Steve McClaren has been interviewed in the Chronicle and he says he had been approached by Newcastle to be their manager a few times, with the first time being back in 2004 – we suppose after Sir Bobby Robson was unceremoniously sacked by Freddy Shepherd in August of that year – because we only finished 5th in the league that season – and out of a Champions League position, which we had secured in the previous two seasons.
In the eleven years since Bobby was fired we have finished 5th only once and never qualified for the Champions League.
Steve McClaren – this club can now take off
Steve has turned down Newcastle a number of times, and this is how he explained that, along with what he’s been told is his mission statement at Newcastle – to get top eight in the league and win a trophy:
“I’ve had two or three opportunities, the first as way back as 2004 when I was at Middlesbrough, meeting Freddy Shepherd.” “Everything’s about timing in football. It wasn’t the right time in 2004.” “Then, I was at FC Twente. Newcastle got relegated in 2009, there was an interest.”
“But unfortunately I was at FC Twente, I’d only been there a year so, again, timing and loyalty to FC Twente, I had to stay on.” “And then, obviously, the well-documented one of January just gone where, again, the timing wasn’t right.”
“I had a job to do at Derby, it was on course. I’d only been there just over a year and I felt that the timing wasn’t right.” “We were top of the league, we were going to achieve what we wanted to achieve, getting into the Premier League, and I wanted to finish the job.”
“So it wasn’t a case of turning Newcastle down at all. It was a case of staying loyal to Derby, and that’s what I wanted to do.”
“The key thing for me was the statement that Ashley made at the West Ham game, when he actually came out with drive and determination and focus, and talked about the objectives and what he wanted to achieve.”
“He said it with such verve and vigor that everybody was convinced, everybody was rejuvenated through that.” “The objectives are top eight, and to win a trophy. That’s something that’s been transmitted through to me in meetings with Lee Charnley and the rest of the board.”“That’s what we want to achieve. That’s what we must achieve together.” “When you look at the West Ham game, the last game of the season, I looked at that game and thought ‘That is a football club that sticks together, on and off the field.’”
“If we can add to that and plan well, get the right recruitment and the right resources this club can take off.”
So it seems the interview Mike Ashley gave to Sky Sports convinced Steve that Newcastle and the owner were serious about building a good side and trying to win something.
The announcements today have certainly been consistent with Ashley’s message back on May 24th that he now wants to build a good side at Newcastle and try to win something.
Now all they have to do is to execute – and that starts almost immediately with Steve first completing his coaching staff.
And then getting some of our top transfer targets though the door – we must sign some very good players this summer – that’s now the acid test.
Comments welcome.
166 comments so far
welshgeordie9
Jun 10, 2015 at 10:23 PM
Comment #161I only go on two blogs this and swans, is that alright with you all, ffs.
firebug666
Jun 10, 2015 at 10:29 PM
Comment #162Welshie, I just wanna ask you:
How can you call yourself a Newcastle supporter?
When you come on here, you slag off the other supporters, go out of your way to wind people up with your Carver and Pardew love in comments, and spout off continuously about how great the Swans are, and how poor and sh1te Newcastle are.
You couldn’t make it up!
Sleepin Giant
Jun 10, 2015 at 10:29 PM
Comment #163Shwmae ! Well I really am a Welsh Geordie and not just an imitation being born in Morpeth of Welsh parents who moved back to Wales when I was 3, and brought up there, then went back to the Toon to work for a few years when I left home. Used to follow the Swans too in their Vetchfield days when they had real durable fans.
There are plenty of other WUMs on here anyway Jail, so lots of company.
Plenty of sheep-shaggers in the North east – they even named a breed of sheep after their favourites.
Yes talk is cheap,especially for Ashley, and I was very unsure about McClaren but he is an upgrade on Pardew in every respect, and now the also-rans have been kicked out there is a chance we may end up with a much stronger coaching side. Top 8 and cup runs is minimum for us.. Top 6 every season would be better aim.
Blackley and Brownlie
Jun 10, 2015 at 10:30 PM
Comment #164Nobody’s asking for apologies from the good few who called others deluded if they thought Ashley would ever pay compensation. Just a little humility to say “I got that one wrong.” Humility is in short supply in some quarters. You couldn’t make it up.
At least Ashley seems to have recognised one of Blackley’s biggest criticisms, namely that the tea boy and the comedian’s dad should not be running the show. With Moncur and Wally on the Board it addresses the lack of football experience.
Unfortunately it pains some people to give Ashley any credit. They’ve boxed themselves in such a hole now that they’d look stupid if they didn’t stick to their rigid line that Ashley is the anti-christ.
A couple of good posts from JDDubai and Jimmy tonight. The real test will be whether the club messes about or gets Austin through the door pronto without quibbles. Get him in and other good players may be persuaded.
beermonkey
Jun 10, 2015 at 10:41 PM
Comment #165well I am looking forward to seeing mclarens famous coaching put to use on our players
hope to see better performances from players
I hope a couple of cb’s and a proper striker come in early
but apart from that I would like him to get a proper look round the squad and to see what he can do with them then let him decide on what he needs
and who we sell
don’t see the point in binning a player like abied thought he grasped his chance and did well under pards when he was forced to use him
like Aarons they both struggled with injuries but looked good early in the season
ulstertoon
Jun 11, 2015 at 3:15 AM
Comment #166I appear to be the only one pessimistic about this, which shocks me.
Personally I cannot trust the board or Ashley after what they have done to our club, that will have to be earned.
As for McClaren who is to know? I keep hearing about what a great coach he is but that only seems to be from sources in my opinion, havent a clue. Also if he’s that great, why did Derby slip from 1st to 8th in the final homestretch of the season? Can he not work well under pressure? If he can’t we all know Newcastle wouldn’t be for anyone who can’t handle pressure.
Also Charnley stated, “He has a proven track record of being an innovative and forward-thinking coach and developing and improving players, which was a key quality we sought in the individual to fill this role.” To me this seems to suggest that there will be a lack of spending, and he will have to use his fore mentioned coaching abilities to somehow carry Newcastle through a season. I am afraid as are all Newcastle fans, that MA’s speach before the West Ham game was just to keep us from giving him grief over his summer holiday.