So most Newcastle fans would have been shocked that when the news conference started yesterday, there was only one seat there behind the table and Derek Llambias didn’t even bother to turn up. Seems he was too scared.
Derek LLambias – a disgrace he was nowhere to be seen yesterday
One definition of courage – the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, and the like without any fear.
That’s a decent definition, and it seems that Derek showed no courage yesterday whatsoever, because he would have had to answer some very difficult questions, the main one being – why Newcastle wanted a more experienced manager than Hughton.
The fact that when Chris was fired he had more points than experienced long term managers like Roy Hodgson, Avram Grant and Gerrard Houllier seem to give that reason very little weight.
And it would have been very uncomfortable for Derek, to be sure, but no he didn’t want to face the press – and that’s because it would seem he has little courage – and we’ll not even mention he has no skills or background at all to be in the position he’s in currently at the Newcastle club.
That hasn’t cost Derek his job of course, but lack of experience cost Chris his job, even though he had done a magnificent job for Newcastle over the last 16 months – something you cannot accuse LLambias of.
No – it was all left to Alan Pardew to take all the heat yesterday and he did well, but he had to answer questions that he had no right to be addressing for the club.
When you hold an executive position at a company there are many times you have to hold meetings, that you’d rather not be at, but it’s all part of the job and that’s one reason you get the big bucks.
Some of the most difficult meetings I had at IBM were to meet (should that be confront?) dissatisfied customers – as you are then the face of the company – at least to them – and you have to be prepared to get pummeled – because they are not happy for whatever reason.
It takes a certain amount of courage and guts to put yourself into those uncomfortable positions, and at least we were very pleased yesterday to see the new manager show some courage, and presumably lots of it.
Alan’s shown courage just to take the job of course, given the terrible conditions surrounding the Newcastle club once again.
But in closing, not only are the two leading executives at the club inept, but they also have shown no courage whatsoever to face up to what they have done this week.
Is it any wonder they are despised on Tyneside?
Comments welcome.
30 comments so far
ronaldeano
Dec 10, 2010 at 11:46 AM
Comment #1Derek was bent over a desk in Mikes office yesterday Ed
Shot Bru
Dec 10, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Comment #2HAHA ronaldeano…on a more serious note, i think Pardew will anounce Beardsley and Stone as members of his team of assistants…i presume Ashley would have insisted on this as Beardsley will be used in a Public Relations capacity to try and appease the fans being a local hero and all that…
alex84
Dec 10, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Comment #3so it begins!
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=851309&sec=transfers&cc=5739
Doctapaul
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:07 PM
Comment #4Courage – the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, and the fear that goes with it.
Llambas couldn’t face his fear. I don’t know many who can.
Brave men and women handle fear. If they were fearless, there’d be no need to be brave. It takes a different kind of mind and spirit to be fearless. And it’s based on wisdom as well as courage and conviction.
Alas Mr Llambas seems neither brave nor wise enough to account for his conviction. So where’s the wisdom in what he and Ashley have done? Right now, I am none the wiser.
Cue Mr Llambas – but no spin please. Just gimme some truth.
Lynxie
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:07 PM
Comment #5He was in Mikes office but couldn’t speak as he had his mouth full………………..
stuart no9
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:07 PM
Comment #6ed ,
it seems to me, you still dont know our owner, and his muppets,why are people surprised they wernt there,i expected nothing morefrom the cockney cowards, after all the talk this week They know what they have done has not been approached in a civil manner, they know they have upset the fans “AGAIN” they knew the back lash was , and still is coming, make no mistake about that, in the past yhey have let the dust settle , then gradually , and sneakilly crept back in , and , bingo, they are off the hook, i can see that happening again, although i hope not , cowards all of them , letting their manager face every thing by himself, how sick is that? shame on them, some thing has to be done about these 2 sadly 1 demo might come out off it , then it will be buisness as usual
expatgeordie
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:07 PM
Comment #7Looks like the Januray sales at the Toon have started Barton being touted to West Ham, next will be Jonas to Liverpool & Colo to whoever can pay his wages Enrique to Spurs and probably S Taylor to Liverpool, Man City, or Spurs. I think we are going to hell in a hand cart what a F**king mess.
Ciaran Thomas
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:07 PM
Comment #8He did the same thing with Alan Shearer,Shot Bru.
The Shola Show
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:07 PM
Comment #9Like it a lot ‘ronaldeano’ 🙂
Ciaran Thomas
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:09 PM
Comment #10I hope not Alex.
van-damn-bad-man
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:10 PM
Comment #11Barton, Coloccini and Gutierrez out. Ben Arfa loan won’t be extended to a permanent move. Championship players Adam Hammill, Paul Anderson, Darren Pratley in.
van-damn-bad-man
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:13 PM
Comment #12All three tipped for £2m moves, which can be raised alone from the transfer of Jonas. Apparently there is interest in him from Juventus. £7m.
Shot Bru
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:14 PM
Comment #13To be honest van damn i wouldn’t mind seeing the back of Jonas and replacing him with someone who can cross a ball.
toonmonkey
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:15 PM
Comment #14Arsedew OUT!
alex84
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:20 PM
Comment #15there guna sale, to balance books and go with youth who come cheap! thats the plan and thats what will happen!
Irish-Toon
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:21 PM
Comment #16I’d get rid of both of our so called wingers, neither can cross a ball
Visten
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:23 PM
Comment #17Is it just me or does that picture make you want to slap him about a bit? Penfold is a pussy and always has been something that Mort wasn’t. And is it just me or does Ashley look like the Baron from the film DUNE ?
Davies
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:24 PM
Comment #18There are, believe it or not, reasons other than the last five results that lie behind Hughton’s sacking. I’ve read several articles from publications with a better pedigree than The Mail et al, that site naiivety and lack of ambition on our former manager’s part, along with a failure to deal in the transfer market, as reasons for his dismissal. Simpson aside, our better signings over the last year or so have come from the work of our scouting network.
I’m not defending Ashley (frankly, I’d like him out as soon as anyone else here), nor am I saying that I think he was right to sack Hoots (who I would have liked to have been given at least a season in the EPL), but in his own incompetent way, I think our owner feels like he was acting in the best interests of the club. I’m baffled at the appointment of Pardew, as is just about everyone else, but I’m not subscribing to the fire sale mentality until I see our players leaving in January.
The point of all of this is to make sure we continue to be a Premier League side and, whatever you have to say about the change in management, you have to admit that it would be beyond the stupidity of recent events to start flogging off our best players. There is an argument that says Pardew has more experience, but it’s difficult to gague, however, replacing the players we have now with bargain basement buys is likely to see us relegated, and that’s plain for all to see. I hope Barton won’t be sold, and I don’t believe for a second that Andy Carroll is going anywhere. I only hope that Pardew can get the likes of Nolan on side so that the spirit that has been built up since relegation doesn’t simply drift away.
This is either going to be a very interesting few months, or a very trying test of our loyalty. I’m hoping for the former.
darthkir
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:27 PM
Comment #19Boycott… short term pain for a long term gain.
Irish-Toon
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:29 PM
Comment #20I didn’t agree with the way the went about getting rid of CH, but there’s not a lot I can do about it now. Pardew wouldn’t have been my choice as manager, but then I’m not the one making the appointment. I listened to him in his interviews and all in all I think he’s done ok. Obviously some of what he said is what every new manager rolls out on their first day, but the proof of the pudding will be seen by all in the next few games. We’ve got Liverpool, Man City Spurs and Wigan I think. What return will satisfy the supporters, I’d be delighted if we could get more than 50% return
Anis
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Comment #21An excellent article by Mr. Jon Champion:
http://blogs.espn.co.uk/offmic/archives/2010/12/ashley_regime_demeaning_newcas.php
hktoonfan
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:40 PM
Comment #22i hate him
want him to disappear!!
geoff777
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:43 PM
Comment #23@Alex84 West Ham will only pay £2 million for Joey and expect him to drop his wages – that is not going to happen. He’ll stay until his contract runs out if his wages aren’t matched or increased.
The article also says West Ham value Scott Parker at £20million. That’s funnier than Pardew being our manager.
premier
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:49 PM
Comment #24must have been helping to put the big top up so the circus could continue
magfly
Dec 10, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Comment #25llambais was not there to make his mate pardew look good simple as.
Harrogatetoon
Dec 10, 2010 at 1:00 PM
Comment #26I’ve been a keen watched of Ed’s informative blog for a number of years and never feld the compulsion to add my two penneth, but I have to say that i’ve never been so upset of felt so or powerless about anyhting in my life, to sit here and see Mr Ashley systematically dismantle our club in such a way is a killer. I hear the calls for a boycott, but how can w as fans stay away as this is only going to exesperate the situation. Weneed some sort of devine intevention. Whats happened to Barry Moat SOS SOS.
Lynxie
Dec 10, 2010 at 1:07 PM
Comment #27Things just go from bad to worse. John Tudor’s car got stuck in the snow last wednesday. Is there no end to the curse of Newcastle United.
get a grip people. 3 points on Saturday, and we will be dusting off our passports again coz the new messiah is here (joking of course)
shearermania
Dec 10, 2010 at 1:14 PM
Comment #28you are all pathetic….you call yourself fans and you are slating your team and their new manager, like hughton was another keegan and the best manager we ever had…hughton is decent and respectful man that did a tremendious job and didnt deserve to get sacked – but thats life..get over it…give Pardew a chance or go support sunderland and being just as unwashed inbred imbeciles…….fans never stop supporting their team – quitting is not an option…..
stuart no9
Dec 10, 2010 at 2:16 PM
Comment #29shearmania
1 no one is slating the team
2 no one has said they are going to stop supporting the team
3 if fans want to demo to get oer owner out good on them , it shows they CARE about NUFC a lot of fans just dont want any thing to come between them and their sat afternoon game of football, may be thats why weve won nowt for 50 year
Sav
Dec 10, 2010 at 4:49 PM
Comment #30Davies (18) you cite “a failure to deal in the transfer market, as reasons for his dismissal. Simpson aside, our better signings over the last year or so have come from the work of our scouting network.”
I imagine most transfer dealing is done by persons other than the manager. The scouts should scout players. When they’ve found one who looks good, fits the club’s needs and is available, he then tells the manager and maybe supplies video evidence. And then maybe the manager will have a personal look before sanctioning purchase.
Of course, if the scouts buy the players without the manager’s agreement, that is a different story, worse even than Denis Wise. And if the scout can buy players, then it was clearly not the manager’s job in the first place but instead some kind of so-called ‘Continental System’.