Friday, February 20, 2015

Mr Charnleys PR machine

The NUFC publicity machine is in full flow. Managing director Charnley is throwing his support behind John Carver and hails the changes / difference he has brought to the club since he took temporary control. 

However the current owner and his regime have turned me and many other NUFC fans into a cynic and I cannot help but think we are being prepared for the permanent appointment of John Carver in the summer. Ashamedly on the back of meeting the clubs standards of delivering a top 10 finish.


“What we have in John is an individual who is doing absolutely everything he can to achieve positive results.


“The staff and players have responded very well to John and the changes he has made on a daily basis.

Yes changes that have brought only 1 win, 5 points from a possible 15 - form that is worse than Pardew achieved earlier this season. 


No doubt Carver care passionately  about the club - but don't we all? that does not quality us to be Head coach - is Carver just a glorified fan who struck it lucky and worked his way up through the club - not too dissimilar to Charnley. Do we have a MD and Head coach who really have no right to be in those positions?


“I know that from first thing in the morning until the last thing at night he is giving it everything he’s got and driving the staff and players.

“He is desperate to get the right results.”

Could it simply be that he is not good enough? again we all would try hard. I'd go as far to say that I imagine that JC work be working twice, maybe thrice as hard as Jose Mourinho yet achieves no where near the level of success. Hard work and graft will only get you so far in an industry dictated by individual skill and expression. 


Has JC really changed the teams set up at all? Bringing Remy Cabella back into the team and getting a performance out of him is the only move I can think of. The teams set up / tactics and substitutions have been a mirror image of those use by Pardew. 


 “Are you Pardew in disguise” was sung by the NUFC fans at Selhurst Park. This is a fair opinion in my eyes - Carver has been Pardew's closest Allie over the last 4 years so now to suggest he differs in regards to football ideology if not believable. Did Carver have no influence on the team over the last 4 years?


“What we would ask is for the final 13 games the supporters get behind John and get behind the team.


“We would encourage everyone to focus on getting behind John and the staff and team. It will make a real difference.”


Mr Charnley NUFC fans will always back the team, not necessarily the regime. Yes i accept JC as an temporary coach, but he is not the answer long term for our club. We are Newcastle United, we are better than this. Success is not a top 10 finish, that should be a minimum. Our Head coaches should not be hired on the back of such low expectations.

Its over to you Lee - deliver us the Head coach our club deserves and allow JC to get back to coaching.

Monday, February 2, 2015

A case for the defense

So another transfer deadline day is here and as per usual at NUFC it is all about out going transfers.
Today see the news that Daivde Santon is heading home to Inter Milan on loan, with a view to a permanent more in the summer.

Santon arrived with a big reputation after being handed a debut at Inter at 18 by Jose Mourinho. He went on to be labelled 'The new Paolo Maldini' - to be honest he go no where near that standard and is nothing but a decent premiership left back. Of course he young and could develop but in all honestly he departure is not real loss to NUFC.

Personally I actually prefer Massadio Haidara at left back yet Santons departure leaves a lack of first team defenders in the squad - one or two injuries and we are in trouble. To be facing with second half of the season with only: Colo, Willo, Dummett, Haidara, and Janmatt is very worrying. 

I am fine with Santon leaving, but only if a replacement is brought in. I am posting this article at 3.50 GMT and here are zero signs  any signings will be made today. Santon out and a replacement signed is a piece of business I can understand and approve. But this is NUFC I fully expect to hear the "Closed for business" statement made via Skysports any minute now.

On the bright side Moussa Sissoko remains a NUFC player....for now.