The Times: Allardyce faces the sack

[Jimbo 175]

ALAN SHEARER will ignore an imminent approach from the Football Association about the England job and take over as manager of his home-town club, Newcastle United, if they lose at home to Arsenal on Wednesday.

 

He has been widely regarded as a contender to succeed Steve McClaren as England’s head coach, but he told friends in midweek that he would rather earn his black and white stripes at St James’s Park, given the chance.

 

That opportunity became a definite possibility last night, after Newcastle’s 3-1 defeat away to Blackburn Rovers left Sam Allardcyce under extreme pressure, just four months after taking charge at Newcastle. Allardyce has now seen his team pick up just one point from their last five games, during which they have conceded 13 goals. The club’s owner, Mike Ashley, had told friends in midweek that he was “very disappointed” with his team’s start to the season, and that he would reappraise Allardyce’s position in the light of the next two games.

 

Yesterday’s result therefore makes Wednesday’s match a win-or-bust situation for a manager who was interviewed for the England job only 18 months ago. Allardyce wants to stay and prove his worth, but he may not get the chance.

 

 

The ‘Toon Army’ have not been impressed with his no-frills style of football and hanker after the appointment of Shearer, who has let it be known that he sees the club with whom he finished his playing days as the ideal starting point for his break into management.

 

The day had started with Joey Barton condemning the fans’ treatment of the players and the manager. “I don't think I have heard a crowd that vicious,” he said. “Last Saturday I was sitting on the bench and after 20 minutes I had picked up on it. At half-time I was with Peter Crouch and he said, 'I've never heard a crowd so vicious.' It shocked me." That game had been marked by chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing” aimed at the Newcastle dugout. Yesterday, Blackburn fans took their turn to mock the beleaguered manager.

 

Arsène Wenger saw his Arsenal team continue their unbeaten run and establish a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League, after a 2-1 win at Aston Villa. Arsenal fell behind early on to a Craig Gardner strike but recovered with first-half goals from Mathieu Flamini and Emmanuel Adebayor. Behind them, Chelsea moved into second place after beating West Ham 1-0 at home with a goal from Joe Cole, who appeared to have scored from an offside position. Manchester United, a point behind, play Fulham on Monday.

[LeazesMag 0]

Hansen was commenting on the managerial situation, and Allardyce being under pressure, looked at Shearer, who looked at him blankly and didn't say a word.

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

No quotes, just everybody's friends talking to The Times

[Ketsbaia 0]

If that happens i'm going to strap on an AK47 and fire rounds into the family of every moronic fucking spacker that has not only made a mockery of this club by going on SSN and saying "Why aye! Shearaaaaa needs to be tha managa like!" but those who have acted so fucking childishly over the past few games because things haven't went right.

 

If Shearer becomes manager it could and probably will be an unmitigated disaster. He needs to prove himself first before coming anywhere near this club again.

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Sacking a manager 15 games into his reign just solidifies our status as laughing stock in my opinion.

[Jimbo 175]

Sacking a manager 15 games into his reign just solidifies our status as laughing stock in my opinion.

 

I wish Souness and Roeder had been sacked 15 matches into their reigns.

 

Ultimately giving a manager time only earns justification if he ends up getting it right.

 

I'd rather folk laugh at us for ditching an inefective manager than for getting sucked into a relegation battle.

[Kevin Carr's Gloves 3964]

To play devil's advocate where did Keegan learn to be a manager before taking over here?

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Sacking a manager 15 games into his reign just solidifies our status as laughing stock in my opinion.

 

I wish Souness and Roeder had been sacked 15 matches into their reigns.

 

Ultimately giving a manager time only earns justification if he ends up getting it right.

 

I'd rather folk laugh at us for ditching an inefective manager than for getting sucked into a relegation battle.

We won't get relegated, we'll finish where we deserve to, which is between 10th and 12th.

 

We finished 11th in our first full season under Robson by the way.

[Jimbo 175]

Sacking a manager 15 games into his reign just solidifies our status as laughing stock in my opinion.

 

I wish Souness and Roeder had been sacked 15 matches into their reigns.

 

Ultimately giving a manager time only earns justification if he ends up getting it right.

 

I'd rather folk laugh at us for ditching an inefective manager than for getting sucked into a relegation battle.

We won't get relegated, we'll finish where we deserve to, which is between 10th and 12th.

 

We finished 11th in our first full season under Robson by the way.

 

I'm not suggesting we'll get relegated, but I do believe if we continue on this course we'll end up getting sucked into a scrap near the bottom.

[marci 0]

Loss on Saturday, "pressure on Sam"-articles in the Sunday's trash. Mort said many times, that Sam is not under pressure, they will stick by him. Pointless article, but again the aim obviously wasn't proper reporting.

[Noelie 103]

If Shearer becomes manager it could and probably will be an unmitigated disaster. He needs to prove himself first before coming anywhere near this club again.

 

Keegan could have been an unmitigated disaster too, he hadn't proved himslf anywhere before he came back to us as manager. Liken to Shearer he had only proven himself to be a great player on the domestic and international stage but as it turned out he did quite well.

[JawD 99]

To play devil's advocate where did Keegan learn to be a manager before taking over here?

 

 

Its a fair point. I know I keep saying Im not sure Id like Shearer to use us as his testing / learning grounds unless he had a no2 who'd been and done it. But, the point you make is relevant. Im just not sure Shearer is the same personality to carry that off.

[luckyluke 2]

Just because Keegan was a sucess is no guarantee Shearer will be.

[Gemmill 46023]

Just because Keegan was a sucess is no guarantee Shearer will be.

 

Not only is it not a guarantee, it's not even a convincing basis for an argument in favour of appointing Shearer.

[LeazesMag 0]

If Shearer becomes manager it could and probably will be an unmitigated disaster. He needs to prove himself first before coming anywhere near this club again.

 

Keegan could have been an unmitigated disaster too, he hadn't proved himslf anywhere before he came back to us as manager. Liken to Shearer he had only proven himself to be a great player on the domestic and international stage but as it turned out he did quite well.

 

 

you appear to be unaware that we were facing the biggest disaster in the clubs entire history when Keegan walked through the door though.

 

Basically, he had absolutely nothing to lose, and would never have got the blame among people who were there at the time and knew this.

 

And it actually took more bottle than anyone else had, which makes me laugh out loud at people who say he walks away when the going gets tough.

[LeazesMag 0]

Just because Keegan was a sucess is no guarantee Shearer will be.

 

Absolutely. Just been watching Sunday Supplement, and someone quite correctly said that Ashley sitting with the crowd is the wrong thing to do ie he can't go down the road where he listens to supporters like this. I have said that I'm not particularly impressed with PR gimmicks but this is a good point

 

At the moment I really don't think we should sack Sam, but you never know who he would be replaced with, and thats what really counts.

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

To pick a man off the golf course after eight years away from the game, drop him in a high pressure managers job and expect him to create a fantastic roller-coaster of exciting, winning football is not far off a miracle. Two expect it to happen twice in fifteen years is maybe being a little greedy.

[LeazesMag 0]

To pick a man off the golf course after eight years away from the game, drop him in a high pressure managers job and expect him to create a fantastic roller-coaster of exciting, winning football is not far off a miracle. Two expect it to happen twice in fifteen years is maybe being a little greedy.

 

keep hoping mate. Have patience, so these people who don't support Newcastle keep telling us

[Ketsbaia 0]

If Shearer becomes manager it could and probably will be an unmitigated disaster. He needs to prove himself first before coming anywhere near this club again.

 

Keegan could have been an unmitigated disaster too, he hadn't proved himslf anywhere before he came back to us as manager. Liken to Shearer he had only proven himself to be a great player on the domestic and international stage but as it turned out he did quite well.

 

 

you appear to be unaware that we were facing the biggest disaster in the clubs entire history when Keegan walked through the door though.

 

Basically, he had absolutely nothing to lose, and would never have got the blame among people who were there at the time and knew this.

 

And it actually took more bottle than anyone else had, which makes me laugh out loud at people who say he walks away when the going gets tough.

I agree whole heartedly with Leazes.

 

I can't believe i've just said that

[tinofbeans 91]

Jesus wept. I really think that whilst Sams start to management has been a little underwhelming, we are definitely joking if we think we'll finish in the top 8 with this squad, the way the teams playing. we need a midfield that creates more and is better at ball retention rather than the current spackers we have in the middle. Defensively we have 1 dimensional players that really are not good enough, and our forward line consists of only 1 player that consistently looks like causing his opponets any trouble , the rest can't be bothered.....

 

I hope we sort this out by january (by offloading the shite and replacing it with good players) and playing some decent winning football. I doubt however that that will be the case.

[LeazesMag 0]

If Shearer becomes manager it could and probably will be an unmitigated disaster. He needs to prove himself first before coming anywhere near this club again.

 

Keegan could have been an unmitigated disaster too, he hadn't proved himslf anywhere before he came back to us as manager. Liken to Shearer he had only proven himself to be a great player on the domestic and international stage but as it turned out he did quite well.

 

 

you appear to be unaware that we were facing the biggest disaster in the clubs entire history when Keegan walked through the door though.

 

Basically, he had absolutely nothing to lose, and would never have got the blame among people who were there at the time and knew this.

 

And it actually took more bottle than anyone else had, which makes me laugh out loud at people who say he walks away when the going gets tough.

I agree whole heartedly with Leazes.

 

I can't believe i've just said that

 

 

have you sobered up then

[LeazesMag 0]

Jesus wept. I really think that whilst Sams start to management has been a little underwhelming, we are definitely joking if we think we'll finish in the top 8 with this squad, the way the teams playing. we need a midfield that creates more and is better at ball retention rather than the current spackers we have in the middle. Defensively we have 1 dimensional players that really are not good enough, and our forward line consists of only 1 player that consistently looks like causing his opponets any trouble , the rest can't be bothered.....

 

I hope we sort this out by january (by offloading the shite and replacing it with good players) and playing some decent winning football. I doubt however that that will be the case.

 

spot on really.

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

To pick a man off the golf course after eight years away from the game, drop him in a high pressure managers job and expect him to create a fantastic roller-coaster of exciting, winning football is not far off a miracle. To expect it to happen twice in fifteen years is maybe being a little greedy.

 

keep hoping mate. Have patience, so these people who don't support Newcastle keep telling us

I'd love it to happen again, LOVE IT!

 

But I'm a realist bordering on pessimist.

[Ally 0]

If we sack Allardyce this week it definitely cements us a fucking joke of a football club. I though the rash decision making would have gone now that Freddy has left but it seems not.

 

Ok, we're not doing well at the moment but what prospective new manager is going to want the job when they'll know that if they have a bad run of results (its only been 5!) they'll get the chop. Jesus christ.

[Dr Gloom 22143]

the only time to sack a manager afte 15 games is if you're really struggling in the bottom 3. i think we'll be safe, so it's only right we give sam more time. i'm far from convinced that he's the right man to take us forward but he's only been here 5 minutes and at least we showed a bit of fight yesterday.