Late last week, it looked like Paulo Fonseca was in line to become Newcastle’s next manager. The 48-year-old held remote talks last Wednesday. However, almost a week later the Saudi consortium doesn’t seem close to a decision.
The Athletic’s George Caulkin warned on Monday that it could be some time before a new manager is appointed. He doesn’t anticipate an appointment this week and said to expect major decisions like these to take time.
It’s deliberating and then getting sign off. Everything is going to be like this for a little while at least. As you say, the key thing is getting the right person. But who is that? It’s difficult given the position in the league – the priority is to get out of the bottom 3!
— George Caulkin (@GeorgeCaulkin) October 25, 2021
The odds on Lucien Favre have shortened significantly this week. He’s now neck and neck with Fonseca as the front-runner. Though those odds are likely to swing with other candidates potentially gaining ground as this week continues.
One name that came up soon after the takeover was announced was Rangers’ boss Steve Gerrard. However, he’s been an afterthought of late though is generally among the list of reported candidates.
When he was asked about Newcastle soon after the takeover was completed, the 41-year-old distanced himself somewhat when he said the following:
“I don’t really react to any sort of speculation. Especially when someone who I have the utmost respect for is sitting in that job that the speculation is about.
“For me, I’m in a very big job and a very big role here that I’m very much fully focused on.
“We’ve got a top-of-the-table clash at the weekend and it’s a game I’m very much looking forward to.
“But I’ve certainly got one eye on Newcastle in terms of Brucie getting his 1000th game.
“He’s a great character of the game, someone who I’ve got a personal relationship with and the utmost respect for, and I’m really looking forward to seeing him get that 1000th game.
“I think it’s a mammoth achievement so congratulations to him for the weekend.
“I think the character that Steve Bruce is, I don’t think he’d want anyone to have sympathy for him or feel sorry for him.
“Sitting in this position I certainly wouldn’t want anyone to be speculating about my job so I certainly won’t be getting involved in any speculation towards his.
“I think it’s interesting what’s happening at Newcastle and if anybody deserves a break it’s the Geordie fans so I’m sure the excitement level is high.
“Anyone with an interest in the game is looking on with interest to see how that develops.
“But from a personal point of view, I don’t really get involved in speculation and I wish Steve Bruce all the best.”
Gerrard expressed some empathy for Steve Bruce at the time but the head coach has since moved on. Gerrard also admits that he’ll be watching with interest to see what happens at St. James’ Park.
However, his name has not moved the needle much over the past few weeks with Fonseca and Favre garnering much of the headlines. Though former Magpie Ryan Taylor, of the ‘over the wall’ chants, reckons Gerrard would be a great fit to take Newcastle forward.
The Chronicle has published the following comments the versatile Taylor told Sky Sports:
“I would 100% stick with an English manager, someone who knows the Premier League, knows the players, and someone with a big name.
“But I would love to see someone like Steven Gerrard in charge of Newcastle. It’s so passionate up there and with coming from this city, he’ll know what passion is all about.
“He plays football the right way, he knows who good players are, and I think he’s done an unbelievable job at Rangers.
“If he was linked with the club and the club were interested, then obviously it’s such a huge step for him with what they have planned for the future.”
186 comments so far
chancel be a fine thing
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:00 PM
Comment #41Maybe so Jail. If it’s Rafa, then sure he can get his philosophy down quickly. But a manager who wants to play out from the back has got his work cut out.
Scythe
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:02 PM
Comment #42Bloody Mackems through to the quarter finals. I thought Charlie Austin was going to come on and bang in the winner for QPR.
Oh well, let’s see who they get next 🙂
Scythe
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:05 PM
Comment #43To make matters worse Austin came on and missed QPR’s first pen. Damn it Charlie. You had one job. ONE JOB!
Not another deJong
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:06 PM
Comment #44DubaiMicky – cheers for the response
Mund
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:06 PM
Comment #45Scythe
Just saw that mate 🙁
Ah DeMarco will be upset
carltoon
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:08 PM
Comment #46Scythe that’s what I’m afraid of, Tony, i bet he can’t wait to put that ball in the net, it’s written in the stars
carltoon
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:12 PM
Comment #47Chancel, I agree we haven’t got a player who can post it out from the back, and don’t sat Schar, he’s a liability some times, I would prefer if we could try Schar further up the pitch,
carltoon
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:13 PM
Comment #48PASS IT OUT FROM THE BACK 🙄
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:14 PM
Comment #49That Lejuene fella Bruce knackered could play a bit mind
fairscup
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:17 PM
Comment #50In my opinion Lucien Favre would be the safest for us. Here’s hoping he gets the chance.
Scythe
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:17 PM
Comment #51Apparently the Mackem Twitter account just posted this…’dare to dream?’
In a word, no.
jane
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:18 PM
Comment #52Sunderland getting their priorities wrong again. whereas our ex manager wisely brought Almiron and Joelinton on with instructions to take soft pens which they carried out perfectly. Spurs tomorrow wouldn’t have been ideal preparation for Chelsea. good planning.
chancel be a fine thing
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:19 PM
Comment #53I don’t need Sunderland to lose to help my state of mind anymore.
Life is so much better
Well done Sunderland…..
Didn’t even hurt ..
You’re not allowed to get to the final mind so don’t go getting any ideas.
Ashingtoon62
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:20 PM
Comment #54Jail 😀
NY Mag
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:21 PM
Comment #55Scythe…..that’s a proper LOL….belly first LOL 🙂
jane
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:21 PM
Comment #56or was it St Max and Almiron.
chancel be a fine thing
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:24 PM
Comment #57Dummett recives the ball, 3 opposition players surround him, plays a neat one two with Lascelles, nutmegs another player and plays a pinpoint crossfield pass to Manquillo who’s shooting up the wing…….
No, I’m finding it hard too Carltoon.
JP...from The Rock
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:27 PM
Comment #58Have we? Could be…
https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-newcastle-willing-to-make-target-third-highest-paid-manager-20211026
onmeedsun
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:36 PM
Comment #59In football there is a time to be decisive about decisions or you risk losing your target. We can’t have the set up of the consortium slowing down every decision. There needs to be a degree of delegated authority to the UK based directors, with perhaps a tele conference on big stuff. But it shouldn’t be dragged out. I know a bit about the culture out there and they like to over deliberate and no one wants to be the one that made a poor decision, so key decisions can end up passing across multiple desks instead of just 1 person. Hopefully we aren’t going to follow that model.
Assassins Inc
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:37 PM
Comment #60Only reason to get Gerard would be the fact he has ties to Liverpool and could probably entice some players out of contract soon, like Salah etc.
He does also know how to play the game and seems to be doing a good job at rangers but it’s Scottish league and not premier.
Tough call really. But don’t think he’s in the running.
Scythe
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:46 PM
Comment #61NY Mag
Haha! Sometimes the truth hurts but it’s got to be said 🙂
SholaShow
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:47 PM
Comment #62Let’s see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully something substantial, but I doubt it.
carltoon
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:49 PM
Comment #63Chancel ! What do you mean, that could easily happen, but not with any players on our team, but just think! This time next year,
SholaShow
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:49 PM
Comment #64Salah isn’t come here even if we hire Gerrard as manager, Dogleash as DoF, Carragher as kit man and Paul McCartney as HT entertainment.
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:51 PM
Comment #65It could be Favre and Ten Hag are waiting to see what happens at Man U.
cleveleysbob
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:52 PM
Comment #66Onmeedson, I agree, except that getting the right DoF and Manager are “key” decisions.
coming home
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:52 PM
Comment #67This BT and 3 is taking over my phone so iv probably missed posts
But Raj I agree with you on Rafa
But please stop the bitcheenes on all things Mund and Jib it does your character no favours
Just talk football where your not too bad
SholaShow
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:59 PM
Comment #68I’m still hoping for Wenger as DoF with his clear links to Saudis.
Back involved with football day-to-day, but not in the thick of the action. He was a one-man band at Arsenal that essentially performed a DoF role alongside his management.
Knows precisely what’s needed to convert a club into a 21st century outfit and will have contacts galore.
Mund
Oct 26, 2021 at 11:01 PM
Comment #69Wenger would be a great shout tbf
coming home
Oct 26, 2021 at 11:02 PM
Comment #70Fonseca now out to 2/1 still favourite
But that tells me something is wrong and it’s not ia fore gone conclusion
I think Favre is the go to which will excite Shola
coming home
Oct 26, 2021 at 11:03 PM
Comment #71#Favrein
Mund
Oct 26, 2021 at 11:03 PM
Comment #72CH
Odds change through betting don’t they?
I don’t think the bookies have any inside connection but tbh I don’t have a clue
coming home
Oct 26, 2021 at 11:05 PM
Comment #73Mund
In my experience sky bet normally have the inside knowledge
Mund
Oct 26, 2021 at 11:07 PM
Comment #74Makes sense with Sky tbh
coming home
Oct 26, 2021 at 11:08 PM
Comment #75Mund
I agree mostly that they get things right
But for some reason they don’t seem to have a clue
I think Sean Casey has as much a chance as the bookies lol
coming home
Oct 26, 2021 at 11:09 PM
Comment #76By the way
Is Sean Casey jail
Mund
Oct 26, 2021 at 11:10 PM
Comment #77CH
Rumours have it Casey is actually toon22 😉
Scythe
Oct 26, 2021 at 11:10 PM
Comment #78Wenger wanting a World Cup every two years worries me a bit. Makes me think he’s lost it a bit. He’s definitely got an incredible amount of footballing knowledge and a great deal of respect and admiration in the footballing world, but maybe he’s like Mourinho. Great in his day but past it a bit these days.
He’s also 72. If we did get him it would certainly only be for a short period of time. I’d like someone who’s going to oversee a longer project from start to finish.
coming home
Oct 26, 2021 at 11:12 PM
Comment #79Mund
Nah the frog is a level above
Scythe
Oct 26, 2021 at 11:12 PM
Comment #80Sean Casey is really Keyser Söze. He’s totally faking that limp.