Newcastle are coming to the end of 2015, which has been just a nightmare for Newcastle fans as we only just avoided relegation in May and then started this season off with just three draws in our first eight games before we started to actually win some games.
We have won only seven league games all year.
It´s 30 points from 36 games and that compares to Alan Pardew´s record of 61 points from 36 games at Crystal Palace this year after he left us early in January.
That Pardew record in London doesn´t make things any easier at Newcastle.
Steve McClaren – training at Benton
Here´s our record under Newcastle´s two managers this year.
[table “42” not found /]Steve McClaren has said this in the Chronicle today about the record this year.
“That hasn’t been good enough.” “No, I don’t regret taking this job – that’s how it worked out and that’s how it was.”
“I don’t think we ever knew where we’d finish. We had a new manager coming in and new players as well.”
“There was also the aftermath of what happened last season. It was very much an unknown.”
“We said look at it after 10 to 12 games, but then someone said it’s usually the first 19 for time to judge – and we have two of them to go.”
“We are where we are, but we want to have a better second half to the season than we did the first.” “You always have to make targets. We’re not even halfway through yet. Let’s see where we finish.”
“I can’t guarantee we will be better. We’re working and working and seeing the progress. More consistency needs to be there and we need a damn better second half then we did the first.”
“We need a better 2016 than 2015, when there wasn’t a lot to cheer about – all the way through.”
While Steve is right to say he cannot guarantee anything – hopefully our last nine games where we have four wins and two draws will be indicative of what we can do in the final 21 games of the season.
There´s a lot of hope in that statement, but we also have some good players who are starting to gel more – and we can pull away from the bottom of the league.
That should be sooner rather than later and it would certainly help the nerves.
Here´s hoping.
Comments welcome.
8 comments so far
Ron Knee
Dec 26, 2015 at 8:12 AM
Comment #1“We said look at it after 10 to 12 games, but then someone said it’s usually the first 19 for time to judge – and we have two of them to go.”
Talk about shifting the goal posts!
optimistic prime
Dec 26, 2015 at 8:14 AM
Comment #2I couldn’t guarantee we won’t be worse
ScoopSouthAfrica
Dec 26, 2015 at 8:17 AM
Comment #3Ah Ron Knee…. If we had of shifted the goal posts awhile a go we might have had more points. LOL
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Dec 26, 2015 at 8:22 AM
Comment #4Morning Ron…you have to remember Steve is probably the only manager in the PL who can get away with such a remark!
…underperforming won’t get him fires so no need to promise anything…hope is all we get 😉
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Dec 26, 2015 at 8:30 AM
Comment #5Did people have a nice 25th?…no getting drunk with the family 😉
Some of you are probably looking more forward to today lol
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Dec 26, 2015 at 8:36 AM
Comment #6I think the article in the Mag is actually more telling…especially of all the pokies Steve tells 😉
http://www.themag.co.uk/2015/12/steve-mcclaren-says-targets-agreed-mike-ashley-ambitious/
Big Archie
Dec 26, 2015 at 8:39 AM
Comment #7OK How about judge the team after 38 games?
lesh
Dec 26, 2015 at 8:58 AM
Comment #8First it was 10, then 12 and now it’s 19 games to assess performance under McClaren.
Things are getting better he’s said, now he can’t guarantee any improvement.
It strikes me that he’s been told there’s no incoming transfers of note and that he’s also feeling pressure, offering up fsint hope.
And in the meantime and yet again, there’s a real possibility that Ashley and his gofor, Charnley’ll do bugger all but risk relegation yet again.
Will they ever learn? Will they hell as like.