Newcastle look lost without Keegan
At times like this it's difficult to put feelings into words such is the frustration and deep, deep and desperate disappointment that surrounds Newcastle United at the moment.
Angry scenes before the game were expected but the volume of fans outside the old Milburn Stand reception today was so loud it could probably be heard in United's other base these days in London.
The unanimous opinion of the Toon Army was there for all to see and hear, get Keegan back ASAP and it's obvious that none of them have any time for Dennis Wise, despite the irony of new signing Xisco, who Wise and Tony Jimenez signed last month grabbing the Toon's only goal.
Considering the vicious build up to the game perhaps an away win was always on the cards against Hull.
The United crowd backed the players to the hilt during the game although there were pockets of boos for Shola Ameobi when he was subbed towards the end and at half-time as he walked off the pitch.
So a 2-1 defeat in a game that had home win written all over it when the fixture list was first published way back in June.
United players did not speak to the media after the game but morale seems to be at rock bottom.
At the final whistle Hull's players partied as if they'd won a cup but the nightmare continues for the Geordie nation.
And it doesn't get any more straight forward next week with a difficult trip to West Ham for Gianfranco Zola's first game in charge.
Will Mike Ashley attempt to speak to KK again before then?
Probably, but at the moment United fans have nothing to feel good about.
Most of them are punch drunk, like boxers on a stool and wondering whether to come out for the next round.
The nightmare continues...
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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What made this worse is that through most of the game our "chairman" sat there with a smirk on his face, we were 2 nil down and Llambias sat there grinning and smirking, like he didn't have a care in the world. Ashley and the board fiddle while the toon burn.
Dogged by the same old problems - a poor central midfield. We've suffered because of this for years. Butt isn't consistent enough and he fades after the first half. Guthrie is too lightweight and isn't ready yet - though his stupidity at the end was worthy of a Baton or a Smith - or a Wise. On top of that, Charlie was wasted at left back and Geremi is only good for half a game too. And then there was Shola. Unadulterated rubbish. Plays withiout a heart, like he doesn't give a damn.
IT'S SIMPLE WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO EVEN WORSE TIMES, BEFORE THIS SHAMBLES IS SORTED OUT, MAYBE RELEGATION IS WHAT IS NEEDED, THIS CLUB NEEDS A COMPLETE REBUILD FROM TOP TO BOTTOM , THE CANCER NEEDS TO BE ERADICATED ONCE AND FOR ALL.
IF RELEGATED ASHLEY LOSES BIG TIME IF HE IS STUPID ENOUGH NOT TO SELL.
SEE HE AND HIS DWARF PUPPET DID NOT HAVE THE BALLS TO SHOW.
First things first. KK had no choice other than to leave, if players were being signed without his consent. How can a manager be judged when he is having players forced upon him?
However, Saturday was a day when the fans should have backed the players 100%, no matter what our feelings were towards the owner & his cronies. Can we honestly say this happened? Absolutely not.
The ill-advised, futile protests & pathetic parading of a banner at the start of the second half had nothing other than a negative affect on the players, hence contributing to a shocking defeat. To those who paraded & applauded the banner, please hang your heads in shame! Everyone has the right to their opinion, but did your actions really help the team?
Can anyone say with 100% certainty that Wise has done anything wrong? Anything other than what is included in the remit of his job? Let's face it, he is being made a scapegoat, as he is an easy target. I am not a fan of Wise, quite the contrary, but we need to get things into perspective & work with facts, rather than just listen to & fuel the thoughts of the national media.
On the subject of a new manager, would it be a good step to bring back KK? If he comes back, won't we be sat on the edge of our seats, waiting for the next disagreement? The only solution to me is to being a foreign manager who is used to dealing with a Director of Football. There are many names in the frame, but the most important thing now is to bring in a manager & leader. It's imperative this happens ASAP & is probably the most important decision Ashley has had to make in his short time in charge of the Toon. I am no fan of Ashley, but he hasn't made his fortune by mis-managing his businesses.
Now is the time for us to show our support to the team & put the last week or so behind us.
We've finished in the bottom half something like 7 of the last 11 seasons.
Far from an over reaction to the Hull loss - we are well on track to disintegration, i.e. relegation and beyond.
How is that not registering with the guy who ultimately bears the responsibility for this disaster? - Mike Ashley.
Steve Bruce has been touted as toons new manager by Sir Bobby Robson, I'm surprised his name has not come up more often. But toon have huge problem of trying to get a top man that is he will have to work under Wise, this will cut the candidates for the job by about 98% I would think. I think ashley has very little altenative but to try to get a buyer and sell up, but any new prospective buyer will hold all the cards, another huge problem. Just impossible at the moment to see any satisfactory conclusion
Someone else mentioned the smirk on lambias face at the game yesterday. It showed him a fair bit on football first and it was as if he found it amusing.
We are in serious trouble. Not being helped by stupid guthrie getting sent off. To those that back ashley, are they happy at the lack of players we brought in and are now struggling to field a strong 11? Ameobi for christs sake couldnt play table football let alone the proper game!
Im still in shock at whats happening, kk coming and going everyweek, all we need is harold bishop and we can get a half hour slot everyday on bbc!
kk 'threw his dummy out' because he had no control over transfers. He knows the club/fans better than wise and the others. If he did want henry, surely he's a better option than ameobi!
None of the big 4 managers want the owners choice of players thrown at them, look at mourinho with shevchenko.
Remember when we sold cole and there was anger at the ground, kk had the balls to come out and explain. When in all this mess has wise, ashley or the others come out to explain. Or is that our problem, we expect to be answered to? Theres just far too much cloak and dagger goings on for my liking.
As far as potential managers, poyet - must be havin a laugh. Ince - hated him as a player and couldnt watch him manage us. Id rather see the chuckle brothers have a go.
Loved some of the banners going round yesterday!
Now we face west ham with 'The Fonze' in his 1st game at home, doesnt get much better does it! Whats with the sacking of Terry Mac aswell, another show of defiance by ashley maybe?
Its hard to see where things will get better but the fans must stick together to keep Newcastle UNITED!
Anyone who doubts KK's good reasons for leaving just read Wenger's comments about management in today's papers. He would be "giving it legs" immediately if he was similarly undermined by the Arsenal "Senior Execuives." Wise was the most stupid choice. Imagine appointing an ambitious, football manager to buy players in a position senior to your first team coach! Then compound matters by having him work away from Newcastle, in London, with the rest of the ownership. Recipe for disaster and it was a disaster! Ashley (a clever man) should have forseen these portends of doom and then the inevitable "Ides of March"! What a calamity!
I disagree completely with Michael, in my opinion it is deluded to think the team would have performed better without the banner etc. Fact is, the team would probably have performed better had the ground been empty. I base this on the number of times we are told that Smith,Ameobi etc have looked great in training(no crowd), also because some of the better performances have come in away games when our crowd is in the minority and the fact that the support yesterday was as pathetic as always in SJP(the loudest noise was the stomachs rumbling).I hope that those who hold this bizarre view that they want change but 'must support the team' are now thoroughly ashamed that their method has failed miserably and will desist from airing their now discredited views on the various forums. The only way to change the hierarchy in NUFC is to boycott all things NUFC and that includes the matches.If you won't do that, and the choice must be yours,please don't try to persuade people like me that you care who ru(i)ns our club. When boycotting the games has the desired result, those who took the ultimate action (and by god did it hurt not to be there) can walk back in with their heads held high. Those who took the massive step of not buying a pie, will have a nice figure but don't try to kid everyone you are the real supporters and that the team will perform any better with you there.
Keegan has gone and undoubtedly will not come back. If he was re-re-appointed Toon would be even more ridiculed than they are now. The club being sold is possible but probably not yet unless Ashley is prepared to take a huge loss.
The team was shocking yesterday for the second time in a row and that cannot be blamed on other than the players who seem to have no pride.
Seems unlikely that any of the people mentioned as potential new coaches (not manager it seems) are realistic. Best thing is to try and find the next Moyes.
Overall Toon could be in tail spin that ends in disaster.
Following last week's football focus interview regarding the KK saga, Alan Shearer has had his position as club ambassador terminated.
Another own goal.
the idiots with the banner lost the game as much as anyone
The Newcastle Fiasco is a warning shot for all football clubs, and especially fans
As long as cluba are bought out by rich businessmen with no experience in football management then the game will suffer and ultimately the fans.
Football needs to be kept the sport of the masses and money needs to be kept out of it, both at player level and at owner level
Wasn't it strange that nobody wanted to sit next to Tony Jimenez on Saturday, just left him sitting there all alone.
Hi Lee
I agree with some of the other thoughts of the other geordies in respect of what MA statement as its sad that he he feels of his safety and that of his family.
Mike Ashley has no idea of running a football club and that is plain to see to everyone in the football world.
The only good thing is that he has realized he has to get out of dodge and the strange thing is that he has been trying to get out for a while and its quite dishonest of him to not say that in his statement as is his words of only willing to give 20 million year to the manager.....
KK came back and he has been mislead by MA and the fact that he says that is in the hand of the lawyers is also misleading as why bother have that meeting on friday.....
He should of been at the game yesterday as even Freddie Shepherd would of been there and he is a joke as well, but he would of been there to see the protest.
I think that MA cannot even bring in a manager until he sells the team and that could be a while as well.
Mike Ashley was thought of as a saviour and now is a nobody in the eyes of the geordies and that is sad but trying to buy a club without much money behind you is bad business for a businessman.
Andrew
That banner and the protset has made up Mike Ashleys mind to sell, and who is the idiot now Mr Cunningham.
The game was lost as we did not play well and Shola was awful and was about 2 yards off the play...
Almost totally agree with Todd about our central midfield except to say while not condoning Danny Guthrie's reckless tackle,he was doing two people's jobs again in central midfield.Nicky Butt I'm afraid doesn't cut the mustard anymore at 34.Was responsible for giving a stupid penalty away and should have stopped their break for 2nd.He was Man u's MOM first game also with wayward passing,the only danger to us that day.Played well against Coventry but I think that's his level these days.Anyway thought I'd just talk about the match,as I'm punch drunk with all that's happened the last couple of weeks.We missed several of our big players notably Jonas and Oba,and it proves Keegan was right about the size of our squad and lack of strengthening in identified positions.Finally sad that it did not work out with Ashley as I was desperate for fool Shepherd to go,and some of his ideas and sorting the financial mess out were good,and I hope Llambias smirking face is not seen around here very shortly with the news Ashley is going to sell. .
I have read all of Mike Ashley's pronouncement regarding his decision to sell Newcastle United. An amazing read for several reasons.
First he tells us that when he bought Newcastle United for £134m he was unaware that he had to spend a further £110m just to reduce the debt to a manageable level. In fact, he says, the debts are still massive as transfer fees are still outstanding and the money up front for sponsorship and advertising deals had all been spent.
Just what sort of businessman buys a business without first checking its financial situation. Anyone up here could have advised him that the financial expertise of the Shepherd/Hall dynasty was limited to say the least.
Second, he says that he was prepared to back the club to the tune of £20m per annum. Not much sign of that this transfer window. No mention of fans pre-season ticket money, nor monies from the Football League, Sky Sports, or anything that brings in money and lots of it.
Third, he seems completely unaware of the north aversion at being run from London let alone by Denis Wise, Jiminez and Llambias (just what does he do anyway?).
Fourth he states that he and his family can no longer go to football matches at home or away because of the danger of being assaulted. Because of this he was no longer prepared to subsidise Newcastle United. Frankly noone with a high public profile can expect to live normally, I am afraid. His prominent position up here is such that he will possibly be subjected to the antics of the nut cases in this area but there are nut cases in every area in the UK. Sad but true.
He still seems not to accept any responsibility for anything himself. The nub of the problem is Keegan's relationship with Wise, Jiminez and Llambias. His refusal to see this will be a serious handicap to anyone taking over any coaching job at Newcastle.
Finally not a glowing recommendation to encourage anyone to buy the club is it? I do not think he is really serious, he believes that he can still win through with the dreadful set up he has created himself. Just like Arsenal, eh? Ask Wenger.
First things first,im a Toon supporter and im from down south i have family in Newcastlte but i did not attend the Hull game and if i did i would have sang my heart out for Lads and KK but not even said a word about the owners,i believe mike ashley is a complete fraud. if you rememeber in the beggining when he Took over how much he stayed out of the media and the public eye?.and then one day he pops up in the crowd with Alan Smiths name on his shirt cheering and shouting like a real fan. even wearin just his newc shirt with no jumper in the cold no disrespect if you had paid your own money to buy a club as he has done then obviously you would want to get the most from your investment! however, how many owners of clubs do you see wearing a replica shirt with your managers name on it King Kev, he knows how much KK means to the fans and to the club and im sure somebody must of told him KK actually played for toon! Ashley is an Extremely successful business man and im sure he has his heart in the right place, BUT he is the owner,he calls th shots ultimately and he was clever enough to bring KK back once, im sure he will be clever enough to try and tempt him back again for the good of the club, surely he must realise being a business man that Jiminez and Wise are not benificial in any way shape or form and it was a poor poor decision to bring them in and That decision alone has lead to al of this.lets b honest ASHLEY BRING BACK KING KEV at least bring him back before you sell up!!!! you got yourself and Newcastle in to this mess, now sort it out
if you ask me cockney press, we planned rather hap-hazardly for a weekend of forcefull demos. Nobody really had time to orgaiize anything but with out and out dedication and goodwill, we managed a decent national protest, enough to gain recognition as a dignified band of brothers intent on one point being made, . ie. that Ashley's intent to keep this club running as it were, in the same routine as it was before Keegan walked, and the same would continue as before with Wise, Vetere, Jiminez and the bombastic Llambias carrying on as before was never to be tamely accepted again. Well done us in showing that point rather forcefully to whoever was observing with cam-corders from office windows. We are in the driving seat now prospective buyers, you really need to be on line with our simple agenda from now on, and we're not asking much from a business intent.on making money. It's easy if you treat the manager, board , players and fans right. Just read Sir Alex's blueprint.....you can't fail guys...we'll be right behind you with sincerity and candour, if you show it we'll back you all of the way. Come on buyers, taste our hospitality and dream your dream, we are fifty-odd thousand angels who want to make you succeed.
"Steve Bruce has been touted as toons new manager by Sir Bobby Robson."
unfortunetely, that would be up there with Sir Bob's decisions to sell Nobby and Gary Speed,acquire Bowyer, Titus and Viana, and not deal effectivley with the behaviour of the likes of Dyer and Bellamy.
Although Mike Ashley gives in his statement of intent the impression of ultimately being an honourable man, it takes nothing away from the fact that, as a "successful" businessman you would expect that he would have done his homework before buying the club.
We, like the majority of Premier League clubs are, on paper, in debt. The difference with us is that the capacity to generate income to repay that debt is severely limited by the effect that a devisive and secretive board has on the results of the team on the pitch. In that Mike Ashley as the owner was the man responsible for putting that board in place, he must still take the brunt of the criticism being leveled at the club by the fans, myself included.
His position here isn't completely untenable, he could persuade KK to come back, be that the right or wrong decision for the overall good of the club, and find that the criticism subsides. Subside it would, but only until the next suspect or inept decision he makes puts the club right back into the media's favourite role, jesters to the Premier League.
Even without negotiating the return of KK, Mike Ashley could appease the majority of the fans by removing the Cockney Mafia from their highly paid positions within the club. This still won't hide the fact that his heart is patently no longer in the roller coaster of football club ownership, regretably leaving the best option for both Mike Ashley, and the club for him to sell up without delay and move on. Personally, I think that's a shame, as there are all too few approachable owners left in the game. The important thing for all parties is to ensure the sustainable future of NUFC and I pray to god that that's asured.
Where does blame lie?
Keegan - not prepared to negotiate and behave like the manager he wants to be
Fans - unrealistic in their demands - looking for a geordie billionaire again? Shepherd would probably be acceptable to them as he is not from London. Parochial and narrow minded.
Not Mike Ashley - he had a plan to bring success to the club and would have done so - only mistake he made was to bring in KK and create the cult of the individual for the fans.
I have supported NUFC for over 40 years. I am embarrassed by the so called passionate supporters, by Keegan and ultimately the club.
Let us take Mike Ashley’s “resignation� at face value and not simply good PR. Generally Mike’s statement hit a chord which we can all relate to. We all want NUFC to be on a sound footing and we all want to enjoy supporting our club.
Why are we where we are today:
• Poor or nonexistent lines of communication, both from the Technical Director to the Manager and from the Chairman to the fans.
• Going into business with your friends.
• The Owner taking time to adjust to Owning and running a football club, as a business, compared to running a sports business.
We all realize that to have a successful football club today and in the future require it run as a successful business and this will not happen overnight.
NUFC is no ordinary Football Club, is without dispute, with the fans and the City being an integral part of the Club.
So how to resolve the situation:
• Transparences from top to bottom, staring with a clear Mission Statement or better still an outline Business Plan to be issued to the press.
• Open positive lines of communication between all parties concerned, Owner, Chairman, Technical Director, Manager and Fans and all. This is NUFC and we all want to know what is going on with the club. We don’t want to sign a “wow� player for a short term high. We want sustained growth and positive discussion. We will not always agree as this is football, but we will accept a logical approach.
• Employ the people who are fit for purpose, who have the correct experience and personality. The system of Technical Director and Manager is possibly the way forward and in our case and let us assume it is. However there must be a mesh of personalities for this to work and a Managing Director who can resolve any disagreements amicably. Someone who knows football and knows people.
• Stop changing Managers and Owners this is killing us.
Action Plan:
• Mike Ashley get yourself to Newcastle and have an open forum in the City Hall. Outline your Business Plan answer the questions and wear your heart on your sleeve. We will love you for it.
• Kevin Keegan and Mike Ashley find some common ground and move forward together.
• Denis Wise do the decent thing and step down to let the club move forward
• Mike Ashley appoint a Technical Director in consultation with your Manager
• Derek Lalambias catch up or step down
• Newcastle Fans get behind Mike Ashley, the Board, the Manger, the new Technical Director and make us great.
Forget what is going on off the pitch and the truth is that we have far too many inferior players.
Edgar and Ameobi just aren't good enough, the latter should never play for Newcastle again after that display. N'Zogbia isn't a defender. Guthrie is average at best and not creative at all. Geremi is a spent force, as is Butt. If Xisco and Gonzalez are the best that Wise can do then heaven help us! Of the starting eleven on Saturday, only Given, Taylor, Coloccini and Owen are worth keeping and of the missing ones, only Martins and Beye and Gutierrez should make the squad.
Let's face, we just aren't good enough no matter who owns or manages the club.
Once again a laughing stock The nation believes that Mr Ashley cannot attend games with his family, we need to be clear this is an argument about how to run a football club which for the supporters is an institution, not a war the only way the paying public can vent its feelings is to protest, as they do not want to take their custom away. Irrespective of a lack of due dilligence when the club was purchased. The club now belongs to him, their have been leaks about the club being up for sale from day 2 one can only assume this to be true. If you look at the Sports Direct business model it has been about piling high and selling cheap and making money. A premiere league club can never work like this. It is all about high Quality and unfortuntatley high costs. As long as Billionaires with deep pockets and huge ego's are around sound business practice goes out of the window. So what can be done!
The chance of finding a new billionaire meglomaniac is limited, we should co-operate with the one we have.
Maximise revenue means keeping the punters happy Kevin Keegan is the only man the punters trust he must return and find a solution.
Simplify the structure let them all stay in place including Mr Wise. Change the reporting lines so Dennis reports to Kevin on all playing matters. It is not rocket science just plain commonsence