Newcastle Chairman Shepherd met with Sam Allardyce and his representative Mark Curtis at Claridges on Friday - along with a Newcastle delegation that included Shepherd’s son Kenneth.
It now appears that Allardyce was Shepherd’s first and only choice - despite various inevitable reports linking other managers to Tyneside this week.
While some of Newcastle fans are sceptical of Sam - we think he’s going to be an excellent choice for Newcastle. Since it’s now obvious that Allardyce will be watching Newcastle’s game somewhere (if not at Watford) on Sunday - we predict a spirited performance from Newcastle - and a win. 
Freddy Shepherd and Sam Allardyce
The meeting took place at Michael Ramsey’s restaurant in Claridges and it is being reported they discussed a four-year deal - though no contract has yet been signed.
The length of the contract would usually suggest Shepherd’s confidence in the manager - Roeder was given a two year deal and Souness a three year deal. Of course if the managers don’t perform we are left having to give them compensation based on the length of contract remaining.
But maybe that will not be an issue - for once - and we’ll see Sam take the club forward big time - we hope so!
After the meeting Shepherd said
“Sam is the nearest thing to a replica of Joe Harvey I have seen. He has the same rugged determination and enthusiasm as Joe,”
“I am excited, Sam is excited, and we are looking forward to making this work.
“We had a good meeting and will continue discussions over the weekend but everything went okay. You don’t wrap up something like this in two minutes.”
Of course the great Joe Harvey was the last manager at Newcastle to win anything - which was the Fairs Cup in 1969 and Harvey was also captain of our 1951 and 1952 FA Cup Final wins (against Blackpool and Arsenal).
Presumably Shepherd and Allardyce also discussed the Owen situation and Shepherd’s attitude towards the England striker’s agents (he seems to blame them rather than Michael on this).
Allardyce is thought to be keen to keep Owen - not surprising but still good news for Newcastle fans.
After the meeting Allardyce is reported as saying.
“It was a good meeting and my agent will speak to Newcastle again over the next few days to discuss matters further,”
Shepherd said:
“Sam’s excited and we’re looking forward to making this work.”
Allardyce resigned from Bolton on April 29th and we think one reason Glenn Roeder was sacked last Sunday was that Allardyce became available.
There are still a number of things to work out - one being the make up of Sam’s coaching team and backroom staff.
It will be interesting to see who Sam appoints.
There may not be a place in the coaching staff for Nigel Pearson - who has done very well since joining Newcastle and who was recently appointed England under 21 coach - but Allardyce will most likely want to being in his own folks - so we’ll just have to wait and see on that one.
Comments are always welcome on this site.
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20 responses so far ↓
1 Major Newcastle News Stories - May 12th, 2007 | Newcastle United Blog // May 12, 2007 at 9:36
[...] RSS ← Shepherd Finally meets in London with New Manager Allardyce [...]
2 Ed Harrison // May 12, 2007 at 13:50
The meeting reportedly last 3 hrs so they had time to discuss quite a bit.
They will continue discussions over the weekend.
Looks like Allardyce may attend Watford game tomorrow - that would be good.
3 Shaz // May 12, 2007 at 14:13
First on the agenda must have been that Michael owen will leave Newcastle!Who does Sam want to buy with the 9M.
4 Ed Harrison // May 12, 2007 at 14:33
Shaz - still hoping Owen will stay - we haven’t heard from him yet.
Pearson said on Friday Owen wants to be Newcastle legend - we shall see.
5 W // May 12, 2007 at 15:03
400 hours lost by Newcastle in injuries this year while Bolton only has 70 hours. That bodes well. Anyone seen the pictures of freddy and Sam in london that the reports have been talking about?
6 W // May 12, 2007 at 15:35
Found the pictures at “the Sun’s” website. I’m excited and giddy.
7 Ed Harrison // May 12, 2007 at 15:48
W - yes I saw that - interesting if he gets more injuries at Newcastle - but Sam uses all modern technology and stuff.
If still lots of injuries next season it has to be the training pitch at Little Benton.
8 Ed Harrison // May 12, 2007 at 15:54
W - I stuck the Sun article in the Major News stories for today - not sure Sam’s sunglasses are much of a disguise - in any case he wont need them in Newcastle.
9 Shaz // May 12, 2007 at 19:41
Ed-you are the most optimistic newcastle fan i know of.Mind you i am a totally deluded Liverpool fan and convinced he will be back at Anfield. I don’t know if you saw ,Rafa didn’t dismiss it yesterday.He just said “now is not the time to talk about new players” and he said it with a grin on his face so i am still hopeful.But i know Liverpool fans are split on this but deep down they know we need him.
10 W // May 12, 2007 at 20:06
If he leaves I hope liverpool or man yoo has 90% of it’s players injured the whole season and gets relegated and goes into administration. Amen! It’ll be like “Owen-The Plague!”
11 Ed Harrison // May 12, 2007 at 20:12
Shaz - there are many signs around that Owen will be on his way out of Newcastle.
The local journalist in Newcastle - Alan Oliver - said today he wouldn’t be at all surprised if Owen was not at Newcastle come August. Alan usually has good inside information.
It’s interesting his get out clause (₤9M) was what Liverpool were willing to pay for him a couple years back.
12 Shaz // May 12, 2007 at 20:53
I hope Alan Oliver is right.I would feel sorry for Newcastle fans but i want him back at Anfield however that comes about.People forget how mentally strong he is and i think given the chance he will get all Liverpool fans to forgive him by producing on the pitch.I think he cares what Liverpool fans think of him and this is a chance to put that right.Just wanted to say what a great player James Milner is, he should be in the England squad but with McLauren picking the squad-enough said.
13 W // May 12, 2007 at 22:05
Shaz- James Milner is not a great player! Shaz you’re aggravating Scott Parker’s Hernia Problem, Sibierski’s broken leg, Duff’s ankle and my headache. I hope Alan Oliver is wrong, you’ve given me a reason to flip off at you I’m sorry.
14 Shaz // May 13, 2007 at 6:53
Well i think he is,he is still young and will improve.Selling Milner would have been a huge mistake.He is the only one who tries to win for your lazy team(not including Michael Owen in that).It is the players around Milner that are not good enough.As for Owen, he deserves better than to play for your team.If you are looking for people to blame, Freddie Shepherd is your man.£9 M clause!The man gets everything he deserves and we hopefully get owen back!!!
15 Ed Harrison // May 13, 2007 at 7:17
We are big fans of James Milner - and expect him to be player of the season - cannot imagine we will sell him - he’s far too good.
16 Ed Harrison // May 13, 2007 at 7:21
Shaz - from Liverpool’s point of view - if Owen goes it will be viewed a lot differently than from a Newcastle point of view.
If he leaves in the summer it will be the biggest slap in the face to Newcastle - ever - by a player. We’ve already worked out the cost to ₤1.3M.
He’s a local lad in Liverpool (like Shearer is here) so it’ll be viewed differently on Merseyside.
17 W // May 13, 2007 at 8:20
If Milner is great than what is shearer. Milner has a lot to learn period and has done nothing to be labeled great. Put a human being in group of monkeys he’ll be great no problem. A great prospect maybe. But i wouldn’t even call him a great prospect. Ronaldo is great young, already one of the best the world, he doesn’t need much improving.
It’s to no fault of Shepard wanting the Man(boy if he’s not up to being a man, doing the right thing) in a Newcastle jersey, agreeing to terms that he may not have been able to refuse. Well somebody should have been clever enough to put a clause that covers this unlikely event. Such as in the unlikely event of an injury and practically missing 2 whole seasons without contributing to achieving european football, such an such clause is ineffective. This is not a fair contract, in principle should be fair and reasonable. It’s no fault of ours he got injured in the first place, so i propose if he’s to be sold he should be sold fairly priced fairly through market forces not by a clause on a contract that will basically cheat newcastle rob newcastle of it’s whatever.
18 Ed Harrison // May 13, 2007 at 9:47
Milner is a player who’s 21 years old - plays for England under 21s - has made over 200 appearances in the Premiership - and is one of the best young players in the country.
We expect he will be this year’splayer of the season at Newcastle .
Not bad for a guy who just turned 21 in January.
19 Shaz // May 13, 2007 at 10:50
W-I didn’t say that James Milner is a world class player, i said great because when i watch Newcastle, he seems to be the only player giving it everything.And how do you know he won’t get even better.Players take time to reach their potential.That is why some people say players reach their peak at around 27 years old. Cristiano Ronaldo is an idiot, don’t flag him up as a great player!
20 W // May 13, 2007 at 16:07
I don’t flipping care. The only compliment you made to newcastle was james milner that’s why i’m flipping mad. After infuriating me with michael owen comments. There you go your owen injured by matty pattison for you. wraped packed and delivered. Thank god.
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