The inside view on why Allardyce didn’t work and what we need now for Newcastle United.
Discuss on our fans forum.
Why do Newcastle seem to believe that changing their manager as frequently as some people change their underwear is the way to win? Looking at the recent form of Everton, Portsmouth and Blackburn, as well as the long term performance of Arsenal and Man United, it's pretty plain to see that you need to give managers the chance to settle in and make the team their kind of team! I mean if Big Sam took charge of Everton and tried to get players like Lescott, Arteta et al. to play with the long ball tactic it simply would not work! The same way that if Wenger took charge at Bolton it would be nearly impossible to get them playing the slick passing game that Arsenal play - and that is not because of the ability of the players! It's because of their mind set! Allardyce was in the process of changing the players mind sets! And now it is quite possible we will have a group of players that are going to be caught in two minds for quite a while!
The thing that a lot of fans have complained about is the style of football they have been playing, the style that Sam was known for at Bolton. It wasn't the sexy football they used to see at St James Park. It was a rough, tough, direct style of play. It wasn't pleasing to watch and it hadn't got results lately! However do you think fans would of minded if by playing the same style they had won those games? Do you think Sam would be out of a job if by playing long ball Newcastle had scored a goal or 2 a game? Simply the answer is no! As a fan the number one thing on your mind is results, second comes goals and then comes the style! How many times have you heard people say "it wasn't pretty but a goal is a goal and it got the job done" or something like that? That is a fact goals win you games and it doesn't matter how you get these goals as long as they do come along! That thought is what simply wasn't happening at Newcastle - goals were few and far between scoring just 3 goals in the "festive period" and picking up just one point from those goals simply isn't good enough for a squad that on paper should be beating teams like Wigan and Derby and possibly even scrapping a point from Man City!
The next manager that is brought in needs to be given a clear time frame to do a job in! None of this we'll judge you as you go along mumbo jumbo! Ask him to get us a top half finish within the next year and a half! Then if that is successful move it up a notch - as for some form of European qualification - through Cup or League! It's about stepping stones in this business, stones which have been placed too far apart for Newcastle boss's in the past! But its time for change!
So who are the candidates? Early indications are that the following are the leading contenders for the hot seat - but which one will be able to be persuaded to take on the task?
Harry Redknapp - Has been made bookies favourites - he is a good successful English manager and would be my choice above all the other leading candidates. He did well at West Ham and now at Portsmouth, has been proven to do very well in the transfer market with very shrewd investments - but will he be like Sam in the respect that with money available he is less wise?
Jose Mourinho - Proven to be quality no matter where he is in charge, he got results at Porto with a side that really didn't have any stand out players (except maybe Deco)! He repeated such greatness with Chelsea with a shed load of cash at his disposal! And so probably could do wonders at the club! But he turned down England - would he really want a job a Newcastle?
Jurgen Klinsmann - Still young in his career but seems pretty decent judging by Germany's display at the world cup but he hasn't really shown anything at club level management!
Martin Jol - Struggled with Tottenham during his last few weeks and months but when the team performed they really performed quite well! They had all the players to be a top 4 team so what was stopping them from making that break through? The only place I can see is the coaching/management side (and probably a little bit of misfortune - like that goal against Man U that didn't count) He would be in a similar situation at Newcastle and so would it just be a repeat?
Steve McLaren - Well former boss at 'Boro and England - I didn't personally see any qualities in a manager that I would want at this club! He sometimes seemed almost clueless about how to handle pressure - something he would have a lot of on Tyneside!
Marcelo Lippi - The man I know least about but his record is amazing (when I looked it up)
5 Italian League Titles
1 Italian Cup
4 Italian Super Cups
1 Champions League
1 European Super Cup
1 World Cup
That is 13 Trophies since 1995 (that’s 1 a year!)
He would be a good manager but would he survive under the pressure? One way to find out I guess!
So that's the options I'd have to say I'd still put Redknapp at the top of my short list! But I wouldn't mind seeing Lippi or Mourinho either! Like I said earlier though - which ever way it goes lets just hope they are given time and financial backing! And who knows we could be back in Europe by 2010!
