Jimbo 175 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 WHEN Newcastle United fans look at the Premier League table today they will feel disappointed. And they have every right to be more than that. For quite simply United once again have not lived up to their magnificent supporters’ expectations in the first half of the season. And, quite frankly, I cannot see things improving. I believe the best United can hope for is to finish top of the bottom half of the table. Top of the flops, if you like. When United picked up that fine opening-day victory at Sam Allardyce’s former club Bolton Wanderers, I bumped into an ecstatic chairman Chris Mort coming out of the Reebok Stadium. I joked with him that it was downhill all the way after that. And it has been. In fact, I cannot believe how bad things have been. Knocked out of the Carling Cup by Arsenal Reserves. Humiliated at home by Liverpool and Portsmouth. The only team to lose to Derby County . . . I could keep going, but let’s stop there. I don’t want to worry Sam. But remember when Graeme Souness was sacked? That was after two Newcastle players ran into each other at Manchester City a couple of seasons ago and Freddy Shepherd was not amused. Well on Saturday at Stamford Bridge Alan Smith and Abdoulaye Faye did exactly the same. And as a result Smith spent Saturday night in a Tyneside hospital, and yesterday Faye went to hospital after he left Stamford Bridge with his arm in a sling. Sam Allardyce was allowed to bring in nine players in the summer, all be it for a mere £9m when you take into consideration he sold both Kieron Dyer and Scott Parker to West Ham. And how many of those nine have been a success in the first half of the season? Certainly not Joey Barton. Or Geremi. Or left-back Jose Enrique, who cost £6m. Things have been bad on the pitch. But they haven’t been much better off it. United’s £5.8m midfielder is currently languishing in jail in the North West of England. Allardyce has been forced to relieve the player he appointed as skipper of the captain’s armband. And a players’ deputation went to see the manager after the defeat at Blackburn Rovers. Some of those players made it known that they were unhappy at the manager’s plans to take them straight to London for the game with Chelsea after the Boxing Day match with Wigan Athletic. There are lots of reasons why United have struggled after a promising start. And for me the main one is the fact that as we go into the New Year, Allardyce does not seem to know what is his best team. He hasn’t decided who his best central defenders are. Or who he wants to form his midfield – and it’s the same up front. The back four have been uncertain. The midfield has had no legs or creativity, and the strikers have stopped scoring goals. As a result, because of all the chopping and changing, United have been unable to create any momentum – at times their shape has been all wrong. And the tragedy is with games at Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa looming, I cannot see things improving. For the fans’ sake, I hope I’m wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal 0 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 Stating the obvious and getting paid for it. Some twats have it up easy street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasepud 59 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 What a dick that bloke is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia 0 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 I don’t want to worry Sam. But remember when Graeme Souness was sacked? That was after two Newcastle players ran into each other at Manchester City a couple of seasons ago and Freddy Shepherd was not amused. Well on Saturday at Stamford Bridge Alan Smith and Abdoulaye Faye did exactly the same. That shows how much of a fucking idiot FS was Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NobbySol 22 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 I don’t want to worry Sam. But remember when Graeme Souness was sacked? That was after two Newcastle players ran into each other at Manchester City a couple of seasons ago and Freddy Shepherd was not amused. Well on Saturday at Stamford Bridge Alan Smith and Abdoulaye Faye did exactly the same. That shows how much of a fucking idiot FS was Also shows how big a dick oliver is as well. Why the fuck is he even mentioning this shite? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JawD 99 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 Bitter. Not in the loop anymore now so feels he is right to bitch and whine more. Plus he's a twat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7323 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 I dont know how 2 players accidentally running into each other is the sign of bad management? Shearer ran into Rob Lee when he wasnt looking, they didnt sack him funnily enough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RlCO 0 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 I made the same comparison about the collision to a mate while watching the match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shearergol 0 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 He's not exactly wrong though is he, no matter what you think of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo 175 Posted January 1, 2008 Author Share Posted January 1, 2008 He's not exactly wrong though is he, no matter what you think of him. Other than a number of cringe-worthy statements, I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31600 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 Not in the loop anymore now so feels he is right to bitch and whine more. Exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 It does raise one thing for me - he mentions the £9m net spend. If that's going to be his average net spend every summer he's got little or no chance of getting us back into the top 6. It'll be interesting to see if he'll get money in January too or if it's a case of selling before he can buy. I'm not just sticking up for Allardyce btw, I reckon it would apply to just about anyone. Do I sound like Leazes there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RlCO 0 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 He doesn't get told the budget apparently, it's on a player by player basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 I dont know how 2 players accidentally running into each other is the sign of bad management? Shearer ran into Rob Lee when he wasnt looking, they didnt sack him funnily enough! They were playing for different teams though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammynb 3640 Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 It does raise one thing for me - he mentions the £9m net spend. If that's going to be his average net spend every summer he's got little or no chance of getting us back into the top 6. It'll be interesting to see if he'll get money in January too or if it's a case of selling before he can buy. I'm not just sticking up for Allardyce btw, I reckon it would apply to just about anyone. Do I sound like Leazes there? Only the 5th best Leaze on average. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMoog 0 Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 He's not exactly wrong though is he, no matter what you think of him. Other than a number of cringe-worthy statements, I agree. Sad but true, he's saying the same as most on here - might be non-imaginative but it's spot on really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaythesouthernmag 0 Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Theres not much wrong with what he wrote regardless if he`s a twat or not. You cant take many positives out of the season so far. Beye`s performances and Viduka`s goals are the only ones I can think of. Plenty of negs tho`. Loosing to Derby,Drawing with Derby,Hammerings from the scousers and Pompey, loosing to Wigan, Playing boring football, the 4-3-3 blatently not working, playing people out of position, shite defence, the list goes on. I hope the performance against Chelsea was a turning point, fingers crossed. Lets see how we do against City Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammynb 3640 Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 I hope the performance against Chelsea was a turning point, fingers crossed. Lets see how we do against City I hate to say it and I'd rather it didn't happen but we are going to get so battered at citeh it's not funny. Allardyce is going to have his stupid comment about them and Sven rammed so far down his throat, he'll have to remind us, again, that it takes time stopping the opposition playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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