It was not a good day for Newcastle United yesterday.
John Carver – with the great man – popular choice with Newcastle fans
First of all we heard exactly what we didn’t want to hear, and that was that Andy Carroll had got himself into trouble again with an assault charge in Hexham, this time with a former girl-friend.
That was certainly bad news and then a big surprise later in the day saw Colin Calderwood depart Newcastle to manage Hibs in Edinburgh.
We weren’t surprised that Hibs wanted Colin, because he did a great job at Newcastle in the 21 months he was on Tyneside, but it has broken up what looked like an excellent duo of Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood on Tyneside.
Colin was also a great guy and that’s showing through with his interviews at Hibernian, as the man seems such a straight arrow, and we’ll be following his career from now on, and of course wish him the very best.
Now Chris will be meeting this morning with the Newcastle Board to discuss candidates for the position and the two top favorites seem to be John Carver, who was ta Newcastle with Bobby Robson and would be a great appointment – and Steve Clarke who was at the club back in 1998 as Assistant Manager to Ruud Gullit.
We think the favorite has to be local lad John Carver, and he was apparently considered for the Reserve team job a month or so ago, but the Assistant Manager is a much better position that fits John’s great coaching abilities, and of course he was born and bred in Newcastle and knows all about the club.
We have to think he would be a big favorite among Newcastle fans.
But Carver is currently Gary Speed’s assistant at Sheffield United and has only just joined the Bramall Lane club in August, after Gary got the manager job, so that may present some difficulties to Newcastle, because they would need to pay the Blades some compensation for him to leave and join Newcastle.
On the other hand the news is that Steve Clarke, another highly-rated coach who has already coached at Newcastle, is said to have turned down the Hibs job and is available for nothing.
Steve left West Ham in the summer, after manager Gianfranco Zola was fired, and it was said to be by mutual consent, so he’s currently out of a job, and would probably jump at the chance to come back to Newcastle.
We hear that Chris will not hurry an appointment, and it’s important to get the best available coach, but he also needs someone else to help him with the coaching and different things going on at the Newcastle club, so he’ll need to appoint somebody fairly quickly.
Who do you think would be a good choice as the Assistant to Chris?
Comments welcome.
29 comments so far
Toon Sweden77
Oct 19, 2010 at 10:57 AM
Comment #1Carver would be nice to have back at the club. But why not give Alan Shearer a call to see if e would like to try the assistant role at his hometown club?
Of course he would turn it down as he doesnt speak with Asley or Llambias – But at least they could try!!
dougski
Oct 19, 2010 at 10:58 AM
Comment #2i would like rob lee to be honest a fresh approach not someone who has been at the club before, it maybe a risk but hes a hero at ours and the lads would respect him a perfect model professional who gave his all for us
G
Oct 19, 2010 at 10:58 AM
Comment #3A bloke at work has just suggested Steve Watson. I have no idea if SW even has the qualification or inclination to do such a job, however, I wouldnt be against it. First choice has to be JC, or Clarkie if we can prise him away from Huddersfield.
wadamja
Oct 19, 2010 at 11:07 AM
Comment #4We need a football playing assistant to complement Hughtons more direct style (which i’m not criticising). Also someone with some cuedos in world football which sends a signal out that we’re a progressive club. No disrespect to any opinions, Steve Clarke was involved in nearly getting a decent West Ham squad relegated and John Carver was part of the mgmt team that took Plymouth down. Why don’t we look up and get someone with a winning mentality or do a Spurs (and TBF carry on with the Beardsley type appt) and bring in an ex player who was world class – Ginola???!!!?? Could you imagine how much he could improve our strike force and wingers or Ferdinand
rkw
Oct 19, 2010 at 11:08 AM
Comment #577- Absolute Zero per cent chance that Shearer comes in this situation. Zero.
GeordieGerman
Oct 19, 2010 at 11:11 AM
Comment #6Hey, Joe Kinnear wants to come back to Newcastle. This could be a great stepping stone for him.
dougski
Oct 19, 2010 at 11:11 AM
Comment #7i dont think ginola has the qualifications but ferdinand does, he would be a good candidate i mentioned him to my mate as well as rob lee, model professional who knows how it works at the club dont want someone who may come in and go we used to do this as coaches we used to work it like that needs someone with a fresh approach. thats what i think anyway
dougski
Oct 19, 2010 at 11:11 AM
Comment #8and joe kinner you should be a comedian
Rotonda heights
Oct 19, 2010 at 11:11 AM
Comment #9I don’t think it was such a bad day Ed. I’ve never been a fan of Calderwood’s negative long ball old school tactics, so for me anyone of Rob Lee, Carver, Lee etc would bring a more refreshing attacking emphasis.
As for Carroll, it gives us a chance to play more football on the deck without ” Crouchitus ” all the time.
Ericles
Oct 19, 2010 at 11:19 AM
Comment #10We do need a footballing coach who knows where the grass is and how to cut it with an accurate pass!
Personally I still feel that CH is actually a number 2 and we need a manager Can Ashley afford Alan financially, socially, tactically, honestly and morally?
GeordieGerman
Oct 19, 2010 at 11:28 AM
Comment #11dougski, was just Joken here.
Chris F
Oct 19, 2010 at 11:28 AM
Comment #12wadamja: you say Carver was part of the setup that took Plymouth down – but he was also part of the setup that saw us get into the champions league!
personally i think Carver would be a good shout, and Steve Clarke is a more than able coach too.
we won’t see Shearer or Clarkie offered the spot, nor would i expect them to take it.
After all, Clark left us for Huddersfield when he was reserve team boss, being assistant manager isn’t that great a step up from that position, and he seems to be enjoying his time at Hudds.
Symo22
Oct 19, 2010 at 11:40 AM
Comment #13I was thinking Peter Beardsley to step up from the ressies to help out.. wat you think ?? My firend suggested Bg Sol to take player coack role which sounds slly but due to t being newcastle anything could happen!!
GeordieGerman
Oct 19, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Comment #14Symo22, Don’t think your mates suggestion is so silly when I think about it.
Ericles
Oct 19, 2010 at 11:45 AM
Comment #15Beardo would be a good choice for number two!
Sav
Oct 19, 2010 at 11:53 AM
Comment #16Any hope Calderwood will ‘snatch’ Perch from under our noses?
Big fan of Beardo as a player.
Not as a communicator.
Les Ferdinand is another hero but even if he has more badges than a scoutmaster, has he ever coached anywhere?
Hoots was part of a management team that took us down, if you want to go through the records of Carver and Clarke.
But none of these will be well-known by Hoots, which I’d guess will be a major factor so I’d bet on Beardo or someone with a Spurs/Irish background.
G
Oct 19, 2010 at 12:34 PM
Comment #17I thought Ferdy was coaching at Spurs last I heard? Not sure if it was a formal arrangement or not, but I’m sure he was involved with their set-up somewhere.
Moreno
Oct 19, 2010 at 12:59 PM
Comment #18I sent a message to Newcastle club website asking it to be forwarded to Mike or Chris.
I explained the positives of taking on Sir Les Ferdinand and am waiting for a phonecall from Mike’s PA to thank me and give me a one-off finder’s fee
G
Oct 19, 2010 at 1:13 PM
Comment #19A spurs fan at work has just confirmed that Ferdy is a coach there, currently working with Tim Sherwood.
Davies
Oct 19, 2010 at 1:21 PM
Comment #20Honestly, I think Shearer would be a massive mistake. Too many rumours about his ego and I don’t know how well with the spirit and togetherness we have at the moment.
I’m sure a good assistant will arrive in good time.
punk skunk...
Oct 19, 2010 at 2:05 PM
Comment #21Shearer…HA!..
Sir Les is a SPUD, thru & thru & currently works for them…
Ginola…HA!..
Steve Clarke is probably the man for the job…
Worked with SBR & Mourinho at the highest level & he knows the job inside out…
Though we could go for broke & get Gazza/Tino/ or some other daft get that once played for us…
🙂
G
Oct 19, 2010 at 2:13 PM
Comment #22If we are speculating, I always admired the way Warren Barton always came out to take responsibility of a defeat and speak to the cameras, whilst I know that not an important qualification for an assistant, it implies he takes responsibility well. He might not be as daft a shout as he sounds. Also, where is Bez these days, he sounds daft enough to take the job?
NUFC_Richyg01
Oct 19, 2010 at 2:17 PM
Comment #23My Shortlist:
1. John Carver, – Knows the club, we know him.
2. Nicky Butt, – Poor Pundit
3. Ketsbaia, – Georgia – Whould he give it up?
4. Rob Lee, – Pundit in Singapore
5. Les Ferdinand, – Pundit (ex. Satanta)
Animal_Mother
Oct 19, 2010 at 2:29 PM
Comment #24I’m pretty sure John Carver is a first team coach at Sheffield Sam Ellis being assistant behind Gary Speed. So this position will be a step up for John and I’m sure if approached he would love to come back. It just means Ashley will maybe have to fork out 200,000k Compensation I might be a way out on the estimate though guys.
dougski
Oct 19, 2010 at 3:19 PM
Comment #25well we must have got some compensation for calderwood so i dont thnik that would be much of an issue even if you say ashley is tight, which i stll dont think hes that tight just sensible, if you think coming back up and spending millions is the right answer its really not looks at the clubs in the league who have no become stable teams boltons, birmingham,s, fulhams, dont spend all that espeically first year back as we still have january window to go. If arfa handnt of been injured i dont believe really we would need anyone to be fair. Saying that i feel we have to sign a attacking creative mid even on loan for 6 months as we have no squad depth on the wings.
anyway i think ferdinand is a very good shout as chris knows him from when they were both at spurs together and it would be a great step up for ferdinand and with the strikers such as ranger and carroll needing a role model to look up to would be fantastic for them!
will die for the toon army
Oct 19, 2010 at 7:55 PM
Comment #26Bring them both
Rowan Milsted
Oct 19, 2010 at 8:23 PM
Comment #27I must admit I don’t know a great deal about where the aforementioned are, what they’re doing, if they’re available etc, but I do think big Les is a good shout, especially with the youthful strikers we have at the club as dougski points out. Coupled with Carrol’s wayward behaviour at the moment this makes Ferdinand an excellent choice… if he’s available to do it, which by the sound of it he isn’t. And G, I don’t think Barton is a silly idea at all, I was thinking the same. Beardsley springs to mind but we’d have to find someone new for the ressies if we went down that line. Also Rob Lee sounds good. He was a top player and a true professional – not that that means he will make an ideal assistant manager. Bar ex players Carver is a good candidate, as is Clarke. Ideally I’d love to see Shearer as assistant, but that’s not going to happen, at least not in the forseeable. Let’s hope we find someone reasonably soon. All the best Calderwood, let’s wish him well in his new job, he did a good job for us.
Doctapaul
Oct 20, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Comment #28I like the idea of grooming our next manager. But what if he’s already groomed and out of a job. He might not go for it BUT I would go knocking on Paulo Sousa’s door. Leicester were far too quick to let him go. He want’s to play attractive football and he has the making of a Premiership manager in his own right.
chuck
Oct 21, 2010 at 3:00 AM
Comment #29It`s been settled, a very good coach, proven @ Chelsea under different managers.
Yes! probably agreed upon for it`s lack of any buy out of contracts.
But, an excellent choice, could`nt expect anyone better
Be nice to find a niche for Carver also, never have enough quality scouting and coaching staff.
Hopefully a somewhat seamless transition will evolve.
Perhaps a different tactical approach or at least an idea as to how to survive in this division, as things are not looking great.
Perhaps we should put in a bid for Spurs creative midfielder/winger, Krajncar, would`nt be cheap as Spurs would want to make a profit to enhance their ambitions.
But he could be the start of a competitive NUFC side, the basic blocks are there, just replace a few faces with quality.
But you cant do it with second tier players !