Alan Pardew was under enormous pressure a number of times when he was Newcastle United manager and we always thought his biggest asset was that he was so tough mentally and also so single-minded.
And if you are a Premier League manager these days there’s no room for weaklings in the mental health area – that’s for sure.
It’s a gruesome job and even tougher at an iconic club like (the famous) Newcastle United and we haven’t done well for over three years now and we’ve been pretty hopeless since Sir Bobby Robson was sacked back in 2004 for only finishing in 5th place.
Freddy Shepherd will never live that down.
Alan Pardew – while on Tyneside
Steve McClaren is under intense pressure and scrutiny after gaining only 10 points in our first 14 games and he’s managed the last two games which have been two of the worst performances from a Newcastle side we’ve seen in a very long time.
Pardew has been asked if he has any sympathy for Steve given it was such a one-sided game on Saturday (we were completely outclassed by Palace):
“No I don’t. I’d rather just talk about my team because my team were terrific.”
“I’ve been in Steve’s position and it’s a tough, tough role. “But he’s tough enough to be able to deal with it.”
“And for Newcastle, it’s just about what we did on Monday against Sunderland, try to bounce back for next week – that’s all you can focus on.”
There’s going to be tremendous pressure on any manager whose team is in the relegation zone these days in the Premier League and with TV rights money only increasing – it will only get worse – meaning even more pressure on managers.
Starting in June there is a £5.1B package that kicks in for the next three years – much bigger than the current £3.0B deal.
Who would want to be a Premier League manager these days?
On the positive side they do get paid some big money – which is not surprising – and we suppose that can go towards the costs of psychological counseling – which they will probably need at some point in their management careers.
Is it all worth it for PL managers?
That’s a very good question and money isn’t everything.
Comments welcome.
129 comments so far
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Comment #41Ibiza…you are at reading these days my friend!
BandB…???
Blackley and Brownlie
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:31 PM
Comment #42Geordieboy83
You wouldnt want to see Mike fork out £15m for Austin. We wasted almost as much on Thauvin, having lost a small fortune on Cabella. We will lose that ten times over if we go down. He might have been £5m overpriced to most well run clubs. But we were nearly relegated and desperate. Supply and demand. We needed him. And you’re saying what you’re saying even with the benefit of hindsight. Of course there’s no guarantees. But Austin was a decent shout and still is.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:36 PM
Comment #43*hard at reading
Ibizatoon
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:39 PM
Comment #44Jesper…I didn’t think so, could you expand?
BandB…I see. Have fun.
lochinvar
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:42 PM
Comment #45You have to wonder with their inability to make the right decisions if that will lead our erstwhile leaders to bringing back Andy Carrol to placate the howling fans baying at the gates of SJP.
Presumable he has a discounted voucher / buy back clause in his Sports Dire contract.
Along with the return of Keegan it wouldn’t surprise me if that’s what they think they need to do to keep the crowds happy.
Wrong.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:45 PM
Comment #46Ibiza…are my posts these days cryptic? I thought my respond to BandB was very straight to the point…not like hers though!
jane
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:48 PM
Comment #47playing Blaydon Races before KO at Bolton?
Bolton need points with Shola up front.
Ibizatoon
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:48 PM
Comment #48Jesper…Not just these days mate 🙂
Has nothing to do with BandB, but maybe I’ve misunderstood (well, clearly I have, as that’s why I asked the question at the time – I didn’t understand).
BandB…try and read some of the post along with the poll (which poll? The one where 90% didn’t want McClaren?). Clearly alot thought the appointment of McClaren was great!
…don’t down play this it’s not fair! (What’s being played down? That people wanted McClaren?).
Hope that clears my part in the matter up. Over to you.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:51 PM
Comment #49Ibiza…no offense, but it’s easy to misunderstand a post if that’s would you set out to do!
optimistic prime
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:52 PM
Comment #50http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/12025958/.html
Ho ho ho merry Xmas
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:52 PM
Comment #51I really can’t help you there mate you are going to have to figure that one out on your own! Enjoy your evening
Ibizatoon
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:53 PM
Comment #52Jesper…Before I do take offense, are you suggesting I purposefully misunderstood your post?
Actually, let’s clarify that, I didn’t misunderstand, I didn’t understand it at all, which is why I asked.
Jib
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:56 PM
Comment #53Ibiza
Jesper , since before breakfast time this morning has been trying to convince the blog what a clever little foresighted Dane he is by being virtually the only one who didn’t want McClaren.
This is quite clearly not the case as most fans were at best luke warm.
Jib
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:57 PM
Comment #54Cracking goal by Brentford
Jib
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:58 PM
Comment #55Good dig by Shola
Ibizatoon
Nov 30, 2015 at 7:59 PM
Comment #56Jib…Thanks, but no thanks. I can sort this out with Jesper.
firebug666
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:06 PM
Comment #57OP
A merry phucking Xmas indeed, I have no doubt that if the offer is big enough Perez will be sold, along with any other player.
If this happened I think the riots would follow in short notice.
Perez is arguably our best forward, Talk about back to basics, more like back to square one…..AGAIN!
Transfer Sage
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:08 PM
Comment #58Why do people think Austin was over priced at 15mil?
He was QPRs only hope of getting promoted and getting them near enough 100mil of TV money, think they’d really sell for 10 mil?
No way.
optimistic prime
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:10 PM
Comment #59Firebug
Riots lol, no chance.
Ashley could mismanage the club all the way to the Dr Martins league and 75% of the ground would sit in silence.
firebug666
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:10 PM
Comment #60Sage
Austin is in the last year of his contract so could leave for free in the summer, QPR may want to cash in and just take what they can get.
firebug666
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:15 PM
Comment #61OP @59
Oh go on then burst my bubble. Another dream shattered.
On a serious not though, I think that this time more of the fans have had enough, lets face it we are now worse than we have ever been. Mass walk out at the last home game, tensions are running high, and the pot is about to blow.
If the want to place the straw that breaks the camels back, they can go ahead and sell off our best players while we fight relegation.
Jib
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:15 PM
Comment #62From The Telegraph
Journalists have been told not to ask players about transfers and McClaren, who has claimed in the past that the club would be active in every transfer window while he is head coach, is also now avoiding discussing anything to do with recruitment.
Newcastle appear to be in desperate need of reinforcement in the New Year, but the reluctance to spend may also indicate Ashley is starting to question McClaren’s future as head coach.
geordieboy83
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:17 PM
Comment #63Blackley
I’m in no way saying I didn’t or wouldn’t want Austin here, hindsight is a wonderful thing but at the time and even now I don’t think he’s worth 15 million in the last year of his contract. I know we maggot have wasted money thauvin, although imo too early to write him off, but that doesn’t make Austin worth anymore if that makes sense mate.
Sage
Just my opinion mate, you look at Hernandez who had scored for bigger and better clubs, and the price he went for in comparison, and I stand by my belief Austin was overpriced. Can I just reiterate id be happy to have him here.
geordieboy83
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:20 PM
Comment #64There’s a decent article in the chronicle earlier about de Jong, and how we really have missed a trick by not at least trying him in a striker position where he proved a success at Ajax. Still can’t quite fathom how the lad isn’t being given a chance.
croftus5678
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:29 PM
Comment #65@58 sage
spot on.
he may not be worth it when compared to value for money ect ect in some peoples view but to qpr he was a real chance at 100mil in the prem.
it’s like us saying perez/janmaat/sissoko are only worth 10mil but if a bid of 15mil comes in its more than they are worth so we will accept it and almost def get relegated (for example before it’s picked fault with as i know its not their true value)
and tbf we dont have the creativity or movement ect of bigger teams so getting a bigger named striker who’s used to getting that service may not be the best choice ! i’s personally go for a striker thats used to hard work and creating something out of nothing as he will not get that much service with us lol
optimistic prime
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:34 PM
Comment #66Firebug
I was walking past the ground about a hour into the match and they were streaming out, was a surprise to see so many leaving.
Personally I just thought people were taking the chance to do some Xmas early shopping.
To many fans blame Mclaren Pardew the players Carr Charnley and even the tea lady 😉 until everyone sees the light and realise it’s all down to the slug nothing will change and the fans will continue to bicker. The fat Cnut has played a blinder dividing the fans.
Ashley out!
bladeuser
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:37 PM
Comment #67OPTIMISTICPRIME
give the other 25% a free pie and they would all sit there I’m silence
ASH OUT
SMAC OUT
COLO OUT
robmefirst
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:39 PM
Comment #68Got to take the armband away from Colo. Lascelles looked super poor against Palace. I’d still start Colo and Mbemba but holding mids are nowhere. Imagine a Carrick in there? Almost all goals we concede are from Sissoko not tracking back, or Colback and Anita ball watching a winger with a ball.
Even if we got Matip, we’d still concede. There’s no cover from the midfield.
Blackley and Brownlie
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:40 PM
Comment #69Geordieboy83
I think if you asked most fans now, if you could rewind the clock, would you have bought Austin gor £15m, they’d say yes. Some of us were saying it at the time.
As for De Jong, every time I’ve seen him, I’ve felt he doesn’t look suited to the league. He wants to stroll it. I’ve never seen another Premier League player who tries to do that. He has offered very little in his appearances whereas othr players would be busting a gut andvtrying yo prove a point. If he’s a good player suited to this league, he’s doing his utmost to hide the fact. The bottom line is that we need players committed to the cause. He’s not even done anything to help his own cause.
firebug666
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:40 PM
Comment #70OP
It’s what he is good at, he like to keep every one looking over their should to see who is ready to step into their shoes, and his minions at each other throats while he gets his dodgy deals done, But the time someone looks up and takes notice it’s too late.
A united fan base could force the changes that were promised, unfortunately most of our fans can’t even agree on what day it is.
Ah well; Onwards and downwards.
firebug666
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:41 PM
Comment #71*Shoulder
Jib
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:48 PM
Comment #72Spotted in Kenton
croftus5678
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:48 PM
Comment #73@70 fire
it’s tuesday….or is it thursday ! can we have a poll on it ?
Blackley and Brownlie
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:50 PM
Comment #74I’ve not heard anyone have a good word for Lascelles. They reckon he’s too inexperienced, poor or now “super poor”. I’m not seeing that. At least not yet. Of course he’s inexperienced, but so what? Opposing team’s will field inexperienced players. Of course he’ll make mistakes. But he’s got the physical attributes and I think he’s done well given that he’s just cutting his teeth in this league. I know one thing. He cannot be worse than Colo.
firebug666
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:51 PM
Comment #75croftus5678
I’m sticking with Sunday, But if you want a pole ask Ed, or we could wait for a Google answer.
firebug666
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:53 PM
Comment #76Jib @72
PMSL!
Blackley and Brownlie
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:58 PM
Comment #77I’ve seen enough of Thauvin to write him off. I thought he did really well when he came on as a sub in one game and he went up front and held it up great. But since then I cannot believe how bad or unsuited he is to this league.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:58 PM
Comment #78@Blackley
I feel the same way about Lascalles he has been thrown in when the whole team is falling apart and usually a couple of goals down
Start him with Mbemba and see how he does!!
I mean Colo against Benteke and Sturridge sends shivers down my spine for this weekend!!
The left hand side of ours will get battered as well with Ibe and Clyne so no use playing Wijnaldum and Dummett together as its got disaster written all over it
croftus5678
Nov 30, 2015 at 9:01 PM
Comment #79@75 fire
look i respect your view but i just can not agree with you on this one as its def either tue or thu !
i would back this up with stats but unfortunatly i’m not sure of the date or even the year come to think of it >.<
firebug666
Nov 30, 2015 at 9:05 PM
Comment #80croftus5678
PMSL!
I’m just gonna ask our lass, she ALWAYS claims to be right!