John Carver has hit back at the football pundits who were former players but have never actually been in football management, so it’s sometimes unfair when they criticize John Carver, who at least is in the heat of the battle – and not sitting in a comfortable studio passing judgement while watching the TV.
John Carver – reacts to pundits’ criticisms
John is having a real tough time of it at Newcastle with just two wins in the 15 games he’s been in charge of Newcastle, and he has responded to the criticism of former players by hitting back at Michael Owen for one, who couldn’t save Newcastle from relegation six years ago when in the last few games with Alan Shearer as the manager he couldn’t even get in the side.
This is what John Carver has said:
““I could be nasty about Michael, because let’s not forget what happened when he was here.”
I don’t have a problem with anyone having an opinion,” “Where I have the problem is when there’s people that have an opinion, who have never been in this situation; never been in my situation.”
“They have never had to pick a team when you have got so many injuries, suspensions, or dealing with situations on the training ground or things coming from left field.” “When I see someone like Peter Reid go on TV, who has been in this situation, he has managed in this region, he understands what it feels like. I respect what he says.”
“I accept that the likes of Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher, whoever (maybe add in Gary Neville John), have played hundreds of Premier League football matches and I haven’t (neither has Jose Mourinho). But sometimes there has to be a little bit of sympathy with the people doing this job.” “When you have never gone in and put your little foot in the water and tested it, then it is a little different.”
“It’s easy talking with a tactics board but all of a sudden in this position you have to make a decision because your back four is not high enough, or someone is causing you problems because of it. If you don’t see that during a game then you have a problem. That’s the difference, and people don’t see that.”
“There are a lot of people out there who don’t do it because they can’t do it.”
That last line is very accurate and Alan Shearer himself has admitted he would be mad to go back into management given all the stresses and all the criticism football managers get these days.
More attention should probably be paid on Tyneside to the Newcastle players, who are hardly helping John in his quest to get some wins under his belt to save Newcastle, and several of them are acting and playing like complete wimps, with no spirit or fight anywhere to be seen.
But when you get a big job – even temporarily – like the Newcastle job – you are going to get plenty of criticism, and it’s going to be heavy at times but it’s all part of the job.
The very best in the business like Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger and current Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola have had their fair share of criticism over the years, and most of it has been grossly unfair – and they are the very best in the business.
And when the great Bobby Robson was manager of England, we don’t remember a manager who took so much unjustified criticism, than he got in those eight years.
But that didn’t stop Bobby getting England to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 1986, when we were beaten by the hand of God, and the semi-finals in 1990 when we were beaten at the death by Germany on penalties.
John should probably grow a thicker layer of skin, because if you get this level of criticism thrown at you – it simply means you have a big job – and that cannot be all that bad.
John has been criticized for his coaching on many quarters, but it’s only on a professional level and nobody has ever questioned his commitment to the cause, or his work ethic this year – John’s working his socks off to try to get Newcastle some wins.
But John does have a point when these former professionals sit in the warm studio and make pronouncements on stuff – and get on the blackboard and spend 15 minutes talking about what John should have done in that specific minute during the game – yeah – right.
But that’s the way the world is – and it’s not going to change anytime soon.
What John can do to respond to these criticisms is to inspire his players today – even drop the ones who will not play for him – and what we want to see from the team is 100% all-out effort – if they do that we’ll be happy enough.
And in any case when you respond to criticism, all it really does is legitimize it.
We are hoping Newcastle can get the win tomorrow, and we’ll be very happy campers.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
46 comments so far
the broons
Apr 25, 2015 at 8:43 AM
Comment #41well lads, me and father broon boycotted the spurs game and my dad isn’t making an effort to go watch them today neither. I for one am going to see what Newcastle have to offer today, they have exactly 18 minutes to impress me and show me that they are worth something. If they have not shown any fight or determination to get something out the game then I will walking out as soon as the minutes applause is over.
yorkymag
Apr 25, 2015 at 8:51 AM
Comment #42Broon junior
Can’t blame you that sounds fair
GEORDIE69
Apr 25, 2015 at 8:53 AM
Comment #43Broons your missing the point! The boycott is against our current owner, not the effort of our team!
mecannylad
Apr 25, 2015 at 8:56 AM
Comment #44Surely after all that has gone on over the previous 7 days if there is no passion and effort shown on the pitch today then the cry should be ‘ALL OUT’
Toon-Prodigy
Apr 25, 2015 at 8:56 AM
Comment #45Yorky,
Some players don’t need an excuse to hide. That’s the problem with buying foreign and lower experienced players.
This football team is screaming for it. But hey, balance sheet champions. Pardew knew it, Carver knows it, Carr and Charnley knows it.
It’s not working but we are making money. That’s the be all end all with this regime. Football comes second.
Everybody get off their seat today and show we are no walk overs at the match. Show this pathetic regime we arn’t happy.
NYMAG
Apr 25, 2015 at 1:29 PM
Comment #46Fair point, nobody thinks Carver is the man for the job but equally you can’t question his commitment or live for the Toon.
Owen was a complete disgrace when he ‘played for us’. The ultimate mercenary who never have a sh1t about the club. He doesn’t deserve an opinion.