Robert Philip manages to name check Mary Queen of Scots, Scotty from Star Trek, ####es, Bill Shankly and Sean Connery before getting to the point of his football article. You really just need to read his introduction.
Another idea of how to generate stadium revenue. Sounds a bit bizarre but....
A Soccer America interview with USA national team boss Bob Bradley.
The Financial Times and Guardian articles on Manchester United record revenue and profits are the best I have read in terms of giving good information about the interest payments.
From the top to the near bottom - the reverse of Sir Alex Ferguson's journey. The Times with a positive story about East Stirlingshire - the team that offerred Ferguson his first job in hairdressing nearly thirty four years ago.
With Newcastle United pulling the plug on another manager it is worth looking at the performance of the not-so-magnificent seven (although in relation to Keegan and Robson that remark should be tempered) during the Premiership years. Newcastle was not a charter member of the Premiership but after missing out on the first season Keegan secured promotion in his first full season.
Here are the managers, the position the club was in when they “left”, games in charge, average points gained and the approximate net outlay in transfer fees – it is a lot.
The list is in chronological order:
o Kevin Keegan – 4th, 143 games, 1.85 points, $80M
o Kenny Dalglish – 13th*, 56 games, 1.34 points, $27M
o Ruud Gullit – 19th, 41 games, 1.65 points, $13.6M
o Sir Bobby Robson – 17th, 188 games, 1.60 points, $58M
o Graeme Souness – 16th, 56 games, 1.16 points, $66M
o Glen Roeder – 13th, 52 games, 1.42 points, $19M
o Sam Allardyce – 11th, 21 games, 1.24 points, $28M
(Dalglish carries an asterisk as he was fired only two games into a season and 13th was the previous season’s finishing position.)
From Gullit on the managers are getting fired with the team sitting in ever higher positions. Maybe it is all part of some cunning plan to literally fire Newcastle to the top?
Looking back the failure to use the relatively successful spell under Bobby Robson to groom a successor was a faux pas of immense proportions. Who in their right mind would operate with one of their most important employees past the age 70 and with no succession plan in place?
As for Allardyce I don’t think any fair minded person would accept that half a season is enough time to turn a team that has failed to win a major domestic trophy in over half a century around.
A significant number of Newcastle fans are apparently upset at the type of football Allardyce had the team playing. But again if you are trying to change a culture of mediocrity then there is going to be protracted spell of rubbish dished up – that should not be a surprise. And in terms of a new manager it is likely to be more of the same.
I often wonder if a new manger might not get better results and reduce short term expectations if instead of asking for the cheque book he told players that they had half a season to prove themselves.
Immediately moving to sign new players and dumping the ones signed by the predecessor just leads to a belief that improvement will be immediate. Then if the new signings fail to impress – as they did in the Allardyce/Newcastle situation – the pressure mounts and the revolving door starts to rotate once more.
As for a successor, the names are beginning to appear in the press and on websites. Harry Rednapp, Mark Hughes, Steve McClaren (surely not!!) are all getting some play in the media. The odds are a Keegan return have also been slashed.
But as Simon Barnes said in The Times last weekend will a new manager be given a fair crack while Alan Shearer continues in the role of the best manager never to have managed Newcastle?
It would seem that Mike Ashley has done the easy bit in firing Big Sam, the hard bit is convincing someone of quality to pick up the poisoned chalice.
Quick free kicks
A number of teams are looking to cure some sporadic bouts of Premiership travel sickness this weekend. Spurs travels to Stamford Bridge in what could be a preview of the Carling Cup Final. But travelling to Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford, Anfield and wherever Arsenal were playing at the time, has not brought much joy to Spurs. In sixty-three Premiership trips to these grounds Spurs have won just twice - a win at Arsenal and a win at Liverpool.
Manchester City are the visitors to Goodison but they have only one once in ten Premiership visits to Goodison – and that was way back in October 1992.
Middlesbrough may not have scored against Liverpool in their last four Premiership encounters but Liverpool are without a win at the Riverside in their last five visits - two losses and three draws for the Reds. Despite Boro’s spotted form over the last couple of years the Riverside is still a place where bigger teams often come a cropper. United, Chelsea and Arsenal have all lost at the Riverside in the last two and a bit seasons
Oh and let us not forget that no matter who has been in charge of Newcastle a trip to Old Trafford as never ended in three points for the Magpies – it has however often finished with a loss (nine times) and sometimes a draw - five of them.
This weekend offers Reading, Wigan, and Fulham another opportunity to pick up three points away from home for the first time. This time against Aston Villa, Derby County and West Ham respectively. Also without an away win are Bolton, Sunderland, and Derby County but they will have to wait for another day.
Thanks for not doing a Serie A preview!
The hairdressing crack is hilarious though!
Your nationality article isn't found?
Stadium revenue, novel idea, every stadium I've ever been to though has it's share of bare concrete or bare plastic seat backs - all that bare space with no "slogans" on them.
What about two shirt sponsors, one front and one back? Or four one for each arm, smeg it, one for shorts and one for socks.
The possibilities are just out there waiting for some club to smeg traditiona and go hell for leather for every penny.
Bob Bradley - still unsure whether he's got the right stuff - won't be for a while - maybe not until the confederations cup in 09' (or unless they have a Gold Cup in '09)
Micky Thomas could have had a nice little business with another Chelsea old boy ,goalkeeper Petar Borota ,who left two years before Thomas's only season ,he was later jailed for forging works of art.
Two other great club names from the Scottish League ,Stenhousemuir and Cowdenbeath.
Does David Gill really expect us to believe that one in eighteen people on earth are Man Utd fans?
And I make no apologies to the Gooners for providing Youtube evidence of THAT Thomas goal...
Also of importance this weekend (in my humble opinion), is the Milan vs Napoli clash as the Serie A resumes after the winter break. The reigning European and World champions desperately need to improve their home form immediately. Tune in to FSC Sunday at 2.30 ET to watch the much anticipated debut of 18-year-old Alexandre Pato. If he can reproduce some of the form (and goal scoring rate!! haha!!) he showed last year with Internacional, he could provide instant help to his new club. It looks like he may start up front alongside Gilardino, with Kaka right behind them, which will now give Milan the YOUNGEST striker partnership in the Serie A.
Disclaimer: Pato may also have a very disappointing and/or uneventful debut, and Bobby may then label him as overrated on Monday’s show, and then I’ll have to question Bobby’s football knowledge and why he lives in Canada, and then Bobby will put me in my place, and then I’ll have to backtrack and concede that Pato may be a bit over hyped and yet unproven.
Good Morning!
I like the read on the Newcastle stuff but one thing seems to niggle my toughts about all things Newcy, the team!
Each manager has picked up the previous manager's leavings as it were. In my humble estimation, since Keegan quit, the playing squad has deteriorated and each successive manager has come in and, with little finance, had to shore up the team with whatever was quickly available in the transfer market.
The team today lacks spine and depth and that has been the story over almost the entirety of the clubs premier status.
Firing a proven manager like Big Sam, when you have the calibre of squad Newcastle has got is laughable. For me Ashley's best tactic as owner would have been to sit down with Sam and plot premiership survival, while rebuilding for the future.
The 'dead wood' that needs weeding out, has got the vote and Sam has gone. Crazy! The club now seems to me to be more like a poison challice than a big prospect. I think Sam is well rid.
Who will want Newcastle is now the big question. Klinsman is out of the running and I don't think Jose would touch it with a barge pole.
Re Boro: I have no idea how we will do up there as I have no clue as to the team we will field. If Rafa plays his wingers and two up front with Mascherano in front of the CB's we win. We will draw or lose if we play a route 1 team and tactics.
Kewell or Riise must play left side and Benayoun or Pennant must play right side with orders (and chains if needs be) to stay wide, run the line and spray the box with crosses.
It is a game Boro will want a point from so I can see them putting 11 beind the ball most of the game and trying to get at us on the break.
Klinsman's appoinment is very interesting and will make next year's CL all the more exciting to see Bayern. What are your views on this move? I think it very clever for him to sign up now. He will have several months to review player performances and be ready to take over the team. Do you all think there will be a shuffle of players? Will this be Kahn's last year at Bayern? I can't imagine Kahn being thrilled with Klinsman... Will he bring Lehmann in? :)
According to the Italian press, Emre (from Newcastle and former Inter player) is in line to a June move to AC Milan. Yet again, a former Inter player will move to Milan and make a huge impact in their team. And I will curse Morrati and Manager out.
CIAO, even worse is that Emre can't get a game in front of Nick Butt or Smith. What a joke.
Apparently I am the only one who believes Fat Sam should have been fired, only b/c he wasn't right for Newcastle. Combined with his blustery, "I am gonna turn it around, because I am a great manager" attitude left the owner no choice.
In comparison Sven comes in, spends about the same money, gets real valuable players and under states his impact and the expectations.
Maniche is a decent central midfielder.. He was a key player to Atleti's campaign this season until he had to act up. Again
Since his arrival to the club, he has been caught drink-driving in Portugal (while on holiday break last season), seen drinking in city bars, arriving late to training on a few occasions, and more recently...feigning injury so that he didn't have to play in the mid-week Copa game.
VVV / Serie A
MILAN NAPOLI is a BIG game - perhaps we will see the introduction of Pato (SuperPippo had some kidney stones recently so may not be available)
Roma gace a tough trip to Atalanta
Udinese have it easier but not a doozy in their trip to Cagliari
Juve - easy three points
Empoli Reggina - could go either way
Lazio Genoa - a tough home start to 08 for Lazio
Parma Fiore tough away for la viola - could be a good game as last time arounf Fiorentina scored 5
Sampdoria Palermo - tough for Palermo but possibly a great mid table scorcher
Siena Inter - easy three away points
Torino Livorno - probably home win but don't vount our chickens
What matches are on FSC?
GAME SUMMARIES
A biggie and an intersting one
Boro Liverpool - gotta do this one just to see what happens - both teams can be really good or pretty dire, weather may be a factor
City @ Goodison
First real ACoN test - no Yobo, Pienaar, Yakubu, A game we really need to win to solidify our sixth place. City are better at home but it will be a tough game, don't think Fernandes deal is sorted for this match.
Expect to see Vaughn and Anichebe, possibly one of whom will start.
I'll do one or two Serie A games (probably)
REDFAN - LGB - VERBAL
Tough away trip for you, but you should beat them unless they bring their Arsenal game to the Riverside. Utterly correct though, a shoddy 451 won't be much use, Boro aren't exactly solid at the back.
As an admitted new fan to this great game, perhaps some of the more experienced can explain this Newcastle situation. It seems clear to me that the first thing you need to learn to truly enjoy football is that fact that even a vastly over-matched team can win through strong defending and taking its chance on the counter attack if the dominant team gets either desparate or sloppy.
Even from watching ten or less Bolton games managed by Allardyce in my entire life I can see that he was one of the best at getting quite a few points from teams with much more quality.
You would think that with Newcastle's support base, in England, consisting of highly educated fans, they would have known that before they became the next Arsenal, they would at first have to at least become the next Everton?
Even at my son's 12 and under level, if the team with less talent tries to pass the ball around like Arsenal, they lose every time -- usually by about three or more goals.
Am I missing something? Other than, I suppose, the possible massive delusion of Newcastle fans?
Craigy, you think your blues can beat Citaaaay at their place? I predict a draw. I have more hope of Alex McLeish doing something to surprise whinger and the gooners (could be a band with that sort of handle and do prison gigs).
If Rafa plays 1 up front against woody you might hear me scream with rage. Torres and Babel I hope to see up front but if he plays Crouchy then I hope its with Veronin or Gerrard but not Kuyt, who is fast looking about as effective as was Morrientes. Here's hoping.
Athleti: If Maniche is that good perhaps he will be signed the next newcastle manager. He could work well with Butt, Barton and Smith et al......on the town!
""You would think that with Newcastle's support base, in England, consisting of highly educated fans, they would have known that before they became the next Arsenal, they would at first have to at least become the next Everton?""
""Newcastle's highly educated fans are massively deluded"" Mmmm you could have something here.
Craigy, I bet you have a cultured answer for anewfan to this one eh?
Man City is pretty average on the road, so yes, Everton can win this game. I'm hoping for a draw though (both teams drop points), and that makes me sad that I have nothing in the league to route for but to finish in the top 4. Grrrrrrrrr!
"Am I missing something? Other than, I suppose, the possible massive delusion of Newcastle fans?"
Ha - funny. As a supporter of Everton who frequents fan messageboards of the club, you'll not find too many kind words about Newcastle supporters (redfan2000 - I assume it's likely the same at other EPL fan messageboards as well).
For Newcastle supporters, denial is just the name of a river in Africa...
I don't think anyone could put it better than you already have... Newcastle fans are delusional. They believe they are a great side and that they are better than say Everton and the Spurs (I know they are down in the table, but they will move up). Where in fact they are not and they even fall below Portsmouth, City, Villa, Blackburn and West Ham. What is sad is that they have the potential and the financial means just not the organization and willingness to set and see out a plan to get back on track. As MasMaz pointed out, Emre is on the bench while Butt and Smith play. They sold Parker and brought in Barton... That is just risky and asking for trouble. Which Big Sam ultimately paid for his mistakes. I wish them the best, but I too do not foresee them recovering quickly. When assembling a team, they have not put any thought into whether or not the players would get along.
What I would do as next manager would be to terminate Barton's contract as the first step to reinstall some order.
And work on establishing a set 11, I would begin with the following 11:
----------Given
Carr-Rozenhal-Faye-Enrique
-------Geremi--Emre
Duff------------------N'Zogbia
----Ameobi-----Viduka
They should indicate that who ever is in form putting in the work during training will be given the opportunity to prove their value. I do believe the Newcastle will need a fully fit Duff to be their inspiration to turn things around this season.
Hate to disagree with some of you gobby blog know-it-all’s but not all of us Newcastle fans are delusional. Disappointed once again; definitely, but not delusional and not all highly educated. And who are you geniuses to point fingers?
Like it or not we are just like you. We support our team, (humbly acknowledging your team is brilliant and perfect), we continually fill the stands every home match. It is not all about being permanent top dog and having unlimited ego and money to throw at the problem the likes of the London Russians.
Sooner or maybe later (perhaps in my lifetime) the right manager, the right long term cunning plan and a full healthy squad of committed players will find their way into St. James Park and our long un-fulfilled hopes and dreams are briefly realized.
As for Big Sammy’s departure: He may not have filled the now tiresome and unreasonable expectations of instant success but into the dustbin mid season is as ‘arry would say; “having a laugh”.
Sam may never have been Ashley’s pick but as a supposed successful businessman you would have thought a plan was crafted. Or, was Sam’s departure part of the plan?? Or, is all this comedy the ghostly doings of one Fat Freddy Shepherd?
Please; Do not let McClown anywhere near St. James Park and tell Mr. Shearer OMB (bow twice) to shut it instead of unsettling things behind the scenes.
The Toon Army blogs had it that Klinsi was European/Newcastle bound but somehow he jetted right over the Tyne. LOL!
Okay now, back to all you more vocal experts…….
More LOL!
The thing is that I believe Sam was the right manager for Newcastle. I think he gambled on some of the players he brought in... regardless, if he had stayed for 2-3 years I think he could have turned things around. It is really up to the club management to set the tune and Newcastle seems to have taken the mantle from Inter. I don't like Mancini that much, but I am gratefull that we have had a manager in place for over a year or two. Something that Newcastle desperately needs -consistency. And that is the word...
PS my writers are on strike, so I may come off a bit cocky...
Craigy:
There's no perhaps about it - Pato is going to start and the anticipation among Milan faithful has reached a fever pitch. San Siro is almost sold out following the news. Many of the Milan players interviewed have added to the hype by stating that he has been fantastic in training, and these are guys that shouldn't be easily impressed. All this is very unlike the Milan organization which is typically very restrained and subded, especially considerning this an 18-year-old kid who is relatively unknown and unproven. I must admit that I am intrigued, and if he can contribute to Milan's first home win of the season, well, that would be very positive for the club.
Mags4me: Commiserations mate. Newcastle need a epriod of managerial stability slightly more than they need a new backbone to the team. 16 managers at newcastle since 1962 while Liverpool have had that same number of managers since 1892.
All supporters can get beyond the realms of reality in their expectations and the pressures that puts on a club is in part why big sam got sacked. Whoever Ashley appoints, will need time and money to put things straight and be a character who can cope with pressure.
HOME DRAW
Bah Humbug and the same to you Verbal! :P
A lot depends on the personell, Arteta is back, Manny may play and Vaughn and Anichebe are chomping to start. Baines and Valente are back so Lescott can move into the centre, he has the pace to handle Bianchi Vassell or Castillo. Hibbert is pretty solid but will be hard pushed to totally contain Petrov. Your take on the Boro trip?
AC MILAN
Let's just hope that the hype is not too much for the young lad - by all accounts he was closeted and almost hidden at his old club. The SOuth American BBC reporter has an article about why he thinks Brazilians coming over to Europe should be allowed to mature a bit more; although I haven't read it yet.
VVV
FSC has?:-Catania - Juve (sat), Lazio - Genoa & Milan Napoli (sun). I'm almost most interested in the Lazio game. What games get you going?
ANEWFAN
C'mon Sam! Is this all you can do with your dole money? :)
Seriously - Big Sam was tops for the Trotters, got a lot from players who had been passed over or were getting on a bit. The lure of the big green @ Toon was too much, he wanted trophies.
Toon fans aren't delusional - a while ago Freddy Sheppard was publicly 'outed' for slagging them off. They almost reached the promised land under Kev ("I'd love it we beat them!") and maybe have unrealistic expectations. Delusional - no, no more than any other set of fans are delusional. Toon is unlike any other city I have been to, go out on a Saturday night after the game and if they have won the whole place is bouncing and fun - if they have lost be prepared to be get glassed
Last edited by craigy_f on January 11th at 8:09 PM.
MAGS4ME
What's your take on the possibility of 'arry wearing black and white?
Do you give yourself a shout at Old Trafford?
Ashley would be mad if he installed Shearer as the boss.
EPONYMOUS
The easiset way to get a huff from a Toon fan online is to ask which club Shearer won the Premier League with!
TRANSFERS
Do liverpool have the right defender now?
Will Anelka shine whilst wearing blue? At mid table Bolton and/or city he ####ed 'em in at a goal every two games in the Premier League.
I was surprised to hear that Newcastle hadn't won the league since 1927. Shades of the Chicago Cubs?
Newcastle hadn't done anything for years until Keegan took over. They were very exciting for a while. Remember Tino Asprilla? Scored a hat trick against Barce in the Champions League.
Yes, a win would be nice. I think it was last year that Micah Richards equalized with the last kick of the game. A couple of ex-blues returning to Goodison (Dunne and Ball). What was the deal with them? Something about too much partying and falling out with Walter Smith or cash flow problems?
Arteta and Manny Fernandes together again in midfield ... sublime.
Bobby neglected to mention that apart from two road wins in 63 away games to the four randomly-selected clubs he chose, the remaining 61 games were all either frustrating draws or moral victories.
As for Newcastle, I think it all went wrong for them when they didn't make proper use of Santiago Munez.
Hi Bobby, I believe that Newcastle did what was best for the club. I am not a big fan of the way long ball style of play because it is difficult to get your opponents to be onside and as a result they read your game and punish you for your tactics. I still question some of the signings he made during the summer especially with Alan smith. he played him out of his natural position and for bad boy Joey Barton, he should have known that it is only at Bolton before he would have changed Joey attitude and commitment to the game and make him play solid football. At Newcastle, the fans are used to winning and with the kind of players they have they should be in the top eight or ten.I hope they make good decisions this time around and signed a coach who I think will deliver the kind of entertaining football that has always been at St. James park. please make me to understand.
To those of you who knock the Geordies ,without having any real knowledge of such things ,know this...
The Geordies are the best supporters in the country!!
and know this also ,one day very soon Newcastle will get it right and will assume their rightful position as one of the big four/five.
I am looking forward to the Milan-Napoli match tomorrow for several reasons.
- Milan is the ONLY team in Serie A without a home win this season.
- Milan is 11 points out of a UCL spot with 3 matches in hand, so they must transform those 3 matches into 9 points starting now.
- Milan is behind all 3 newly promoted teams in the table which is unacceptable.
- I have fond memories of this great rivalry in the late 80's with Maradona, Van Basten, etc, and it really hasn't been as big as this since.
- After hearing what Ancelotti and some of the players are saying about Pato, yet given the facts about him, I absolutely cannot wait to see this kid play (from the first minute in his debut nonetheless!).
Most of the top half teams are playing each other this weekend in the Serie A, which should result in a few good matches, and hopefully some results which could benefit Milan, IF they can finally get a home win.
l really thought we were like 10 men out there walcott is poor and with vela coming through next season he might really be sold because, he is all pace and no technique, henry has plenty of it. in my book he should be in eboue's class ready for shipment
A little disappointing from Arsenal -- a bad switch off allows an equalizer and they really made Brum's job easier by forcing open a stacked middle rather than employing any width in their attack -- the one really good chance by Gallas came by spreading the play. Hopefully, the lesson is learned. Oh and well done to Brum -- they defended very well.
Rooney missed a couple of very makeable chances early on -- he needs to improve his finishing if he's going to be considered an elite striker.
henry14 told you Eboue was not that bad considering that we don't ve' a winger at least he does something with the ball. Walcott is a super sub who you bring in when def. are tired. Diaby should have started in place of Rosisky.
Walcott looks like is he getting worse, I really dont think he will become Arsenal standard, he does not seem to have developed at all since coming to the club. He has had 1 and 1/2 good games in an arsenal shirt, namely the 7-0 against Prague and CC final.
True but you've to remember he is only 18. If he can build his upper body and be able to hold the ball instead of trying flicks and out running everyone all the time. His pace is out of this world and Harry Redknapp said it best you can't teach pace.so give him time but Wenger shouldn't give him starts in the Epl he's not good enough sub usage is a better option.
Last edited by Gunner44 on January 12th at 11:06 AM.
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
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