Maestro7 0 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 So Sam Allardyce has become the latest managerial casualty at Newcastle. I thought about choking over my coffee when I heard the news but then decided against it. For while a manager being sacked after just eight months would be shocking news at most other clubs, only at Newcastle can we take the news with a sigh, a puff of the cheeks, and a tut or a smile depending on your allegiances towards Big Sam. We've been here before of course. Many times. Though this time perhaps the surprise is slightly greater for the sheer fact that Big Sam brought with him a long-term plan, something that appeared to have been swept under the carpet ever since Sir John Hall wondered aloud that a team of 11 Geordies would be rather nice. Granted the football has been a bit of a shambles this season. Let's not get away from the fact. Any team that struggles to score goals when Michael Owen is up front has to be doing something wrong. Allardyce also spent so long concentrating on defence that he forgot we had no one in midfield with the simple ability to pass a ball through the middle. Watching Michael Owen run channels, and Viduka just not run, is not a great combination when you're looking to finish off games. Lazy critics may mock the defence time and time again, but for me, the greatest problem was that lack of creativity in midfield. The way Man City's Elano opened us up time and time again at the City of Machester stadium earlier this season only rammed home exactly what we lacked. It was a masterclass that the likes of Alan Smith and Joey Barton could only aspire to. My early pre-season optimism surrounding the blossoming career of young Aussie midfielder James Troisi disappeared faster than the plane carrying him to Roda JC this week. And which first team players have we been linked with so far in January? Defensive midfielders and central defenders. You don't unlock a door by buying a padlock. That to me was Allardyce's biggest downfall. No wonder he played a long-ball game. Bypassing midfield wasn't actually a bad option, especially when his most creative midfielder was being played at left-back. His signings have been suspect too. Decent wheeling and dealing saw him land Viduka, Faye and Beye on the cheap, but the real money signings like Joey Barton, Jose Enrique and Alan Smith simply haven't worked for a whole variety of reasons. And the gutless performances against Wigan and Derby in December simply was as bad as it has got since the Latics knocked out Graeme Souness' side from the League Cup a couple of years ago. With Allardyce's priority appearing to be to stop the opposition first and foremost, rather than making them worry about our strengths first, his reign at Newcastle would always be limited. You cannot go to Reading or Sunderland looking for a draw. Even teams below us in the league would be plotting the downfall of these teams, rather than looking for a 0-0 draw like we did. Draw first, and a win is a bonus. That appeared to be the mentality, and that simply is not what people pay their money to see. Not here, not anywhere. A team boasting the likes of Duff, Owen, N'Zog, Viduka, Milner, Barton, Martins is simply not set up to grind out 0-0 draws. Allardyce was fixated on defending, when the attack was crying out for some attention. Allowing Allardyce to leave after just eight months was probably just putting an end to the inevitable long-term. Sure, it doesn't feel quite right to get rid of a manager so soon, but will anyone shed a tear if it means N'Zogbia playing at left-wing, Milner on the right, and Martins and Owen upfront? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo 175 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Was just about to post the same piece, that sums up my feelings perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken 119 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Seeing as Allardyce was sacked hours after discussing transfer targets, one could find it hard to argue that that was the icing on the cake which did him in. Chris Mort - "After having a look at your transfer requests Mr Ashley has no option but to part company with you. Your list with the names of Nolan, Diarra and two hatchet men from the Portuguese league neither he nor I have heard of before fills him with very little confidence that you can continue as manager. So Sam it is with regret that we must say bugger off". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Kelly 1245 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Aye that is spot on tbh. I can't really say I'm in favour of sacking a manger after so little time but after some initially promissing moves in the transfer market in the summer there is very little you can say that Sam did right and our attacking play is fucking horrendous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Who's that by btw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7027 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Another thought id had this morning. With all the media tarts and armchair fans around the country jumpin on the old 'newcastle fans are deluded' 'you will always be shit' 'what do you expect from a manager' bandwagon. In the last 15 years i think we have finished top six in 8 of them. Thats 50percent of our time in the top flight we have been up there challenging with the best of them. Why are we suddenly expected to then just settle for 13th place? We have consistently performed better than any other team outside the top 4 over the last 15 years. We have the biggest stadium outside the top 4. Highest attendances outside the top 4. And have spent more money than anyone else outside the top 4. So yes, im upset when the bottom 3 teams beat us and when we see a draw against stoke as a good result. We ARE a big club, even if that galls some people. And with a good manager to go with our billionaire owner, theres no reason we cant be back up there challenging to break into the top4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJS 4385 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Yeah good piece - my only comment is that he never explained what this "5 year/long term plan" was so I have doubts it existed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Because there's a lot of jealousy towards Newcastle's fanbase. Manc-mag made an excellent post recently about how it makes other fans of certain clubs uneasy because they know they wouldn't get many if they were as inconsistent as we've been. I also think, as I said the other day, that they know how big we could be with the right man in charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo 175 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Who's that by btw? Rahul - BBC Newcastle http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A30897994?s_f..._sport=football Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Who's that by btw? Rahul - BBC Newcastle http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A30897994?s_f..._sport=football Thought it couldn't have been Oliver. Would have given credit where it was due if it had been like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jusoda Kid 1 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Because there's a lot of jealousy towards Newcastle's fanbase. Manc-mag made an excellent post recently about how it makes other fans of certain clubs uneasy because they know they wouldn't get many if they were as inconsistent as we've been. I also think, as I said the other day, that they know how big we could be with the right man in charge. And if Ashleys got any sense he should know that. Thats why breaking the bank for the special one makes total sense, imagine what he'd reap money wise from us being successful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammynb 3355 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Because there's a lot of jealousy towards Newcastle's fanbase. Manc-mag made an excellent post recently about how it makes other fans of certain clubs uneasy because they know they wouldn't get many if they were as inconsistent as we've been. I also think, as I said the other day, that they know how big we could be with the right man in charge. Again, what he said. You're making my work easy Alex and for that I thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 "Joe-say" would be bigger than Keegan and Shearer's arrivals put together imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jusoda Kid 1 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 "Joe-say" would be bigger than Keegan and Shearer's arrivals put together imo. If I were Ashley it would be my first port of call. Successful club with a massive fan base = £££££££££££'s. Speculate to accumulate and all that. He's seen already how easily money can be wasted on shit players, spend the money on a top manager and your less likely to buy shite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJS 4385 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 "Joe-say" would be bigger than Keegan and Shearer's arrivals put together imo. Taking into account Ashley's ambition of PL/CL titles, appointing the Redknapp brigade would seem to be nonsense - in the context of what he wants from the club in terms of success/return on investment he has to be going for someone stupid. That's my optimistic angle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJS 4385 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 I'd also add that the press speculation reflects their view of us as a "big but not that big" club - its up to Ashley to hold two fingers up to them on that score as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curry stained pilchard 0 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 "Joe-say" would be bigger than Keegan and Shearer's arrivals put together imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RlCO 0 Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 The usual shite abouth how Sam never bought creative players. Lazy critics my arse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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