Sir Alex: Change Takes Time

[Tooj 17]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle3105861.ece

 

As Sir Alex Ferguson gave warning yesterday that the managerial position at Newcastle United was in danger of becoming a poisoned chalice - “I’m not sure it’s a job you’d want to take,” he said - the incumbent at St James’ Park called for a renewed sense of patience and unity at the troubled club. “It’s been a very tough Christmas and a very tough week for us,” Sam Allardyce acknowledged.

 

Having drawn at home to Derby County, lost away to Wigan Athletic, had his credentials questioned by supporters and learnt that Joey Barton, his midfield player, had been remanded in custody, it would be pushing the issue to suggest that Allardyce was in hugely festive spirit on the eve of Newcastle’s visit to Chelsea. His mood, however, remains determined.

 

The manager’s tactics and signings may be a legitimate source of debate, Alan Shearer’s name may have been sung at the JJB Stadium, Barton’s charge of common assault and affray may be another damaging and embarrassing distraction, but both he and Ferguson made a valid point: how sustainable is the perpetual unrest that clings to the club in such dogged fashion?

 

“It seems to me that Newcastle, as soon as they lose a game, their manager’s career is threatened,” Ferguson said. “How many managers have they had in my time at Manchester United? The thing with Newcastle fans is that they think they should be winning games 5-0 all the time. They have got to say to themselves that time is the thing.

 

“I would be astounded if they sacked Sam. I’m convinced that of all the managers they’ve had, he’s capable of doing better than most.”

 

Allardyce is attempting to restructure a quicksand club on firmer foundations, yet time is no longer afforded to managers in the Barclays Premier League. At present, senior figures at Newcastle are insistent that dismissal is neither imminent nor inevitable, but the tolerance of Mike Ashley, the billionaire owner, who regularly sits with fans, is a known unknown.

 

“Changing things is only brought about by a long, slow process but, of course, that doesn’t wear well in the game of football,” Allardyce said. “But it’s the only way you can really sustain success. Because of this football club and its history, it’s all doom and gloom. It’s never anything other than crisis, but there is no crisis here.

 

“There’s only the disappointment of a result and performance that wasn’t good enough. But in the last two games we were only a smidgin away from better results and it’s not a crisis. People outside make it a crisis or try and influence things, but what we have to do as a team and as a group of people is to stay strong and be focused on what we know is right and not let those influences affect us.

 

“I’ve never known anybody set up a successful business in three or four months. It simply can’t happen. In the past, some people - far too many of them - have gone out and tried to buy their way to the top, but that’s not sustainable. It might get you there in the short term, but it can’t bring you long-term success at a football club, because it has to come from a more structured and focused plan. The best two teams this season are Arsenal and Manchester United and they’ve got the two longest-serving managers.”

 

What Allardyce will not do is change. He believes his success at Bolton Wanderers is now “a burden” because of his reputation for favouring direct football - “we’re not capable of playing that way here,” he countered - but his scientific methods, from diet, psychology, to eking every per cent of effort from his players, cannot be established immediately.

 

“We’re getting that message across, we’re consistent in our delivery of that information and we’re not going to be distracted from what we know is successful,” he said. “It stays consistent, year in and year out. The players are my challenge, nothing else. It’s them I’m interested in and the club as a whole after that. I have to make them better and make them more consistent.

 

“I’m working on that 24/7. In between, whether results are good, bad or indifferent, it’s about not changing what you know works and sticking to your guns. And not to show any signs of weaknesses, because that’s easy for the players to pick up on and use as an excuse. That isn’t and won’t be the case. It’s about staying together and trying to do what’s right."

[Besty 4]

"The worst thing that happened to Newcastle was when they beat us 5-0. How many years ago was that?

 

"But since then, they seem to think they should win every game 5-0. I am not sure the Newcastle job is one you would want to take.

 

Cunt.

Edited December 29, 2007 by Besty

[Jimbo 175]

Time is earned in my opinion.

[LeazesMag 0]

I like Sir Alex Ferguson, but I wish he would leave out the cliches and the crap such as spouted in this article.

 

It obviously doesn't occur to him that if his players had lost 5-0 instead of winning 1-0 we would have won everything in sight by now .........

[Guest James_coDurham]

Time is earned in my opinion.

 

Aye, because made Man Utd the dominance they are today in just half a season, didn't he?

[JawD 99]

Time is earned in my opinion.

 

Aye, because made Man Utd the dominance they are today in just half a season, didn't he?

 

Would you think Sam could EVER produce a team like Man Utd given any amount of time? I'm not saying we should be expecting that (a team like MU), but I dont think its right to compare every manager to AF just because he struggled initially at Man Utd.

[Guest James_coDurham]

Time is earned in my opinion.

 

Aye, because made Man Utd the dominance they are today in just half a season, didn't he?

 

Would you think Sam could EVER produce a team like Man Utd given any amount of time? I'm not saying we should be expecting that (a team like MU), but I dont think its right to compare every manager to AF just because he struggled initially at Man Utd.

 

Well Sir Alex has always rated Sam as a manager, and I don't think you can argue that he doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

Sam said before his team had even kicked a ball about a long-term plan for this club, and it's hideously cringeworthy that anyone is even suggesting he be sacked just half a season in.

[JawD 99]

Of course Alex knows what he talking about, but he is also very clever in what he says when and why. I'd also not say Sam was a bad manager. He has a style and a method, one that clearly worked at Bolton. However, I'm loosing faith rapidly in that that method and style will work or is right for this club.

[Guest James_coDurham]

Of course Alex knows what he talking about, but he is also very clever in what he says when and why. I'd also not say Sam was a bad manager. He has a style and a method, one that clearly worked at Bolton. However, I'm loosing faith rapidly in that that method and style will work or is right for this club.

 

Those methods didn't work for Bolton in just half a season so why would they here?

[JawD 99]

Im not personally prepared to be relegated if thats what its going to take to prove him right though.

 

Edit : Not that I think that would happen this season. but thats what happened with bolton. Twice (i think). before he got it right.

Edited December 29, 2007 by JawD

[Guest James_coDurham]

Im not personally prepared to be relegated if thats what its going to take to prove him right though.

 

 

We're not fighting relegation. We're not in worse shape than when he took over. If we won every game that the fans expected us to win, we'd win the league every season. Mounting this pathetic premature pressure will only make Sam's task harder. I certainly see him as an opinionated and clever manager, and if something isn't working, I trust him to be able to address it. The manager should be judged on his ability to turn things round at times of uncertainty, not sacked at the first hint of it.

[JawD 99]

Im not personally prepared to be relegated if thats what its going to take to prove him right though.

 

 

We're not fighting relegation. We're not in worse shape than when he took over. If we won every game that the fans expected us to win, we'd win the league every season. Mounting this pathetic premature pressure will only make Sam's task harder. I certainly see him as an opinionated and clever manager, and if something isn't working, I trust him to be able to address it. The manager should be judged on his ability to turn things round at times of uncertainty, not sacked at the first hint of it.

 

Yeah I acknowledged that in THIS season we were not fighting relegation, but drawing on your point of Sam being poor at bolton at the start. What happened with bolton (relegated twice).

 

As for not being in worse shape? Are you really sure about that? 7 points worse off team for team and something like 12 more goals conceded against the same teams. Dunno about you, but to me thats backwards not improvement.