The Newcastle United Blog

237 responses so far ↓

• 1 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 20:45

  any of those but not McClown

• 2 Greg B // Jan 9, 2008 at 20:46

  Latest favoriet is ‘Arry redknapp - not for me thanks.
  Like i have already said, im convinced they have already lined Shearer up as the ‘dream ticket’.
  Ok, not everyones choice but Im sure he si Ashleys choice.

• 3 Ruud Boy // Jan 9, 2008 at 20:47

  The BBC has just reported this:
  “Sources close to Alan Shearer have confirmed to the BBC this evening that he is extremely unlikely to be the next manager of Newcastle.
  Shearer says he is currently very happy with his job on Match of the Day.”

• 4 Ruud Boy // Jan 9, 2008 at 20:47

  That option has gone!!!!!!!!!

• 5 JOHN // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:00

  KEEGAN!

• 6 valle // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:05

  McClaren, Redknapp, Jol and Klinsmann would make our current leaders no better than the previous board… Actually worse, since this have had a low spend spend season, not the best of combo’s when u combine it with a new manager.

• 7 The northern monkey // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:11

  i cant believe the boo boys have got BSA the sack, we are now gonna be in a worse state than ever before well done you clowns you’ve just f*^cked us over thanks alot from us newcastle fans x x x x

• 8 john // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:11

  jose mourinho

• 9 john // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:12

  the northern monkey, you are as clueless as bsa

• 10 IanG // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:13

  Jose with a £200M budget! Dare to dream!!

• 11 Pierre-Crawcrook // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:14

  Why not Jol, he plays the Football the way we want. He has a good eye, Berbatov for one.
  How about Keegan-Shearer-Sir Bobby as a dream team, though. Van Gaal would be probably be the favourite for me.

• 12 The northern monkey // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:14

  He was never gonna achieve anything in his first season, it took great Sir alex 2-3 yrs to get man utd going why do we think we are gonna achieveinstant success its not gonna happen wake up we all have to stick together and get through this inconsistency is not the way forward

• 13 Zero Cool // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:20

  Right now i’m looking at the likely positive chances. Martin Jol, leads the pack as far as I’m concerned. And “Couldn’t get the job done”, less you all forget we are Newcastle United. I believe we’d fancy a 5th place finish just fine. Martin did an excellent job at Tottenham 2 years in a row. When was the last time we even had a gaffer for 2 years in a row? Let alone consecutive top 5 finishes? Martin is probably the best chance we’ve got to stop being a joke. Cause as of now…I’ve got us for the drop. or at least fighting the drop this season. …just like last season.

• 14 Hadrian // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:21

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  *pull’s hair out*

  to summarise my lost post …
  they must have sounded someone out .
  rumors often come true, jose all this week.
  but surely bobby would have to play some part in getting jose , so not sure there .
  maybe it is shearer , been very coy on bbc lately

• 15 Pierre-Crawcrook // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:22

  Allardyce kept yapping on about what he achieved at Bolton. But was did he acheive, nowt. Straight jacket on Charlie boy, is my main gripe against him. Good riddance, but thanks for starting to get the setup correct.

• 16 Tommie Lewis // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:22

  Ed, Ottmar has said numourous times how much he would love a job in the EPL!
  He would be a great signing, as I vividly remember the campain for him after/before Souness. Wonderful manager… and VERY attacking, just look at his Bayern team.
  IMO, Ottmar would be the best man for the job! Full stop!

• 17 Neil W // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:23

  Well BSA going came as a shock. Talk about out of the blue.

  Well, as long as it isn’t:
  1. Fifth Choice Steve
  2. Fifth Choice Steve
  3. Fifth Choice Steve

• 18 GS Whickham // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:23

  how would appointing Jol be worse than Souness……When we appointed Souness there was only three other managers below us in the league…he was one of them. Tottenham just got off to a bad start after some great work By Jol. i’m not saying he is my first choice but i totally disagree with your comments

• 19 Zero Cool // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:24

  Even with Jose being Foriegn you can’t find a Geordie that wouldn’t support “The Special One”

• 20 Obafan // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:24

  SA has gone and I was asking for it, but I’m a bit stunned. I didn’t like his tactics and also his person (too arrogant and more interested in the press than in his players), but I’ve got my doubts about the time of the anouncement. In the middle of the transfer window and with already a few youngster who signed for us.

  My girlfriend is very happy SA is sacked!!!!

  *Shearer; I just read that he rules himself out!!!
  *Jol: no bad idea, but not my favourite
  *Lippi: that would be fantastic
  *Mourinho; would also be fantastic, but I can’t see it hapenning (I also read that he can’t manage anymore in the EPL this season, is this true???)
  *McClaren; if he gets the job, than I eat my head and I will be shouting to bring back SA
  *Klinsmann; not going to be him

  I also read (ATM you can read a lot about the new manager ) that it will be a British manager; than I think it will be
  Harry Redknapp (delivering perfect work at Pompey, but I don’t know if he can handle the pressure at St James)

  Other candidates:
  *McCartey; defo do not want him
  *Hughes; I hope it is not going to be him (he has not convinced me so far)
  *Houlier; would be a fantastic manager
  *Hitzfeld; will end the season in Bayern and will then bedome the Swiss coach IMO

  I say it is going to be be Harry Redknapp!!!

• 21 James // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:25

  I’ll stick my neck out here :

  I want Mourinho (the right man for the job)

  I have a hunch its going to be Keegan.

• 22 Howie // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:25

  wats wrong with big ‘arry. plays good football at fratton park and is reasonably successful

• 23 IanG // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:27

  Well if Ashley and Mort don’t have anyone lined up for immediate appointment I hope they don’t rush in without aiming to recruit the very best there is, after all they have the cash!

• 24 valle // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:29

  Howie… And how many seasons did that take him???… He wouldnt have survived his first season if their supporters have had as many clueless moaners as we do

• 25 GS Whickham // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:29

  whats the betting Pearson gets it for the rest of the season

• 26 GS Whickham // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:32

  Valle…..just exactly where do you think we were going under big Sam…….had he played with two wingers, dropped Smith & Geremi….played Martins upfront everygame…..we would be 8 or 9 points better off this season at least……he didn’t and has payed the price

• 27 Howie // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:32

  very quickly when you think he got them promoted. stayed up. left. then kept them up again.then 8th last year i think and this season are good. valle i wanted sam to stay but we must move on now

• 28 Stami // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:32

  i agree with Northern Monkey! i cant believe our own ‘fans’ managed to chase away one of thebest managers we have had in years! and dont give me that bollocks that he was underperforming, our players where underperforming, there is only so much a manager can do! did you actually expect him to win the premiership in his 1st season…HONESTLY! the FUTURE looked a whole lot brighter when BSA was at the helm! we have just wasted 8 months of building! now we start from scratch…AGAIN!!!!:(

  NOT IMPRESSED!!!

• 29 john // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:32

  has any of his backroom staff gone. they should sack the lot including clueless mort

• 30 steve // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:33

  northernmonkey - he got himself the sack through poor results and disappointing football
  fergie saved man u from relegation in 1st season & came runners up in 2nd season so shut up

• 31 Obafan // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:33

  What about Keano???

  Martin O’Neill would aslo be a man for the job IMO.

  valle - SA had limited time at NUFC, but let’s be honnest if you want to build something than you have to see improvement. I’ve never seen that, on the contrary things became worse. I dare not to think who he might have brought in (like Nolan and other players who kick the ball upfront)…

• 32 GS Whickham // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:34

  Stami….what are you on about….It was HIS players that were under performing?

• 33 billy // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:36

  i think keegan and shearer . sick of hearing the ferguson nearly got sacked but they stuck with him look at them now line. hes a one off and those days are gone managers were given longer then and they didnt have millions to spend or waste.

• 34 big pea ov the weab // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:36

  a dont no why shearer would want the job am a life long geordie n a dont think it will do shearer any favours being a hero a think he will end up a zero to us geordies stay on match ov the day alan the geordie fathfull will maim u otherwise

• 35 Howie // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:36

  was gutted sams gone but for anyone dissapointed about it move on and look forward to the future. o’neill wont leave. if ur sayin keano u might as well say shearer as keane has not much experience

• 36 Obafan // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:36

  stami - our players just did not what to do, because 75% of them was played out of position. You just saw that most of the time they did not know what they had to do. Lack of confidence is also a point on which SA has to blamed (look at Martins)…

  Example: Roz was very bad last Sunday at RB, why??? The 1st time that he ever played there ffs.

• 37 valle // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:37

  Howie… Fair enough if you wanted Sam to stay… My point is that managers such as Arry who dont have big club exp will get slaughtered by our moaners, his profile match Sam if anything, plus he carries baggage atm

• 38 graham // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:37

  this may well be the red wine talking but Pearson to see the season out and mourinho in the summer.

  Ashley wants to make money from his investment. The best way to do that is to speculate to accumulate.

  But not shearer!!!!!!

• 39 Zx // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:38

  Other than Jol and Shearer, I doubt anyone wants the job…but I do hope that Keegan can come back.

• 40 Stami // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:43

  John…you would appear the clueless mate! i read you ramblings everyday and to be honest, i never quite understand why you call youself a NUFC fan! a bit of optimism and support is always appreciated! confidence is always a winner, in players, and especially Managers! with supporters like you it doesnt make it easy for a manager to build confidence!

  i cant see a an easy way forward from here for us, i just hope that whoever steps in gets a better reception than BSA did!

  i wish you the best in the future Sam! May you go on to do great things and proove the boo boys WRONG!!!!!

• 41 Edd Case // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:43

  Who keeps spreading this cack about Mourinho not being allowed to manage another EPL club this season?

  Why on earth would that be the case?

  He was essentially sacked by Chelsea, so I can’t see how they could impose such a sanction.

  Come to think of it, I can’t see how ANYONE can impose such a sanction as it clearly infringes on human and employment rights…

  Sadly, I doubt it’ll be Mourinho…
  Or Shearer…

  Keegan however…possibly…
  Mind you, he’s been out of the game for a fair while now and things are probably very different now…And, what’s he up to at the minute?
  I’ve not seen/heard anything from King Kev in years - and I bet there’s a good reason for that - he’s enjoying the quiet life - so why come back to his old job?

  Anyone who mentions, Jol, Redknapp and the like should just calm down and just think about things.

  This is the perfect opportunity for Mort and Ashley to pull out all the stops and really show the Geordie faithfull that they mean business - and NOTHING will quite do it than appointing a MASSIVE footballing name - NOT the likes of Redknapp, for Christ sake.

  Lippi - Yes
  Mourinho - Yes
  Hitzfeld - Yes
  Koeman - Yes
  Rijkaard - Yes
  Etc etc……

  Mort and Ashley need to think BIG and have the vision to land the best

• 42 Howie // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:45

  valle i agree there are similaraties and yes harry has baggage but he is a popular figure due to good football and a good personality whereas sam brought a lot of negativity with him as people said he played long ball football etc

• 43 milnerfan // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:46

  well done fans. BSA could have turnd club around over next 3 seasons and must us as gd as robson era, but o no culdnt wait. Now we prbz gna get “big name” in so will do great this season cock up next season then get sacked. Great timing no more signing in january then!

• 44 john // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:46

  why was mort saying its stupid to sack fat head last week whats the big difference this week

• 45 Howie // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:46

  edd case i think mourinho agreed to leave with his contract paid if he didnt manage a team in this country for the year

• 46 Craig Allen // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:51

  Martin O Neill should be a contender imo. Won’t mind KK back again either. Strange that we sack the coach during the xfer window with some players off on international duty, one in counselling awaiting trial and two in induction for only just being signed. Can’t see a business man making a rash decision so am sure theres method. Someone must be lined up.

• 47 Murvar // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:54

  Edd Case KK’s running his football circus outside Glasgow, I gather. Coaches kids. Never go back would be my advice to him. He’s a hero and so is Shearer. The fastest way to lose hero status is to take over this lot. And whoever suggested Houllier - do me a favour. The worst Liverpool side in living memory is all ghe achieved at Anfield. No it’s time for someone from Europe. Hitzfeld, Lippi, Mourinho, Kanstani - anyone but our sad unemployed over here.

  PS - I made Kanstani up.

• 48 James // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:54

  There is no clause in Mourinho’s contract.

  Mike Ashley decided to sack Sam after the Wigan game but him and Mort have had to wait to get the replacement to say yes. That has obviously happened this week hence why Sam was sacked. The Wigan game and Barton in prison was the final straw for Ashley.

• 49 Adrian Swall // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:54

  Terry Mac has done so well with his cv which simply reads “Keegans Mate”. What does he do? How does he do it? Will KK keep him on?

• 50 Eve // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:55

  I’m banging my head off the wall, I’m banging my head off the wall because this is by far the most idiotic thing the board has done. Who are we going get now. No one, no one will want to take the job. NO ONE. So what Pearson’s going to ride the rest of the season out caretaking.

  For God’s sake. I’m serious who would want it. We demand flair as well as success. Immediate success. If not we crucify him. Who’d want to take that on willingly half way through a season where the preformances are just going from bad to worse, the teams morale is rock bottom and the fans are on the verge of depression. The fans only want 1 person to take the job, Shearer, which would be suicidal if we gave it to him. Unless you count Mourinho, who I doubt would come within a 100 miles of the club. But seriously. Who’d want it, who would honestly want it. A guaranteed prolonged sacking unless immediate success happens.

  What the board need to do is get someone, a good manager, who we’re not going to get at this time in the season, and back him, make it public that they’re going to back him for the entire season. No matter what happens. But that’s not going to happen because we, the fans, don’t understand the word time. We think we’re better then we are, we think that we deserve and should get what, Champions League football, cause we’re a big club. Please it’s going to take someone like 5 years to get this place off the ground. Now 5 months, we’re not going to give someone 5 years. We can’t even give someone 5 months.

  I can’t wait to see them try and fix this.

• 51 Reading Mag // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:55

  please please King Kev and Alan No. 2 with Bobby around….

• 52 Adrian Swall // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:56

  Hi James. Well said. Who said there ain’t no sanity clause?

• 53 Mac // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:57

  Martin Jol for me. he finished 5th two seasons in a row and had a few bad results early on this season which ultimately cost him his job. How can people say he’s not good enough look at where spurs have finished over the last few years and then look at us. No top top european manager is gonna touch Newcastle with a barge pole,why would they,they probably haven’t heard of us,We haven’t been european regulars for years and to be honest we’re just not very good at the minute,we have been left standing by the likes of Man City,Pompey,Everton Aston Villa and Blackburn. I think Jol is the very best we can hope for and to be honest it wouldn’t suprise me at all if he turned us down

• 54 Obafan // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:57

  One thing is for sure:
  All things that hapenned today are making it very exciting to follow all comments and articles.

• 55 Hammy // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:58

  F**k me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  I was just dropping by to see which whizz kid we had just signed and Big Sam has got the chop!!!
  I’m shocked!!!!
  Obviously Mike and Chris read this site and decided to cut there losses.
  Oh well, sure Sam got a nice pay off anyway…
  who’s next on the managerial gravy train?

• 56 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 21:59

  Its Harry Redknapp!

• 57 JP from The Rock of Gibraltar // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:00

  Now we have to fork out Sam’s pay-off! Less money for players! More worrying times ahead of Newcastle as now we are full of uncertainty! We don’t know who we’ll get if he’s better than Sam Allardyce or worse. We have to AGAIN put up with more rotation of players, the loss of key players that are not in the new manager’s plans through transfer windows, dodgy transfers and the huge amount of time it will all take. Some didn’t want to wait for Sam Allardyce to turn things round in his short time and now we’re gonna have to be more patient and wait even longer for results! Lets pray that we do get good results, a good manager (if foreign, better!), good players, good tactics and great football.

  I personally think it was way too soon for Sam to be shown the door but hey this is Newcastle you NEVER know what to expect!

  British managers SUCK! Apart from Bobby Robson. Go for Mourinho or another good foreign manager and get Bobby Robson or Shearer as their assistant. As I said earlier getting rid of Sam is a bad idea imo as we now have no back-up, its all looking like Freddie Shepperd again!

• 58 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:00

  Dont know what to think about Redknapp, cos i love all the players he buys and gets linked with, he plays nice football.

• 59 Edd Case // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:01

  James is spot on.

  Mort and Ashley are BUSINESS people.

  You don’t run a business by sacking a manager and not having someone already lined up.

  The new Newcastle United Manager is already there, he’s just not been made public yet.

• 60 James // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:01

  5 online bookies have slashed their odds on Redknapp to 2-1. They must know something we don’t….

• 61 Hammy // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:01

  It’s Tom_Toon!!

• 62 Ed Harrison // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:01

  Harry Redknapp is come right up in the betting since they said it was a British manager

• 63 Jamie G // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:02

  JOSE! if we cant get him then lippi or scolari. this is the chance for newcastle to appoint a world class manager. look what happned the last time we did such a thing, sir bobby gave us champions league football (and titus bramble but no1 is perfect). TOON TOON

• 64 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:02

  I really dont believe its going to be a british manager.

  HI

• 65 Edd Case // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:03

  Ed - Sky Sports said it would be a ‘British’ manager - no-one else…

  So for me at least, this is another jack-a-nory story made up to keep people on the edge of seats.

  Fact is, Ashley and Mort will already have their man, and we’ll all find out next Monday.

• 66 Hammy // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:03

  Hey Ed, this site hasn’t been this busy since …….errr we appointed Big Sam!!

• 67 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:04

  Trust me, i had a gut feelng that Sam was going to get sacked and that they were already looking at managers.

  TRUST TOMS GUT!

• 68 valle // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:04

  GS Whickham… The problem is that there are so many things to fix at NUFC that it cannot be done overnight… Take our defense, its been our problem all the way back to the Keegan time, and u simply dont win anything without a good defense. As a manager it would make sense to start by trying to fix that problem, and once the team learns to keep clean sheets move onto the next problem… Who will want to manage us now?… Everyone keeps talking about these top names along with some simply dumb ones such as Jol. Look at it this way, if u had a great CV as manager and worked at the absolute top like Mourinho, Hiddink and Hitzfeld. Would u want to risk all that by going to a mid table club that have fired their last 3 managers within 5 seasons, 1½ season being the most time given and 8 months the disgracefull least. Personally i would wait for a top club to become vacant like Liverpool for instance, where managers are given min 3 seasons to prove themselves, and where u alrdy have great players.

• 69 Obafan // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:04

  Mourinho is a srange person. Some of you are right about the fact that not many managers are jumping to become next NUFC manager, because of the pressure. But the ego of Mourinho needs this kind of challenge. I would be very surprised to see him as our manager, but what a shock in the football world would it be…

  James - Was it in the Wigan game that Ashley was playing with his phone??? Your theory can be the correct one. Very good comment you posted here (n°48)!!!

  Eve - can you give me good examples of improvement that SA has realised here??? You are right that managers need time, but the one thing they always have to do is giving signs of improvement, which here was not the case. Where would we be at the end of the season if things continued like this???

• 70 Edd Case // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:04

  Jamie G - Scolari would be a great choice.

  Mourinho is by far the best manager who is NOT currently employed, imo - so I dearly wish we get him.

• 71 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:04

  Why monday? If they have one, we will fnd out tmoz

• 72 graham // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:04

  please not redknapp. Decent manager but not for us. And he’s as bent as a dodgy copper

• 73 Reading Mag // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:05

  Shearer has just said NO ! Not keen on Harry respect him…but…well you know…

• 74 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:05

  I have a really big gut feeling its Hiddink!

  No my choice but i got the feeling, trust it!

• 75 Ed Harrison // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:05

  I’d love Jose Mourinho but would hate Martin Jol or Steve McClaren. The last two will never be successful at Newcastle.
  Mourinho will be successful wherever he goes. Hope it’s Jose and get in Bobby Robson as his assistant manager - that’ll help Bobby recover from his health problems

• 76 valle // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:07

  Obafan… The response above could ansver ur post to me aswell

• 77 Reading Mag // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:08

  Big Sams last words….good luck on Sat, look out for Ronaldo Rooney Giggs and Tevez good luck !!! I am off to barbadoes with me mates and £3 Mill ta ta

• 78 Howie // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:08

  harry redknapp the man for me. hope the betting patterns are right

• 79 Howie // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:09

  am going to the match saturday. slightly dreading it now.

• 80 Hammy // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:10

  Jose
  “Mike I need £40m for Rooney, £35m for Eduardo, £60m for Ronaldo….”

  Mike
  “No fu**ing way Jose”

• 81 James // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:10

  Don’t believe the British rumour flying around. Mort and Ashley have kept this replacement under their hat for a few weeks now (just waited for them to finally say yes). So they wouldn’t give anything away about it being British - just media talk.

• 82 James // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:11

  Tom-Toon - Monday because Mort said Pearson will be in charge for Manure game. So there is no annoucement before that game.

• 83 Normag // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:11

  1. Jose Mourinho
  2. Ottmar Hitzfeld

  One of those would be absolutley fantastic! Jose could really prove his “the special one” if he brings success to our beloved NUFC! Ottmar can handle the pressure. Come on Mort and Ashley! Bring it!;)

  And I cant understand why smart guys like those to would sack a manager in a transferwindow without having a replacement ready??

• 84 Reading Mag // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:16

  Tom Toon - you have got more gut feels than that Russian eating a meal in Soho

• 85 Clouded // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:16

  I hope Keegan is coming back. That would be awesome!

• 86 Howie // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:17

  they suspended betting on paddy power

• 87 carl // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:18

  got to agree, ashley and mort are successfull in business, they wouldnt of sacked sam unless the new manager had said yes, and i think he will be foreign and also sky sports are prob only saying hes going to be british to get more money through sky bet.mourinho or hiddink would be good

• 88 AlexW // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:18

  my first choice is jose mournihio, i hate him but he is a class manager, then harry houdini redknapp

• 89 JP from The Rock of Gibraltar // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:20

  Kevin Keegan is another great British manager like Bobby Robson but he has spent too much time away from club football now. We HAVE to go foreign to bring in fresh ideas and a more attacking mentality. Forget British managers and lets go abroad! Mourinho would be good, Shearer is a gamble and Harry Redknapp is another Souness although he isn’t doing too bad lately. Lets go foreign and be the force we once were!!

• 90 valle // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:20

  Whatever happens now we gotta wake up and smell the coffee, and back whoever comes in. That being McClaren or Pearson full time… I really hope for a top name, not because i think he can do miracles, but because his name alone would be enough to keep the moaners at bay for some time.

• 91 ToonUSA // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:20

  I bet you all that Sam was demanding to buy a DM player and Mort refuses to give him the money…..or Sam wanted to get rid of a player that Mort rates highly……I think he left on mutual aggrement due to somthing like this. In regards to Managers in the EPL currently non of them will cut it at NUFC. I am hoping for a forgen manager but I have been hoping since Sir. Boby got the sack

• 92 Obafan // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:24

  Tom_TOon why do you think Hiddink??? I thought he just renewed his Russia contract or am I wrong???

  The British rumour can indeed be seen as a amoke curtain; and CM and MA will not have said to the press, one tip: he is British. They are clever enough not to do so.

• 93 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:25

  no you’re right, i have a big gut feeling, and i normally trust it.

• 94 Eve // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:25

  Obafan, oh, no, no, no. I totally agree that he should have been fired. I actually said in one of my comments way back that it’s one thing to give him time when he’s improving but when he’s not, he should be fired. I’m just so pissed off with the fact that we have absolutely NO ONE lined up, at all. We should have either put up with him till the end of the season or have someone waiting in the wings to take over. But no, instead we’re here manger-less and no one will want this job. NO ONE.

• 95 Hadrian // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:27

  keegan , im sure he was offered a sporting directors job wasnt he ?
  i would LOVE it if we got him

• 96 Eve // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:27

  Hadrian..and so it’d go full circle.

• 97 nate // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:27

  It’s absurd to think that Mourino would even think of coming to Newcastle at this point. At the end of the season he will have his pick from Milan, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, etc. It’s too bad we didn’t get Sven or Ronal Koeman when we had the chance. But I don’t think Sam should have been sacked.

• 98 ToonKing // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:28

  how do you guys manage to post ???? i’m getting freakin’ SUSPENDED for the last 2 hours.

  Sort it out Ed …….pls.

• 99 The northern monkey // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:28

  we dont need redpap for fick sake! we need to sort our fans expectations out but Jose would be a shout for sure he’s a crowd pleaser!!!!!

• 100 Greg B // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:29

  Any chance of getting KETSBAIA from Famagusta? He is treated like a God over there (see youtube).
  OK, so its tongue in cheek but lets face it we could (and probably will) do alot worse!!!
  At least Temuri was passionate, has some experience and is a mad a ferret, just what we need!!

• 101 Obafan // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:29

  Eve - don’t you think CM and MA have already their new manager??? I also think that not lots of managers are jumping to manage NUFC, but like I posted before; it is an ideal situation for Mourinho, who dares the biggest challenge (and that might be NUFC ATM )

• 102 Midjew // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:30

  There is someone lined up according to Sky Sports NEWS which i believe as Mort and Ashley AINT STUPID

• 103 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:31

  I can see alot of managers jumping at the cance, they would relish the challenge, the manager would be fairly old as they have achieved what they wanted before, we are the last bite of the cherry to fufil their life.

• 104 Frankieboy // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:31

  If MccLaren gets it I wont even watch them on the telly.
  Shearer caretaker till the Summer the he will stand down to become No.2 to Hitzfeld and learn from a master for a few seasons before taking the reins in his own right .
  As caretaker there is no real pressure and he can enjoy the brief experience as Roeder did early days.
  Nowt to loose this next few month.

• 105 ToonKing // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:32

  Betting stopped on a couple of sites…….surely a sign.

• 106 graham // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:32

  greg b - we couldn’t afford ketsbia with all this fancy advertising boards around the grounds! Every goal would cost thousands!!!

• 107 Midjew // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:33

  stopped with who as favorite?

• 108 ObaFan2 // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:34

  I remember Rednapp slagging us off a few years ago and have disliked him ever since. He won’t understand the geordies or our expectations as BSA hadn’t.
  Just as dodgy, just as arrogant.

• 109 Eve // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:34

  If they do, they’re bloody keeping quite about it, would they bloody say something before I give myself a heart attack.

  Mourinho..Are ye serious. Who here actually thinks that he’d take it. Honestly?? He didn’t take the English job and I’ll be waiting for flying pigs before Jose takes this job. Ground yereselves people. If you get your hopes up now, they’ll only be dashed later. He’s about as good of a chance of taking the job then I do.

• 110 Midjew // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:35

  GUYS LOOK AT THIS:
  http://www.skybet.com/skybet?action=GoEvEv&id=11082720

  It show MURINHO BETTING IS SUSPENDED??????

  COUDL THIS BE IT?

• 111 Howie // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:35

  temuri ketsbaia and warren barton… ye toon king rarely suspend bettin unless they know something

• 112 Midjew // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:35

  EVE -
  CHECK OUT WEB SITE I JUST LISTED

• 113 Midjew // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:36

  Anyone looked at web site yet?

• 114 AlexW // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:37

  i think alan smith should become a player managwe

• 115 Greg B // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:37

  New manager to be named in next hour!!!
  That my bet, sound very much like its Arry, clues are:
  British, Not Shearer, currently employed…

  Would suggest the likes of O’Neill, Hughes, Redknapp blah blah blah

  Ok well looks like my vision of Katsbaia leading the Toon was just fantasy…. oh well maybe next time

• 116 graham // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:42

  midjew - that’s good enough for me my son!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• 117 joey jailbird barton // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:42

  anyone got any soap on a string

• 118 ObaGod // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:42

  whatever happens the fans need to learn their lesson when it comes to a new manager we need to get behind him whoever he is probably jol, but anyway everyone needs to give him full support and get behind the team or this cycle will go on and on we will lose our good players and eventually get relegated at which point mike will sell up cos theres no profit, its in the fans hands basically

• 119 doc // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:43

  gus hudink after euro 2008
  place your bet today

• 120 steve // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:44

  Stop being negative, the fans did not get Sam the sack full stop, Managers are boo’d all the time when going through a string of bad results, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and almost every other team bar Arse & Man Utd although Man Utd had to endure almost total silence during one home game and Fergie then whinged the crowd weren’t passionate - you can’t have it both ways.

  It seems more likely that the media wanted Sam to fail and he didn’t help by constantly talking to the press and blaming fans, players or anyone else other than himself. His tactics were poor and player selection often bizarre (as noted by almost every Football writer (telegraph, times, independant, guardian and the rag tops))

  Lets face it, if mort and ashley announced mourinho tomorrow we’d all be creaming our pants and the people now saying mort and ashley are useless would be on there knees praising them

• 121 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:45

  steve, im out of tissues, lend me some?

• 122 doc // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:46

  this will give us fans a real insite into where Ashley and co want to take the club

• 123 rob // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:46

  mourinho odds back to 12-1, damn! looks like redknapp for sure

• 124 Obafan // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:46

  Lots of names have already been mentionned here, I will give you the following order (I aonly give names which I have read somewhere in an article about the new manager); MY YES AND NO MANAGERS

  YES
  Lippi - O’Neill - Hiddinck - Houllier - Mourinho - Rijkaard - Van Gaal - Adriaanse - Hitzfeld

  NO
  Scolari (no respect for the opponents, tried to hit Dragutinovic) - McClaren - Hughes - McCartey - Klinsmann - Koeman - Curbishley

  MY DOUBTS
  - Redknapp (I don’t know, now he is doing well, but he also had terrible managing years)
  - Jol
  - Keegan (was by miles the most successfull manager o the last period, but can he produce the same; perhaps if he takes the job he might lose his popular status in Newcastle)
  - Venables

• 125 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:47

  I hope its Deschamps, its very unlikely but he would be a great realistic option.

• 126 paulthepom // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:47

  a friend of a friend was guest of honour at an everton /bolton game when sam was bolton manager.he was sat next to him in the first half in the stand and all big sams instructions were just keep hitting it long,its nearly coming off.for the whole game.eventually thie sacking of sam will allow us to play football again with confidence.the bloke had all the right ideas for training and behind the scenes but not much clue tactically,this is why owen,oba,dukes,and the rest all looked shite.this team was greatly under performing and was getting worse .the only time we looked like getting a draw in the last month was when we went out and kicked lumps out of teams.we never looked like winning.watch this team go with a decent manager in charge.good luck sam and thanks for your effort.i know you tried your best and noone can take that away from you.

• 127 ToonKing // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:47

  only 3 agency’s still offering odds on new manager………

• 128 Obafan // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:48

  Midjew - I went to the site, but Mourinho’s name was on the list so I don’t know where you find that…

  Greg B - Where have you seen that the manager will be announced in the next hour???

• 129 Midjew // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:49

  DAMN IT! On Sky bet Murinho has ODDS AGAIN!!!

  WHY OH WHY!

• 130 Normag // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:49

  obafan - it was there, but has been changed again… ??

• 131 Midjew // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:50

  Obafan - I know it DID say suspended and now it says 12/1 again not sure what happened

• 132 G. // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:52

  OMFG

  It’s official, Steve f***ng McLaren is our new manager !!

  can’t believe it…

  source: nufc.co.uk

• 133 Obafan // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:52

  Midjew - No problem m8

• 134 rob // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:52

  tony mowbray? seems like 2 sites pulled odds on him? http://www.oddschecker.com/football/football-specials/football-specials/next-newcastle-manager/next-permanent-manager

• 135 ObaFan2 // Jan 9, 2008 at 22:56

  Redknapp H 2/5 is what it says at the moment AH NO WAY

  I’d Kak myself if it was Jose, by far the best manager in recent years but needed unlimited funds at Chelsea.

• 136 graham // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:00

  obafan2 - he didn’t need them to become European champions at Porto though

• 137 Obafan // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:02

  I read the Sky Sports article now and it mentions; rather British than foreign, so they say it but are not 100% sure of it (I still think it is a smoke curtain which is media talk).

  What an evening this ha turned out to be.

  I’m really trying to follow everything, but it is very difficult to do

• 138 ObaFan2 // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:06

  no very true Graham, would be great but not sure it’d happen…. I have alot more dont wants on my list than wants, Jose defo on the want list.

• 139 Kevin // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:06

  I think the biggest shame of all this is that Ed’s going to have to come up with a new banner at the top of the page!!!

• 140 Eve // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:08

  I’m pretty sure that Houllier is out of the running. He’s favorite to get the Irish job. Ireland are also looking at Venables.

  Anyway. I don’t know what to say anymore. This is a joke.

  Steve..we did get the manager fired, just like we did in the past. Well we were the final nail in his coffin. The fans usually always are. When you loose the fans backing it’s just a matter of time. Ya he screwed up all by himself and I’m glad he’s gone. I didn’t like him, but like, we, the fans, were a big factor in it. And like for example if Rafa hadn’t the backing of the fans at Liverpool, he’d be gone by now. So probably would Roy Keane. Fans, when a manager is really struggling, can make or break a managers career at that club.

  24 games in this club is all he had. How many of those games has he been booed at. And in contrast, how many games has Keane been booed at??

• 141 Rich // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:09

  according to the media:

  Hes Brittish, we have to persue the proper and appropriate avenues to try and get the new man.

  unless we are going to try an amazing swoop for Alex Ferguson i dont really have a clue what British manager could be better than Sam.

  I hope its not a repeat of the robson-souness saga and we go an hire someone like Mark Hughes or Chris Coleman

  Also, final thought. We still seem to be signing players, i have a feeling ether Mort or Ashley have their own Scouts and are signing players without Sams input, maybe this was a problem?

  i hope we havent tuned into the new Hearts (SPL Team) and that our new owner will be a psuedo-manager with a crap puppet manager who just does what Ashley says?

  im fed up with my Team, i wil always go to the gamesas much as i can and wath them on TV for eer but i just wish we woul give someone the job for at least 4 solid seasons whilst bankrolling him.

• 142 Rich // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:13

  one last other comment:

  i posted this before on another thread but alot of players where missing from Sundays game.

  Oba Martins - Said he was on cup duty but Nigera dont play for a while, and John Obi Mikel played for Arsenal on Tuesday night then went to Africa the next day.

  a few things have made me question what has happened over the past few days.

  i hope Ashley comes out of his Bat-Cave and makes a public statement to clarify these decisions and to put all our minds at rest, if he continues to speak through Mort then this will only deepen our prblems, not only on the pitch but with the fans too.

• 143 Gooderz // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:14

  Some fine candidates have already been mentioned but what about van Gall from AZ Alkmaar? He’s experienced, tactically astute and plays good football. On top of that he’s not afraid to taunt the opposition either pre-match or through his touchline antics.

  Mourinho would be the best choice though, if left to do his job.Failing that having a very experienced manager brought in alongside Shearer.

• 144 Ed // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:14

  You are going to need a new banner now Ed.

  Not a good idea putting the manager in it
  Oh and I’m sick of this managerial merry-go-round we have going on.

• 145 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:15

  Hes who most of us want!

• 146 Kevin // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:17

  Regarding Sam’s dismissal - It’s ridiculous how many people here aren’t seeing the point. Yes, ideally we all would have liked to see Sam get more time. And obviously, Sam isn’t the one not scoring in goals, and letting in too many. But with the least amount of knowledge of the game you can see his detriment to the team’s immediate AND long term future.
  And please, people, keep in mind that Mike and Chris did NOT hire Sam - and they have proven themselves to be first class business AND football men. This is their club now and I believe whoever it is that they’ve gotten (and I assure you - they’ve already got someone lined up) they will be a good, mature, calculated decision. Sheppard bought on whims - these lads do NOT. So while I wish Sam all the best in the future and desparately wish he would have worked out, I have full belief in Mike and Chris. Let’s move onward and upward, and howay the lads!

• 147 James // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:17

  Ignore the media, none of them saw this coming today. Mort and Ashley completely shocked them. So whoever has been lined up has been kept hush hush too. Don’t believe the media speculation. Ashley has finally got his own man. We will find out next week who it is.

• 148 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:18

  why next week it coukld be tmoz

• 149 James // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:19

  Kevin - completely agree with you mate. Mort and Ashley have been pursuing this replacement for months. This is not the rash decision that the media is making out. It was a calculated move by Ashley to turn our season around.

• 150 steve // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:19

  where are people getting mourinho betting suspended from - he’s 12/1 on most sites and they are happy to take your cash

• 151 James // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:20

  Tom_Toon = Won’t be tomorrow because they said Pearson is in charge for the Man Utd game. So there will not be any new manager before Sat night. Next week is when we will find out.

• 152 Zx // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:21

  I think we need a forum. This site can’t hold our numbers especially when there is a goal scored during match days and a manager sacked.

• 153 Rob // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:21

  Sick of the everyone saying a manager needs time look at Alex Fergurson. Just by giving a manager 5 years doesn;t guarentee that that team will be top 4 in the league. If it was so easy!

  Give the right manager time - Bobby R/Keegan - (as NUFC have done in the past, proof they don;t just change managers at will) and then maybe we have a chance, so the question is, was BSA the right manager for NUFC?

  Can’t answer that really, but on the evidence and the team selections, (I have seen all but 1 game live on TV) and performances then the conculsion he was NO he wasn’t.

• 154 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:28

  James - He could be unveiled tomorrow, just like the Hodgson situation, very few new managers normally take charge for their first game.

• 155 Duncan Disorderly // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:31

  once again, we’re the laughing stock of football - this can only be rectified by a BIG name!

  better get that banner image changed, Ed!

• 156 dan // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:31

  I believe in Ashley and Mort. They aren’t daft!

  I just hope and pray it is someone who has been to the very top of club football. Not keegan, shearer, rednapp etc etc.

  Anyone remember Ashleys comments when he first bought newcastle??

  He said he wanted to turn newcastle into the very biggest and best.

  Now’s your chance Mike!

• 157 Gordon // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:32

  It’s BAYERN Munich Ed - you keep getting that wrong

• 158 Leo // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:34

  van gaal or hitzfeld

• 159 Hadrian // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:35

  there is a good chance our new manager will be watching from the stands against manure .
  id like it announced sooner rather than later , that is of course if we really do have someone lined up, id like to think we would .
  i wonder how much of the rumors were true at the start of the season when ashley came in .
  im not so sure on harry , seems like were giving someone there chance again .

• 160 shirts // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:35

  Holy f***ing hell. I live in New York and just got back from work to see this news. I’m stunned.

  I was working on a little piece about the stoke city game for this blog, but I retooled it for this blog. It’s meant to be a laugh, so have a look if you like. http://blogbovine.blogspot.com/2008/01/batle-of-grizzly-adams-newcastle-united.html

  But most importantly, holy f***ing hell!

  I’ve written a few times that I never liked Sam as our choice in the first place, but I bought it, hook line and sinker, that he’d be given time and I even argued for that–the stability argument–which I truly did believe.

  I really hope Ashley and Mort have got a priceless rabbit up their sleeve (Mourinho? Klinsman?) but I fear the worst…

  Whoever the new manager is, I hope he/she/it has time to sign some creative players in the mid field…

  totally shocked…

• 161 Chicken // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:36

  Anyone who thinks this is good news for NUFC is as dumb as the media makes us out to be.
  We deserve everything that’s printed about us.
  F**cking disgrace.

• 162 Greg B // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:36

  After trawling tomorrows papers i am convinced its going to be Redknapp.
  Make of it what you will but get used to it, this chancer is more Arthur Daley than Allardyce ever was!!!

• 163 James // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:36

  Right let’s just straighten something out here. For it to have been pre-mediatated like we all believe, and that Ashley has been lining this person up…that means it cannot be someone currently at a club because it is illegal to approach them. It has to be someone not employed at the moment in order for him to ask them outright to take over.

• 164 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:40

  Deschamps, making the right signals about moving to england when sam was under heavy pressure.

• 165 Hadrian // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:42

  yeah pompy are saying there has been no approach and it wouldnt be welcome , so if it is someone lined up im doubting its harry .
  i would just LOVE it, if it were kev .
  did he or did he not get offered a sporting directors role i wonder .

• 166 ObaFan2 // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:42

  Shearer gone from 5/4 8 p.m. to 9-1 11.20 p.m. so it doesn’t seem to be him…… Redknapp dodgy guy is still favourite with most bookies

• 167 Chicken // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:43

  Fcuk that little midget - we need someone who understands what it means to be manager of Newcastle United.

• 168 James // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:44

  It’s not Redknapp..

• 169 valle // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:44

  Rob… Allot of “fans” were screaming for Robsons head before he got the sack

• 170 shirts // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:44

  Fecking hell. I just typed comment and the site farted, so I have no idea if it’s in or or not, so sorry if this goes up twice.

  I’m a New Yorker and I’m just seeing the news here (it’ 6:40 pm). I’m totally stunned–I bought the stuff about giving him time completely!

  I had written an joke piece on the Stoke city match for a blog http://blogbovine.blogspot.com/2008/01/batle-of-grizzly-adams-newcastle-united.html but I had to re-work it a little since the news. Have a look if you’re at all interested.

  but much more importantly–what the eff!? I never liked the choice of Big Fat Boring Sam, but I thought it would require patience–at least a season–to see if he could work out. Stability, I thought, was crucial. I mean, what is it? 7 managers in 10 years?

  So I believed them when they said they’d give time…

  Boy was I dumb…

  Hope whoever’s next has time to get some creativity in the midfield…

• 171 ObaFan2 // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:44

  With Ladbrokes that is.

• 172 Chicken // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:44

  Jeez Louise - we might as well get Niall and Biffa from .com. Couple of prize cnuts would probably fit right in.

• 173 Stamford Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 23:55

  Have to say I am shocked and dismayed at the sacking of BS. It is a sad day for the club, we have become a joke. If Asley and Mort are going to be constantly swayed by the boo boys and moaners on this site then we will have 2 managers a season for the forseeable future. Reading a lot of the comments above about who next I see that whoever is appointed he will be dislike immediately by many. None of you can agree, so sooner rather than later the new manager will have enemies. Trouble is most of you live in the past, get real and move into the present. Let the new manager do his job and back the team when they play no matter what.
  For sure you will not like his system and tactics, his player choice or the positions in which they play. Ashley and Mort have let the club down badly and that does not look so good for the future. Did I do a good thing commiting myself to next season I wonder?

• 174 domtoon // Jan 10, 2008 at 0:09

  My god if it’s McClutz there will be a riot in toon. I can’t stand by the man even if we got a few game under our belt, I still believe the entire aura surrounding him will be a massive downer for many Magpies.

  I’m really quite shocked about BSA’s sacking after the vote of confidence from Mort following the Wigan game, and also BSA’s own comments in response to this and the media hounding (mofos!!)

  I didn’t personally see BSA being sacked so early on into his nufc career, so I guess there may be other shocks to come…

  All i can say is - LET’S PULL TOGETHER AS WE’VE ALWAYS DONE AND GET THROUGH THIS REGARDLESS!!

• 175 Warwick Hunt // Jan 10, 2008 at 0:10

  Look BS didn’t get the sack because of the fans or the media. He got the sack because of the performances from the team, if a player isn’t playing to the best of his ability you don’t play him and when you do play him you don’t play him out of position. Simple as that, BS got the sack because he wasn’t cutting it at NUFC.
  If we where in the next round of both Cups , futher up the league with some good performances behind us or even god forbid some goals, he would still have a job.
  The current owner and Chairman didn’t hire BS so don’t think we are just going down the road we have for a while, however familiar it may seem.
  MA is a business Man and a very sucessful one at that, he didn’t buy NUFC to lose money FFS.

• 176 Edd Case // Jan 10, 2008 at 0:11

  What is with people moaning about Sam being sacked?

  Why is the club a joke for doing that?

  Mort and Ashley have done nothing wrong and everything right since joining the club.
  Financially we’re really strong and we’ve just signed THREE potential stars for the future.

  Mort and Ashley work brilliantly in business and NUFC as a business will stride forward in the next few years - but to do so with huge success, you need (obviously) to be doing it on the pitch.

  Can any of the “this is a big mistake” brigade HONESTLY say that the tripe we’ve seen on the pitch this season from the team is attractive and will sell NUFC as a brand all over the world?
  Not a chance.

  Mike Ashley and Chirs Mort have made a business decision which they are entitled to do.

  One other thing, this is the first time they have made such a decision - it’s not their fault that Fat Fred was in charge before and made us the laughing stock.
  Surely you can see that Mort and Ashley will be doing EVERYTHING they can in their power to not let that happen again as that is a BAD IMAGE and bad for the brand…?

  I expect a world class manager to be announced very, very shortly - and all you Fat Sam lovers and plonkers who think this is a mistake will be forced back under the rocks you crawled out from under.

• 177 Me // Jan 10, 2008 at 0:15

  Trond Sollied!

  Among top 10 managers in europe(2006)

• 178 Tom Cairns // Jan 10, 2008 at 0:16

  we are and have been a bad state for some time and there’s been no hiding that, i thought sam was still just laying the ground work and needed time but obviously that isnt going to happen now so…move on.

  the most worrying thing would be if there isnt a well laid plan by mort and ashley now and they had been overly influenced by fan opinion. as much as we’d like to think we do, we do not know what is best for the football club!

  it is still very early and mort and ashley may yet unvail a great plan for the club…if however it becomes apparent this was a move without an almost immediate replacement it will begin to look more and more that they dont know what theyre doing.