Gutted
Newcastle United look set to stumble over the finish line after their defeat at Reading and even though Michael Owen is back in the frame there aren't too many people embracing.
A quick glance at the table sees last night’s conquerors streets ahead as well as the likes of Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Blackburn – all of whom have overtaken United as European contenders.
It’s just totally gutting isn’t it?
And the fact that there are just two games left of what has turned into a poor season is probably a good thing.
Now while Liverpool celebrate getting to a European Cup final for the second time in three years Newcastle can only reflect on the 2-1 victory over the same side back in February.
That seems a lifetime away and the Merseysiders aren’t the only team celebrating.
A long time ago many people knew this team wasn’t good enough and major adjustments and signings are desperately needed before the Toon fall even further behind.
Even those of us, including me, who have tried to be positive this season are wondering just where things are heading.
And as we limp to the finish line on the day the new kit comes out and season ticket renewal forms have already hit the doormat, people are debating whether they are up to braving another season of torment.
Losing to Reading isn’t the end of the world – but it seems like it at the moment.
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
Like you Lee i am gutted at the whole season of inept and tactless displays of football produced by a team of highly paid players, it has been frustrating, infuriating and more importantly sad to see our club dragged down to a non league standard of play at times. Where does the blame lie, in all quaters of the club, boardroom, manager, back room staff, coaching staff and the players, some of whom just do not cut the ice as to being PL players, the manager (GR) who chooses his team and his tactics were awful at times and have cost us many precious points throughout the season. So where do we go from here, who knows, as surely i don't and have no idea what FS has in his mind, as to the present manager, he has lost my vote and confidence and he and some of our current playing staff need to go, that in my opinion is not an option but a definite action. Who do we need, again that is open to debate, but lets not bring in anymore under achivers. I am still undecided as to what to do this summer re-my season ticket renewal, but my heart will over rule my head and i will probably give it another season and hope that we can get the right person in charge and the right commited players onto the park and to get back into the news with the right headlines.
Just when you think you've sunk as low as you can somehow NUFC stick the knife in a little bit more. I nearly fell of my chair when I saw Mr Dyer leading the team out on Monday. Roeder has made some terrible decisions this season but that has to be one of the worst. A real kick in the teeth for Newcastle fans. I thought at least Roeder had a feel for how supporters care about the club but by making Dyer captain he lost any shred of goodwill he had from me. ROEDER OUT. DYER OUT.
Y'know Lee, I wish you and Alan Oliver would do a squad assessment so people can see exactly your view of players. An end of season round up of players performances. It'd be interesting to see if you believe they same as the majority of fans. Namely opinions on Dyer, Carr, etc who seem to escape criticism no matter how poor they play. The club needs an overhaul and while nothing can be done about the running from boardroom level (shouldn't escape blame though), a lot of attitudes could be changed by an honest view of the coaching staff (laughing stock of the premiership) and the majority of the players (laughing stock of the premiership). Shepherd will always be laughed at and an embarassment to everyone here, but the rest of the club should be someway respectable. We're a long way from that. Dyer as captain was the icing on the cake. After all that little waste of space has done over the years, to waltz back into the squad and start prancing around like he owns the place again? Perlease! And if I hear Roeder say "I'm not making an excuse BUT..." one more time...
Ryder's reply: I am really surprised to hear that we don't criticise players when they play badly.
Dyer got a four after the Reading game and Stephen Carr also hasn't had an easy ride this season either.
Don't forget Boumsong got a 0 last year and this season, although many fans thought it was wrong, Paul Huntington got a two after the game in Alkmaar.
In terms of agreeing with the majority of the fans, every fan has their own opinion.
Yet if you look at our player of the season piece we probably have matched what people think that Nicky Butt, James Milner, Steven Taylor, Oba Martins and Nobby Solano have been the best this season for different reasons.
No mention of Dyer or Carr there anywhere.
I agree with the comments on Dyer as captain. He has no relationship with the fans who pay his wages, always walks off without acknowledging them at away games and seems to play where he wants and when he wants. The problem with sacking Roeder is that the cure could be worse than the disease (big Sam) and it does not solve the problem (Freddie Shepherd). As season ticket renewals land on doormats, I would make a strong plea to Freddie to keep his mouth shut about summer signings and go away and deliver four quality defenders, two midfield players that can dominate games and a striker. Then, he can shut up and let the manager get on with it.
Well here we are at the tail end of an absolute shocker.The previous rantings over the past nine months have all bore fruit and the same old same old keeps getting mentioned. First and foremost Glen Roeder is not the answer to our plight and as nice as the bloke is he needs to be outed with immediate effect.Secondly Fat Fred needs to dig deep this summer and buy four defenders and possibly two midfielders (Barton & Sidwell for my money) Stevie Taylor is a good prospect but not the real deal (bring sol for a season till the boy is ready)Bramble will leave like it or not Gooch & Moore no good and our full backs are not worth wasting breath on.Our midfield falters to decieve and on paper and in the minds of the geordie hoards it is our strong point....NOT .....Dyer,Zoggs,Duff,and to certain extent Parker and Emre are not delivering and i would not lose a wink if we ditched the lot.Third our new man ( Big Sam? ) needs to very quickly get the mind set of the team altered from being a steady middle of the table club into one with belief and the hunger to actually go on and win something (not greedy ,silverwear would be nice but a champions league spot would do ). Buying the season ticket this year as i have a dream and this is going to be our year , all you sceptics out there will possibly disagree but trust me this is going to be it.....well maybe ..heres hoping Jackie
Your criticism of NUFC is always premeditated and self serving. Why does Freddy Shepherd (and Roeder) escape your criticism - because you're frightened of losing your freebies? The media is part of the problem- it was you who peddled the idea of Roeder being the fans choice when any glance at a website would have told you that this was not the case - we needed an experienced European manager. You also have lead the attack on Bramble - he does make mistakes but no more than some of the other back four- but he has become an easy whipping boy for you media types. We will struggle to acquire a strong dominating skillful replacement. You have peddled the idea of the young'uns- they are not up to it - remember Birmingham -look at the back four. We will be heading for the championship next season if we are relying on huff and puff and enthusiasm without talent. Stop sucking up to the establishment - you have too much influence and must bear some of the blame for the appointment of Roeder and our past season
Mick Vic
A new day a new policy - hoorah!!
Out with the I just want young boys in my dressing room now Roeder has noticed we have a lot of young defenders and they may benefit from an experienced player to help develop them. Hoorah!!
That only took 15months.
Can't wait for tomorrows buying policy - only ginger haired midfielders anyone???
The Reading game started out very exciting. Emre to Owen was very close to a highlight reel. Owens return set a stage for every player on Newcastle to step up their level of play. Roeder has some talent next year.
Lee, all NUFC feel the same, however, I have to point out, when we beat Liverpool 2-1, that was another total fluke result, just like most of our good results this season have been.
I can't remember the last time we comprehensively outplayed a team and won, maybe Alkamaar, but they more than returned the favour...
Roeder has 'ROED' his luck too many times, and there is only so many injury excuses, he has no idea about tactics, Dyer was not interested the other night, nearly gave 2 goals away, and deliberately missed at the end (im convinced no one could have missed that shot unless they tried to).
Allardyce needs to be brought in ASAP in time for a summer clear out of players not fit to wear the shirt.
Ameobi is no more than a squad player at best.
Do us all a favour, pick up the phone to Freddy Shepherd, and ask him to get Big Sam in now!!!
Ryder's reply: No, they don't all feel the same. I spoke to two blokes in a pub and one wanted Big Sam and one wanted an overseas coach. It's all about opinion, not just yours or mine.
Far to many players in the comfort zone and not motivated enough!! If Glen can not motivate his players, get someone in who can!!! Fed up!!
Please don't get so much panic that Mr. Allardyce will be brought to SJP! -If Roeder shall be replaced at all, the right person would be Ronald Koeman. If I have understood Dutch media right he doesn't have a contract with PSV for next season (yet). It would surprise me if he wouldn't want to develope his carreer in PL. NUFC would fit him perfect.
"Ryder's reply: No, they don't all feel the same. I spoke to two blokes in a pub and one wanted Big Sam and one wanted an overseas coach. It's all about opinion, not just yours or mine."
So neither of them wanted Roeder then eh?! Why have we not seen mention of fans' unrest with the current manager in the EC?
Ryder's: Fans have expressed their unrest in plenty of Chronicle issues in the Punters Panel and the texts - if you read Tuesday's paper it is there in black and white.
I, like everyone else on here knows that Big Sam is the answer ti our problems. If we want another mediocre pointless season, then keep Roeder, but if we want some optimism of maybe something more then we must do everything we can to get in Sam. Personally in terms of players i think we should go for in the defensive dept (and realistic targets) i would like to see us go for Bridge from Chelski, Luke Young from Charlton (as the are likely to go down - would get a good price) possibly Upson if West Ham go down and then i think Sol Campbell would be an excellent addition and would bring Taylor on leaps and bounds. I like the lad Sidwell, he is a hard worker and i think will do well as a squad player. Those are my thoughts anyway...
im sick n tired of seasons lyk dis one,roeder all jokn a side cannot get any ncastle player up for the reading nd the charlton games of the pl,luk at the facts all the top 4 have left sj park wit no more than a point,wot does dat tell us,its obvious nufc players get themselves up for the so cqalled big games,obviously gr has no impact on any of the nufc players attitudes..nd anothr ting i think is cripplin newcastle united,players tink der bigger n better than they are,at the end of the day they r nly human beings,they believe the media hype,playn in front of 52ooo adorn fans every single week,luk at kieron dyer,if u were him u wud tink u were gods gift to all geordie kind,if i heard correctly hes n 85,000 pounds p/w.drives flash cars to work every day.dis has got to go to ur head..luk at recent history,wot player cn any1 remember dat has actually developd at SJP??none,wot players careers hav gne dwn the tubes??dyer,bramble,nzogbia,parker,emre,owen,carr..oh yeh 1 more point will ppl stop sayn hw great nobby solano is..lets b hnest he is crap,no strength,beaten every single time n the backpost,his fault for the readn goal again,the point is he was great,DONT RENEW HIS CONTRACT PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!nufc we arent a charity,its been great nobby but u rnt a premiership player any more
Ryder's: Fans have expressed their unrest in plenty of Chronicle issues in the Punters Panel and the texts - if you read Tuesday's paper it is there in black and white.
I think the point is the fan unrest isn't reported. It's not the fact that column inches are given to vox pops or texts or whatever, it's like all the reporters are walking on eggshells, almost afraid to come out with an actual opinion. It's not even as if burning bridges would get you exclusives, given that all the national papers seem to run the same stuff anyway. A foot in the door doesn't make a good journalist and breeds lazy journalism. I'm not necessarily having a go at you or anyone specific but it's frustrating reading what appears to be a PR machine for the club.
Ryder's reply: I diagree with that Rachel. When United lost to Sheff Utd and the fans were protesting outside the ground the Chronicle carried a picture of the fans letting off their steam.
Hardly a good PR project is it.
what we need is stability... how is getting yet another manager in going to solve anything? the business at SJP over the past 4 seasons has not been stable. and if you dont have stability you dont have a chance of winning. "we need a new manager" is a stupid short term claim and wont solve a thing. the fact is we are going to be a mid-table side for a few years before doing anything good anymore. we have been messed about too much by fat fred and just need a period of stability - the same starting 11, the same back 4, and a few points. let roeder do that next season.
I'm going to be extremely to the point:
A new manager would be catastrophic for the club.
in resonse to the lst set of posts....erm we dont need a new manager? We need stability? etc etc
Roeder was given a two year contract and thus has one year left. Hardly long term stability!! And does anyone honestly think it should be renewed??
What we need right now is to make the right medium-long term appointment which Roeder obviously was not!! Allardyce would provide that long term aspiration, but you would have to stick with him, but not with Roeder, that was not a long term appointment. And the man is clueless, a nice guy but clueless and not ruthless enough.