Open to offersAccording to the Mirror, Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer is available to manage other clubs with immediate effect.
Shearer was of course pointedly ignored for the Toon job despite his 8-week temporary appointment being called “the best decision I ever made” by Ashley. Even then though, Shearer was still in with a chance as it was widely believed that Barry Moat favoured him as manager if he had succeeded in buying the club.
However, just as Moat was nearing some sort of deal to buy Newcastle United, Ashley pulled the club off the market, appointed Chris Hughton as manager until the end of the 2011 season and that was the end of Shearer’s chances of managing the club for the immediate future.
Last month, Shearer claimed he was ‘open to offers’ from other clubs but the Mirror seems to be claiming that he’s now going to take a more active role in pursuing a new job. (more…)
Prepared to say noChris Hughton claims he will fight to improve Newcastle United’s squad in the January transfer window.
Since being made permanent manager it seems many people think he’ll just be a ‘yes man’ – a puppet and apologist for Ashley’s regime – but Hughton was keen to dispel such rumours, indicating that he’s strong enough to get his own way.
When asked if the accusations of being a ‘puppet manager’ bothered him, Hughton said:
“Does it hurt if people say I am a yes man? No. I have one responsibility and that is to manage this group of lads, my remit is simply that. At this moment we are sitting on top of the table so we must be doing something right.
“We have to make sure that continues. I can only work within my brief, and that is to manage this group of lads and football club. We know we have had financial restraints for obvious reasons and all I can do to is work around them.” (more…)
Master and discipleChris Hughton has asked Newcastle United fans to put their disagreements with the board behind them and support the team.
Fans are, of course, particularly upset that Ashley plans to peddle Sports Direct on the back of – or, to be more precise, on the front of – the St James’ Park name. Hughton evidently fears rebellion is in the air.
Praising our supporters, Hughton said:
“There are two ways of supporting a team.
“There is no support in this division which has turned up as consistently as our fans have. That is something that is vital for us.
“It is the supporters’ prerogative [to protest], it is their club. My concerns are that they get behind the team and from that angle they haven’t let us down.”
We’ve averaged just over 41,000 this season, which puts us in 6th place in the entire football league. (more…)
Due back at the end of the monthThe Newcastle United squad will be boosted by the return of 3 players coming back from injury.
Chris Hughton reckons Shola Ameobi should be back in contention by the end of the month, which could mean the game at home to Swansea on 28th November or the following game, at home to Watford on 4th December.
After scoring 5 goals in 5 games at the start of the season, Shola has been sidelined with a foot injury, but Hughton said:
“We’re very much looking forward to Shola Ameobi hopefully coming back towards the end of the month.
“That’ll give us a big boost.”
It’ll be interesting to see what becomes Hughton’s first choice strike force when Shola’s fit. I’m presuming Ameobi will be the first name on the list and I would guess Carroll will partner him. (more…)
Fans @ St James' ParkWith an average attendance of 48,750 last season, Newcastle United are the 18th best supported team in Europe.
In England only Manchester United, who top the whole league, and Arsenal manage to beat Newcastle’s average attendance, although Celtic managed 9th and Rangers managed 16th.
Given the mess we were in last season and the fact that there were boycotts of some games, that’s not a bad showing at all, although we are down from the 12th position we achieved in 2007-2008.
Realistically, give the capacity of St James’ Park, the absolute best we could have achieved would have been 13th or 14th. (more…)
