Wallace

I wonder if by letting the media know that McClaren was their man a few days before it is actually confirmed was to allow the reduce the immediate negative reaction. That has now had a few days to die down and people have got used to the idea whether they like it or not.

We made it look like we were desperate for McClaren - it was him and no-one else. I would have thought that would have given him some advantage in the negotiations so I would hope that would mean he could bring in his own staff.

If Clark knows how Newcastle work, he will be angling for a coaching job because of the policy to promote from within where possible.

So that means the board comprises of just Charnley? It takes us months to replace people so I wonder when they will get around to appointing the new directors.

Oh great another player who will spend more time in the treatment room than on the pitch.

Not a chance. As if anyone would be stupid enough to be bought off and get back into bed with Ashley because we have him as manager Unfortunately there'll be thousands of the morons. Not without proper investment in the squad. The crowds were already starting to dip below 50k, I don't think they'll come back on the back of hiring McClaren. Last season they were still including season ticket holders in the attendances even if they didn't turn up so those people will not be there next season. I reckon attendances will only be boosted if the team are doing well. Play like they did last season and they will continue to fall.

Trust me. I've no intention of hyping up McClaren. Just trying to provide balance. McClaren might not be as excruciating as some think. Ultimately, the club will fail because of Ashley. Again, I would have been pleased had he came in within a month of Pardew leaving, but not now. He's nowt special, and his record isn't going to convince me otherwise. I have slight hope of an improvement in the playing side of things, due to how many players and managers rate his coaching abilities. I have also read the Derby forums and tbh, some say he's turned them from around a 15th and below placed team, to comfortable top 10, whilst playing the best football they have seen since 2007 (am assuming this was their last promotion). Some are gutted he's gone and say he should have been given a 3rd season. And that the speculation surrounding him due to us courting him, along with losing some decent players to injury, ultimately hampered there promotion push. But they still wanted him to stay another season. Others say although he got them playing good football, the fact he never 100% denied our interest our his intention to move, cost them promotion and for that, he deserved the sack. Either way, they almost all agree the football got better. Which is something we can look forward to. However we could have looked forward to better football and a new innovative manager who wanted to prove his worth and push us up a level, and embed us solidly into the top half for good. It's still a missed opportunity for me and others though. And Schteve is the epitome of everything Ashley wants. Subdued hope and belief and an acceptance of mediocrity. I'm not convinced he will have us playing good football. The Premier League for most clubs these days is all about fear of failure so I can see him reverting to negative football as he has done in the past. It will all be about keeping us in the Premier League.

Unless the club change the way they pay for transfers, I can't see things changing too much. Whilst it is admirable to pay the transfer fee for a player up front, if no-one else is doing it then it puts us at a disadvantage. For example, we could never afford to sign Lukaku like Everton because that would clear our budget in one go and we are supposed to be a in stronger position financially to Everton. That would not be a problem if the club had managed to get us into a position where we just needed one or two signings but we constantly need to overhaul the squad and need to buy several players and when you factor in that we include wages, then £50m is not going to get you very far.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-confirm-steve-mcclaren-9399569 "Speaking in France, Moussa Sissoko said he was “happy” for McClaren – who he will be working with next season. “I don’t know anything about Steve McClaren but I’m happy for him,” he said." So I guess McClaren will not be a great draw to prospective signings.

They keep saying that he knows North East football so he should know if he wants a chance, he will need to play good football.

Wishful thinking imo, considering he was meant to have hailed Derby's performances as fantastic no matter how good or bad they were and regardless of the result. I've said it before, but after four years I wouldn't be surprised if McClaren was hated as much as Pardew. Either that or he will have been let go for not being sufficiently abnoxious. Did the same at Boro. Always said they were magnificent no matter how bad they were.

Allardyce wants some time out. So if Sunderland follow their normal pattern of bringing in a manager to save them from relegation when the previous saviour starts failing, Allardyce will be ready to step in.

Well that is not good when he is supposed to be developing players. Can see a club like Villa getting Bamford.

His career is already ruined man. What other Premier League aiming for top of the table would even consider having him? Not a top club, but he could work for someone like West Ham. West Ham and Sunderland are currently looking and are totally ignoring him. In the past year or so Palace(twice), WBA, Villa, Swansea etc all changed managers without ever considering him. Thats quite telling for all the wonderful reviews we get from Debry fans. Exactly. Managing a "successful" Championship club does not mean you can manage a Premier League club. I just can't see us achieving the glory of a top 10 finish when every other club is being more ambitious with their managerial appointments and player recruitment.

The constant references to Geordie this and that is embarrassing. It just promotes the belief that we are very insular and resent all outsiders. Ryder is hugely culpable for that.

Derby probably wouldn't want to do business with us because of McClaren and their belief that our interest back in January wrecked their promotion chances.

There was so much hype about him at one stage - seemed as if everyone was after him - but never gets mentioned these days.

I thought it was well known he was friends with Carr not 100% on carver? If that's not the case why would we approach Mcclaren and not the 7 managers that finished above him in the championship?not that I'd want any of them apart from possibly Howe We shouldn't be recruiting a manager from the championship unless they performed incredible Derby certainly did not! I recall several mentions of McClaren visiting the training ground when he was out of work so I guess he will know Carver a little at least.

The one thing he is concerned about is playing for France in the Euros next year and he needs to play. He knows that Pardew is absolutely obsessed with him and will build the team around him. Other managers might say he will get regular game time but he will know that Pardew guarantees that. But I so hope this doesn't happen.

He likes a pay off though and Ashley doesn't like paying managers off so if it wasn't working out, he would probably continue in an unhappy unrelationship like Pardew did.

It is obvious we are desperate to get him because we keep going back so I imagine that would give him reason to believe he could make some demands. On that basis, I would think it is conceivable that he would want to bring in people like Bill Beswick and maybe Steve Round as he normally takes them everywhere.

He was still employed by us when Everton approached us to take him to Everton.

Will they be getting all that money paid now or is it paid in instalments over the season?

The club are probably just keeping his name out there so people will be relieved when McClaren is appointed instead.

We're all quick to shoot the guy down because we think we should aim higher, while Ashley's here (and let's be honest it will be for a f***ing while) we're not likely to. By the sounds of their fans, they've been playing good football. With the players we've signed over the last few years all we've wanted is someone who can get them to play, and McClaren has managed abroad, he's not your typical British manager, like Pardew for instance. I'm confident that McClaren will play our better players and get them playing well. Who knows how good we could be until he's had half a season or so with them? Time will tell, but to be moaning like f*** already is a bit melodramatic. Of course it's not inspiring but what should we, realistically, expect? But that was in the Championship and often teams are more successful in that division by being more attacking than defensive. He is a "safe" manager and I wouldn't be surprised to see him adopt a more pragmatic style here - after all avoiding relegation is the only criteria from the club and he won't want to take risks. I don't recall Boro being known for their attractive football in his only previous Premier League job.