Rafa Benitez took four games to sort things out at Newcastle and then he went the final six games with three wins and three draws that included the hammering of 2nd top Spurs 5-1 on the last day of the season – they finished 3rd top.
Steve McClaren has been interviewed today and said the usual things – that we didn’t have good enough center-backs and strikers – and while that’s true that’s not the main reason we were relegated.
The main reason was Steve himself, who got nowhere near getting the best out of the players he had available – and we cannot forget the £80M we spent on new players either.
A familiar pose from Steve McClaren while at Newcastle
There were many other things wrong at Newcastle – yes – but we should never have been relegated last season with the squad we had.
There were a lot more weaker squads than Newcastle had and that’s the truth.
McClaren messed up as badly last season with decent players in the Newcastle squad as he did when he managed England back in 2007.
This is what Steve McClaren told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek:
“I’m frustrated with my time at Newcastle and especially with the way it ended.” “I went in with my eyes open and I knew the situation I was getting myself into, but the mistake I made was that I compromised too much.”
“You have to go in and lead and manage. I compromised too much especially early on, instead of saying, ‘we need this, we need this, we need this’.”
“They’ve gone down because we conceded too many goals and didn’t recruit centre-backs, and we didn’t recruit enough strikers, we had injuries and bad luck and the main thing is the mentality.”
“The mentality of the team was that they would play well against top teams, but they couldn’t win the games they should have won against the lower teams.”
“They’ve decided to go with Rafa Benitez and I hope they’ve allowed him control of everything.. most importantly he can control recruitment and maybe change the policy of the time,”
“That was only recruiting players under 25 and I think that restricted the recruitment process.”
“You need experience and that wasn’t possible, and I think with Rafa being in there he will be allowed to take control.’
Newcastle fans are frustrated with the time he spent at Newcastle too, mainly because he was simply not good enough to manage a club like Newcastle, and he also didn’t have a strong enough personality.
The reason we didn’t recruit center-backs was that he decided to give Fabricio Coloccini a one year contract extension.
We had already brought in Mbemba – so that’s the reason we didn’t bring in another center-back – Colo had to play as the captain.
There’s one difference between McClaren and Benitez – Rafa wouldn’t take the job unless he had the control he knew he needed to make Newcastle successful.
McClaren was just happy to get the Newcastle job, after he had failed and been only just been fired at second division Derby County.
Why he was even offered the job by Lee Charnley is still not clear to us – he was certainly not the perfect coach for Newcastle.
Rafa just been fired from Real Madrid who went on to win the Champions League for a record 11th time last month.
That’s the difference between being a journeyman coach and a world-class coach and this seems like Steve’s first attempt to re-write history on what happened at Newcastle last season.
It falls short of the truth.
Here are the two league records of the Newcastle managers last season.
Steve McClaren.
[table “44” not found /]Rafa Benitez.
[table “50” not found /]Comments welcome.
109 comments so far
scout
Jun 12, 2016 at 5:28 PM
Comment #41Mclaren is 100% right though. If we had Defoe up front we would have stayed up.
He had no control over transfers. If you cant see that the defence was weak they’re in the wrong game.
Lindisfarne
Jun 12, 2016 at 5:34 PM
Comment #42If we had Defoe up front we would be called S’land with Fat Sam….[shudder]
JAMSHA
Jun 12, 2016 at 5:47 PM
Comment #43Off Topic, but theres news 4 syriarfugees assaulted a teen at
newcastle
JAMSHA
Jun 12, 2016 at 5:48 PM
Comment #44http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3636665/Four-Syrian-immigrants-sexually-assaulted-14-year-old-girl-Newcastle-park-just-weeks-invited-UK-Government-refugee-relocation-scheme.html
clinath@ed
Jun 12, 2016 at 6:19 PM
Comment #45That Milic of Poland has a lovely left foot.
lesh
Jun 12, 2016 at 6:25 PM
Comment #46In the light of McLaren’s comments, I think it’s fair to say that offering Colo his contract extension was out of his hands. After all, Charnley and co would’ve seen that as a cheaper option than signing a new CB.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 12, 2016 at 6:28 PM
Comment #47lesh,
I find it quite incredible when I see people abusing him for giving Collo that contract, it was clearly out of his hands as was the signing of Mitro, Wijnaldum etc.
lesh
Jun 12, 2016 at 6:30 PM
Comment #48Ron
And the news of the girl allegedly assaulted in Leazes Park’ll be great news for Farage and Johnson.
Ron Knee
Jun 12, 2016 at 6:34 PM
Comment #49Too true, lesh.
lesh
Jun 12, 2016 at 6:34 PM
Comment #50Jail
Maybe Ed’ll change his mind about McL extending Colo’s contract.
In fairness, McLaren’s been both stuffed and out of his depth while with us. This was yet another example of how devious and manipulative Ashley and his chums have been over the years
Ron Knee
Jun 12, 2016 at 6:39 PM
Comment #51McClaren was a symptom of the failed policy: wrong coach, wrong players.
clinath@ed
Jun 12, 2016 at 6:48 PM
Comment #52Like I said earlier, he only had to sa no, when offered the job.
Moonraker15
Jun 12, 2016 at 6:54 PM
Comment #53McClaren can blab on all he likes, he’s good at that but the fact is he enabled the regime to carry on so he was the problem. Plus, if he was any good he could’ve kept us up with the squad he had. Again, he accepted the conditions and actually defended policy. I have nothing but contempt for him as a coach. However if he hadn’t got us relegated he would still be there and we would be facing another mediocre season. As it is we have an exciting period ahead albeit we have been relegated at the worst possible time with all the tv money in the PL !
Jail for Ashley
Jun 12, 2016 at 6:57 PM
Comment #54clinath,
He couldn’t say no, he was desperate to manage in the PL with anybody but us, in the end we were his last chance. Like taking a lass to the prom who’s continually knocked you back after she ends up with no one to go with herself.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 12, 2016 at 7:03 PM
Comment #55Moonraker,
He’s makes me sick, everyone in the game of football knew it was an impossible task as did he yet he was prepared to see us sink with our ridiculous policies just for a shot at the big time.
AncientC
Jun 12, 2016 at 7:12 PM
Comment #56I just got back in to watch Anthony Joshua and Dominic Breazeale on ‘The Gloves Are Off’, which was designated to be televised at 7pm, Sky Sports 2. Anybody know why the Cricket on is still on? (Detestable sport)
AncientC
Jun 12, 2016 at 7:15 PM
Comment #57Never worry, Eddie Hearn has updated that its been moved to 10:30pm.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 12, 2016 at 7:41 PM
Comment #58Ancient,
Is that why you’ve upset Ian Toon, (c)arl, Jack Root etc, because you don’t like cricket 😮
Belfast
Jun 12, 2016 at 7:48 PM
Comment #59Sounds like he’s auditioning for a new job. Everyone knew we didn’t strengthen in the needed areas, but he came out and said he was happy with the squad.
AncientC
Jun 12, 2016 at 7:53 PM
Comment #60Uunfortunately, Jack Root and his login/logout moniker army, will never forgive me for pointing out the difference between ‘your’ and ‘you’re’. A little thank you should have been in order, considering I helped him/they remove an obvious footprint from his/their multi-monologues.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 12, 2016 at 8:21 PM
Comment #61Ancient,
Unfortunately you didn’t help at all, in the heat of a full blown verbal assault Jack Root used your instead of, a bit like catchy never being able to get his head round can’t no matter how many times he’s been told.
What happened to catchy anyway? Did he expire after backing the Wally 100% for so long
AncientC
Jun 12, 2016 at 8:32 PM
Comment #62You have to laugh at the picture Ed has put up, with the caption “A familiar pose from Steve McClaren while at Newcastle”.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Screen-Shot-2016-02-14-at-12.23.23.png
^ Appears more familiar to me.
Jib
Jun 12, 2016 at 8:33 PM
Comment #63AncientC // I pointed out the difference between ‘your’ and ‘you’re’.
Did you find that out on the Mackem bulletin boards while trolling for materiel ?
Toon fan ? – meh !
AncientC
Jun 12, 2016 at 8:42 PM
Comment #64Jib, the joke you posted a few days ago seemed quite comic (if a little Roy Chubby. B) and original – I pasted the joke into Google, and voila, the first source of the joke was from a Sunderland message board…. a coincidence I am sure.
Maybe you can let Magscar know, so that he can respond for you again.
Bobbybee
Jun 12, 2016 at 9:01 PM
Comment #65If your and you’re determine a multiple, the whole bogs full of them! 😉 Just a quick update for those not watching. Germany one up against Ukraine. They dominated the opening 30 mins but later on Ukraine came right back into it, forcing Boeteng to clear off the line. Goal came from a free kick nodded in by Mustafi early doors. Second half might be interesting….
Jail for Ashley
Jun 12, 2016 at 9:13 PM
Comment #66Bobby,
A lot more than your and you’re. Yer right!
clinath@ed
Jun 12, 2016 at 9:49 PM
Comment #67Germany are scary going forward, but their defence is a bit iffy….as I type they score the second.
Bobbybee
Jun 12, 2016 at 9:54 PM
Comment #68Another good game eh clin? Thought the Ukraine keeper played well or it would’ve been a lot more. Fair result though.
ShirebrookToon
Jun 12, 2016 at 9:58 PM
Comment #69England v Germany final lol
clinath@ed
Jun 12, 2016 at 10:03 PM
Comment #70Evening Bobby, yes mate, every game seems to be being played at 100 mph. But the technical skill is breathtaking.
Still think Germany can be got at if you put their back 3 or 4 under pressure….mind you, you’ve got to stop them scoring 2 or 3 at the other end.
clinath@ed
Jun 12, 2016 at 10:04 PM
Comment #71Off to bed, early start.
cyprus
Jun 12, 2016 at 10:09 PM
Comment #72Good game. Ukraine were quite good as well. Germany vulnerable at the back, excepting the goalkeeper.
Bobbybee
Jun 12, 2016 at 10:10 PM
Comment #73Shirebrook, if we’re still there! Eufa threatening to send England home because of the fans. Not saying they’re blameless, but Eufa need to look elsewhere for the cause of it – Russia. Someone’s going to get killed and as per normal England will get the blame. I can’t believe they’ve been given the WC with where they are football wise. Like us in the 70’s. Our – mainly Liverpool – fans got us kicked out of football for years. Russia’s lunatic fringe get them rewarded the world cup. No back handers there then?
ShirebrookToon
Jun 12, 2016 at 10:21 PM
Comment #74Definitely some back handers went off there like!
Sneaky fcuking Russians!!
welshgeordie9
Jun 12, 2016 at 10:35 PM
Comment #75It’s been a good tournament so far, goals in every match so far.
lesh
Jun 13, 2016 at 3:23 AM
Comment #76Welshyboyo
Jeez, you surely killed the Blog, good and proper!
Ok, so it might be a school night with exams looming for many but there are a few of us who’ve long left school or college.
Wha’ you done Welshy…… ?
Jib
Jun 13, 2016 at 6:02 AM
Comment #77Lesh
You hardly revived it!
There’ll probs be another 3 hour pause after me .
😀
Jib
Jun 13, 2016 at 6:12 AM
Comment #78From the Chron this morning.
The Magpies manager accepts that there is still likely to be movement right up until the transfer window closes, but he wants to have the majority of his squad confirmed by the time the second-tier campaign kicks off on August 6.
With a proven goal-scorer and an experienced centre-back believed to be on Benitez’s wish list, United are expected to use the next month-and-a-half to recruit between four and six players – though that number could yet rise if there turns out to be a greater amount of departures than expected.
In terms of potential outgoings, Moussa Sissoko has publicly expressed his desire to leave, while Andros Townsend, Georginio Wijnaldum and Daryl Janmaat are among the other Magpies who have been linked with moves away.
Benitez wants to retain as much of his first-team squad as possible, though he admits at least some are likely to depart.
And he has bemoaned the fact the transfer window continues into the first month of the season, believing it disrupts preparation, unsettles players and negatively impacts upon focus
“Every single year you try to do it, but it’s very difficult.
Another debate about the transfer window, when it should finish.
We have had this debate many times and it is not fair when you are playing in August and until the end of August players can go and can come.
It will be important for me now because the transfer window is open during the start of the season so it will important to maybe finish at the beginning of August.”
Ron Knee
Jun 13, 2016 at 6:19 AM
Comment #79From The Grauniad:
The head of Britain’s Euro 2016 policing operation has hit out at the Russian football fans behind the scenes of violence in Marseille – and vowed to help search for them.
Assistant chief constable Mark Roberts said the attacks were the most serious and coordinated he had seen in 10 years specialising in football violence.
He told how British police spotters saw some Russia fans “tooling up” with gum shields, fingerless martial arts gloves and bandanas.
Roberts, who is in charge of Britain’s police operation in France, said: “England has had its problems with hooligans in the past. But the Russians are entirely different – they are like nothing we have seen before. They are highly organised and determined to carry out sustained violent attacks at a level of aggression I have not encountered in the past 10 years.
“Our spotters in Marseille saw them putting in gum shields and putting on martial arts gloves and bandanas before attacking England fans in the port.”
Jib
Jun 13, 2016 at 6:19 AM
Comment #80href=”http://ultimahora.es/noticias/sociedad/2016/06/13/198160/lujo-andratx.html”>Mike Ashley’s Mallorcan Ken