I really have brought with me a very successful track record achieved whilst managing to tight budgets. I have gained success by buying journeyman players and players past their prime and organising them into a well disciplined unit.
You do this by having a functional style of player and ensuring every player has a role and knows exactly what to do. You then need clear direct tactics aimed at delivering the ball quickly into the opposition box and scoring from second balls and knock downs. I've always been thought of as a Messiah where ever I've been previously and the fans have loved me for the success I have brought to unfashionable clubs.
The fans at Newcastle were supportive at first because of my great track record but now they don't seem to appreciate the winning formula I am introducing to the club.
On the team side of things I have had to bring in a lot of my own type of player who can play the system I want to play. I've cleared out a lot of the players who just weren't up to it, not fit enough and didn't work hard enough.
I still have two problems to sort out on the pitch. I've a prima donna in midfield with a great left foot and the fans love him, but he doesn't track back and can't tackle. I'll sell him on first decent offer that comes in.
Also I've an England international up front whose a bit of a legend but all he does is score goals, and he costs a fortune too, he's the clubs highest earner by a mile. I've got my eye on a big front man who can hold the ball up and really play the system I want, he scores the odd goal too. So I'll cash in on 'flash the cash' and probably get 4 decent players in his place who'll all fit the system much better.
Who am I ???
Well the answer is Gordon Lee who replaced Joe Harvey as Manager of Newcastle United in 1975 after previous successful spells at Port Vale and Blackburn Rovers where he got both clubs promoted.
Despite getting Newcastle up to second in the table at one stage and making an appearance at Wembley in the League Cup final losing to Manchester City 2-1, Gordon Lee was one of the most controversial and unpopular managers of Newcastle United in living memory.
He achieved notoriety by selling crowd favourite Terry Hibbitt then driving out superstar centre forward Malcolm Mcdonald to replace him with Alan Gowling, a tall gangling striker who was signed from Huddersfield.
After two years Gordon Lee then walked out of the club and took over at Everton whilst making the famous quote "Newcastle are the biggest tragedy in football. They simply make noises about being successful. The club isn't geared to being really successful".
Despite all the winning football there was a resounding cry of "good riddance" from the Toon faithful that day.
However, any resemblance to current events unfolding at St James' Park are completely coincidental !!
But what's that rumour that Owen is being sold in January to fund a bid to sign Peter Crouch from Liverpool ??
