It’s Newcastle tradition, they will never learn! Back in 1997, after King Kev departed, Kenny Dalglish was thrown into the hot seat, he was shown the door after a year in charge. And so it began. Gullit was next up, playing sexy football and lasting a year. Next contestant was Sir Bobby Robson who finally managed to turn it around.
Robson managed to turn a team who were fighting relegation into title contenders, finishing fourth and third in the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons respectively. Meaning qualification into the Champions League. Something they are way way away from ever achieving these days.
However, Sir Bobby couldn’t build on the success, being eliminated from the Champions League in the group stages in 2003 and only managing fifth place due to the resurgence of Liverpool. Bobby was sacked, and since then things have gotten a lot worse.
Souness was up next and he managed nearly 2 whole seasons in charge! He was sacked in February 2006. Behind him in the queue was Glen Roeder, who did well at first but once given a full season had possibly the worst luck a manager has ever had, sustaining massive injuries to his senior squad and having to replace them with the youth team. He was out before the 2006-2007 season was even wrapped up.
It was Sam Allardyce who was given the opportunity at a ‘big’ club next. He left Bolton Wanderers to become Newcastle’s fourth manager of the new millennium. Now Bolton are the bigger club, funny how things change. Big Sam lasted what seems like twenty minutes and was sacked by new owner Mike Ashley.
Ah, Mike Ashley, he loves Newcastle apparently. God knows why he’s made it is sole ambition to destroy the club from the inside then. Ever since he’s walked in, with his Newcastle replica kit instead of the usual owner attire (suit and ushanka), Newcastle have been a joke club, not just to Sunderland fans but to everyone.
Ashley took over the club in June 2007. Since then he has had five different managers. None more notable that the return of King Kev! Yes, after eleven years and six managers, Keegan returned much to the delight of the Toon army. But if Alardyce lasted just twenty minutes, Keegan’s return lasted a mere fifteen. He was out before you could say Peter Lovenkrands, criticising the board and doing what Kevin Keegan does best: quitting.
After Keegan, Ashley seemed out of ideas and randomly brought in Joe Kinnear to finish the season off. Luckily for Kinnear and his health he left the club due to heart troubles. Who should have replaced him but Newcastle legend Alan Shearer. Fresh from his eagle eye duties on Match of the Day, Shearer came in to attempt to keep Newcastle in the league while Kinnear was undergoing surgery. Shearer failed, as anyone would have, and Newcastle were relegated into the Championship thanks to an own goal by Damien Duff. Such a fitting way for them to be relegated. All of their problems are their own doing.
After relegation Ashley finally gave in to the massive protests by the fans and put the club up for sale, stating: “It has been catastrophic for everybody. I’ve lost my money and I’ve made terrible decisions. Now I want to sell it as soon as I can.” But of course nobody bought them and they were left in the Championship with no one having a clue what was going on. There’s a theme emerging here. Nobody has a clue what is going on; me, the fans, the players, the managers, the owners, God himself. No one knows.
Last season Newcastle had a good year, Shearer wasn’t given a new contract, in fact I don’t think he was even spoken to afterwards. Chris Hughton stood in as manager and eventually took the role permanently guiding the Toon to the top of the table and right back into the Premier League. His reward? Nothing. No assurances, no new contract, no transfer spends, no nothing. Instead there’s just been a cloud parked precariously over St James’ Park, sorry SportsDirect.com@St James’ Park, and credit to Hughton, he just got on with it.
And got on with it he did, his Premier League record this season is: won 5, drawn 4, lost 7, with his highlights being a win over Arsenal at the Emirates and getting a point against Chelsea. Not to mention the 6-0 hammering of Aston Villa and eliminating Chelsea from the Carling Cup, at Stamford bridge I might add. Not bad for a newly promoted club.
But now he’s been sacked. Newcastle want a more ‘experienced’ manager to take them forward. They‘re currently sitting pretty in 12th, but cracks are already appearing. Sol Campbell, probably the most senior figure in the Newcastle dressing room, has already come out and said it was a shock to the players and that it will have a negative effect on them:
“Chris is such a lovely guy. Top man. This will hit the players hard. The players admired him, and liked him, and won't be happy now he's gone like this. The players are sure to be asking themselves ‘what the hell is going on?’”
I hope Hughton goes on to bigger and better things, he should do, he’s a quality manager. As for Newcastle, I hope they get relegated.
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