We just cannot help ourselves but comment on some of the rubbish in today’s Sunday papers regarding Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce.
Sam Allardyce – some stories in Sunday papers are just complete rubbish
It’s all innuendo and made up tripe, so we’ll make a story of it, but only to take a different tact and point out just how ridiculous some of these stories are. The Daily Mail’s Paul Hayward thinks there is a “terminal rift” at Newcastle, which will see Sam Allardyce shown the door in the next few weeks. Hayward says Allardyce has now lost the trust of his players – and that is one of the problems for the former Bolton boss.
He told the Mail Sunday Supplement today:
“It wouldn’t normally be the solution to sack a manager in January, but I think there are a number of problems at Newcastle that suggest Sam Allardyce’s time is coming to an end.â€
“One is the breakdown of trust between the players and the manager. Some of the things Allardyce said after the Wigan game suggested there is a terminal rift there.â€
“He was saying he didn’t want his future in the hands of these players and that sort of thing. He was almost disassociating himself from his own team.”
We think what Sam said after the game with Wigan Athletic was both accurate and appropriate. The players were just pathetic against Wigan, let’s be truthful. And it just wasn’t good enough for the Tyneside club. Some of the players just didn’t turn up for the game, and they were left out of yesterday’s starting line-up. These players are paid huge amounts of money to play this game and should be mature enough to take valid criticism, which was certainly earned against Wigan Athletic.
Hayward felt Newcastle were a touch unlucky to lose to Salomon Kalou’s late offside goal at Stamford Bridge yesterday, but he thinks tactical problems are causing unrest among the Newcastle faithful.
Paul continued:
“They were victims of rough justice in a sense against Chelsea because the winning goal by Kalou was two or three yards offside after Newcastle had done well to get back into the game.”
“But on the other hand, once they got back to 1-1 they sat right back in their own half and invited Chelsea onto them for the last 20 minutes. In a way that was an accident waiting to happen.”
“I noticed the tactics were using. In the first half they were just pumping balls up to Obafemi Martins, who was playing up front on his own. It was a very sterile style of play and I think that is the root of the problem.”
“Allardyce is trying to impose a style of play on Newcastle that the players and the owners and the fans are not happy with.”
We think Chelsea came back late in the game eysterday for a couple of reasons. One was that one or two of newcastle palyers looked tired. Faye looked almost out on his feet but kept playing as best he could. And the other reason is that Chelsea are a good side and came back into the game late, to try to get a winner.
Hayward also criticized Allardyce’s transfer policy and said the signing of Joey Barton from Manchester City – who was arrested earlier this week after being charged with assault – could prove to be a further nail in his coffin.
“Another criteria on which managers are judged is the players they bring in,” “And signing Joey Barton was clearly a pretty catastrophic misjudgment.â€
“Also the two midfield players – Alan Smith and Geremi – are not sufficiently creative for the Newcastle pallet.â€
“So his purchases so far have not worked out and he needs them to start performing or else he will be in big trouble within the next couple of games.”
Well, the Joey Barton transfer has now turned out to be a disaster for both Sam and the Newcastle club. But you cannot really blame Sam for trying to give Joey Barton a second chance. The fact that he has let down Big Sam and his club badly not to mention the Newcastle faithful, is more a comment on Joey than Sam. We guess Paul Hayward gets paid for selling newspapers. But Paul’s made up an awful lot of tripe there, and there’s no proof whatsoever the players are not supporting Big Sam 100%. But you can’t stop reporters trying to put a cat among the pigeons.
And of course it’s not the first time reporters have not let facts get in the way of a sensational story.
What do you think?
Comments very welcome.
178 comments so far
Indian toon
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:28 PM
Comment #1THERE IS NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE .. so who knows!!! he definetly talks some sense .
carl
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:29 PM
Comment #2sorry ed but i agree with most of the articles, these people arent nufc supporters and its much easier to write about them when your an outsider, and most of it is true- to a point.the players may or may not be with sam , but all in all, his style has cost us many points this season.if we had played, descent, attacking, balanced football wede be in the top 6 easy
Leo
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:31 PM
Comment #3what sensationalism by hayward. is he alan oliver in disguise? haha
carl
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:31 PM
Comment #4big sams done that bad , spurs are only 2 points behind us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! at one point we were a good 11 points above them. piss poor
Nick Dryden
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:32 PM
Comment #5Ed What is it with you and Allardyce? Jeez how much more crap are you happy to take? We are going nowhere with Allardyce. Thousands of us would be delirious if he was sacked. You seem to be losing the mood of the fans. Now get with the programme. See below:
The Sunday TimesDecember 30, 2007
Why the Toon Army will never love Big Sam Allardyce
Newcastle fans are loyal to their black and white heroes but they have no faith in the negative and fear-filled tactics of the managerBilly Furious
THERE was an instinctive distrust of Sam Allardyce from the start. Amid the 100mph shouting that passes for conversation in the northeast, very few Newcastle fans I know thought he was right for the job. We saw Bolton Wanderers playing ugly, functional, soulless non-football under Big Sam and didn’t want any part of it. Of all the teams Newcastle United had crossed swords with in recent seasons, at home and across Europe, why would Bolton be the side we would want to aspire to?
People talk about Newcastle fans being self-deluded, but only five years ago the team finished ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool and qualified for the later stages of the Champions League. Even though it’s all been downhill since, few teams in the world can match Newcastle for crowd size, transfer budget and wages. Not expecting the best available manager shows up a lack of self-esteem rather than delusions of grandeur.
Newcastle had been suffering a four-year injury crisis when they parted company with Glenn Roeder. By all accounts, Allardyce convinced former chairman Freddie Shepherd that he could solve this problem and many others with maths and sports science. Despite knowing in their souls that football is a chaotic art form the fans went along with the new regime. Partly because they had no choice and partly because we were sick of being patronised by being told we want to be everybody’s second favourite team – why not be hated and win games?
We turned to the dark side and it was very alluring because The Dark Lord Sam talks a good game: he speaks of his “success at Bolton†so often that people begin saying it back to him. Only later do you think: “What success would that be then? Oh, you mean ‘relative success’. Not the same thing, is it?â€
Related Links
Chelsea earn fortunate win
Grey day for dishevelled Joey Barton
Sam Allardyce sticks with principles
We are not now unhappy because we didn’t win the Champions League in the first month under Allardyce – contrary to ill-informed opinion we rarely expect silverware. A friend worked out that 27 of our past 30 seasons have been “transitional†yet still we are maliciously accused of impatience. Europe would be nice but I think we just hoped to score some goals, win some games, have a laugh.
Laugh? Some chance. It has been a dismal, tedious and frustrating season. A benign fixture list and a lot of late and fortunate goals have masked the problems. Sam, though, will brook no criticism. It’s been like watching a man trying to build a house from live eels. “Are you sure this is the best way to build a house?†we tentatively ask. “I know what I’m doing,†barks the man as the eels all slither away again.
Negative tactics, bewildering selections, baffling substitutions and the unshakable belief that the way to face the likes of Fulham, Derby and Wigan is to stop them playing. Even the most patient were livid that Allardyce went to Sunderland looking for, and lucky to get, a draw. Then he had the nerve to be pleased when it was little more than cowardice in the face of the enemy.
A week after the Sunderland game we played Liverpool at home. Newcastle were fortunate to lose only 3-0. We had one shot on target. Never in 30 years have I seen the Newcastle crowd turn like that. It was savage, spontaneous and brutally aimed at one man. The players were, for the most part, let off. Slightly shocked and ashamed of ourselves, the next games were marked by unwavering support. We hoped an understanding had been reached. We were wrong.
Newcastle’s away support is a different entity from that at home – they are indomitably loyal and will happily take a scruffy 1-0 win at Fulham. But last week even the away support turned on Allardyce in an insipid display against Wigan.
The dissatisfaction stems from the belief that Newcastle actually have the players to give anybody a game when they are allowed to. However, Martins, N’Zogbia, Milner, Smith, Viduka and Emre are being wasted. Allardyce’s tactics stink of fear.
Travelling to Chelsea with a £48 ticket in your pocket, you couldn’t be pleased to read your manager saying: “Our focus has to be on the winnable games rather than putting all our focus on having to get a performance against the big boys.â€
Allardyce has said: “A manager should be judged after 38 games,†and I think the silent majority could tolerate the discomfort of being in a dysfunctional relationship until then. But the situation has gained its own momentum and the sentimental types are screaming for Alan Shearer – no experience, no scouting network. Newcastle have to change managers so often because, quite simply, they rarely pick the right bugger in the first place. Billy Furious is author of And They Wonder Why We Drink? available from http://www.billyfurious.co.uk and bookshops
Indian toon
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:35 PM
Comment #6good effort
awc88
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:35 PM
Comment #7just to let you know this wasnt in a paper it was on the tv showsunday supplement so the argument he sais it to sell papers isnt really valid, and to be honest same took the risk paying 5 million for barton and therefore has to take the blame that it hasnt worked out
Rob Kirton
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:37 PM
Comment #8It is quite clear some players are not helping Sams cause. Barton being locked up and Sam now spilling the beans saying that he believes there is a “mole” amongst the players who leaked the truth about Barton’s no show at Wigan. Coupled with allegations of previous players committee meeting with Allardyce. It doesn’t paint a harmonious picture.
Yes of course where the press can fill in the gaps, they will – mostly with Rubbish
For my part, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a few malcontents; especially amongst those constantly moved around / played out of position or made to play a style of football totally alien to them. Changes and confusion in the captaincy of the team cannot help
I’d be very surprised if you would ever find every player 100% behind their manager. The key is managing both the numbers of complaints and the complaints they may have. Its easy keeping alid on any stories when your the 3rd club in Manchester – less so when the only show in town.
Welcome to Newcastle Sam.
Indian toon
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:38 PM
Comment #9http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2007/12/29/hammers-eye-taylor-swoop-72703-20295625/
cant be!!
Indian toon
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:39 PM
Comment #10JUST CHECK THE POLL BELOW
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/
valle
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:39 PM
Comment #11Ed… Nice work, im glad we have sensible people like u and others running these blogs. People really need to inject some cold water into their blood, cause this is starting to boil over and NUFC will be the loser.
carl
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:46 PM
Comment #12ok, lets get one thing right. sam says he should be judged at 38 games! and he himself is a percentages man, so lets say weve played 52.6% of the season and hes won 35% of games/ now if im correct thats the worst any managers done here for years! and weve had an easy starty to season so with tough games coming up, i very much doubt it will improve. so as far as statistics go, get rid of him!!!
Steeley
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:52 PM
Comment #13“and there’s no proof whatsoever the players are not supporting Big Sam 100%.”
Sorry Ed, I thought you were a fan over in USA, not one of the team in the dressing room! These are very confident comments you are making, which I guess are without any form of fact, and entirely based on your personal opinion.
As someone said in the thread earlier, there is no smoke without fire (I remember this whole issue popping up just before Roeder got chucked!).
I cant wait for the moment when Sam is sacked (Fingers crossed) that I can quote you on this thread Ed!
Neil A H
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:54 PM
Comment #14I think Emre, Harper, Martins, and ESPECIALLY Enrique have a right to be furious with Sam. Martins has been crippled by Sam’s tactics while Harper and Enrique were dropped despite Sam’s policy of whoever plays well will keep their place. And poor Emre. Everytime he comes on he changes the game. Yesterday with Barton in prison he couldn’t even get on the pitch. Questions need to be asked about Sam. The team played well yesterday but that was despite Sam not because of him. His tactics and team selections are reeking of incompetence.
john
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:55 PM
Comment #15sam is already asking for an easy way out and picking up 3 mil. he says things to provoke the fans and has already lost the dressing room. why does he play a a system that suits him
and not the players
Steeley
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:57 PM
Comment #16Nick Dryden – a quality commentary there! Ever thought of setting up your own article site, becuase this one is becoming quite stale now!
john
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:03 PM
Comment #17why is all the players we are linked with under 21. toon never learn bringing young players to newcastle never works anymore. jenas viana bramble dyer. all supposedly young great players but they are now not even average. sign experienced players but not injury prone players
Steeley
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:03 PM
Comment #18Indian Toon, I cant see a poll on the link – I’m probably looking straight past it. What was it about? And what was the result?
Obafan
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:14 PM
Comment #19I hope this story is 100% true, so we finally get rid of SA, cause we are going downwards instead of improoving.
Bring in Joll or Lippi.
Craig
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:17 PM
Comment #20Good article…by Paul Hayward!
How can you defend such negativity? Big Sam is trying to embed what he did at Bolton and it is not working. It won’t work. The way we sat back in the last twenty minutes yesterday was laughable. If our manager had any ambition at all we could have pushed for a winner or at least keep the ball on the deck and play on the counter attack. I honestly hope he suceeds at this club but the football he plays is ugly. I’m all for his long-term ideas but I’m totally disillusioned by the short-term aspect. Just look at the way Ramos has changedn things at Spurs in a few month. They’re play ATTRACTIVE football AND getting results.
valle
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:21 PM
Comment #21Bring in Jol?!?!?… Some of u guys crack me up… Ur calling for our manager to be sacked so u can replace him with a guy who, when he got sacked had his team in relegation way below us.
john
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:24 PM
Comment #22allardyce keeps goin on about things cant be done that quick just look at man city. there board was in after ours so to was there manager and man city were in a worse state than us. so allardyce is just talking out his backside…… nothing ever changes
Obafan
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:29 PM
Comment #23valle – would you like to continue with SA? He is just not working positively. Things are going from bad to worse. He always complains about everything, but has he ever questionned himself?
I’ve already written it but due to his subs yesterday we went to play way too defensively which lead Chelski into the game again and okay the goal should never had counted but they had 5 other open chances.
Indian toon
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:29 PM
Comment #24the poll a@ chronice was .
will sam allardyce be able to turn around newcastle!?
yes__ 22%
no___78%
ObaFan2
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:34 PM
Comment #25Judge BSA by his signings I keep hearing ok:
Barton ?
Enrique ?
Geremi ? as captain ?
Smith as mf? smith as captain ?
Beye fitting in well
Faye good
Duke tried and tested but gettin on a bit.
Cacapa and Roz getting there ?
So it seems when BSA has money he fails to hit the mark :Barton and Enrique but on budget gets it right: Duke Beye n Faye.
I am worried now about who he will sell, Taylor, Oba, Emre?
IMO we have not shown any signs of improving this season, players stiffled by poor team selection and poor tactics. Manager criticising the players the way he did and his reluctance to realise he is to blame for alot of poor performances this season.
I am getting more and more disillusioned and just wonder how long this will go on for.
I know alot of football supporters up and down the Country and tbh it’s becoming embarrassing talking footy with them !
I’m not one for changing mangement but BSA was not the right man in the first place, I think alot of us knew this 5 months ago but (optimistically) we’ve waited to see what would happen.
john
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:38 PM
Comment #26why would people be bovered if oba left he is a liability once one on one he never scores and he dissapoints more than he pleases …. waste of space
Edd Case
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:44 PM
Comment #27I’m sorry Ed but this article, and many recent ones you are posting simply are far too biased.
And the title of this post is appauling.
Sack Sam – what rubbish?
Why is it rubbish?
I, like the majority of fans are nowhere near convinced that Sam is the man for Toon – and now, even the likes of Sir Bob are having to spell it out for the thick idiot.
I wholly agree with just about everything else Sam does and says – but the fact remains, we, as a club are judged, at the end of the day, by what happens on the pitch.
There is no long-term and short-term there, just each match as it comes.
If we start to play attractive, attacking football – AND WE HAVE THE PLAYERS FOR THIS – then Sam will have very few people on his back.
However, he continues, week in week out to play dull, unatractive, sh!t-scared type football and tactics.
The ball’s in his court and as fans, we’re entitled to want better.
carl
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:46 PM
Comment #28john you idiot!! oba is a real threat, when played with a correct partner and correct wingers and correct style of play. you absolute muppet
john
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:53 PM
Comment #29carl…… obas already been tried with shola smith viduka and owen . martins cannot pass a ball, crap at one on ones, can jump high but probably not scored 5 headers in his career and half the time just doesnt look bothered. martins couldnt lace the boots of shearer or even bellamy and muppets at the match sing his name
ObaFan2
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:54 PM
Comment #30idd Carl, when Oba is left to play I have seen him control the game from the front, an amazing ability to keep the ball from the opposition, he still seems to do this for his country but not this season for the Toon.
I’ll be following him in the ANC and curious to see how he performs then.
As for Valle and John, funny how Wenger was interested in him, suppose he (Wenger) has a record of signing duds……. not.
geordiesmh
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:57 PM
Comment #31If Allardyce goes !!!
Bobby or Keegan Director of Football
Shearer as Manager
Sir Les as his number 2
What do you think????
JW
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:57 PM
Comment #32Sir Bobby Robson, one of Newcastle United’s greatest ever managers, indeed one of England’s finest ever too, had this to say in his column today –
“Let’s make it clear, I don’t think Sam deserves the sack.You should only sack bad managers or those who don’t fit in. Sam certainly isn’t in the first category and should be given more time to prove he can acclimatise to a new club and all the anticipation and expectations that surround it.”
Do you need it any clearer? Paul Hayward writes for a London based Newspaper that loves nothing more than slagging off Newcastle. I read Hayward’s article and he’s talking rubbish.
carl
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:58 PM
Comment #33not at all john, you calling 50 000 of us muppets?? have you ever watched him live , at a game? he wouldnt look out of place at arsenal or man u!!!! its the football sam is making us play. would rather have martins than owen, viduka,smith,amoebi
Steeley
Dec 30, 2007 at 2:59 PM
Comment #34ObaFan2 – I bet Martins plays amazing at the ACN…because he will have some decent supply…and a partner upfront!
EddCase – spot on about the articles becoming too biased!
To all those people who say “give Sam time” – please refer to posts above by John and Craig….look at what Ramos has done with Spurs in less time that what Sam has been in the job….ditto with Man City! I think these two examples are what is making all the bad press for Allardyce seem all the more appropriate – why should we give Sam time when we’ve gone backwards – expecially compared to those two clubs who have come on in leaps and bounds.
And just for reference, I wouldnt like to see Jol at Newcastle…I dont think he’s the man for the job at all.
john
Dec 30, 2007 at 3:00 PM
Comment #35oba may aswell be at the afr nations already cos hes done nowt recently. if it was ameobi missin all they chances the fans would be calling for him to be hung
carl
Dec 30, 2007 at 3:01 PM
Comment #36oh n jol for toon?? must be having a f***ng laugh, lets remember fat freddy brought muppets in, and he was a supporter and not a business man, ashley and mort are business minded and would only bring in who we wanted or a successfull manager! and yes thats someone who has won many things
StevieA
Dec 30, 2007 at 3:02 PM
Comment #37To the people who are saying sack Sam. If you sack Sam you will have to sack the 30+ coaches and physios that he brought in for his back room staff.
You would be talking of £10 million plus to pay them all off if not closer to £15 million. It’s not like getting rid of Roeder for a few million is it?
I think Sam has done a lot of things right as it happens. I think he has bought well and it’s only a matter of time until you see how good some of these players are. For example I can see Enrique doing very well, Beye and Cacapa. Eventually Barton will play well too.
All that’s missing is performances, creating chances. Playing with wingers who can create 4 or 5 good chances per game. That’s what we are lacking at the moment.
If we concentrated on bringing in a winger such as Bentley and a creative midfielder like Arshavan and a striker then we can turn things round.
The reason for Martins slump in form is he isn’t getting an awful lot of chances, not good chances. So when the chances do come he is not confident of his ability. Once Martins is in form you will see the real Obafemi Martins.
I have thought about the situation and Sam just needs to adapt to the Newcastle way at home. If he does that then he will win the fans over, it’s far too early to give up on the man. Afterall Blackburn and Portsmouth are supposed to be having a ‘great season’ and we are not far away from those, even though we are in a so called crisis.
The only crisis is the performances and chances created per game. Once Sam finds the right balance we will be OK.
Steeley
Dec 30, 2007 at 3:03 PM
Comment #38I also think getting Shearer in as manager wouldnt be a great idea…yet. Although I think he has the potential to do well in future, I think putting him in straight in at the deep end in the Premiership as his first managerial role is too much of a big risk. If he fails – especially at Newcastle – in his first go, then his Newcastle legacy might be in some danger (although he may be too big of an idol for this to happen). He would be great either as an Asst Manager in the Prem, or as a full manager in the Championship.
Look at Keane as an example – not goo enough in the Prem…yet! You watch though, when he has exprience under his belt, he’ll b amazing in the future!
So, Yes to Shearer as manager,…but not yet.
ObaFan2
Dec 30, 2007 at 3:07 PM
Comment #39I have respect for Oba because he carried our attack last season and showed us then his potential, this season something is wrong………I wonder what changed? Oh the management.
There are not many forwards around that I’d replace Oba with but yes there are a few! Are there many managers around I’d replace BSA with ….. many….. but not Jol he’d be just as bad as BSA and I didn’t like his ” we’re in a different league ” remark Jol made whilst at Spurs.
carl
Dec 30, 2007 at 3:08 PM
Comment #40another muppet stevie -a. all thats missing is performances? no mate, whats missing is formation,tactics,team selection.