Well yet another manager gone by the way side, another search mid season
for someone who will flick the magic switch and get things right
immediately while playing all-out attacking football and winning every
game 4-3. Hmmm......

I must say I was shocked at the timing and the sequence of events
surrounding Big Sams departure but no-one can be shocked that it
eventually did happen. The crowd, (while I feel are a little too quick
to jump on the backs of players and managers alike, longing for a return
to the heady days of keeganesque football and wishing their favourite son
was in charge), will not put up with boring football and negative tactics
especially when the results still don't go our way. Yes, everyone would
much prefer to watch us get beat 5-3 in an open game than get beat 1-0 in
a drab boring game....but then if your going to lose at least have a go at
the opposition. But Sam can't complain abou the fans not being happy
about setting up for a draw against teams like Derby, Wigan and Stoke.
Too many players out of position, refusing to play with too many attacking
players and dropping everyone deep....bad tactics. Maybe these work at
smaller clubs where the expectation is lower but he clearly proved that he
didn't have what it takes to change tactics for a side who expects to be
winning games rather than hoping to. Playing defensive tactics only
serves to do one thing....invite even more pressure on to the back four.

So who do we get next? No big name manager worth his reputation will
come here knowing what a tinder-box he is sitting on, when two results
could go against him and the whole place would flare up saying he isn't
the right man and he needs to go, boo the players off and moan all the
time....an all too familiar occurrence in recent seasons. So the names
being talked about...are they good enough?

'arry redknapp?? Well for me this one is just out of the fryiing pan into
the fire. A good manager at taking mid to low table clubs and getting the
most out of a low transfer budget and exceeding their expectations. Not
the sort of manager with a proven track record of being able to buy big
name players and get them to perform week in week out, not the sort of man
who has ever threatened breaking into the top 4 or even getting a UEFA cup
place on a regular basis. Does his football really glare of attack
mindedness? when was the last time his team scored at home? What would
happen with a similar run at St James??

Martin Jol?? Shmoka'da pancake.... I thought he was a good manager at
spurs and played good football, but his departure and start to this season
does not fill you with confidence that he has what it takes. Ok, maybe
things were out of his control and that effected his choices, but are any
toon fans willing to take that chance?

Keegan/Shearer?? God i hope not. Keegan will not be given time any more
than Alladryce was. The fans will expect the good old days to return and
if things don't quite go right then they will turn faster than milk left
out int he sun claiming he is past it, doesn't have what it takes anymore
etc etc...or keegan himself will throw his toys out the pram once again
and head off into the sunset like he has done at every job he has ever
had. Shearer does not fill me with confidence in being the manager. he
was a great player, but his shadow over the club towards the end of his
days here were beginning to effect the whole club and his ego may become a
serious problem when dealing with the players.....who can forget Gullit's
ego problem with Shearer himself...so will Shearer put his aside for the
good of the club? Plus we have the problem of not having his badges, nor
any experience, nor actually showing a burning desire to manage the club.

mark hughes? this does not sounds any better than an Allardyce option to
me. There is a possibility that his kick first, kick second then if
anyone if still standign kick again, then we might get the ball forward
and try to score tactics are just a necessity and that h can change them
given a better talent pool to work with...but then thats what we all
thought of Allardyce too wasn't it?

So who else is left? not much in reality. there is no way on this
earth that Jose would come back to the premiership and take over a club
like ours when he has the pick of any club accross europe. As much as the
fans don't want to admit it to themselves the days of newcastle being a
major player in europe and haing the pulling power because of this have
long gone. No top manager will think twice about turning us down when
they will have the likes of bayern munich, barcelona etc looking for
managers... I would prefer British, and also someone with a track record
of giving youth players their chance. Who would put money against David
O'Bleary cropping up to say he's interested?

Whatever happens it is going to be a make or break decision. One more
sacked manager after 6 months in charge will desimate the already flimsy
reputation of this glorious club and we will fall into a pile and find it
hard to climb out for a long time to come.

Ho-hum...yet another soap opera in the life and time at the Toon eh?

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