Newcastle need to be a lot more ambitious than they have been over the last couple of years and it looks like the chickens are now coming home to roost so to speak – for the poor decisions that have been made from the top.
The other way of putting that is that you have to face the consequences of your mistakes and/or poor decisions of the past.
It´s simply poor leadership with no accountability from the top
That´s really what´s happening at Newcastle right now and the situation is manifesting itself on the field with the team being 3rd bottom of the league and we have lost 13 games of the 23 games played in all competitions this season.
And that included yesterday´s 1-0 loss at Watford in the FA Cup third round and that´s the 6th time in nine attempts that we have gone out of the FA Cup at the first attempt since Mike Ashley bought the club in the summer of 2007.
It was even more significant this season because one of Newcastle´s stated goals is to win a cup this season – the other being to finish in the top eight in the Premier League.
An inability to consistently strengthen the squad based presumably on wanting to save money in transfer windows is one problem Newcastle have had.
Another is the club have made some poor transfer deals over the last few years and often just will not spend the necessary money to get hood p;layers in.
That didn´t happen last summer, but the past has caught up with us and the £52M spent last summer may have come too late.
And two poor and uninspired choices of head coach made by Managing Director Lee Charnley are why Newcastle are struggling mightily against relegation this season.
The other way of looking at the above issues is to say there is just not enough ambition or drive from those at the top to make Newcastle great again.
Aiming for top ten over the last few seasons has resulted in us fighting against relegation.
And there´s certainly no accountability at the club – because with the mistakes made heads would have rolled by now in any normal business.
In any organization poor leadership from the top always ends up in failure and Newcastle have not been effectively and successfully led from the top for a number of years now.
That´s why we are where we are at the moment and fans have to hope some changes will be made in the way the club is run – starting in this all important January transfer window.
If not then the strong likelihood has to be that we will be relegated again for the second time in seven years come May.
We really hope that doesn´t happen – it would be another almighty tragedy for the club and for some of the most loyal and committed fans in the business – if that does happen.
But it remains very possible.
Comments welcome.
249 comments so far
sparky55
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:10 AM
Comment #41Catchy
IMO the coach is the problem…we have some decent players that when reaching their full potential will be more than good enough to secure us a regular top half finish season after season.
We have the worst manager in the premiership and that’s the biggest problem right here right now. The players can come good under a good manager.
toon22
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:10 AM
Comment #42What we need is the next cheap,small,injury prone gamble with boderline mental problems to save our season.
So long as said player might turn a huge profit,it wont matter that he plays in a possition we dont need,so long as we might make some money.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:11 AM
Comment #43Couldn’t help but read the first few posts of auld Blackleys bore fest about due dilligence. One thing that stuck in my mind was that he reckons the biggest stick that is used to beat Ashley with is the free advertising. Me personally, I wouldn’t give a fcuk if we had free SD shirt sponsors, a red, blue and white away kit and even let him name the ground which will always be SJP anyway completely free of charge if he had us trying to compete in the Champions league, but he isn’t and has no intentions of doing so either. The deliberate decision to set us back after we finished fifth was a crime against football and it’s fans. We have had a relegation battle every season since bar the one where we threw the towel in January after the tenth place bonus was secured.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:12 AM
Comment #44Morning Catchy…it might be easier on the eye mate when you compare to what Pardew and Carver served up here, but it’s still so very inconsistent and ineffective!
The team isn’t and wasn’t this bad. If McClaren cannot get better results than this then what’s the point really? He was never the right call mate…you have got to see that now 🙂
toon22
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:13 AM
Comment #45The simple fact is MA isnt fit to own a prem club.
Belfast
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:16 AM
Comment #46Sparky you could argue that if the club provided McClaren with a proper premier league striker instead of untested foreigners he could do a lot better.
geordieboy83
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:17 AM
Comment #47Stan Anderson
Don’t think you can tarnish the lad coz he turned up in a tuxedo. I’m fairly sure mbemba did the same thing and is loved for it. I remember at the time everyone thought it was funny and a nice touch that the 2 turned up in tuxedos, however once results went against shearer and co lambasted them for it.
spitfire_
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:19 AM
Comment #48jesperfuglsang – capt’n awesome of the lemon crew
That’s why I mention the morons. The decision makers have also a big part.
AncientC
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:19 AM
Comment #49Buy cheap, buy twice.
As for these horses, Ashley buys colts as they can be sold when they become horses.
Belfast
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:20 AM
Comment #50Though you could also argue he new exactly what he was signing up for.
sparky55
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:23 AM
Comment #51Belfast
You think a good striker will all of a sudden solve all our problems?
kakaobi
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:24 AM
Comment #52If we are relegated I’ll still be a fan but sadly been a supporter will be harder as there are many midweek games and games getting moved to a Friday night and due to my shift work I think the £500 for my season ticket makes bad value for money. So I have a decision to make this month do I cancel my ticket or not, I’ll still be a fan if we go down and will go to a few games as well just don’t want to pay £500 for them few games decisions decisions
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:25 AM
Comment #53Belfast
Whole hearted Agree – If the powers that be had provided McLaren with a proven PREMIER LEAGUE STRIKER not cheapshot foreign imports then we would not be in the mess we are in.
This season I think we have played better football than the last two seasons – created more chances but CANNOT put the chances away.
I reckon we would be at least 10 points better off and still in the cup if we had that strikrer
davetoon
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:26 AM
Comment #54Looking at that picture makes me so so angry
Rotonda heights
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:26 AM
Comment #55why does sm go on about having had 25 crosses. Crosses hardly guarantee goals as 90% of the time, arial ones especially, are headed away by CBs, with through balls and cut backs from the edge of the area to an onrushing player proving much more effective.
As AW said usually crosses is just giving the ball away and playing percentages. AC has only scored 2 in 19.
Belfast
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:27 AM
Comment #56Nope but we definitely wouldn’t be in the bottom three in my opinion.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:28 AM
Comment #57Rotonda…if it just about money or in this case buying cheaply then you are very right when say why aren’t they buying these players before they cost millions….
…why aren’t we being run more like Ajax.
We cannot even develope players ourselves.
I have said it before even certain posters on here try to explain the actions of Ashley, that it doesn’t make sense.
I simply don’t get what goes on at this club…not from a football standpoint and not from a financial standpoint. It just doesn’t make sense.
John Tudor
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:29 AM
Comment #58STAY AWAY
Rotonda heights
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:29 AM
Comment #59ancinet
that’s the trouble though we are not even buying cheaply. The best paprt of 30M for Mitro and Thauvin is a scandalous waste of resources amid the laughing suggestion that player’s characters were vetted. Carr has to go along with the rest of the circus.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:32 AM
Comment #60Belfast…maybe bottom 4, but who’s counting!
Belfast
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:33 AM
Comment #61Yep Charlie especially the last few weeks. He even came out himself after the Arsenal game and said as much.
AncientC
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:34 AM
Comment #62I would be more concerned about efforts on target that overall crosses, not discounting the importance of supply though.
They have managed 3 shots on target within the two games against Sheffield Wednesday reserves at home, and a weakened Watford side away.
A Martinez size could go out and do better than that in 10 minutes of football, nevermind 180 minutes against weakened opposition.
JamesToon
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:34 AM
Comment #63Rotonda
Club just not learning their lessons. Frustrating to say the least.
Sometimes think that relegation might be good for the club long term, get rid of everyone and start again, get a good young manager to do a sort of Eddie Howe type job like how he transformed Bournemouth. Hopefully get a wealthy owner who knows how to run a football club properly and cares.
expatmag
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:35 AM
Comment #64I see Ben Yedder got a hat trick for Toulouse at Rennes yesterday……..parting gift maybe???????
JamesToon
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:36 AM
Comment #65Expat
Pretty sure rivière scored a few hat tricks in France
JamesToon
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:38 AM
Comment #66Say if we did get relegated, I think I wouldn’t mind seeing Cathro taking the job on, he’s a purist and a bright young coach
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:40 AM
Comment #67Are we implying now that going down will remove the management and the current ownership?
…what have given ppl that idea.
I’ll tell you what will happen. It will have no effect in who’s our manager. The best players will leave, but guess who’s still scouting and buying the players. You guessed right Carr and Charnley.
Ashley won’t be selling, but he will be giving us another emergency loan!
sparky55
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:40 AM
Comment #68Jamestoon
Amen to that…I’d take that right now because at least we’ll some fun on the way…it’s just a miserable durge right now
Jail for Ashley
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:41 AM
Comment #69Catchy
We’re conceding less goals, we’ve got the third worst GA in the division, with would you believe it, the two clubs below us having worse
Ron Knee
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:46 AM
Comment #70jesper
You’re probably right, unfortunately. When we’re relegated, McClaren will resign, only to be replaced by another dinosaur selected by our brilliant board.
Belfast
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:48 AM
Comment #71We wouldn’t be in a relegation battle Jesper. Villa, Everton, Arsenal off the top of my head probably would have had the Mackems dead and buried by half time too.
Sack him today and bring in who ever you want. They’ll have the exact same problem without a proven goalscorer in the team.
You’re only as good as your players Jesper. Just ask the highly regarded Remi Garde who was the bright young thing only a few months ago, or Pardew (woops) who looks like he knows what he’s doing all of a sudden.
sparky55
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:49 AM
Comment #72When you let in average of 2 goals a game you need to score an average of three a game to get some wins and even that wont be enough in some games.
Midfield and Defence is more a problem than a striker because if we defend and create better (which we all know we can) then goals with the people we have will come.
We do not however have an average of three goals a game in our team locker so surely a good CDM and a replacement for Colo and a good coach should be the priority.
eaststandgeordie1982
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:50 AM
Comment #73Carr needs sacked smac should be allowed to get who he wants this window starting with a striker that’s a must. We all know we won’t get anyone in just another roll of the dice this window.
colwell
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:52 AM
Comment #74Bournemouth signing Iturbe and Afobe shows a team wanting to stay up. We on the other hand should have already had the players we needed done for Jan 1st.
After losing a billion last week maybe MA is thinking fcuk it why throw more money in to an already sinking ship.
Ron Knee
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:54 AM
Comment #75Belfast
I think a better manager would get more out of this team – although I admit the odds were stacked against McClaren from the start.
bladeuser
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:54 AM
Comment #76The away fans can target who they like if u want to stick up for any player get your arse on any given day on a bus car or train pay the money and watch your team being beat nine times out of ten if you don’t stop F::::::@ moaning about it because all u do is talk bullshit on here and do F@@@ all to help
ASH OUT
SMAC OUT
COLO OUT
SHEEP F@@@ off out
sparky55
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:55 AM
Comment #77The quickest way to bring about a turnaround in results is to sack Maclaren and replace him with a competent manager…it’s very simple
JamesToon
Jan 10, 2016 at 11:00 AM
Comment #78Jesper
Do you not think Ashley will just get fed up if we get relegated? All that money hell lose out on, do you not think after 8 years he’ll be like, “you know what, I’ve been trying for 8 years and just can’t be bothered anymore, I’m off”
Transfer Sage
Jan 10, 2016 at 11:01 AM
Comment #79Catchy
I don’t think we play better football. We are like Man Utd (just worse), keep the ball for the sake of it at times but do very very little with it in the final third.
We create very few chances and when we do we don’t score them.
A player like Ba would see is a couple of places higher but not much in my opinion. We need to add a clinical finisher, a creative midfielder and a good winger for going forward.
Also need a left back and centre back.
arpeco19
Jan 10, 2016 at 11:02 AM
Comment #80Judge me after 10 games, nah Steve I judged you after the preseason games, you were hopeless then and taken it into the season, now after half the season I believe you’re going to get us relegated. PLEASE RESIGN.