Since Steve McClaren was fired by England in late 2007 after failing to qualify for the Euro 2008 Championship, it’s difficult to say the former England manager has been too successful in club football.
Steve’s been hired and fired by two English clubs – Nottingham Forest and Derby County – and at Forest he lasted only four months and 13 games before being fired with Forest winning only three of their first 13 games and losing seven.
Steve McClaren – to be appointed Newcastle head coach
And it doesn’t heighten his appeal of Newcastle fans that he’s just been fired by Derby County, and is therefore available to Newcastle as a free agent – and no compensation needs to be paid for him.
Steve did have some success in Holland with FC Twente, and he took them to their first ever Dutch Championship in 2010, and became the first Englishman to manage a team to a league title in Europe since Bobby Robson did it with F.C. Porto in 1996.
And Steve was good friends with Bobby Robson and learned a lot form the former Newcastle and England manager.
But McClaren didn’t do well at Wolfsburg back in 2010, who he joined them after winning the Dutch Championship, and he lasted only just over seven months and 33 games, and was sacked with a win ratio of around 29%.
The good news is that he’s a million miles better than John Carver, who was simply a complete disaster as the club’s interim head coach, and almost had us relegated after we were 9th top when he took over.
John was in charge for 20 games and lost 13 and won only three for a win rate of 15%, and in the league we got only 13 points from 19 league games – a terrible record by anybody’s standards.
[table “33” not found /]When Steve McClaren was at Manchester United from 1999 through 2001 he was reckoned to be a good up-and-coming coach willing to learn, and this is what we found in the Northern Echo today – a quote form Teddy Sheringham about him while Steve was at the Red Devils:
“Steve was fantastic,” “He was ready to learn from other clubs, other countries and other sports. And his interest in video analysis and sports psychology gave us another dimension.”
Steve seems to be appreciated most by the players he coaches, and that has to be a good sign.
And the Newcastle fans think he’s a better coach than Alan Pardew.
If we can get some decent players through the door this summer, then we should have a decent squad for next season, certainly better than the one we had last season, and maybe we can also reduce those injuries?
Steve McClaren has won things as a manager and the opportunity for Steve is that Mike Ashley now wants to win something at Newcastle – that’s official – so the first time for many years Newcastle can try to win one of the local cups.
Maybe Steve can do that next season, and at least get us into the FA Cup or League Cup final – and even win a trophy for Newcastle for the first time since 1969, and win our first domestic trophy since 1955 when we took Manchester City apart 3-1 in the FA Cup Final.
And last week we learned that was the very first FA Cup final Arsene Wenger was able to watch on TV in France – when he was just five years old – so no wonder he always talks well about Newcastle.
It’s a decent possibility that Steve can help us win a cup next season – and if he can do that he’ll be an unlikely hero on Tyneside.
And that’s not beyond the realm of possibility.
That’s what we are hoping for.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
99 comments so far
Belfast
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:05 PM
Comment #81I would laugh my bollox off if Paul Clement was a flop.
3
Malta Mag
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:06 PM
Comment #82Steve McClaren would not have been my choice but saying that I think we should be positive of his appointment rather than negative as he’s got vast experience and was the stand out No2 for Ferguson during his time at United. My greatest fear is that our fans will turn on him the moment things go wrong which they inevitably will? If the appointment had been Viera then even though he lacked experience the charisma surrounding him would have allowed him time. With McClaren however he will not be given that period of grace and I’m fearful of the consequences? We need to buy well during the summer with a big signing to get the fans back on side. Bringing Cabaye back or getting Charlie Austin may be a start but keeping some of our better players also sends out a strong message. I am more positive about the future but we all need to get onside and give the new manager time as it won’t happen overnight.
Belfast
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:06 PM
Comment #833 million a year on a 3 year deal ?
Best of luck to them !
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:07 PM
Comment #84@Belfast
Yeah I am still unconvinced on that one its all fine and well coaching Madrid and Chelsea stars but going down a lower league level he might struggle to get players anywhere near to the level he is used to !!!
Belfast
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:10 PM
Comment #85Basically bag yourself a job working alongside a top manager and you can command what ever money you want when you decide to go into management yourself.
He was Steve Keans right hand man before Ancelotti.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:12 PM
Comment #86I notice Sunderland got Advocaat
While a well respected coach they were so JAMMY to stay up last season I watched a few of their games and they were even more lucky than we were to stay up:
Against Southampton they got 2 dodgy penalties and got dominated
Against Everton they got dominated and scored 2 fluky goals while Everton should have had a penalty
Against us at nil nil we should have had a penalty when Perez was fouled in the box even Niall Quinn said so on camera !
Against Arsenal they got totally dominated after parking the bus and managed to get a point
They will have to improve massively as well apparently they have a 50 million war chest thats not going to be enough for them either we had massive injuries but they had most of their best players fit for the whole season
Belfast
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:14 PM
Comment #87When you read Queens Park Rangers balked at his wage demands. Wow Haha
bettyswallocks
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:17 PM
Comment #88The fact that Mc Claren has been around the English game for years should help him understand what we expect from our team.
The intensity and pressure that is generated in our stadium has been the undoing of many others.
If he accepts the expectations and the backlash if he doesn’t produce, then he must think he’s up to the challenge.
LGFUAD21
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:18 PM
Comment #89While I beleive clement appears to have everything needed to be a success and this comes across in interviews he gave a year ago.
I can understand why some directors would be wary of appointing him.
There is a reason people play it safe. With so much on the table in premier league football.
NOBODY EVER GOT FIRED FOR BUYING AN IBM
Am I right ed?
I do think the Nufc digest article makes a decent point. Mcclaren has been more successful than toon in the last decade. I don’t think we are really above him given where we are at the moment.
I’m more concerned of what players come in though.
It’s taken 6 months to still not have a head coach. We’ll be well into 2016 by the team we even have a shortlist of players at this rate.
Belfast
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:25 PM
Comment #90He could be a great success or a massive flop. If he is a flop their decision to sack McClaren will look daft like.
Derby have denied he’s earning 3 million a year to be fair, but the fact that Qpr appointed Ramsey instead suggests he’s on a big wedge to me.
kilcline
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:27 PM
Comment #91Wow, a lot of muppets posting today.
Hi belfast
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:29 PM
Comment #92This summer are we going to get Carr’s A list B list or C list?
Last year we got a mixture of players from the various lists
Cabella was A list but never worked out we have been after him for ages
Janmaat was A list and he worked out amazing
Riviere was C List apparently knew he was not ready to lead the line in the premiership on his own needed an A lister to play beside him never got that player and look what happened
Chucky C list that never worked out
Perez C list that turned out very well
Colback B list that turned out well probably would never have signed him if he was not on a free transfer though
If we are after Austin then we need to pull out all the stops to get him I can only see Villa , Palace, Southampton and possibly Sunderland being the other rivals for his signature so it really depends on who our manager is and how much wages we offer
But if we dont get him we need to be looking to get someone as good from somewhere else
I am intrigued to see who we get this summer but we need to get a move on its the 2nd week of June now and we have done nothing !!
Offkey
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:31 PM
Comment #93I don’t think there are many questioning the fact that SM has better credentials Pardew and Carver. The problem is that he is still on the same Pardew spectrum.
Its an appointment that is slightly better than Pardew was (IMO) and I think the decision will split the fans once again.
Belfast
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:33 PM
Comment #94Haha you d***
Hows tricks Kilcline ?
Belfast
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:38 PM
Comment #95Still wearing old spice ? 🙂
nufcursed
Jun 6, 2015 at 1:49 PM
Comment #96fact is: this club has NO AMBITION!
there are plenty of good managers (coaches) available, yet we go after an old fashioned manager in mcclaren.
at the time where everything can be turned around and changed for the better, we look to continue the same route.
this is just another pardew appointment which will never take us to the next level!
we shoud’ve gone for someone like laudrup!
also carr is a negative influence in this club, he has far too much to say!
ashley is a fckn liar and most fans are dumb enough to believe him.
i say the protesters keep it up until ashley’s gone cause things will NEVER get better as long as the fat prck is here…
Zangwill_Ho
Jun 6, 2015 at 3:34 PM
Comment #97Really don’t want Steve McClaren to be
solano38
Jun 6, 2015 at 6:08 PM
Comment #98I would like to be proven wrong, but I think McClaren is just going to be another loser here
Rotonda heights
Jun 6, 2015 at 7:25 PM
Comment #99offkey and cursed
god forbid they’d actually go for someone the fans actually wanted.