The very fact that Steve McClaren is still the Newcastle manager after two complete collapses in the last three games tells us that some on the Board – maybe Lee Charnley and Graham Carr – still have faith in the former England manager.
And maybe the reason for that is those two were the ones that wanted Steve at Newcastle over a year ago when Alan Pardew bolted from the club rather quickly.
Former Queens Park Rangers midfielder and Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins is worried about Newcastle and he made that clear on the Call Collymore show on talkSPORT on Saturday evening.
Steve McClaren – unwarranted faith in this man?
Newcastle were taken apart 5-1 at Chelsea in front of a world-wide TV audience – and it wasn´t just a poor display – it was a completely embarrassing display from the Magpies.
And that came just 10 days after we were taken apart 3-0 at Everton and our players don´t seem to like things away from St. James’ Park.
If that cannot be fixed quickly we will probably be relegated in May.
This is what Ray Wilkins said about Newcastle:
“As much as you are right in what you are saying about the passing of the ball, what worried me more was their energy for the game, that worried me immensely, I have got to say,”
“At St. James’ Park, you see a totally different level of commitment from these Newcastle guys. As soon as they step out of Newcastle, they seem to panic, they seem to throw everything away.”
“When you haven’t got that work ethic in your trousers, then you are going to struggle from minute one.”
One of the things that can get a team relegated is if we don´t have players with the guts and the mental strength to produce the goods when things are on the line.
That seems to be a problem Newcastle have now – and as we said if we cannot fix that soon we are in real trouble.
We have to think that if we are beaten easily at Stoke two weeks tomorrow night that could be curtains for Steve McClaren.
If it´s not – it should be.
But if he still stays in charge that would be more proof that some on the Newcastle Board have an unwarranted faith in Steve McClaren.
Mike Ashley would then need to step in to save the club.
Comments welcome.
147 comments so far
GeordieTwo
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:01 PM
Comment #121Is anybody else willing to complain about the egg salad sandwiches at the FF meetings? It’s probably the only thing we might get some real answers on….. and no Tsunki I think Steve’s just realized he hasn’t been paid again this month and he’s feeling a bit skint….
GeordieTwo
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:05 PM
Comment #122Can anybody help Steve out with a couple of quid? Just until he gets another job lads. Come on, have a whip round.
Belfast
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:05 PM
Comment #123I did complain about you calling me fat a few days ago Skunki. I’ve not eaten from the event and I’m actually starving because of your fat jibe.
Ibizatoon
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:05 PM
Comment #124G2…Not recently 🙂
Tsunki… 🙂
Belfast
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:06 PM
Comment #125Well apart from 1 pink wafer yesterday.
GeordieTwo
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:06 PM
Comment #126All right I admit it as well. I’ve gained weight and now my Thong of Gloom looks slightly unpleasant when I’m wearing it. I thought women liked Love Handles. Harrumph…..
GeordieTwo
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:07 PM
Comment #127I like the orange ones Belfast mate. Very nice. Dip them in your tea, but you have to be quick about it.
Ibizatoon
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:07 PM
Comment #128Belfast…For the sake of the blog and the mediation thats about to take place, can you answer whether you are in fact fat, or not?
Can’t blame Tsunki if he was being honest.
Belfast
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:10 PM
Comment #129I’m only 11 stone 7 or something but the fat jibe still hurt.
Belfast
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:12 PM
Comment #130No tea for me after that, just a pink wafer. Licked it first though and then killed it.
jane
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:13 PM
Comment #131why is GeordieTwo tolerated? is he funny?
Mister Tuff
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:13 PM
Comment #132Jesper – you mentioned earlier a query about the Fans Forum.
UEFA introduced the concept of the Supporter Liason Officer a couple of years ago -with the aim of improving the communication between fans and clubs. Within their guidelines it was proposed that supporters and clubs should meet several times a year. To be licensed under UEFA clubs had to follow advice. Objectives were set under Article 35. one of which was to improve relationships between the fans and the club.
From what we read on here and I think what we’ve heard from an ex FF Representative on here (think it’s Ash1001) the FF is not working the way it should – but seems that NUFC has just implemented it to comply with UEFA Regulations.
Ibizatoon
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:14 PM
Comment #133Well, height dependant, that doesn’t seem enough to call you fat.
Tsunki, you’ve brought shame on us all. Belfast provides countless things to beat him with, why invent something?
Anyone else got an image of Belfast sat licking his wafer? I think he needs a hug. Not that I’m offering.
Mister Tuff
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:16 PM
Comment #134jane -why is Ian Toon and Jib tolerated – are they honest and informative and reliable and non offensive.
GeordieTwo
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:16 PM
Comment #135Has anyone got any romantic advice? Right now I’m in a very hot love triangle with a honey badger and some sort of nasty looking eagle. How do I break it off with the honey badger? Many thanks in advance of your replies……
GeordieTwo
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:17 PM
Comment #136I’m only on here to cheer hibbit up jane/jib/jeff. He’d be lost without me……
Mister Tuff
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:18 PM
Comment #137why is =why are
GeordieTwo
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:29 PM
Comment #138Getting back to the footy now while you process my romantic difficulties. Why hasn’t Steve tried 4-4-2 more often if at all? None of our strikers can make a go of it alone. Mitro is too slow but can hold the ball up, Perez is too small but is quick. Hey what about trying 4-4-2 or 4-3-1-2? Even push Townsend up beside Mitro? I would think Cisse will come of the bench for his first few matches back. We need goals Steve. We know we’re going to concede but what about changing formations away from home? And we don’t have the players to pull off the 3-5-2 by the way. Harrumph.
GeordieTwo
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:30 PM
Comment #139I’m exhausted by all that footy thinking. Time for an orange wafer lads…..
GeordieTwo
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:31 PM
Comment #140And I don’t even want to think about Belfast licking his wafer Ibiza mate…..
Ibizatoon
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:36 PM
Comment #141G2…I didn’t ask whether anyone wanted to. I didn’t want to, but hey, sh*t happens.
jane
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:37 PM
Comment #142Mister Tuff I suppose we all have different people we find frustrating or annoying mine are G2 and bladeuser.
GeordieTwo
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:38 PM
Comment #143But in a more tragically serious note Ibiza mate, is there still hope for Steve? Does he deserve some sort of going away party? What about presents? Is a plane ticket to Western Australia too much?
GeordieTwo
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:40 PM
Comment #144I find Carlton Cole very annoying. Who told him he could play footy? Even for Celtic?
GeordieTwo
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:42 PM
Comment #145I may need some sort of surgery to get this thong off now…… Blast!!!!
Jeffrey
Feb 16, 2016 at 11:43 PM
Comment #146Is this Belfast?
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/21/26766503_3dacf12092_z.jpg?zz=1
MadisonToon
Feb 17, 2016 at 12:13 AM
Comment #147G2
I also wonder why we haven’t gone 4-4-2 more. The two holding players seems like a good idea because we leak goals, but we are still leaking goals so it’s clearly not helping that much. We need to be able to play on the front foot sometimes and to do that we will need to have more players forward. It has to be worth trying out more.
On topic, I think SMc should be here through the end of the season. Changing managers at this point is unlikely to fix things. Additionally, these are the players that SMc wanted in (at least it would appear he had some influence on who came through the door) and if we bring a new manager in, what will they do with them? We just spent 80+ mill and I doubt Ashley sees it in his best interest to give a new manager the reigns and have him say that he doesn’t want the players that were just bought and needs an additional 80 million. I just can’t see it happening.