It’s obvious that Steve McClaren oozes leadership in everything he does, and he gets people right behind him as he leads the way to make Newcastle into a great club again, who challenge for honors again in England.
That’s what leadership is all about – selling your vision and your methods of achieving it – and have people follow you and participate in making it all real – because you cannot do it all by yourself.
Paul Simpson and Steve McClaren in conference
From what we are starting to hear from the players, the training sessions are something to see and hopefully Steve will have an open training session soon so fans – and the youngsters on their school break – can go and see them in action.
There are of course a lot of things that are needed to support a 25 man squad on tour and back in Newcastle too.
Steve today has gone out of his way to praise the backroom staff at Newcastle:
“We don’t realise the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes.” “The staff from day one have been absolutely magnificent.”
“They’ve taken on board what we have been doing.” “The work they do behind the scenes to make it so smooth for the players, we take for granted.”
“But there’s a lot of work.” “The medical team, the masseurs, the kit men and the coaches make it an easier trip.”
“I have to credit the players and staff.”
Steve McClaren is raising the tone and the standards at Newcastle, and tomorrow he will meet Aleksandar Mitrovic and (hopefully) Chancel Mbemba, as the two new players who have arrived at Newcastle in the last four days.
It will be good to hear what the head coach has to say.
Comments welcome.
147 comments so far
Mr Magpie
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:28 AM
Comment #41Repost
Mr Magpie // Jul 22, 2015 at 10:30 PM
Just a thought but if we are looking at players off the radar what about players from Valencia like (centre back) Mustafi, (winger)Feghouli, (striker) Paco or (left back) Gaya.
Cathro will know all about them from his time as assistant manager & him not leaving on bad terms with Nuno still being Valencia manager means the relationship with the club should still be good.
Blofal
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:28 AM
Comment #42Jail,
Don’t really care who is captain this season to be honest. If Wijnaldum has a good season I’d make him captain after a year. Maybe Janmaat this year.
I’d maybe bump Dummett off the bench for Anita as he is also capable of filling in at full back and is very versatile. Colback’s true position is as a LM and with better players around him I think he will do well.
There is also Cabella not on that bench but he is going to be out until Xmas by the sounds.
Blofal
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:29 AM
Comment #43Whumpie
Reports said we put in a bid of $9m pounds for Rudiger early on in the window but it was rejected.
Terry
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:30 AM
Comment #44Keep hearing Anita’s name in people’s teams,is this based on that last game against W ham cod I can’t think of many instances when he done anything.
Terry
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:32 AM
Comment #45Cos not cod (just fishing)
Blofal
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:32 AM
Comment #46Barkel
Yes I do. But if we do we’ll likely sell Cisse.
The problem wiith Mitrovic is he will take a while to adapt to the Premier League. Austin won’t. So although that team I posted looks lovely.. Austin would be starting until Mitrovic gets up to speed.
The point is it gives us options. We can always play 2 up front if the situation warrants. Then we also have Perex and De Jong if we need.
ted
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:33 AM
Comment #47Joao Moutinho, medical tomorrow!
Bambams
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:34 AM
Comment #48Jayphoto
Is mbemba that good fella ?
I had not even heard of him until last week. I have looked on DennisWiseTUBE but it’s hard to judge.
Suitable for the Prem League ?
Altamullan
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:35 AM
Comment #49Partially Terry, and general sense that SMc will play a formation more suited to his strengths.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:38 AM
Comment #50I think we could well see Cisse as a man on a mission with his place under threat, it was a travesty the way Pardew was allowed/forced to pander to Demba Ba’s wishes.
ShirebrookToon
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:39 AM
Comment #51Willems
Shawcross
Shaqiri
Get these three then some young future stars
Laurent Robert 32
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:41 AM
Comment #52The players must be like kids in a sweet shop with actual tactics and coaching. Funny hearing players already speak of the wealth of new coaching which is going on. I.e. “We’re not used to this…”
Ian Toon
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:44 AM
Comment #53For many years Mike Ashley felt that what you wanted from a manager was to avoid spending a lot of money on transfers. He has long felt that most transfers fail and merely waste finances that would be better spent on players’ wages. Wenger was always mentioned as a better manager than Benitez/Dalglish or Allardyce in part because less of his budget is spent on transfer fees. Cabaye and Carroll were frequently the subject of his message. He frequently made the point to
the erstwhile Pardew that he didn’t believe that winning football matches was just about having better players than the opposition. He invariably chose Chelsea at SJP to support his claim.
As many have long suspected he long saw football just like any other business where it’s not just about employing the best designers and production staff. But organisation, building and motivating a working team. That’s what makes a difference.
So what was Mike Ashley’s road to Damascus moment. I am told it was whilst he was flying to and from Phoenix, Arizona and he was chatting over a few hours about Soccernomics. Apparently he has for some months willing chatted to anyone prepared to listen all about football phenomena.
I am not sure it does make sense but what do I know!
ShirebrookToon
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:45 AM
Comment #54Think the days of hoof and hope are a distant memory
Terry
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:46 AM
Comment #55Altamullen , just think of we are really turning the page we should be getting rid of all the dead wood who were the problem last season and I include Anita in that,but if Mac can improve him then fair enough
switch365
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:47 AM
Comment #56———————Krul
Janmaat – Rudiger – Mbemba – Sandro
———-Tiote——Wijnaldum
—————–de Jong
—Yarmolenko—————–Aarons
—————-Mitrovic
Bench – Darlo, Saylor, Sissoko, Anita, Colback, Perez, Cabella
Alex Sandro £14m – Porto
Andriy Yarmolenko – £16m – Dynamo Kiev
Jail for Ashley
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:47 AM
Comment #57Ian,
Did Pards tell you that in spec savers ?
jayphoto
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:48 AM
Comment #58@Bambams – Personally only watched up on him in the champions league but read up on him a lot since we were linked too.
In Belgium he is seen as the best defender they’ve had in their league since Kompany. He’s quick, very very quick, very strong and has a big leap for being relatively short for a CB. His passing is like a centre midfielder, can dribble and bring the ball out of defence too. Is also comfortable playing anywhere across the back 4
His attitude and work rate is meant to be spot on too.
Effectively he’s a champions league standard player, im guessing if there wasn’t questions on his age and if he was a slight bit taller he’d have gone to a top 4 side.
Negatives – doesn’t organise a defence, is quite quiet, isn’t a leader. Effectively he needs to play alongside an organiser as he’s very much a focus on his own job player rather than a leader and a motivator. Very similar in that respect to many African players though
Ian Toon
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:48 AM
Comment #59Willing should be Willingly.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:49 AM
Comment #60Mikeys Damascus moment came when ST holders started sending theirs back with letters of disgust!
lesh
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:50 AM
Comment #61swemag
Who’s Ashley?
bills-son
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:51 AM
Comment #62The slagging Willo gets is way over the top.
Whilst he should not be a first choice CB he has put in plenty of solid performances for us but he suffers most from the diabolical lack of cover provided previously by our powder puff midfield.
John Terry and Rio Ferdinand in their prime would have been all over the place with a mix of Anita, Colback and Sissoko defending centre midfield. Tiote is the only one in our squad who is genuinely aggressive and can outmuscle the 6’+ CM’s that many other teams have.
If McClaren hasn’t already identified our CM weakness I’ll be amazed. That position might just be where the big surprise signing might be.
Bambams
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:51 AM
Comment #63Jayphoto
Cheers for that fella really appreciate it…..
You should become a scout !
jayphoto
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:56 AM
Comment #64I wonder if we’re looking at Bilal Ould-Chikh? At McClarens prev club where he has a great relationship with the owner. Only has a year left on his deal.
Him on the right and Aarons on the left in years to come and off the bench would be amazing
Mister Tuff
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:56 AM
Comment #65Ian Toon – master multiple you posed the question :-
“I am not sure it does make sense but what do I know!”
Mmmm well let me answer ………NOWT.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:56 AM
Comment #66Did John Carver ever make a public apology to Willo after his accusation.
swemag
Jul 23, 2015 at 11:58 AM
Comment #67lesh, no idea, some fat guy I’ve seen in the stands at St James’ I think.
jayphoto
Jul 23, 2015 at 12:00 PM
Comment #68@Bambams – nah to be honest most of the stuff I know comes from reading. Just lucky enough to speak a couple languages etc so can read more than some.
I watch the dutch and French leagues as work in Dam and Paris a fair bit but on Mbemba all I’m going on is champions league and words of journalists.
Read a decent interview with the scout who scouted Mbemba in Congo that got me excited! Was scouted by the same guy that discovered George Weah and he reckoned Mbemba could be better
Terry
Jul 23, 2015 at 12:02 PM
Comment #69Don’t think Williamson is unfairly criticised I just think lower division football is where he should be.Everyone has their place in life and that’s his
Ian Toon
Jul 23, 2015 at 12:04 PM
Comment #70bills- fair point. Chelsea are helped by frequently having two DM’s as well.
jayphoto
Jul 23, 2015 at 12:04 PM
Comment #71@bambams in regards to scouting, might be worth mentioning I was calling for us to sign Riviere on this blog 3-4 seasons ago. (In France I always follow St Ettiene)
I honestly thought Riviere would be a success so maybe my judgement is flawed 🙂
In my defense at A.S.S.E Riviere played wide of a front 3, same as he did at Toulouse. He never played as a target man lone striker anywhere so not sure why Pardew played him there.
Altamullan
Jul 23, 2015 at 12:10 PM
Comment #72Jay
I was clammering for Galtier to come ( lost a bit of money on it too). Did you ever think it was on? How do you think he would have done?
deeps
Jul 23, 2015 at 12:10 PM
Comment #73Transfers: Anderlecht Defender Chancel Mbemba Due for Newcastle Medical Within 24 Hours; Clubs Have Agreed £8M Fee – http://teamstre.am/1d7WUyE (via http://ble.ac/teamstream-)
Bambams
Jul 23, 2015 at 12:10 PM
Comment #74Jayphoto
Riviere looked decent when legging up the left hand side. I am unsure of him still, possibly a couple of goals could set him off.
Wonder if mbemba could play alongside Dijk at Celtic. He is a beast of a CB .
Cheers for the craic fella
Ian Toon
Jul 23, 2015 at 12:12 PM
Comment #75Lilongwe – From last night. To further support my point on multi functional players. Last season at Liverpool Sterling was played as a wing back and is now mentioned as working in tandem with Kolarov at Man City. It just helps to play with a higher calibre of player.
Bambams
Jul 23, 2015 at 12:13 PM
Comment #76I have tried to refrain from sticking this on as our surprise target…..But that Shaqiri is some player.
We used to hear ‘ GINOLA….FERDINAND….GOAL
Imagine
SHAQIRI….MITROVIC. …GOAL
What a signing he would be !
jayphoto
Jul 23, 2015 at 12:19 PM
Comment #77@Altamullan – I think Newcastle fans would have hated Galtier. In style he plays a lot like Pardew. 4-2-3-1, very deep, containment football with very fast counter attacks. Its not the prettiest team to watch. Galtiers plan is always go in at Half time level and then try to win in the last 30 minutes. I don’t think he will ever leave france though, maybe will be the future Marseille manager and after that I guess he’d have his eye on the national team.
Quite like Gourvennec but not really a fan of French managers. Even Blanc and Deschamps I wouldn’t have wanted
Altamullan
Jul 23, 2015 at 12:21 PM
Comment #78Nice one Jay. Glad I didn’t get my wish!
croftus5678
Jul 23, 2015 at 12:22 PM
Comment #79so…..anyone for jose enrique ? would be a huge improvement for us imo and still only 29 and very very cheap.
jayphoto
Jul 23, 2015 at 12:22 PM
Comment #80@BamBams – watched the celtic game last night, Van Dijk looks a player doesn’t he! His passing range, vision and comfort on the ball looked midfielderesque. Was surprised how quick he is too!
Was only an Icelandic team, has he done well against bigger champions league teams??
Celtic, van dijk aside looked awful. Cifti upfront looks like the worst striker ive watched in a long long time