Who can be Newcastle's version of Mourinho, Wenger, Benitez??
So the three nil defeat at Man City last night was the final straw for Freddie Shepherd. This morning, Graeme Souness has been fired as manager of Newcastle.
Souness was dignified in interview last night. But there was a sense of resignation in his tone, and comments he made last week about his family being his priority seemed to me to indicate that he knew the writing was on the wall.
It seems like the majority of Newcastle fans have been unimpressed with Souness for the last few months. Now with him gone, it would be good to know from them who they would like to bring in as the new manager?
I see the Bolton manager, Sam Allardyce, as a potentially excellent manager for Newcastle. Martin O'Neill would also be fantastic for the Toon. Eriksson would be a gamble but he has the status to bring in the top players from around the world. The former Lyon coach, Paul le Guen, is an outsider who has all the pedigree to be a great manager.
It is immensely important that Shepherd gets this one right. Forget players, the acquisition of a new manager is the NUMBER ONE most important decision a club can make for its future well-being. Just ask Arsenal, Liverpool, Bolton, Chelsea, Man Utd fans, etc.
posted by T at 2/02/2006 12:30:00 pm
EFT match of the season for 2008/2009: Barcelona construct a masterclass footballing performance to defeat the reigning Champions League holders and current English champions, Manchester United, by a scoreline of 2-0 in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome
EFT player of the season for 2008/2009: Chelsea central midfielder, Frank Lampard
EFT player of the month for May 2009: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for April 2009: Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for March 2009: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for February 2009: Phil Jagielka (Everton)
EFT player of the month for January 2009: Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd)
EFT player of the month for December 2008: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for November 2008: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for October 2008: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for September 2008: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for August 2008: Amr Zaki (Wigan Athletic)
EFT match of Euro 2008: Turkey's amazing comeback from two goals down to beat Czech Republic 3-2 as captain Nihat Kahveci's two goals in the last three minutes sensationally put his country through to the quarter finals at the expense of their beaten opponents
EFT player of Euro 2008: Spain (anchor) central midfielder, Marcos Senna
EFT match of the season for 2007/2008: Liverpool win titanic Champions League quarter-final second leg 4-2 against Arsenal that also saw two of the best football moments of the season - Fernando Torres' top corner strike and Theo Walcott's thrilling run across the whole of Anfield.
EFT player of the season for 2007/2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for May 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for April 2008: Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
EFT player of the month for March 2008: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for February 2008: David James (Portsmouth)
EFT player of the month for January 2008: Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for December 2007: Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers)
EFT player of the month for November 2007: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for October 2007: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for September 2007: Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for August 2007: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for May 2007: Carlos Tevez (West Ham Utd)
EFT player of the month for April 2007: Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for March 2007: Carlos Tevez (West Ham Utd)
EFT player of the month for February 2007: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for January 2007: Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for December 2006: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for November 2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for October 2006: Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton Wanderers)
EFT player of the month for September 2006: Andrew Johnson (Everton)
EFT player of the month for August 2006: Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth)
EFT match of World Cup 2006: Italy win a thrilling 'end-to-end' World Cup semi-final 2-0 against Germany courtesy of two late extra time goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro del Piero 
EFT player of World Cup 2006: Italy captain and centre-back, Fabio Cannavaro
EFT match of the season for 2005-2006: Liverpool win the FA Cup final 3-1 on penalties against West Ham after a Steven Gerrard-led fighback saw the Anfield side recover from 2-0 and 3-2 down to level the match in normal time
EFT player of the month for May 2006: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for April 2006: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for March 2006: Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)
EFT player of the month for February 2006: Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough)
EFT player of the month for January 2006: Jason Roberts (Wigan Athletic)
EFT player of the month for December 2005: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for November 2005: Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for October 2005: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for September 2005: Danny Murphy (Charlton Athletic)
EFT player of the month for August 2005: Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd)
EFT match of the season for 2004-2005: Liverpool win Champions League final 3-2 on penalties against AC Milan after sensationally recovering from 3-0 down to level the match in normal time
11 Comments:
Without a doubt, OTTMAR HIZFELD !!!!
Don't spoil the opportunity to bring in
one of the worlds finest managers!!
His record speaks for itself, german
or not!!!!
2/02/2006 12:43 pm
Hizfeld doesn't speak a word of english... but then again... neither does any of the back4.!
2/02/2006 12:49 pm
...and he craves for a challenge. Are there ANY tougher challenges you can get in the world of football?
2/02/2006 12:53 pm
Le Guen, the ex Lyon manager!
2/02/2006 1:21 pm
It's now become an interesting dilemma for the club. Huge North Eastern pride, they could well see out the rest fo the season with Glenn Roeder and Alan Shearer sharing the helm. Shearer has been touted as a replacement, as being one for the post sooner or later, now is a good chance to see how much he can do to enhance Newcastle's season. I wonder if the other management members will be kept on. Roeder perhaps could shore up the defence, leaving Shearer the midfield as he knows what he wants from attack, even if he doesn't include himself. And at least Shearer is one figure the St James' crowd would get behind and cheer.
Hitzfeld and Le Guen. I would choose Hitzfeld, I sense the German's approach to the team would be more enterprising.
RedsMan.
2/02/2006 1:44 pm
RUUD GULLIT ??
2/02/2006 2:04 pm
Hitzfeld and Le Guen are good calls... and definitely the calibre of manager needed for Newcastle to move up to a higher level.
Ruud Gullit... I think he's best on Sky Sports!
Redsman, I forgot to mention yesterday that you had predicted in the summer on EFT that Souness would be out of the door if he has a poor season. It's a shame that he wasn't even given the whole season to prove his worth.
As I wrote in my article on Jan 1st about Newcastle, they have been hit so hard with injuries that I think it's not fair to make a definitive judgment on Souness.
In the end, I see Shepherd as someone who bows to fans pressure.. and in this way keep onside with the fans who really should also be calling for his head.
Shepherd was the one who appointed Souness, but then didn't give him a full chance and now apparently has given him a costly £3 million pay-off. He now needs to redeem himself through his next managerial selection. Otherwise he should also leave his post at Newcastle.
2/03/2006 9:48 am
Thanks, T. It was a huge scripture on the wall, Souness is visioned to have wet his feet last season, then is given one season to turn Newcastle suddenly into a European positioned team. Not impossible but is severely hampered under current circumstances. It is very frustrating, and how would I deal with it as a NU fan, I don't know. I don't like Freddy Shepherd since his overheard conversations during tequilas with Douglas Hall Jnr., I felt he was being very irresponsible but shrewd enough to hang on to his marriage. Lucky man.
I think he chose well in bringing Souness but must have viewed matters from a wider perspective to see it would be a sticky season when injuries occur. It's well documented but Souness gets the blame for it, regardless. But when your team are not scoring and you purchase a renowned striker who guarantees goals, potentially pin most of your hopes on his performances and suddenly he is injured and out of selection for a substantial period of time, followed by injuries to other key players, how are you expected to find consistent form??
Roeder and Shearer are said to lack the official credentials to hold a managerial position between now and the end of the season. Roeder in particular has ruled himself out except for the interim.
Hitzfeld is a good choice, perhaps even Keegan. They should never have released Sir Bobby, and that is not said in hindsight. And like T, I sense Shepherd bows to the fans, which can effect sound judgement.
RedsMan.
2/03/2006 12:06 pm
Would Venables be in the frame? He's quite solid...but maybe that is not high profile enough for a club like Newcastle?
2/03/2006 1:56 pm
I think it would be a big mistake for Shepard to appoint/anoint Shearer. Situations like his may work for a year or two, but typically end with the legend's legend being tarnished. Better for Shearer to go away and earn his stripes. His ego may tempt him though. I think Venables would be a good choice.
I'll throw a name out for discussion - Phillippe Troussier - he's been very successful as an international manger, but not so much experience working with big-name players or clubs. On the other hand he has a lot of contacts in African football, which could help their scouting, and is a highly respected tactician.
2/06/2006 11:14 pm
Nturtle, I really like Venables but I reckon his problem is that he has been out of management too long to be considered a top class candidate.
Anon, Troussier is a good call, but as you say he does not have a lot of top-class club football experience so could be viewed as too much of a gamble for a club that can't afford another risky managerial appointment.
2/08/2006 1:42 pm
Post a Comment
<< Home