Ken

If this were to be true and Capello were to be installed as Newcastle manager then many Newcastle fans will be in for a very rude shock. While his pedigree cannot be questioned, his negative tactics will be a disappointment. And if you think Sam Allardyce loves playing players out of position, then just wait and see what Fabio Capello will do.

Source: The Times As Newcastle United begin a series of matches that have the potential to shape the course of their season and determine the future of their manager, a “desperate” Sam Allardyce received vigorous public support from the club’s two longest-serving players. During the build-up to this evening’s Barclays Premier League match at home to Arsenal, Shay Given and Steve Harper, the goalkeepers, offered their unequivocal backing. With Allardyce admitting to insomnia as he attempts to reverse his team’s stuttering form — they have grasped only one point from the past 15 available — speculation continues to thrive on Tyneside. Reports that the manager faces the sack in the event of defeat by Arsène Wenger’s team said to be inaccurate, but the club’s ambition to avoid short-termism is being undermined by poor results. After the visit of Arsenal, Newcastle play Birmingham City, Fulham, Derby County and Wigan Athletic before facing Chelsea away on December 29. Allardyce still retains the favour of Mike Ashley, the club’s owner — the two men enjoyed a jocular conversation last weekend at Ewood Park, where Newcastle lost 3-1 to Blackburn Rovers — but the goodwill has been overshadowed by suggestions that the Newcastle dressing-room is in open revolt, a notion that Given and Harper were quick to counter. While the goalkeepers were part of a three-man delegation that discussed a series of concerns with Allardyce last week, they denied that their meeting amounted to “player power”. “Sam Allardyce has the full backing and support of every Newcastle United player and we are all working together as one to bring success to the football club,” Given and Harper, who sit on Newcastle’s players’ committee, said in a statement. “Many issues are openly discussed between players and the manager, as is commonplace at any club — this is sensible and constructive communication.” Related Links While Allardyce’s scientific methods and tactics represent a drastic change of approach for most Newcastle players, Given and Harper said that they were “absolutely furious” that their talks should be interpreted as confrontational or insurrection. Yet Allardyce would be better served by a venomous display against Arsenal this evening. Newcastle’s previous two home matches have brought heavy reversals and the 3-0 defeat by Liverpool two weeks ago provoked considerable abuse for Glenn Roeder’s successor. “We are all uncomfortable with the situation at the moment,” Allardyce said. “We are all getting a little bit desperate.” As far as the manager is concerned, “judgment comes at 38 games, not at 14” and, while Arsenal may appear irrepressible, a glamorous match offers the possibility of redemption. “I know there are a few fears and trepidations because results are not going right, but these are the games when you should produce your best,” he said. “With a big crowd, against a big team, go and show what you can do.” If some fans are hostile and more are suspicious, their relationship with Allardyce is still new, still raw. “I’ve been here with Bolton and battered Newcastle and got beat 1-0,” he said. “Fans are only interested in winning, like us all. I don’t know where that perception comes from that Newcastle fans would rather lose 4-3 than win 1-0. I think it is all a myth.” He rejected accusations that his tactical approach is overly pragmatic. “If you don’t weigh up the opposition, then you can’t set your stall out to stop their strengths,” he said. “They’ll expose you and you’ll end up losing more and more. Who wins most games? Arsenal. And who has the most clean sheets? Either Arsenal or Manchester United. The only way to win a game of football is to concede less than anyone else.” Balance is elusive because impetus has been lost since Newcastle embarked on a five-match unbeaten run at the start of the season. “We’re behind schedule because we’ve suffered a number of defeats which could have been avoided, we haven’t drawn the sort of games we were capable of drawing and not won the games we perhaps thought we should have done,” Allardyce said. “It is a period that is difficult for us. We did not expect it to happen for as long as it has, but it has. There are many different factors we could point to which have not helped our cause, but, sooner rather than later, we will get the victory which will settle us all down.”

I've said it before, and I'll say it again; Sam Allardyce to stay. People who think Alan Shearer is the answer because of a gut feeling are having a dream and a laugh. And if the bad run continues under Shearer, what then? Demand he be sacked and fantasise about Mourinho being the manager next season? C'mon now, anybody who thought the club was going to finish any higher than 9th or 10th this season (and were being serious about it), need a reality check. Allardyce needs at least the whole of this season, and then see how much he's progressed the club, not only on the table but everything within the club, which was an incredulous shambles before he took the job on. If the players still look clueless by season's end and we finish equal or worse than last season then look for a change. Hopefully Mike Ashley has grapefruits as balls and ignores the boo boys...for now. Thankfully the players have backed him, (which is all that matters rather than people here with big dreams typing out gut feelings and impatient vitriol) and hopefully the club can move forwards again (after the expected loss to Arsenal of course).

As of 2006 - 195,900 regular force. Currently they have 5,250 active in Iraq and up to 7700 British troops have been committed to Afghanistan until 2009. It appears I was wrong, there are only 1000 Australian forces personnel currently active in Iraq and they shouldn't be there anyway. Anything else? Actually Australia has 1 600 military personnel in Iraq. Of those 1 600 personnel, 550 of them are combat troops. Fop is just being a pedantic bastard . Kevin Rudd wants the 550 combat troops to return to Australia by the middle of next year, while keeping the some other personnel in Iraq. Mainly ancillary personnel to protect diplomats, and those involved in transport and surveillance in the country. There are 1000 Australian military personnel in Afghanistan. Of those, 300 are SAS troops. Rudd wants to solidify this contingent as you correctly point out, because Afghanistan is the justified war sanctioned by the UN.

That's the spirit! Anyway in regards to the article, I think it's a pile of from the usual suspects.

Great post. I share the same sentiments. However if the club continues to slide, the players continue to look clueless, the tactics continue to be mish-mash, Sam doesn't bring anyone in in January other than DM's, and we finish lower than 9th or 10th then I would like to see these managers approached in the following order; Guus Hiddink Arsene Wenger Phil Scolari Rafa Benitez Gerard Houllier Jose Mourinho Mark Hughes Alan Shearer (but he will need a kickarse assistant to work with him). There's probably next to nought chance on the first three, while Houllier has a cushy job with the FFF he probably won't want to relinquish, Mark Hughes is loving life with Blackburn and just signed a new contract, and Jose Mourinho will not be managing in England again until after he has a go in Italy or Spain and I'd only have Shearer rather than the other suggestions on this thread which is why I put his name on my list.(McLeish or any Italian coach [other than Lippi] et al.)

90 % agree. Is the 10% the part where I say I want him to stay until the end of the season?

And Tulio Tanaka...

I was one of those who preferred Sam Allardyce over Sven at the time. Sven is a proven winner but needs money to achieve things. Fat Fred was chairman and Newcastle's finances were not the greatest. The club didn't have money to spend, and Sam had done wonders with very little money at Bolton as well as having the best injury record while he was there. I thought it was a match made in heaven. His tactics have got me completely baffled though, especially the last three games. I don't want to see any change, not until the season's over. Give Sam that time to put things right, but if not than he should fall on his own sword...

Yes so Australia has traded in a PM who bowls cricket balls like a tart for someone who...well...picks his ear and eats it. Wonderful stuff.

Yes, but it is better to options than have nought like we have at the minute.

Not very many options are there?..the same can be said about the current playing stocks though. For that reason I don't see why anybody would want to take the job on...oh wait, they get paid an absolute mega-salary to do so don't they. Gerard Houllier maybe, he's not doing much at the moment. Technical Director of French Football IIRC, but the constant scrutiny and purge by our media would turn him right off I would think. And like England's sad lack of playing talent, there is also a sad lack of English managers. What a sorry state of affairs. If Alan Shearer is keen, they should probably give it to him. Like Sammyb says, he wouldn't have anything to lose and it would be good to see what he can do with our sorry lot. He might be the fresh blood England needs at the moment. Jurgen Klinsmann and his epic journey with Germany in '06 springs up in my mind. He revitalised Germany and Shearer could do something similar maybe with England...

Sign him up. He was clearly the best defender at Bolton. He's quick enough, strong enough, can read the play very well. He'd be first choice at centre back if he came here. Bring him in Sam!

Exactly. Half brother wasn't it??? Means bugger all at the end of the day. Another case of jumping-to-conclusions me thinks here aye?

Problem is, iirc, he's only got one year left after this one on his contract. Shola gone?.?...Roeder you are a saint. While you are at it, use Delia's money to help us rid of Pattison, Ramage, Babayaro and Carr. Say 4m for the lot...

To put things in perspective we are better than we were last season. And that for me is what really matters at the end of the day. Plenty of improvement needed? - Yeah of course. Need more creative spark in midfield? - Without doubt. Tactics are a bit dodgy atm? - I concur. Players aren't settled and aware of their roles as of yet? - Yes true But these things take time. More than 12 games and with a transfer window just around the corner.

Anyway back to the topic without the necessity to lob cheap, abusive diatribe, Sam to stay. Bring on January and strengthen the squad even more and aim for the top half. Anything better than 9th or 10th should be seen as magnificent so that way high expectations are not met with complete disappointment and disgust if they are not realised. As has been said, stability is needed at the club. No point chopping and changing now, especially when Sam has laid the groundwork for improvement.

You have been watching a different player if your even thinking about he can't beat people. Hes great on the ball, he can beat people and has a great cross on him. No mate I haven't. Milner had been struggling the past few games. He looked tired and jaded. Just going through the motions. Probably why Sam took him out of the stating eleven for a couple of games. He had a decent game on the weekend though. Looked sharper and caused some problems for the Mackems' defence. Still think he could do with a bit of a break but alas he has to play for the under 21's on the weekend.

Agreed. Viduka is great...on his day, but how often does that happen?..and how many games can he string together? Don't get me wrong Duke's is a great signing, but to expect the team tactics to revolve around a fella who will miss games here, there and anywhere is really not the way to success. Michael Owen is a wasted talent at the moment. No chances, the only ones being when the opposing defence makes a mistake. Martins deserves a decent run in the side but hoofing long balls to him and Owen despite Martin's Jordanesk leaping abilities means fuck all because his touch and control are shite. Opposing teams are having a field day seeing Owen and Martins with their backs to the goal. Nothing is being done to alleviate the problem. OK, Joey Barton will get better with the game time he gets under his belt but the team is still slow and laboured. As for Milner, well he really looks tired and jaded. He is just going through the motions, call it what you will. He only has one move and that is the dummy left then right which won't fool any defence. No good! And I won't give players preconceived reputations but Giles Barnes reeks a lot of Kieron Dyer. Plenty of ability and pace but a very questionable injury record and attitude. Will he really step up, or will he forever be a player with ability yet to shine like Dyer??? Do we gamble elsewhere or do we keep to our very recent traditions of buying crocks with great reputations? The side is in a transition phase...I accept that, but at the minute it looks like a side who cannot create chances; long or short. That is the most worrying thing about it all.

He has said he favours playing through the middle. That's great, but who'll play out wide?.? Milner is as slow as a slug and whilst he is a two footed player, that means bugger all if he can't beat players from time to time. Geremi is even slower than Milner and his crosses and passes are even more laboured to say the least. I believe N'Zogbia has been a success story this season thus far. He has done well wherever he has been asked to play, but playing right side has shown him up once or twice and he isn't nearly as effective. Playing him wide-left would be the preferred option until Duff returns. Bringing in one or two pacy/creative players wide-right would be even better, then think about tinkering with N'Zogbia's best position. At the minute, we have very little options.

I too was a fan of Big Sam when he was first appointed. To an extent I still am, I still have hope, but hoofing long balls all game to a pair of midgets whilst they are defended against by two giants is just piss poor tactics. It's the second game running that this has happened and I'm just sick of it. It shows we lack pace, movement and creativity in midfield, and it shows Big Sam is unwilling to adapt to the players he has (or doesn't have ie.Mark Viduka-yet we still hoof the ball into Owen). I don't want to go singling out players but we have nothing in the centre midfield who can thread balls at the minute or the very least have a 70% completed pass ratio, and we have nothing on the right side by way of pace and crossing ability. We are a team that can be easily defended against and to rely on Viduka to fix things up is hoping that rain will fall in the Sahara. As for the defence, here's hoping Cacapa has an excuse like sleep deprivation or wearing the wrong boots because he brought up bad memories of when Boumsong was at the club. I would have thought Cacapa would have constantly had to defend against players like Benjani when he was playing in the French League. You better be researching some player recruits Sam, and they better not be more sluggish fucking DM's-come-defenders!

Don't read that shitter. Never have never will. Take what they say with a nano-grain of salt tbf.

I'd have Anelka here too. Instead of Martins. I'd have Ameobi gone as soon as the clock strikes 12.00.01AM to be fair. I'd keep Martins personally. I know he's accuracy rate doesn't compare to Owen and Viduka's but he provides unpredictability off the bench. He seems to recognise the fact he isn't as valued as when he originally came to the club. So long as he knows he has a part to play and he can cope with coming off the bench when Viduka and Owen are both fit, then I want him to stay. Anelka would spit chips if he wasn't picked in the first eleven. He would cause unwanted disharmony imho, and we don't want to go back to those unfortunate days.

Hope he gets the operation over and done with as quickly as possible. No mucking about, do it now and have his 3-5 weeks recuperation.

Great result in the end, and good performance. Zog was quality as was Viduka and Butt. Good solid performance from Beye. Looks quick and strong. I'm glad Ameobi was nowhere in the squad. He would've missed the second goal Viduka scored. He would've stepped on the ball and fell over it tangling himself in the net. The team looked great with Smith and Martins up top as well. Bit more movement with Zoggy playing wide left. Can't wait for Joey Barton to make his first up appearance. By then Jose Enrique would have settled into the squad completely and make the LB position his own with Zoggy further forward, but in saying that Zoggy is no disgrace at LB. Very promising signs.