Newcastle United 2015-2016: Pushing on? Or more of the same?

Blundatola

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So six months is not quite enough time to identify a manager, apparently.  Word today is that it's between Steve McClaren, Patrick Vieira(?!), and a mystery candidate.  Who knows what to make of that?
 
It also appears they will indeed be coming to America this pre-season, with the Brewers announcing a match between Club Atlas (Liga MX) and Newcastle on July 14th.  I will definitely be there, oddly optimistic after all these years.
 
What's in store this season?
 

teddykgb

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It's weird because I feel like there's a lot of talent on Newcastle.  I can't figure out why the mix doesn't work.  I love Sissoko as a player.  Cabella is plenty talented and Perez has opened some eyes in addition to a bunch of pretty good forwards.  Good stable of OK midfielders as well.  Don't love the back line, but I can't understand how this isn't a mid table team, I think it's scandalous that you were fighting on the last day.
 

Blundatola

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So this club is still planning to play football this season and have even managed to sign a player (welcome Gini!).  Nobody seems all that fired up about it right now, and rightfully so.  Newcastle are here in the US for preseason, though, and have been kind enough to come close enough for me to see them.  Looking forward to seeing the squad tomorrow in Milwaukee.  Anyone else planning to catch them while they're here?
 

Dummy Hoy

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That was a 'reserve squad' from Wednesday. Ugh.
 
As thrilled as I am with the win, I'm very empathetic...I have some knowledge in watching proud old clubs crumble. I hope you guys don't fall as far as Wednesday had. 
 

soxfan121

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I think we should fire the manager. Or at least talk about it. That's how you be a fan, right? When the team can't win, you post about what a shithead the manager is after every loss? OK, here goes...

Newcastle's Manager is terrible. Clearly has no plan, no sense of tactics, can't buy anyone worth spit, lets all the good players leave, never wins the league, makes out the lineup card blindfolded, is obviously a secret agent sent here to destroy the club, is far too fond of ________ and plays him despite everyone knowing that _______ sucks ass, doesn't give _____ enough run, botches the training sessions, can't coach tactics, uses players in the wrong positions, didn't buy a 3rd string defensive midfielder which everyone knows we've needed for years, did buy that guy who sucks - and paid too much for him, can't get the right formation out on the pitch because he's a certified moron, and once put his dick in a live pig's mouth. Allegedly. 

NM is ruining this club. NewMan has had time to get things straightened out but hasn't so we should absolutely fire him now. This latest defeat is definitely the low point of my fandom, as well as the worst loss in club history, and possibly the loss that defines losing, because that's what NeMa is - a loser. Why hasn't he been fired yet? Do you think we could get that Klopp guy? He seems suitably intense, because these guys aren't gonna motivate themselves and NewkLaLoosh can't do it - he's fucking helpless. Maybe we should just get Alan Shearer. I hear he's available and maybe he can teach these guys to put the ball in the net, or get in the right positions, or maybe even just line up correctly and not drool on themselves. This is embarrassing. We haven't won a game in like forever and it is all NewcasMang's fault. If he were just better at deploying his players better, they'd play better and we'd win. They say coaches lose games - well this fucking guy is great at losing games. 

Maybe Newcastle Manager should be forced to wear a clown suit or a uniform or something on the sidelines. I like coaches who rock the track suit and look like footy experts. A good name wouldn't hurt either - Newcastle Manager is as boring and lifeless sounding as his coaching style. If he drew up the plays better, maybe all these great players we have wouldn't suck. It is totally his fault for putting them in these positions. Clearly, not buying a world class player during Ramadan was a mistake, one NM will not soon live down. He's clueless in the transfer market and all the good players I've read about never look good when I watch them play, so they must not be coached correctly, or maybe they just suck - either way, it's the gaffer's fault. 

Let's fire Newcastle Manager. Do you think Carlo Ancelotti would raise his eyebrow if we threw a pile of money at him?
 

fletcherpost

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I just listened to a short footie podcast and the reporter said that Sheffield Wednesday played a second string team, made ten changes from the last league match cos they were prioritising Brentford at the weekend.  I've never liked McClaren and i firmly believe my reasoning is sound. I hate his hair. It's the worst in top tier football mangement and has been for ages . It's a disgrace to the sport and to his family and the starving men and women of Greece.
 

Infield Infidel

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I don't even want to think where this team would be without Wijnaldum. He's got a lot of class

This was easily the hardest I've seen them play all season. The talent's there but fire hasn't really been there. Lucky on that offside call, except for the Norwich match they've fallen apart after the other team scores.
 

Infield Infidel

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They totally farted away a win today. Mitrovic is not good. He's young, so he'll get better, but he's missed so many point blank shots this season it's insane. He should have ~5 goals this season.

Can't wait for Cisse to get healthy.
 

sachmoney

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Not sure what Newcastle wanted to do today. I felt like after the first 10 or so, they had a chance to take control, and kind of did, but were also reluctant to commit to winning. Lots of passing along the back line and their keeper, as usual against Arsenal, stalled like crazy. Makes no sense. They wasted a tremendous performance from Colback/Tiote in the midfield.
 

Infield Infidel

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So McClaren isn't good at making a subs list. Obviously, no one anticipates injuries to starting CB and LB, but listing 3 forwards, 2 CBs, a winger and GK isn't preparing for the worst. No CMs, DMs, or FB on the bench. What? Since there was no FB on the bench, so he had to play Aarons, an offensively minded winger at LB. so the defense falls apart. Haidara, who played a lot at LB last season can't even get on the subs list. EDIT Haidara's injured too. we basically have no one to play LB.

McClaren also subbed in Lascelles, who got the second penalty, instead of Taylor. I know Taylor ain't great shakes but Everton is too good for a green player like Lascelles.

Also, Mitrovic missed another gimme.
 
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Seven Costanza

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McClaren officially put out to pasture. Benitez appointment expected shortly. What an incredible get that would be.
 

Blundatola

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From the article @SoxFanInCali shared:

Since the Premier League was founded eight teams have changed their manager in March, April or May and all eight have been relegated.
Gulp. Not that it matters. I've already accepted that we're going down unless we can finally win a derby.
 

Seven Costanza

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Benitez confirmed.

Wow. I've got to imagine Raineri's success at Leicester this year had something to do with this.
 
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Vinho Tinto

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Benitez has had several high profile flops, but he's a good manager and a coup to land when fighting for survival. He's committed to the club even if they get relegated, which is very good for Newcastle.
 

Infield Infidel

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there are conflicting reports about a relegation out-clause, i'm guessing we'll see on that. Honestly I'm fine either way. It's a complete rebuild anyway if we go down, and the players don't have relegation clauses so it's now or never financially

From the article @SoxFanInCali shared:

Gulp. Not that it matters. I've already accepted that we're going down unless we can finally win a derby.
could you repost the link? is that just teams in the relegation zone? If it's all teams, that's not correct, ManU fired Moyes in April

anyway, staying up will be at least 36 points, basically need minimum 12 points from 10 (including a game in hand), and probably 6+ points out of 3 matches against the other relegation fodder (Mackems, at Norwich, at Villa). At least there's a game in hand and head-to-heads against all direct competition

this team has talent but no direction, ideally Rafa can point them in the right direction. Or else the defense will keep sucking.
 
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Infield Infidel

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Optimistically*, City will have a fixture crunch with CL matches and play their C-team against us. ;)

*today is the first time I've been optimistic about this team since like 2012. is this real life?
 

Seven Costanza

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Tyne- Wear derby next week is going to be absolutely bonkers. Rafa and Big Sam are not fans of each other, factor in the last couple of years' results in this fixture, the relegation implications... going to be even more insane than usual.
 

Blundatola

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could you repost the link? is that just teams in the relegation zone? If it's all teams, that's not correct, ManU fired Moyes in April
Here's the link. The part I quoted is all they offer. You must be correct, though, that it only refers to teams that were in the relegation zone when the manager change was made.

I'll be stunned if he doesn't have an relegation out clause, but I saw something on twitter from some journalist I can't recall that seemed to indicate he was looking for a long-term project so maybe he really will stick out three years no matter what.
 

fletcherpost

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35784544

"The Spaniard, 55, has signed a three-year contract, which is understood to contain a break clause should Newcastle be relegated at the end of the season"

"It will be a challenge not just for me and my staff but for the players, the club and the fans.

"All of us must push together in the same direction and with the same target in mind. This is the reason why I'm going to ask for your total support to successfully complete this task."
 

Joe D Reid

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I look forward to watching him pull on the sportsdirect.com-emblzoned track suit.
 
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Benitez or no, Newcastle are running pretty even with LCFC and certainly don't have the look of a club about to go down. Sunday's derby will be fairly decisive if there's a winner (to state the obvious), but I'm surprised that Sunderland is so favored... 12/5 last I looked.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Newcastle seemed denied a pretty clear penalty late -- a point there would have been pretty important to their fight to stay up (and for Spurs). The little moments on which seasons can turn, I guess.
 

fletcherpost

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Seemed like a totally different side tonight. Leicester not at their best, but still, Newcastle showed signs of life. They worked hard, and probably deserved something from the game. But they need to keep it going and create more clear cut chances.
 

fletcherpost

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Defoe scores just before the half time break with a well taken volley from about 8 yards out. Sunderland were on the attack, goal mouth action, rebound falls to Defoe, right place right time...back of the net.

Newcastle were better on Monday v Leicester...at home, in a must win match versus their sworn local enemies they've been poor.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Who knows watching on tv, but it seemed like Rafa kept the team calm, managed without panic to the end and helped his team put itself in position for a result where you could see teams in that spot folding up in the home pressure atmosphere. I don't know the first thing about what makes a good manager, but you never got the feeling that the moment was anything close to too big for him today.

Also, the game seemed too intense for Martin Atkinson at times.
 

Infield Infidel

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Damn I love Gini Wijnaldum, that was a masterful dink. Just high enough that the keeper could touch it, and then after it reached its peak it dropped like an anvil onto Mitrovic's noggin
 

fletcherpost

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They need more craft and guile and confidence going forwards. Rafa has them more organised so i expect they will concede less, so now need to get it sorted at the other end.
 

soxfan121

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I blame myself. Can't even blame the manager anymore. The team has been terrible since I started rooting for them.
 

fletcherpost

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I blame myself. Can't even blame the manager anymore. The team has been terrible since I started rooting for them.
The green shoots of a viable exit strategy. 'He did it for the team." "And now he roots for Scunthorpe" "Oh, i saw him in a Fabregas shirt." "Aye, but have you checked the Toon's results of late, i tell thee, he did it for the team." "And lo, he was absolved."
 

soxfan121

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The green shoots of a viable exit strategy. 'He did it for the team." "And now he roots for Scunthorpe" "Oh, i saw him in a Fabregas shirt." "Aye, but have you checked the Toon's results of late, i tell thee, he did it for the team." "And lo, he was absolved."
I won't be jumping ship. I'm not gonna be one of those knobs who just finds a new club up the table and pretends this never happened. Nor am I going to rooting for Scunthorpe - I dunno where that fucking place is and I don't care.

Still, hard not to feel like it's all been downhill since I jumped on the bandwagon. Ever since the heady days of Pardew Out...it's been just a miserable string of Saturdays.

We'll be back up after a year of kicking ass in the Championship, eh?
 

Infield Infidel

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A shitty owner is a perfectly justifiable reason to jump ship. Just don't go to a big side. I can't because my I have a couple Geordie friends but I'm entirely jealous of fans of Everton, Spurs, Saints, Swansea, West Ham, etc., to say nothing of freaking Leicester. Repeated relegation fights teasingly rip the sports guts out of you. At least we'll win some games next season

Frankly, I might just do what I've done since the Sonics left and just watch other teams dispassionately.

Edit: I'm not sure what's worse, my NBA team not existing or my EPL team being owned by Mike Ashley. I only started watching more Newcastle matches because I didn't have NBA to watch in the winter.
 
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Infield Infidel

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Lascelles is green as hell and might never be starter quality in PL but he gives way more of a shit than guys making 5-10 times what he's making. Glad someone in the locker room is trying to hold players accountable

Also Shelvey says he's not a vocal leader as captain. IMHO it should be someone else like Anita or maybe Colback
 

Infield Infidel

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This team has actually played well the last three, win over Swansea, draws v City and Liverpool. I'm most impressed by the defending during the last 20 minutes, Liverpool had a lot of the ball and they held firm. (And really the City match should have been a win since Aguero was super offside on his goal. Those two points might be the difference between staying up and relegation.)

I honestly had them getting three points max in this stretch, so 5 is amazing. A wonder what good players can do with a good manager
 

Infield Infidel

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Twas a nice run but, can't believe they couldn't get evenone goal at Villa. Can't rely on the Evertons and Chelseas, sides that plainly don't give a crap at this point of the season. We really needed three points today. Sunderland sending us down this week would just add to the ignominy.

It has been nice to have a quality manager.
 

Gunfighter 09

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If City beats Arsenal or Spurs beat Southhampton tomorrow, Tottenham will have nothing to play for next week. If Sunderland fails to end it midweek, tomorrow's games could have a big impact on whether or not Newcastle stays up.
 

Joe D Reid

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Maybe they'll bring back the peaches 'n' piss kit next year.