So who fancies living up to this then?Well here it is, the third and final chapter of my first term, first team player review. And not a moment too soon it would seem, to take the focus off Llambias’ less than convincing SSN interview.
The No.9 shirt is almost as synonymous with Newcastle United, as St James’ Park, the black and white stripes or that deed funny accent we’ve got. It’s been made partcularly special in this part of the world because it’s been worn by some of the best players this country has seen. The likes of Gallacher, Milburn, MacDonald, Cole, Shearer have graced that shirt and it will undoubtedly always be a big shirt to fill.
Ironic then, given that the No.9 shirt and the prestige it carries with it is currently up for grabs, that we have a group of strikers who fall somewhat short of the standards we’ve come to expect from our centre-floorboards, and that none of them look like earning that honour just yet…..
So how far short have they fallen so far? – (more…)
Gis a jobAlan Shearer says he would still love the Newcastle United manager’s job but is also prepared to consider managing other clubs.
At the end of last season it seemed almost certain that Shearer would be given the Toon job despite failing to keep us in the Premier League. Ashley had described employing Shearer as ‘the best decision he ever made’ and Shearer had drawn up plans about how he intended to rebuild the club and take us back to the top flight.
Then of course Mike Ashley put the club up for sale. Whether that had anything to do with Shearer’s rebuilding plans is unknown but it’s understandable that Ashley would be reluctant to appoint to Shearer – or commit to a long-term rebuilding plan – if he planned to sell the club.
The press has always stated that if Barry Moat took control of the club then Shearer’s appointment as manager would swiftly follow but it seems that Ashley, should he stay, would prefer Chris Hughton instead. (more…)
No Toon job this seasonAlan Shearer reveals that whilst he’d take the Newcastle United manager’s job today if it was offered, he’s prepared to get on with life in the interim.
With Barry Moat’s bid – or indeed anyone else’s bid – looking less likely to succeed as time goes on, Shearer’s chances of becoming Newcastle manager this season are fading. It looks like we’re stuck with the current regime for the moment and Shearer has been reflecting on this, saying:
“I can’t revolve my life around that any more because I have other things going on.”
The future Toon manager then touches on the philosophy of determinism, saying:
“If it happens, it happens, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Whatever has happened has happened. If anything else happens then it does – I will just get on with it.”
Which seems to me to be a clever rewording of Laplace’s Demon* – deep stuff indeed from the former number 9. After that philosophical interlude, Shearer goes on to praise Hughton, saying: (more…)
Next permanent manager?Nicky Butt has recently called for Chris Hughton to be made permanent manager of Newcastle United, but what are the options?
Apparently Derek Llambias will shortly be reviewing the positions of Hughton and Calderwood in light of our great start and Nicky Butt hopes that their positions are made permanent until the end of the season. Butt said:
“The team is showing there is belief here, and Chris and Colin deserve the job now.
“Hopefully they get it and that will mean we can all concentrate on the job in hand.
“People keep looking at us and say ‘they still haven’t got a proper manager’ even though Chris is acting manager.
“He’s not done anything wrong, but he hasn’t been named as boss.
“So it would be nice to see Chris get the job.”
Personally I don’t want to see a manager appointed ‘for the rest of the season’ – I’d rather see someone appointed for 3-5 years. The frequent changes of manager have been one of Newcastle’s main problems and one of the reasons why we were relegated last season. We need to get away from this short-termism. (more…)
Caught in the hailThe only reason I’m posting this article is because I read three articles in succession about somebody ‘hailing’ something at Newcastle United.
What is it with all this hail?
First up there’s the Chronicle’s Marlon Harewood hails buoyant Newcastle. This is basically about how Hitman Harewood’s preconceptions about the Toon were rapidly disproved when he join us on loan.
He can be forgiven for thinking we were a club in disarray given events of the last 12 months but now he says we’re not the ‘crisis club’ he first thought we were. Harewood said:
“I haven’t seen anything bad here, just a really good set of professionals.
“They went down and they were upset about it, but I haven’t seen any evidence of last season.
“They have a job to do now and that is to get back in the Premier League – that’s all I have seen.” (more…)
