Angelus71 4 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcas...mail%3A20090617 ALAN SHEARER today took note of Newcastle United’s tricky start to the new Championship season from the comfort of home as the alarm bells continued to ring at St James’s Park. Geordie legend Shearer is still in limbo, even though the all-time top scorer is desperate to start work on rebuilding Newcastle’s shattered squad. United will start their campaign against another managerless side in West Brom before home games with Reading and Sheffield Wednesday, a trip to Crystal Palace and then a home game with former Toon assistant manager Nigel Pearson’s Leicester City. Newcastle may well have good memories of last season’s only Premier League double against opening-day opponents West Brom. But while the Baggies are also without a manager due to Tony Mowbray’s switch to Celtic, they have a vast experience of life in the Championship – unlike the Toon, who last played in the second tier in 1993. When Shearer last spoke publicly at Villa Park one month ago, in his last act as Toon boss, he warned that United were way behind the rest of their new Championship counterparts, and yet since then there has been a drastic lack of action on the managerial front. United may well be for sale, but the current owners have left Newcastle a rudderless ship heading for deep trouble. While managing director Derek Llambias kept his counsel in London today and Mike Ashley also maintained his now-customary silence, United are saddled with a £60m-plus wage bill and no transactions in or out of St James’s. They also have a squad that looks unsuitable for life in the Championship, with many of the current staff lacking experience of the cut-throat nature of football’s second tier. With a lack of all-round experience and needing seven substitutes on the bench due to new Football League rules, United need to start wheeling and dealing as soon as possible. None of that can be done without a manager, and the fears expressed by Shearer at Villa Park, on the day United were condemned to relegation for the first time since 1989, could be about to ring true. Back then Shearer said: “Big changes need to be made and players need to go and players need to come in. “But every day another day goes by another room burns down and everyone is getting a head-start on the football club.” :: DESPITE the uncertainty at St James’s Park, Newcastle are favourites with every bookmaker to win the Championship. The longest odds on them returning to the Premier League as second-flight champions are offered by Coral and Boylesports at 5-1. West Brom are second favourites at a best price of 6-1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayatollah Hermione 14125 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 We're favourites for something! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 10978 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 Will the fact that the bookies back us have any impact on the people saying that we might go down? Will it fuck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zico martin 90 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 Will the fact that the bookies back us have any impact on the people saying that we might go down? Will it fuck. well i think we will struggle so i dont get why the bookies are putting us a favourites, what odds to get relegated then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitman 2207 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 Not one current quote from Shearer then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 Will the fact that the bookies back us have any impact on the people saying that we might go down? Will it fuck. What were our odds on being relegated this season at the end of the prior season? And yet here we are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acrossthepond 890 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 Total nothing article. He didn't 'take in' anything; the bloody thing itself said he hasn't spoken publicly since Villa! Those must be some stupid bookies, too, or they know something we don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richg 0 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 25/1 relegation odds. Very long for a club that is obviously rotting slowly. Worth a punt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richg 0 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 25/1 relegation odds. Very long for a club that is obviously rotting slowly. Worth a punt. 01 Aug 2009 - English Championship - Relegation - Relegation Newcastle @ 25/1 Stake : £40.00 Estimated Returns : £ 1040.00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 10978 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 Will the fact that the bookies back us have any impact on the people saying that we might go down? Will it fuck. What were our odds on being relegated this season at the end of the prior season? And yet here we are. Fair enough but honestly... people saying we're going down to league one is melodramatic hyperbole of the worst kind. fwiw I don't think we'll go up, certainly don't think we'll be champions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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