Steve McClaren has admitted he’s in a results-driven business and that he needs results to stay manager of Newcastle United and he needs them soon.
We were a little but surprised with his demeanor during his press conference on Thursday for the Liverpool game because he seemed to be saying that if we just keep with what we are doing the results will come and everything will be just fine.
But how long will that take is a very good question.
Two months – three months.
Steve McClaren – he must get results
It’s unrealistic to think that if Steve loses the next three games he will keep his job but there again Lee Charnley is not known as a decisive executive.
This is what Steve said when asked about his future:
“It’s football, so you never know. You go into every job knowing the impatience of football and you need results. We know what the situation is and it’s game to game and we’re fighting for the next result.”
“I wouldn’t ask for guarantees and I wouldn’t expect to receive that. I think that’s demonstrated by what we do during the week and what we do on a Saturday or Sunday and that’s why it’s important.”
“It was a normal, routine weekly meeting with Lee Charnley – that we have to catch up. It was a chat.”
“That’s what we’ve said to the players, ‘please don’t give up, don’t give up on each other, don’t give up on yourselves’. That’s the most important thing.”
“I’ve got confidence in these players because three weeks ago I was happy, we’d had a good two weeks going into the international break thinking that we’d turned the corner a little bit and looking forward to the challenges ahead.”
“Two games later, we are where we are. That’s the frustration about the job.”
“I’m still here. I’m here, doing a job and that’s it. We’ve got a game on Sunday and I’m not thinking ‘phew, I need this or I need that’, I know what the process is and I know what the job is. We know what needs doing.”
“Will we be given time? We need to get results to keep that going, we know that, but like everything, we do the right things every day, we do the work and we try and give the players the confidence they need on a Saturday, Sunday, whenever to win games.”
If Steve does get fired it will very likely come from Mike Ashley and not from the man who hired McClaren – Lee Charnley.
But if he is fired we cannot have the indecisiveness and hesitancy we had earlier in the year when Charnley was trying to decide who should be hired to replace Alan Pardew.
Lee never really made a decision and John Carver got the interim job almost by default.
And that almost cost Newcastle our Premier League status.
The same hesitancy and indecision this time around could see us definitely relegated next May.
Lee Charnley – perhaps with a push from Mike Ashley have to show more executive leadership – of only for the good of the club and to keep us in the Premier League.
Comments welcome.
50 comments so far
andrew84
Dec 4, 2015 at 12:44 AM
Comment #1“Will we be given time?”
You’ve had more time than you asked for Steve, so let’s not bring up the word ‘impatience’ as a stick to beat the fans with.
I have to say, every time I read a quote from McClaren I have to question what the hell he’s going on about. It’s just words thrown together but they don’t actually ‘say’ anything or make a point.
On my earlier comment btw – I did not intend to single Colo out in particular for the poor defence, however I still think he’s a god awful captain.
Roosta
Dec 4, 2015 at 12:48 AM
Comment #2I remember MA saying that he only started sweating about our prem survival with a couple of games to go, so keeping Carver in the seat wasnt a problem for them as they knew for sure that we would survive and his objective of just staying in the prem was achieved, he nearly fell flat on his arse though, Lee Charnley is a big big worry for me, his sarky little grin may well be wiped of his face this time. we do not deserve to stay in the top flight even at this stage of the season.
jimmysmith
Dec 4, 2015 at 2:28 AM
Comment #3Hey comrade Tsunki. I was only pretending to be cross the other day. Don’t be mean!
John Tudor
Dec 4, 2015 at 2:33 AM
Comment #4yeah
jimmysmith
Dec 4, 2015 at 2:40 AM
Comment #5yeah
Charlietoon
Dec 4, 2015 at 2:56 AM
Comment #6The only thing that can save this team is firing this incompetent prick now. Very few fans wanted him in but we gave him every ounce of our support. He has been unable to motivate the players. He has been unable to stabalize the team with a game plan or introduce any recognisable form of spirit or togetherness. The team is severely lacking in quality throughout the defence and midfield. I’m not even going to bother watching for a few weeks so I can have a happy holiday instead of a depressing one.
Charlietoon
Dec 4, 2015 at 2:56 AM
Comment #7I cant spell stabilise
Charlietoon
Dec 4, 2015 at 2:57 AM
Comment #8stabalize?
Charlietoon
Dec 4, 2015 at 2:57 AM
Comment #9Ah ha! Stabilize 🙂
jimmysmith
Dec 4, 2015 at 3:35 AM
Comment #10“The team is severely lacking in quality throughout the defence and midfield” Agreed, although I wouldn’t go so far as to say severely, and certainly lacking in confidence. I don’t see how that adds up to McC to being an “incompetent prick” though.
I do think though Newcastle require better, when you consider the only real success we’ve enjoyed since the early to mid fifties has been under an inspired KK, and the masterful Bobby Robson, both tenures sadly curtailed.
Sliema
Dec 4, 2015 at 3:54 AM
Comment #11Nah its not Mclaren’s fault. It’s gonna take someone special to save us this season and to get any kind of commitment out of our current lazy bunch. Years of no investment and a new contract for captain who has led us in years.
Mclaren has joined an already sinking ship and if anything 13 matches is nowhere near enough time to for him to try and turn around this disaster.
That being said he should not have got the job in the first place.
nightfa11
Dec 4, 2015 at 5:20 AM
Comment #12Mclaren always says theyre doing the right things.. If your players have no motivation, no commitment, nothing.. How the f*** are you doing the right thing? I get that results dont go your way etc.. But to have no spirit..no fighting.. Youre not doing the right thing..period..
I think our best option would be to get hiddink.. He just might be the best coach out there..
brklyngeordie
Dec 4, 2015 at 5:29 AM
Comment #13All falls in the lap Charnley man had forever to do his research on next manager and all along had Macca in his sights even though Derby stumbled at end of season this is a joke of board and club atm..
Some mangers that were to be had were Tuchel,Klopp, De Boer instead we go w Wally : (
Still good managers available if we have any desire to go that route here is a few out of work if need be Rodgers, Moyes, Nuno, Seedorf, Favre, Pearson, Di Matteo, Mazzari, Schuster,Biesla,Juande Ramos
cyprus
Dec 4, 2015 at 6:27 AM
Comment #14Ed,
you’re a bit surprise at his words and demeanour, but imagine if Pardew had said them! In fact, it almost sounds like him speaking. You would’ve admired his steady nerves etc. 🙂
Now, get to work Steve, or do one.
KK, come back 🙂 Football Director, I think it’s called.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Dec 4, 2015 at 6:55 AM
Comment #15Morning…
The more you look at it the appointment of McClaren looks more and more like Charnley didn’t know what to do after Pardew left!
…I still don’t think he does.
I think if Macca goes then Charnley is lost on what to do and will and get a quick fix til the end of the season.
Charnley is a slimy little turd just looking to hang someone else out to dry. We get these underwhelming managers with no say who are spineless and not equipped for the job. Usually they have their own agenda.
…and the fans seem to the losers. We need that board dismantled.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 4, 2015 at 6:57 AM
Comment #16Mclaten, Carr, Moncur, Churnley, none of them were on the board the last time we got relegated or the next time we avoided it with a game to spare, there is one constant in this whole sorry affair and that’s the bloke whose trying to emulate his sports tat success on a football club.
Ron Knee
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:01 AM
Comment #17Morning jesper
Don’t worry. A PR blitz from Keith Bishop will solve all our problems in the twinkling of an eye.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:01 AM
Comment #18*to be…
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:02 AM
Comment #19Ron…do you think it will be Christmasy 😉
…I do love Keith Bishop
firebug666
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:03 AM
Comment #20jesper
I think the only reason McClaren is here is because he is pals with Carr.
Remember the 80 fictitious applicants Charnley said had applied, yet they never got anyone, the wanted Remi Garde until the end of the season, while they waited for McClaren, but he turned them down.
McClaren made his mouth go about wanting to stay at Derby but I suspect he and all around him knew he was coming here.
He was not one of the 80 fictitious applicant’s but he was the one they wanted from the start.
The whole thing stinks.
Slank
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:07 AM
Comment #21Because McClaren has admitted he’s in a results-driven business surely the pay of all players and coaching staff should be based on results. Say, 50% basic plus 50% percentage based on a draw or a win.
Perhaps the club should take a leaf out of SD and pay zero contracts but a huge incentives for draws (less so for them of course) and wins.
I very much doubt any of it will happen as players and agents have the whip hand when it comes to money.
I would also say that ticket prices should fluctuate based on performances. Say higher the price, higher the league position.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:08 AM
Comment #22firebug…I agree the whole thing stinks mate!
…but I don’t buy the friendship story…I think it’s just cooked up.
Ron Knee
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:10 AM
Comment #23jesper
Perhaps he’ll get Richard Curtis (director of sickly movies) to make a video: Newcastle Actually, Lee Charnley’s Diary, etc.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:11 AM
Comment #24Slsnk…then how do you pay the board and those in a position with decision-making?
Won’t the players and manager be the sore losers here?
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:12 AM
Comment #25*Slank
firebug666
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:15 AM
Comment #26jesper
Apparently they have been pals for a lot of years, But even putting that aside, I still think this deal was hatched in January last year, and played out until the summer, It has all the hallmarks of Ashley stamped all over it.
He was saying that Charnley would be choosing the next manager, the likelihood is the deal was already done.
And then they sneaked him in the back door, locked him in a cupboard until they could gather the “preferred” media Partners.
Slank
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:26 AM
Comment #27Jesper,
The board too.
It’s quite normal in almost all commercial companies to have incentivised management. I would be surprised if the club’s management is not as SD is particularly well known for theirs.
firebug666
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:28 AM
Comment #28Newcastle’s Jack Colback has played down a training-ground row between Steve McLaren and several senior players and insists it just shows the team care.
http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/10088147/colback-plays-down-incident?
So is this a new incident or are we talking about last week?
Slank
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:32 AM
Comment #29Jesper
I worked for an American company where every employee was on an incentivised salary. Mine was 75% basic plus 25% incentive that was part personal targets, part company results.
For at least two years there was no 25% pay out. It certainly focuses the mind (and pocket) !
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:33 AM
Comment #30firebug…probably last week!
Ron Knee
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:34 AM
Comment #31firebug
Sounds like the original ‘incident’.
lochinvar
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:39 AM
Comment #32And the morning news:
Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren has two matches – Sunday’s home game against Liverpool, followed by a trip to Tottenham – to save his job. (Daily Mirror)
Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, 68, is close to agreeing a £10m deal to take over United Arab Emirates club Al Jazira. (Sun)
Win win if both leave for pastures new.
Perhaps Ashley could carry their bags on the way out.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:41 AM
Comment #33Slank,
I think it’s fairly common knowledge that a bonus scheme exists and imo has a great deal to do with the couldn’t give a to$$ attitude of the players, what does a player earning 25-60K a week give a fcuk anout a 150K bonus at the end of the season for finishing an eye watering tenth. Despite what the PR machine says, tenth is still the goal and tell a group of natural winners that is all they have to achieve and this is what you get.
Tsunki
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:41 AM
Comment #34Jimmy smith – I’m biting big time these days, it must be the Jeff Effect I’m getting paranoid 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:51 AM
Comment #35Slank,
If you were on 75K a year with a 25K bonus that is a huge difference to your life, the bonus these lot will get is insignificant to already millionaires.
Slank
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:52 AM
Comment #36Jail
You are right, the 150k bonus is far too small in relation to their basic. In fact it is totally pointless.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:54 AM
Comment #37Tsunki,
I don’t know how you’ve got the nerve to show your name on here after showing a severe lack of footy knowledge, fancy getting jmiley mixed up with jimmysmith
Jail for Ashley
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:56 AM
Comment #38Slank,
But how can you expect players to be fairly compensated after signing up for a bonus scheme and then the club not signing anyone for 18 months
Slank
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:58 AM
Comment #39Jail,
As I said it focuses the mind, pocket and bank balance.
When times were good they were great. When times were bad they were really bad.
But most employees stuck with it and collectively worked hard. There was a very strong work ethic. Whether that was the pay structure or just the culture of the company I’m not too sure. Possibly a combination of both.
firebug666
Dec 4, 2015 at 7:59 AM
Comment #40Steve McClaren has told The Times that he has never considered resigning from his managerial role at Newcastle United.
The former Derby County and Nottingham Forest boss was appointed the Newcastle manager in June.
Things have been tough for the Magpies so far this season, with the team in real danger of getting relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2015-16 campaign.
McClaren is under a lot of pressure, but he has made it clear that he has never contemplated quitting his managerial role at Newcastle.
“Absolutely not,” the Englishman told The Times when asked if he had contemplated resignation.
When asked about his recent meeting with Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley and Keith Bishop, club owner Mike Ashley’s adviser, McClaren said: “It was a normal, routine weekly meeting. It was a chat.”