When Alan Pardew walked out after the last game of last year – a 3-2 home win over Everton – it was thought by most that his time at Newcastle had come to a natural conclusion and it was time for both Pardew and Newcastle to move on.
It was an excellent chance for Newcastle to get in a top manager, even though it was half way through the season, but that didn´t stop Newcastle from letting Pardew go.
We got some compensation from Crystal Palace for Pardew and the club took it and then thought who they may bring in – in that order.
Lee Charnley even unwisely admitted at the time that Pardew leaving was a shock and he had no plans to fill the vacancy.
Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley
We must have been winning the game
So after looking around a bit he put John Carver in charge and John did kind of OK in his first four league games in January with 4 points and a good 3-0 win at Hull at the end of the month.
At that time, we had 30 points from 23 games and no relegation worries at all.
Then everything went pear-shaped and John not only started to lose games but said strange things in his press conferences which couldn´t have helped him with relations with the players:
- The players are not good enough for Newcastle and we´ll sell them in the summer
- If only they had my passion for the club we´d be OK
- Mike Williamson got himself sent off deliberately
- I´m the best coach in the Premier League (said in early May after losing eight games in a row)
Those comments are probably because it was getting all too much for John Carver but did Lee Charnley do anything about it – no – he did nothing – absolutely nothing.
Before the last game we had one point out of the previous ten games and we were very lucky to survive relegation last season and John Carver would have been gone long before the last game if he was at any other PL club.
Mike Ashley came out just before the last game and said he wanted to win something and money would be available in the transfer market.
We expected John Carver to be fired and he was – along with Steve Stone in early June.
So then we had a great opportunity of getting in a top coach – but what happened – we appointed Steve McClaren when he became available – after being fired by Derby County in late May.
And Lee Charnley thought he could be successful at Newcastle?
Newcastle seemed more concerned about getting a manager in who would accept the way the club was being run – than a good manager who could make a difference.
That´s what is so worrying about Newcastle these days.
One of Albert Einstein´s many inciteful statements he made during his life was the following:
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results”.
That´s Newcastle all right – the system has never worked – yet we keep with it and it could yet take us down to the Championship for a second time.
Newcastle could do a lot worse than changing things so the manager (or head coach) is the one chooses the players coming in – like in the old days.
This is a poll we put out in early April as Steve McClaren was continually being linked with the club as Lee Charnley´s first choice according to lots of reports.
Do You Want To See Steve McClaren As Newcastle's New Head Coach?
- No (73%, 6,518 )
- Yes (27%, 2,462 )
Total Voters: 8,980
And this is a poll pout out after we survived relegation on May 24th.
Should John Carver Now Get Head Coach Position?
- No (97%, 9,064 )
- Yes (3%, 233 )
Total Voters: 9,297
So fans were not too happy at either John Carver´s appointment or Steve McClaren´s appointment.
And now it looks like the whole thing is going pear-shaped again – for the second time this year and fans don´t think Steve can turn things around.
We probably shouldn’t hold our breath in case Steve McClaren is replaced because who will Charnley bring in?
Your guess is as good as mine, but good managers like David Moyes and Brendan Rodgers are probably personalities too big for the current Board to handle and they probably wouldn´t put up with the way the club is being run.
And so we continue to drop down the football ladder with other smaller clubs like West Ham, Southampton, Leicester, Crystal Palace, Watford, Stoke and West Brom making great progress as we continue to founder.
Comments welcome.
73 comments so far
AncientC
Dec 1, 2015 at 10:24 AM
Comment #1Good ol’ Jib would prefer to talk tactics and favourite players whilst the club sinks.
“I think you are an ostrich – your head must be in the sand. Is your head in the sand?”
Bambams
Dec 1, 2015 at 10:26 AM
Comment #2Ed
The problem is Ashley is too stubborn and thick skinned.
He knows best in his head and diverts the blame to ‘People I have put in charge’
The man and our board are amateurs in a big professional league.
We have Moncur on the board with Charnley. ….Nothing against Moncur but what can he bring. No other club in the world would have a set up like this and the players know it.
Colocini will be the next one offered a place at the table for his ‘Leadership Qualities ‘
Unless Ash changes quickly we will continue in the same way – downhill…
lesh
Dec 1, 2015 at 10:29 AM
Comment #3From previous: Can anyone realistically expect to hear anything from Charnley when his vocabulary probably extends as far as “Yes Mr Ashley, whatever you want”?
Bambams
Dec 1, 2015 at 10:31 AM
Comment #4Lesh
Precisely ….
Just a mouthpiece for Ash
Jib
Dec 1, 2015 at 10:35 AM
Comment #5AncientC
You silly little drama queen
The club isn’t sinking
The team’s playing shit is all
MacToon
Dec 1, 2015 at 10:39 AM
Comment #6I’ve seen this suggested this morning and it’s already been planned for a while, this Saturday morning in town:
https://t.co/Yo13zHzhIP
anthc
Dec 1, 2015 at 10:41 AM
Comment #7Getting pish poor lower league managers and expecting different results correct.
Buying unproven young talent thinking they’ll set the league on fire, correct.
We are a shambles, disgrace and embarrassment to the league. I’m one of the deluded idiots who was a bit optimistic at the start and for some insane reason renewed by ticket. I’m not the only one to hand over my hard earned cash use work holidays to go to games and give up my Saturdays but I’ve had enough. To all the I told you so fans yes you were right are club will not change till ashleys gone along with all the management and ex players who sold their souls. I’ll take all the stick because I deserve it. I turned up every weekend expecting results to change so I guess I’m insane when it comes to supporting this club!
AncientC
Dec 1, 2015 at 10:41 AM
Comment #8Jib – 3 wins in 25 games…
This club is on life-support and the generator is about to blow out, meanwhile you want to talk about the decor.
anthc
Dec 1, 2015 at 10:48 AM
Comment #9Sorry but if under serious threat from relegation which looks more likely every week then are club is sinking. Success starts on the pitch which keeps you in the top leagues where the finance helps succeed at the business end. This is not a one off its been coming the last three seasons because we don’t improve or even stand still for that matter we get worse. How many teams spend 50 million and become worse?
Jib
Dec 1, 2015 at 10:53 AM
Comment #10Quite right success starts on the field .
That’s why I’m talking selection and tactics , not beating my breast and wailing to the skies like a big soft lass .
hibbitt
Dec 1, 2015 at 10:57 AM
Comment #11jib……what you know about tactics and team selection could be put on the back of a stamp….WUM
Jib
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:01 AM
Comment #12There you go !
MacToon who hasn’t posted for weeks.
His first post is a link to a twitter account with connections to the Shop Stewards Network !!!!
This has nowt to do with footy !!
KEEP POLITICS OUT OF FOOTBALL
I don’t give a rats ass how the bloke in the next seat at SJP votes !
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:03 AM
Comment #13http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/newcastle-united/transfer-talk/news/newcastle-recall-williamson-from-wolves_260144.html#$$nyoemp&&91C16pgaEeWPHRLiLCu6pw$$
Looks like Williamson is back ! Drop Colo and put him next to Mbemba at least he can defend !!
See Klopp is wrapping Coutinho up in cotton wool so he will fit for our game ? They dont look the same team without him would love him not to make the game !!
Jib
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:03 AM
Comment #14Hibbit you are entitled to your opinion about my footy knowledge but KEEP POLITICS OUT OF SPORT
Lilongwe Geordie
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:04 AM
Comment #15Jib,
This is a blog about Newcastle United, the whole club and all to do with the club. It isn’t just a blog for what happens on the pitch. most people posting today are posting relevant posts regarding the club and issues that are linked to the club.
MacToon
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:07 AM
Comment #16Here’s your footy talk then Jiz, Mike’s been called back from his loan spell. We’re saved.
Lilongwe Geordie
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:07 AM
Comment #17Panic over, Williamson has been recalled from Wolves. We are saved….
optimistic prime
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:07 AM
Comment #18I saw the reports of Williamson being recalled, is it true.
We can’t be that lucky Schteeve is gona drop Colo.
Jib
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:08 AM
Comment #19Lilo
Never figured you as naive Alex !
There are folk on here with a different agenda.
They only emerge from the shadows when NUFC fare badly , who knows maybe you are a fellow traveller.
I only ever talk sport on here.
jayphoto
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:10 AM
Comment #20@lesh- thats a bit unfair, i’ve got it on good authority that Charnleys vocabulary streches to milk,sugar aswell as apologising that he didn’t have enough change to get biscuits
MacToon
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:11 AM
Comment #21I had no agenda but to point out what had been suggested and discussed earlier on this blog has already been planned for this Saturday.
Jiz, you are a priceless contributor here. legendary status tbh.
Jib
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:12 AM
Comment #22For a few weeks now I have felt there is some sort of power struggle going on behind the scenes at NUFC and that maybe the players have got caught up in it , such a dramatic loss of form needs a better explanation than International breaks and terrorism in Paris .
croftus5678
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:14 AM
Comment #23in my view macca’s not done much wrong its just the players dont like playing for him ! i like his set up and the way he’s handled our youth’s ect and would be more than happy if our current players woke up and though ye i will play for macca from now on !
can i see it happening ….not really ! hope i’m wrong mind but i cant see us getting any points any time soon and selfishly i think a new manager may get that initial boost that may keep us up in the prem more than the gamble of keeping macca.
it may be rash and we do have over half a season and a transfer window to plug that dreadfull cb position but every point counts now imo.
The overrated Frenchman
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:17 AM
Comment #24I never knew Albert Einstein was inciteful…
Lilongwe Geordie
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:18 AM
Comment #25Jib,
Naive? What is your point? Are you saying talking about the clubs worst calendar year on record doesn’t merit a discussion on what the owner is up to and what fans could do to try and bring about change?
How long do you propose the current bad running of the club is allowed to continue before something is done? Where is the improvement, the growth and development that McClaren and the ‘new’ board were aiming for? If anything things have gone downhill in recent weeks.
You talk of pragmatism and aiming for a draw every game, is that the height of your ambition for the club? We are a club in transition, show me where the transition is? What has been implemented that is taking so long to change anything? Liverpool transformed in no time at all, West Ham transformed from a terrible second half to the season last year.
The style isn’t improving, the players aren’t performing, and McClaren is looking like a man who can’t cope more and more. He accepted defeat at half time, hoping to limit the damage. That is embarrassing. I was happy to give Steve a chance, but what have you seen that makes you think he can salvage anything from what is already looking like another wasted season – at best!
Lilongwe Geordie
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:27 AM
Comment #26JIb,
I’ve given my opinion many a time on what I feel McClaren should do to change things, on which players need to be pulled out and given a kick up the backside. What has McClaren done? Zip, stuck to the same system, picked the under performing players continually.
Actually, that is wrong, he singled out a young kid, new to the Prem and dropped him as a response to 2 garbage performances. Ignoring the fact it is his system and selection that is stopping any service into him.
martoon
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:27 AM
Comment #27croftus5678 @23 – It’s hard to know why McClaren would suddenly lose the players after a promising start and after a few games. I have to say I wonder if Jib @22 is right there is something going on behind the scenes affecting the players. This is where a sharp, insightful reporter would be able to tell us but we only have Lee Ryder 😉
optimistic prime
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:27 AM
Comment #28Lack of leadership at the club is the problem at NUFC.
The owner has no real Intrest in the club other than to promote his brand and wants nothing more than to tread water or as fans see it stagnate.
The board is for show and has no real power or say in the direction of the club.
The manager and coaches have limited options to choose from and don’t have any say in who they get in. They are left in a situation were they have no power or sway over the players due to it being virtually impossible to drop them, and the players not being the coaches choice makes them less likely to play for him.
The players have been bought to pay for the team and not play for it.
We have a team (I use that term loosely) who’s main motivation is personal performance to get the move they were promised before they signed.
Improvement of the side is sixth or seventh on club priorities when signing.
Ashley wants nobody at the club who could unite it!
He doesn’t want a manager the fans could get behind or a leader on the pitch that players and fans could get behind.
There’s no comunication because there’s nowt to say, same old same old is a pretty boring statement to hear from the club so they say nowt.
No one os allowed to have any sort of power that could jeopardise Ashley’s control over the club!
NUFC, no more heroes
Ashley out!
BandB
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:29 AM
Comment #29martoon,
This is Jib’s idea is it?
Good old Jib!
He was mocking it as tripe yesterday.
Shot Bru
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:32 AM
Comment #30Awesome, Williamson returns from loan!
This must be part of the horse and cart plan Big Mike was on about…or the cart and horse?!
Or just the return of our resident carthorse CB!
Poor Armstrong must be dreading the inevitable early recall from Coventry!
Jib
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:36 AM
Comment #31Lilo the naive comment was not related to any footy issues , on those you can leave me standing .
However there are occasional posters on here who do not give a fig about the club in reality , who are only interested in giving Ashley a hard time.
Commendable as that aim may be , in my opinion that is not what an NUFC blog is for.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:37 AM
Comment #32What the F**k goes on at the TOON – Williamson recalled because Lascalles has a hamstring injury
couldn’t make it up could you
Injuries, injuries, injuries …
Us and Arsenal always top of injury league
Got to be something wrong with the training facilties
Jib
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:42 AM
Comment #33Mactoon
Changing my name to Jiz Ha ha ha very funny very adult.
In reality it is spelled JIZZ
No what I mean – nudge nudge wink wink !
Jib
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:42 AM
Comment #34Know even
Lilongwe Geordie
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:42 AM
Comment #35Jib,
I’d say those that come on to have a go at Ashley aren’t a problem. For example, MacToon was a regular poster and posted about football quite often. He is now fed up with a lot of things at the club that all boil down to Ashley.
A lot of NUFC fans share the same frustrations, you just need to have a quick look at pretty much every NUFC related comments section or blog. Those who want to focus on Ashley and bring him down are all over.
He owns Newcastle and any discussion about protesting to target Ashley to enforce change is very much a topic for a NUFC related site.
It would be wonderful if the club were in a position that enabled all focus to be on the football side, but they aren’t and haven’t been for a long time. It is only to be expected after the clubs performance in 2015, and much of 2014, that people are focussing on the decision makers at the club and demanding answers and change.
The overrated Frenchman
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:49 AM
Comment #36I suppose endorsing the atomic bomb was inciteful, when you think about it….
John Tudor
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:50 AM
Comment #37jib the poliTIC
lesh
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:58 AM
Comment #38MacToon
The last thing we need’s an Ashley Out campaign – he’ll just dig in all the more.
Change the focus of demos to Please Mr Ashley, change your NUFC ways’ or something like it outside SD stores and it may just have the desired effect. Can’t see it but a different approach might have some success.
And, like the Pardew Out campaign, I can’t see a SMcC out capaign achieving anything
Jib
Dec 1, 2015 at 12:01 PM
Comment #39Lilo
I guess you have a fair point.
My ire was raised not so much by Mactoon as by a certain Mediterranian islander who last Spring was telling the good folk of Newcastle city and it’s environs to man the barricades and fight to the last man and bullet against wicked Ashley.
Then this morning has to ask what a spelk is !!!!!
Rotonda heights
Dec 1, 2015 at 12:11 PM
Comment #40if willo is the answer what the hell was the question