We are watching the situation at the top of the Championship very closely at the moment, and especially how Derby County are doing.
Steve McClaren – Derby County manager
The rumors are that Derby manager Steve McClaren could be first choice for the new Newcastle’s head coach position that needs to be filled this summer, but he would only be available if Derby do not get promoted.
Steve is the favorite on SkyBet at 2-1, with John Carver second favorite at 9/2.
At the moment Derby are in second place in the Championship on 65 points after 35 games, but on Tuesday night they were beaten 2-0 at Chris Hughton’s Brighton, and Chris is getting his new club away from the relegation zone and they are now 9 points clear of 3rd bottom Wigan Athletic.
That was Derby’s second defeat in a row on the road, after they went down 2-0 at Fulham last Saturday, and in fact in their last seven league games they have gained only 8 points, which is off the pace at the top of the league.
Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough are top of the league on 66 points after they beat Millwall 3-0 at home on Tuesday night.
We are not too keen on Steve McClaren becoming the new head coach at Newcastle, and it could well be another Englishman appointed, as owner Mike Ashley has never had a continental coach at the club since he took over the ownership of the club back in the summer of 2007.
We have nothing against McClaren on a personal note, and he’s a very good upstanding character who’s done very well at Derby, and it’s as a coach that we don’t rate him very highly.
We are hoping Derby will get promoted after Steve had them so close in the Wembley play-off final last May, when they were beaten with a 90th minute goal from Bobby Zamora when the London side were done to 10 men, and QPR were promoted.
We will continue to watch their results closely through the rest of the season.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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11 comments so far
Mr Magpie
Mar 5, 2015 at 2:54 PM
Comment #1Really hope Derby get promoted as at least then we won’t get Mclaren in as the new head coach!
Our Toon
Mar 5, 2015 at 2:57 PM
Comment #2Mr Magpie
We already have our head coach everything else is smokescreen mate
lesh
Mar 5, 2015 at 2:58 PM
Comment #3McLaren favourite, Carver second – what’s happened to Garde? Presumably he was no more than a player in Charnley’s charades!
Ambition? Carver at a point a game average doesn’t look to promising at all.
Our Toon
Mar 5, 2015 at 2:59 PM
Comment #4Lindisfarne
Man utd set up as 4141 when they didn’t have the ball, however when they did have possession they had 5 in midfield or 3 central lads to pick from at all times. I know Jonas can’t do the LB job full time but my gripe is with those who rate Raylor enough to have him starting. Apart from set pieces Raylor offers absolutely nothing
Lindisfarne
Mar 5, 2015 at 3:00 PM
Comment #5Abeid stats:
Shots 1 (11)
Passes 36 (260) joint top
Dribbles 1 (19)
Tackles 8 (49) joint top
Interceptions 8 (20) six more than any other
Clearance 1 (23)
Block 2 (10)
Fouls 3 (14) joint top
Ariel duels 2 (23)
Touches 54 (435) top
Lost possession 2 (27)
Error 1 (1)
Of cause people have an opinion about him because he was involved in the match more than most on the pitch. Being more noticeable and doing more does not necessarily mean you are more culpable, if he was not there who would have performed as much and who else would have shown themselves up?
Our Toon
Mar 5, 2015 at 3:02 PM
Comment #6Lindisfarne
Abeid didn’t have help centrally, just like Anita when he plays. 8 or 9 really badly underperformed yesterday!!
Lindisfarne
Mar 5, 2015 at 3:11 PM
Comment #7IMO it was a performance that the players can be reasonably proud of (although a win would be better), JC may want to keep the same shape because only ManC have really exposed the midfield and it offers good attacking strength. However, for various reasons I would like Obertan not to start and Perez to get an opportunity on the right wing. But now that Cisse is likely to be out it must be between him and Gouffran who starts up front or wide.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 5, 2015 at 3:11 PM
Comment #8Lindisfarne
I picked three players out last night Krul, Sissoko and Abeid. My MOM I picked was Abeid just ahead of the other two (might of been different if I had a cleare loook of what happened at their goal – hard to ee from back of the Gallowgate) just ahead of the other two as he was the only noticeable player who was that was breaking up their attacks. he also kept it simple with his passes except in the 90th minute.
still think we are safe now as there are a lot of interesting fixtures coming up at the bottom: take next weekLeicester v Hull Sunderland v Villa.
last day of the season could also be fun for the bottom pack
2. Aston Villa v Burnley
3. Chelsea v Sunderland
6. Hull City v Manchester United
7. Leicester City v QPR
Lindisfarne
Mar 5, 2015 at 3:29 PM
Comment #9C in the G
When Abeid got the ball and turned towards the middle he could not boot it clear with his right leg because he got jostled in the back by Rooney. Instead of going down dramatically for the free kick, he played the ball with his left foot as he fell to the ground. As there was a bit of pace on it Krul then struggled to do anything but get his foot on it and unfortunately it went straight to Young.
Not a huge debacle or something that Abeid should continue to regret for the rest of his days, but some on here would have him hounded out the club.
Bambams
Mar 5, 2015 at 5:01 PM
Comment #10Carver has almost said he has a three year contract…. Which may coincide with when Ash might finally stuff all the money into his quilt cover and bugger off
catchy in norway
Mar 5, 2015 at 6:25 PM
Comment #11Mac would do just fine for me, watch his football before judging