We still don’t know if Steve McClaren is a good enough head coach for Newcastle and certainly at the moment with Newcastle on 24 points from 25 games and fourth bottom of the league – the stats would say no.
However, there are definite signs that this Newcastle team may be coming together and certainly in most of the games our players fight for the shirt – and that’s almost always been true at home this season, but less so on the road.
Steve McClaren on the line against West Ham – a great 2-1 home win
It was unusual for fans to say the least, to see Mike Ashley pay out £52M last summer in what was Newcastle’s biggest spending window in their history.
We brought in four senior players and Ashley again paid out another £29M in January to bring in another four senior players – with one coming in on loan.
Two of those players brought in last month were Shelvey and Saivet – and since they were introduced Newcastle have played four league games – two at home and two wins against West Ham and West Brom and two poor performances on the road at Watford and Everton – both defeats.
Newcastle have outspent every single Premier League club this season with about £81M spent – so we are hoping we can survive relegation.
If we can do that then the chances are that Steve McClaren will still be the manger for next season – and it looks like we have the basis of a good team if we can get a top striker, center-back and left back drafted in over the summer.
But before we start getting into that too much we need to pick up some wins.
A win at Chelsea on Saturday would be great but not too many Newcastle fans think we can do that.
Comments welcome.
37 comments so far
JP...from The Rock
Feb 11, 2016 at 12:28 AM
Comment #13 points against Chelsea will go a long way to keeping us safe. We need points however we get them. Hope the 18 day break doesn’t do us more harm than good. By the end of it I really hope Doumbia is match fit as I have a feeling that he will do well upfront for us.
juan
Feb 11, 2016 at 1:01 AM
Comment #2If bell end plays his usual crap away from home we have no chance of getting anything. He might as well go for it as if he sets the team up to defend we will get stuffed by Chelsea
lesh
Feb 11, 2016 at 1:38 AM
Comment #3Ed
Whilst your observations are fair, I don’t think that McClaren needs such negative comment at this pivotal stage of the season.
Of course he has shown his weaknesses but the poor sod was given a poisoned chalice when he took over as HC. The whole playing side of the Club was in a helluva mess – including the U21 set up. And he’s had to cope with the mutually supportive Charnley, Carr and Moncur. Oh, and the media and the fans.
Heaping pressure on him at this time won’t to any good, probably quite the opposite.
Ed, I’m not suggesting that McClaren be eulogized but it might be the time to be more supportive to him and thus let the players see that they too have their part to play if we want to stay in the Prem.
lesh
Feb 11, 2016 at 1:40 AM
Comment #4Juan
I’d like to think that McClaren might agree with you and play an attacking game at Chelski.
Anyway, we shall see
lesh
Feb 11, 2016 at 1:42 AM
Comment #5Hello? Hello? Helllllo *echo*, *echo* Is there anybody……
lesh
Feb 11, 2016 at 1:44 AM
Comment #6It seems that Ed’s purge on the trolls has killed almost everybody.
Didn’t someone suggest there’s only seven or eight individuals posting under many names?
Ibizatoon
Feb 11, 2016 at 1:52 AM
Comment #7Remind me again, am I an individual?
Wait…let me guess…
Dingo†®
Feb 11, 2016 at 1:58 AM
Comment #8well I have been here since 2006-7
Dingo†®
Feb 11, 2016 at 1:59 AM
Comment #9ibizaT…. maybe a number….. 9?
Ibizatoon
Feb 11, 2016 at 2:02 AM
Comment #10Dingo…Where have you been hiding?
You’ve lost me. Maybe a number? Guess a number? Any number?
If so, 9 works for me.
Dingo†®
Feb 11, 2016 at 2:08 AM
Comment #11Just hardly ever post… i used to a lot but got bored of the WUM’s and split bloganalities
i’m a name not a number…
Dingo†®
Feb 11, 2016 at 2:09 AM
Comment #12🙂
Dingo†®
Feb 11, 2016 at 2:10 AM
Comment #13used to live in Dinnington and went down to the reserve matches at Kingston park and reported them on here. Now i am in the states.
toonincheek
Feb 11, 2016 at 2:23 AM
Comment #14Good moaning everyone.
This is the time of day for Geordies living in Asia.
Anyone else out there?
lesh
Feb 11, 2016 at 2:25 AM
Comment #15Ibiza
Of course you’re an individual – there could never be another you.
lesh
Feb 11, 2016 at 2:27 AM
Comment #16Dingo
Ibiza’s more like 42.
😉
lesh
Feb 11, 2016 at 2:29 AM
Comment #17Greetings Toonincheek
lesh
Feb 11, 2016 at 2:29 AM
Comment #18Zzzzzzz
Night folks
toonincheek
Feb 11, 2016 at 3:39 AM
Comment #19lesh – after 17, was going to ask ‘up late?’ or ‘awake early?’.
Think 18 answers it.
headtheball
Feb 11, 2016 at 3:51 AM
Comment #20I would rather be a number 9 like Ibiza than a number 2 like Colo?
HWTF
Dingo†®
Feb 11, 2016 at 3:57 AM
Comment #21hahaha @ lesh
John Akomfrah
Feb 11, 2016 at 5:30 AM
Comment #22just woke up to this
https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Feb 11, 2016 at 6:12 AM
Comment #23Morning…
Ibiza is a 27 year old trapped inside of a 42 year olds body! Harrumph
firebug666
Feb 11, 2016 at 7:10 AM
Comment #24Sunderland’s Adam Johnson will NOT play for them during court case after admitting child sex offences
The England international winger will be removed from footballing duties pending the outcome of an anticipated two-week trial starting on Friday
Adam Johnson will not play for Sunderland this weekend after admitting two child sex offences.
Winger Johnson will be removed from footballing duties pending the outcome of an anticipated two-week trial that will start on Friday.
He denies two further charges of sexual activity with a child.
Last week, Black Cats manager Sam Allardyce said Johnson would be available to play on during the court case.
But it is understood the 28-year-old won’t be selected to face Manchester United in the lunchtime kick-off at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Sunderland are refusing to comment on former England and Manchester City winger Johnson’s continued employment until legal hearings are concluded.
At Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a 15 year old girl, and another of grooming.
The maximum sentence for the offences he has admitted to is two years and six months in jail.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sunderlands-adam-johnson-not-play-7347164?
Surly the sentence has to be higher than that! It’ disgusting what these players get away with.
Mag52
Feb 11, 2016 at 7:25 AM
Comment #25We’re in with a chance of points v Chelsea at the weekend. They’re not the team they have been in recent seasons and with Zouma out, Mitro and/or Doumbia might nick a goal or two.
Our record against them in recent years has been a good one, but that was when they were managed by the ‘special one’ and we had AP.
We’ve now got Macca, but a squad worth some £80 million more. We should be in with a shout for a point at least.
firebug666
Feb 11, 2016 at 7:33 AM
Comment #26Mag52
Totally agree marra, Chelsea are there for the taking this season, It all depends on which Newcastle turn up.
If we show some fight and get at them early in the match we could take the points as they require space and time to get their rhythm going, denying them that could be the key to levelling the playing field and their home advantage won’t count for much.
HWTL.
Ron Knee
Feb 11, 2016 at 7:48 AM
Comment #27firebug
It would be good if we could see our home form replicated in an away match – just for once!
giimps
Feb 11, 2016 at 7:59 AM
Comment #28Firebug,
Sexual Offences involving the Internet, and ‘grooming’
To combat increasing sexual approaches to children on-line, there is a new offence of meeting a child following sexual grooming. This makes it a crime to befriend a child on the Internet or by other means and meet or intend to meet the child with the intention of abusing them. The maximum sentence is 10 years imprisonment.
A new civil preventative order, the Risk of Sexual Harm Order, may be imposed which will prohibit adults from engaging in inappropriate behaviour such as sexual conversations with children on-line.
sparky55
Feb 11, 2016 at 8:03 AM
Comment #29For games like Chelsea (Games against the usual top six) we just need to play like we’re at home and put in a good performance.
If we lose against Chelsea it’s not the end of the world…they’re a good team but it’s the manner of the defeat (if we lose) that’s far more important.
As far as I’m concerned a draw is a win, a win would be fantastic and a loss need not be a loss if we play well and gain confidence.
Play well, play with passion, and have a real go…that’s all we ask.
giimps
Feb 11, 2016 at 8:04 AM
Comment #30That was from the cps guidelines, looks like the mirror haven’t done their homework, hopefully the fact he has admitted it as well as having sexual relations with a child should see him do a prison term long enough so I never have to see him on a football field again.
A paedophile is a paedophile and there is no cure.
magscar
Feb 11, 2016 at 8:04 AM
Comment #31If McClaren sets us up as he did at Everton without Mitro to hold up play then I can’t see us getting into game. System wasted Gini Shelvey. From reports it is a game too early for Doumbia to start so perhaps team as per Everton but Mitro for Perez Tiote for Saivet with Doumbia and Perez to figure later if necessary?
Not just a matter of which Newcastle turn up but which Chelsea.
giimps
Feb 11, 2016 at 8:12 AM
Comment #32Magscar, I agree, shelvey and tiote did well together, Townsend and sissoko will turn up vs chelski, gini will have more space and mitrovic will batter terry and Cahill, I can see a positive result as long as we keep 11men on the pitch and get no injuries
catchy in norway
Feb 11, 2016 at 8:20 AM
Comment #33Lesh
Whilst your observations are correct?? Then go on to tell him the bigger picture , you crack me up.
I actually think you get it, Shteve dos not walk into man c where they have a world class set up, he came in and had a massive job to do all over the club. Then on a playing side of things was given the 8 hardest games he could have been handed which was never going to do wonders for the players fragile state of mind. This season was always going to be a transition season for any manager that came in.
I think it’s fair to say that Shteve may have been under all kinds of pressure at Derby C, given that they have just sacked a very good up and coming coach, having a decent season but to much interference on player selection and formations.
Like I have said many times, Shteve might not be the greatest, but he has made a huge difference on how we play, and I think it’s fair to say we have not had the results some of our games truly deserved.
firebug666
Feb 11, 2016 at 8:22 AM
Comment #34Ron
A little bit of pride and passion away from home will go a long way to winning games mate.
banjax
Feb 11, 2016 at 8:22 AM
Comment #35McLaren is not the manager that Newcastle needs and if we get beat by Chelsea we need to move fast and change the whole management team and use the 18 days to install the new guy that Mike Ashley has made contingencies for..wait a minute Mike.. You do have someone ready to step in…don’t you ???
firebug666
Feb 11, 2016 at 8:28 AM
Comment #36giimps
This is the second attempt to reply to you don’t know what happened to the first.
Thank you for the info, I hope that he gets a good long stretch.
As for Sunderland, the are waiting for the final outcome before making a decision on his future.
What have they got in their heads, what kind of message is that sending to their young fans, and any youngsters for that matter.
He has admitted his guilt, and should be sacked, how can they even consider playing him again, he will not be involved during the trial, so what he will be after?
Pathetic stance from Sunderland.
giimps
Feb 11, 2016 at 8:48 AM
Comment #37Firebug,
Yeah, Sunderland have gone down in my not very high estimations due to this, some of the fans though are beyond the ridiculous, still saying “she shouldn’t have been in a nightclub, and she was probably dressed up to look 25, and he’s been stitched up by that lass”
The fact that he’s admitted to grooming and having sexual relations with a child doesn’t seem to have sunk in or worse , has been totally ignored, The Sunderland stance I thought ,would have changed as soon as he admitted those charges ,however, the fact he has pleaded guilty to knowing she was underage and still having sexual relations with her seems to have been ignored by them too……..I do understand why they let him play before yesterday though, up till yesterday he denied it all, and as with the likes of Titus and a few others from other clubs, still had the chance of being exhonourated, that now has been proved to have been an incorrect stance and IMHO, they should have suspended him immediately upon the guilty plea being made………all IMHO though