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Number 1
I've seen most comments that Shelvey was the only one in black and white even remotely trying yesterday, and he's done more in 2 months than Sissoko has in the entire season. Then again we're pretty used to contrarian opinions by now, so...
I dunno... I was hoping for a McClaren exit by now, but I guess I'll have to be waiting longer, if indeed it ever comes.
Dan
Oba
Yeah no change there.
Number 1
Not sure to trust it yet though. I remember a lot of stuff saying "Pardew gone" after the defeat by Reading in January 2013, so I remain skeptical for the moment.
Shola
You're right. Shelvey hasn't been bombed out of his last two clubs. Shelvey wasn't criticised in public by his previous manager. Swansea directors haven't publicly called Newcastle mugs. He wasn't completely bossed by Dan Gosling yesterday. We weren't a point behind Swansea and in 18th when we signed him. We're not now 9 points behind Swansea and in 19th.
Poe
He's way better than anything we've got in centre midfield.
Also, McClaren will go tomorrow, apparently.
Good news.
Shola
Let Gradel wriggle away from him for the first, stood watching for the second, and passed to Bournemouth for the third. And yes Bournemouth completely dominated us for 90 minutes. There is no two ways about it. You dominate from the centre of the midfield.
Poe
He was the only one playing centre midfield, he wasnt hiding like Colback. Colback was at fault for the first, not Shelvey.
Shola
Poe
I agree he doesn't mark well but its not really his game as a playmaker - he makes more passes than anybody in our team so he's definitely not reluctant to go and recieve the ball.
And on average he makes more tackles per game than any other centre midfielder we have (including Tiote, which is baffling) but again it's not really his game. We need a proper defensive midfielder (not Saivet) alongside him and we need to let him create chances for us because he's good at that.
Number 1
Meanwhile, it appears the statement given to Sky from the players backing McClaren before kick-off yesterday had no connection with the players or from the NUFC PR department. Obviously the statement of that performance was worse... this is clearly a squad that, for one reason or another, isn't performing. It doesn't help the manager is useless, but so many of those players haven't tried in certain games, and whomever is in charge has to rectify that issue, even if its increasingly clear that person is not McClaren.
Poe
Ashley and Charnley just as incompetent as McClaren
Number 1
Most clubs would've fired him before he'd even left the stadium after the Bournemouth debacle. Then again saner clubs would've fired him after the 5-1 defeat by Crystal Palace.
Shola
Shedender
Then again, no one would've been stupid enough to appoint him in the first place, especially considering how he bottled potential promotion with Derby last season. Would love for him to be gone before the trip to Leicester next Monday but I doubt that'll happen and even if we was to go, who'd come in to replace him?
Poe
Number 1
There are quite a lot of different media outlets saying that a McClaren-less meeting was held today and that he'll be gone in the next 48 hours.
We'll wait and see I guess.
Yeah. It was a pretty stupid decision. Surely we could've shown more ambition than a man who bottled promotion with Derby (arguably twice), but no.
I'm going to abstain on listing ideas for successors, although frankly, there are very few people out there even less qualified than McClaren. Its tempting to say Gary Monk because Shola might explode, but after how Swansea imploded, I'm not convinced that would be a good idea.
Moyes or Benitez would be a hell of a coup if we got them, but I don't see either happening. Which leaves Pearson... hmmmm...
Shola
Charnley thought he would be the best man to mould the younger players Newcastle were aiming to sign into reaching their potential. While Charnley gets to keep playing Championship manager and signing players himself. Sounds great on paper as McClaren guides and coaches for example - a side of Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Shelvey, Townsend, Thauvin, Mitrovic to their potential, Newcastle rise up the table and the players are worth rises too - and a genuine dynasty can start to be built. All solid enough theory on paper.
I suspect Charnley-Carr always privately blamed Pardew when a signing didn't work out and haven't learnt any lessons.
I'm not as opposed to Garry Monk as I was to McClaren.
Shola
Number 1
There's been a lot of people saying McClaren is a good coach, and it may well be the case he is, but there do appear to be manager failings.
I assume this philosophy is how a number of European football sides do their player purchasing. It may well be the case we've done it to excess at the expense of team-building, and then made it worse by trying to repeat the Pardrew trick (find a manager seen as on the scrapheap and watch him prove to the world he's still got it, as he did in 2011/12) with someone who couldn't find form to begin with. At an ordinary club, Graham Carr's position would be in question. But he'll still be here regardless of the new appointment.
Meanwhile, a few seem to think we made contact with Benitez. Presumably of a similar note to the discussions with Lacazette, going...
"Do you wanna join NUFC?"
"No"
Fair play for trying at least - you'd like to think he has the calibre to kick our squad up the arse.
Shola
Benitez is always the 'fans' choice despite being everything Newcastle fans hate in a manager.
Poe
I think the one common thing about this whole situation is that the fans generally know fuck all.
But all seem to know way more than McClaren and Charnley which is the most worrying thing of all.
I think Benitez would be a great choice if we were guarenteed Premier League football next year, but is he likely to stay if we were in the Championship?
Shola
Anyway can't wait until someone calls Benitez 'out of his depth'
Shola
WHATCHA GONNA DO WHEN NEWCASTLE AND HULKAMANIA RUN WILD ON YOU!
Poe
Number 1
Also, Lee Charnley is an absolute fuckwit.
Poe
Ashley era managerial appointments have been fun havent they.
Keegan Pearson Kinnear Hughton Shearer Hughton again Pardew Carver McClaren
good god.
Sam
This will be interesting.
Dan
KEZ_7
Not so much recent years, Real Madrid isn't a bad job... suppose it's just made 10x harder when Barca are as consistent as they are. Big drop to us though and I agree with @Poe that I'm not sure he'd stick around if we go down AND the knowledge of the fans and board.
The way it's all been handled in unprofessional to say the least. I do agree it's time for McClaren to go and he has to after all of this, but you can't help feel sorry for him in the way that he's been messed around this week