There’s just no doubt that Steve McClaren is under some pressure to deliver the results for Newcastle United in the run-in to the Premier League – we have 15 league games left and we need at least 20 points to ensure we are safe this season.
We have to do a lot better than we did in the first 23 games when we took only 21 points.
And since Mike Ashley was willing to spend money in January like it was going out of style – we expect him to have a back-up plan just in case Steve McClaren cannot produce the results with the four good players we have brought in this month.
Mike Ashley – huge financial investment for Newcastle
Of course it would be best for all concerned if McClaren can produce the results, because a new manager isn’t always a silver bullet by any means – and it means a disruption for the players both in training and the way they are coached to play during matches.
NBC Sports Network covers the Premier league over here in the states and they do a great job.
The Mail’s Neil Ashton is on fairly regularly going through the football news in the English papers, but he also covers all the rumors (same thing?) – some of which he makes up.
🙂
So last night when Neil was on a program for the end of the transfer window he suggested that it would be former Liverpool and Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers who would be Mike Ashley’s choice to replace Steve McClaren- if Newcastle fall into another slump.
We have currently lost five of the last seven games so you could even say we are in a slump right now.
Neil comes over as a “bad news” agent – but hey that’s what the media reports – bad news which is made even better when it’s sensational bad news.
There was once about a couple of months ago when Neil said he had some good news he wanted to talk about and the NBC host Rebecca Lowe interrupted and said – “wow Neil Ashton with some good news?”
We really don’t know who Mike Ashley would call on if Steve cannot get us winning games – but he’s only had English managers and one Irish manager in his almost nine years at Newcastle and he’s had 8 managers at the club – if you include interim manager John Carver.
So both Brendan Rodgers and David Moyes meet that requirement.
Both are also available at the moment and they both have good records and have been more successful than Steve McClaren.
They would also be willing to take over on Tyneside, given that there seems to be a new ambition at the club.
This would only happen if McClaren cannot start getting wins – and let’s be very clear – we hope that’s exactly what he does.
But in any business you always have to plan for what may happen.
Comments welcome.
10 comments so far
lochinvar
Feb 2, 2016 at 4:16 PM
Comment #1It was easy to slate McLaren earlier in the season and I was one of those who did.
However we have seen some flashes of good football let down by the inability to score which also changes the dynamics of games let alone results. That might – must change with the new signings contributing.
Rodgers and Moyes fill me with dread – neither are likely to improve the current position and McLaren now has the opportunity to move the improving performances into wins providing the players deliver.
Lets see what happens…
croftus5678
Feb 2, 2016 at 4:18 PM
Comment #2thauvin making a great impression before he’s even kicked a ball in a proper match with a great bit of skill in a rainbow kick and a tap in over a player.
Laurent Robert 32
Feb 2, 2016 at 4:27 PM
Comment #3Moyes… *sigh*
MadisonToon
Feb 2, 2016 at 4:28 PM
Comment #4This is a non-starter. Ashley has yet to show anything other than solidarity with managers, so why would he cut-and-run shortly after spending huge money to get SM the kinds of players that SM wants? The way I see it, if we go to the Championship next year, SM will be in charge still. If we stay up, SM will be in charge. I just don’t see any realistic scenarios that put anyone else in charge of the squad.
Does anyone else think that given Ashley’s past he will be likely to pull the rug out from under SM? What makes you think that way?
Jail for Ashley
Feb 2, 2016 at 4:31 PM
Comment #5Lochinvar,
I understand what you’re saying but he needs to start getting results, very quickly !
Geordie John
Feb 2, 2016 at 4:32 PM
Comment #6There are some more ambitious names in the hat: http://www.toontoon.co.uk/3×3-reasons-for-ashley.php
Blackley and Brownlie
Feb 2, 2016 at 4:33 PM
Comment #7149Tsunki // Feb 2, 2016 at 2:27 PM
I get why Blackley keeps claiming victories and speaking about outbursts. it’s his smokescreen to avoid answering direct questions.
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When I engage with you, it’s more often that not to respond to a jibe or an insult directed at me. You spend half your time on the blog trying to assassinate my character; not through reasoned arguments of course but simply insults. Trying to paint an unfavourable picture of me and urging other people to subscribe to it, just to rebuild your reputation which suffered badly when we debated. Its the classic coping strategy in that situation.
My response today, as it ususlly is, is simply to commend you on bringing mirth and merriment to the blog and to suggest you should relax and laugh at yourself. It’s more cathartic than anything else.
I’ve had some great laughs at myself. The last one was when I embarrased my son who was playing football. I was one of about a hundred people on the line watching the game when the ball came out the sky from a great height. I tracked it with my acute eye, brought my foot up beautifully to trap it, but failed to see the deck chair behind me. I was adjusting my position all the time like the true professional, feeling my previous prowess return for a grand bow, when my foot came down on the chair and I went arse over tit. There was uproar.
Ravostag
Feb 2, 2016 at 5:11 PM
Comment #8Oh dear Rodgers at least shteve has a personality???
croftus5678
Feb 2, 2016 at 5:12 PM
Comment #9http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20160202/united-name-premier-league-squad_2281670_5318918
Williamson is Bramble in disguise
Feb 2, 2016 at 6:45 PM
Comment #10All the slating of carver even he might of managed more points than Schteve mcmuppet has so far with all the money spent and players at his disposal, as badly as carver might have done he was well and truly hung out to dry last season with a squad that would of been mid championship at best…