedoonsooth
Aug 13, 2010 at 9:37 AM
Comment #5I can’t see CH being sacked this season unless we are rock bottom at the end of September. I think we will get stuffed next Monday 3 or 4 nil I think we will then draw with WOlves and beat Villa. I believe we will get at least 46 points this season and finish around 15th or 16th. Blackpool, Wigan & WBA to go down, though I hope that the sh*te down the road get relegated. I’l love it just love it if that happened.
Darling27
Aug 13, 2010 at 9:53 AM
Comment #6Chris Hughton will prove them wrong. They’ll have egg on their faces come christmas. Keep The Faith!!!
Banbridge-Mags-SC
Aug 13, 2010 at 10:40 AM
Comment #7I’m not at all surprised by continual reports about Chris Hughton being the first to go. While we might all not agree on every transfer or speculated rumour- we have gone about our business quietly and assuredly. Newcastle? Low and behold there’s no scandal!!! The gutter press will try anything to create controversy, what with the most loyal fans, massive stadium, first season back in prem and a young manager untested in the PL. We’re a constant target for disruption and I for one will take great pleasure in watching Chris shove the pundits comments right back down their throat and listen to the cries of gamblers ripping up betting slips as someone elses manager bites the dust. Chris might not have the best players in the league, certainly not the biggest squad but what he has is a collection of players willing to fight for him and believe in him. I do, and I look forward to the coming season with confidence knowing we’re in CH’s hands. Back the toon, back Chris, back where we belong
Doha Mag
Aug 13, 2010 at 10:52 AM
Comment #8Houghton will do a fine job despite having no money to strengthen the squad.
I’m concerned the squad is not good enough or big enough but confident Chris will bring in another three players as a minimum……
G-Man
Aug 13, 2010 at 11:46 AM
Comment #9If we bring in players of the quality we have already signed, it won’t make a difference, only Blackpool worse than us squad wise, pathetic……..
Toontastico
Aug 13, 2010 at 12:40 PM
Comment #10This is more like it – 9 responses and all positive about CH. Theres another thread on Footy mad with the title “how many games will CH get” I taught that was an absolute disgrace and shows that it aint just the southern media that stirs things some of our own fans start the sh1t as well.
CH did a fantastic job last year under v bad circumstances to label him a patsy or a yes man (as im sure youve all heard people say) is such an insult to a true Football man who’s been in the game over 30 years.
When offered the job he would have been made aware of the financial constraints he would of had to work under and so far he’s done this with aplomb.
Theres no bullsh1t in the media coming from him (JFK) ,There’s no falling out with players (GS & Fat Sam) and nearly every signing we’ve made has been kept on the QT and dealt with shrewdly.
Let him get on with the job in hand, and please please when times are tough (which we all know they will be this year) dont turn on him and the team. Support them through thick and thin and give constant backing. I firmly believe if we do this we will comfortably survive this year and that will allow us to build and push on.
HWTL!
Banbridge-Mags-SC
Aug 13, 2010 at 2:22 PM
Comment #11Well said Toontastico, for fecks sake let’s back the team, there’ll be enough out there trying to pull CH down. Show our support and the players will rise to it. Boo boys never made me try harder, you?
Geordie Matriarch
Aug 13, 2010 at 2:36 PM
Comment #12If Ashley can’t fork out good cash for players I can’t really see him paying out for a “top rank?” manager – particularly when you look at the value he has had from CH.
Mind you, I think a lot of people on this blog are as bad as the media on this one – why don’t we just give CH the chance he deserves without niggling away all the time at at the manager’s confidence?
And while I’m at it – I’m a bit sick of all this adulation of Kevin Keegan.
He left us in a terrible mess – I doubt if CH woull have left us in the lurch like that – whatever the circumstances.
henok ethiopian toon
Aug 13, 2010 at 7:06 PM
Comment #13he will get sacked before 15 games …i actually made bet on that…
baro
Aug 13, 2010 at 7:20 PM
Comment #14The different thing about Chris Hughton is that he is too easy to control. Mike Ashley is not giving him over 5 million is what it looks like. If it was another manager they would quit right away.