Steve McClaren

[Collage]

Yeah, I agree, kind of. We've been poor so far but it would be daft to expect an instant turnaround. It can't go on like this much longer though, obviously. We need a couple of good results ASAP.

[mrmojorisin75]

What concerns me about him is how much he's getting wrong this early on. Usually a new manager comes in and can see most of the issues at a club, then changes things in order to rectify it. You might go through some bad times while everyone readjusts but you feel like you're heading in the right direction.

 

We most definitely feel like we're heading in the right direction atm, indeed any direction, and all the while he's fucking up selections, formations and tactics literally every single game.

[STM]

What concerns me about him is how much he's getting wrong this early on. Usually a new manager comes in and can see most of the issues at a club, then changes things in order to rectify it. You might go through some bad times while everyone readjusts but you feel like you're heading in the right direction.

 

We most definitely feel like we're heading in the right direction atm, indeed any direction, and all the while he's fucking up selections, formations and tactics literally every single game.

 

I just don't see this. Does the modern day football fan expect a manager to pick exactly the side he wants, player for player?

 

We have lost, therefore any defence of the manager is futile but it's worth pointing out that we had a far better 11 on paper than Watford and probably a better one than West Ham.

 

I've seen little wrong with team selections or tactics. Motivation or discipline perhaps but our selections have been ok.

 

There's more to it, leadership is our biggest problem.

[mrmojorisin75]

What concerns me about him is how much he's getting wrong this early on. Usually a new manager comes in and can see most of the issues at a club, then changes things in order to rectify it. You might go through some bad times while everyone readjusts but you feel like you're heading in the right direction.

 

We most definitely feel like we're heading in the right direction atm, indeed any direction, and all the while he's fucking up selections, formations and tactics literally every single game.

 

I just don't see this. Does the modern day football fan expect a manager to pick exactly the side he wants, player for player?

 

We have lost, therefore any defence of the manager is futile but it's worth pointing out that we had a far better 11 on paper than Watford and probably a better one than West Ham.

 

I've seen little wrong with team selections or tactics. Motivation or discipline perhaps but our selections have been ok.

 

There's more to it, leadership is our biggest problem.

Hm, it's a question that can't be answered really. Are things not working because of who is in the side, who is not in the side, or because there are deep rooted motivational and disciplinary issues in the club?

 

Even if it's the latter he's still getting it wrong imo in continuing to pick the same chumps week in week out.

 

Of course no one expects the manager to pick 'their' side but we're approaching game 7 in the league today and McLaren still isn't automatically starting Perez for instance. Literally everyone else knows Perez has to start.

[TRon]

Yeah, I agree, kind of. We've been poor so far but it would be daft to expect an instant turnaround. It can't go on like this much longer though, obviously. We need a couple of good results ASAP.

What concerns me isn't so much the results or formations, more the lack of fight or urgency shown by a lot of the players so far. They don't exactly look like that are going to run through brick walls for him.

 

[STM]

What concerns me about him is how much he's getting wrong this early on. Usually a new manager comes in and can see most of the issues at a club, then changes things in order to rectify it. You might go through some bad times while everyone readjusts but you feel like you're heading in the right direction.

 

We most definitely feel like we're heading in the right direction atm, indeed any direction, and all the while he's fucking up selections, formations and tactics literally every single game.

 

I just don't see this. Does the modern day football fan expect a manager to pick exactly the side he wants, player for player?

 

We have lost, therefore any defence of the manager is futile but it's worth pointing out that we had a far better 11 on paper than Watford and probably a better one than West Ham.

 

I've seen little wrong with team selections or tactics. Motivation or discipline perhaps but our selections have been ok.

 

There's more to it, leadership is our biggest problem.

Hm, it's a question that can't be answered really. Are things not working because of who is in the side, who is not in the side, or because there are deep rooted motivational and disciplinary issues in the club?

 

Even if it's the latter he's still getting it wrong imo in continuing to pick the same chumps week in week out.

 

Of course no one expects the manager to pick 'their' side but we're approaching game 7 in the league today and McLaren still isn't automatically starting Perez for instance. Literally everyone else knows Perez has to start.

 

Fair play on Perez and Colback who is the weakest link IMO. However I believe his team selections have been fine. We have also tried to pass it around, which is encouraging.

 

As you say, his biggest mistake is sticking with the personalities who are letting him down. The first two being Cisse and Sissoko.

 

Give Janmaat the armband and put De Jong on the pitch who is prepared to talk.

 

I like McClaren, I won't deny it. He and his coaching staff are honest and trying to do the right things. I think he needs to be harder on the players.

[mrmojorisin75]

What concerns me about him is how much he's getting wrong this early on. Usually a new manager comes in and can see most of the issues at a club, then changes things in order to rectify it. You might go through some bad times while everyone readjusts but you feel like you're heading in the right direction.

 

We most definitely feel like we're heading in the right direction atm, indeed any direction, and all the while he's fucking up selections, formations and tactics literally every single game.

 

I just don't see this. Does the modern day football fan expect a manager to pick exactly the side he wants, player for player?

 

We have lost, therefore any defence of the manager is futile but it's worth pointing out that we had a far better 11 on paper than Watford and probably a better one than West Ham.

 

I've seen little wrong with team selections or tactics. Motivation or discipline perhaps but our selections have been ok.

 

There's more to it, leadership is our biggest problem.

Hm, it's a question that can't be answered really. Are things not working because of who is in the side, who is not in the side, or because there are deep rooted motivational and disciplinary issues in the club?

 

Even if it's the latter he's still getting it wrong imo in continuing to pick the same chumps week in week out.

 

Of course no one expects the manager to pick 'their' side but we're approaching game 7 in the league today and McLaren still isn't automatically starting Perez for instance. Literally everyone else knows Perez has to start.

 

Fair play on Perez and Colback who is the weakest link IMO. However I believe his team selections have been fine. We have also tried to pass it around, which is encouraging.

 

As you say, his biggest mistake is sticking with the personalities who are letting him down. The first two being Cisse and Sissoko.

 

Give Janmaat the armband and put De Jong on the pitch who is prepared to talk.

 

I like McClaren, I won't deny it. He and his coaching staff are honest and trying to do the right things. I think he needs to be harder on the players.

Aye hopefully something clicks when Mitrovic gets some games under his belt. Best will in the world we're probably losing the next two so it's all about what comes after that.

 

Hopefully we can spend the next two games creating some chances, maybe even scoring some of them. Imagine.

[Dr Venkman]

I've not given up hope either, but I do agree with those pointing at his early exits from other clubs and that it might be the same case here. It's a pretty hefty rebuilding job he's got on his hands, and what are we looking forward to at the end of it? A team capable of challenging for 6th but always one sale away from collapse? Just doesn't seem worth the bother anymore.

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I haven't given up hope in McClaren, but i gave up hope in NUFC quite a while ago.

[Guest neesy111]

What concerns me about him is how much he's getting wrong this early on. Usually a new manager comes in and can see most of the issues at a club, then changes things in order to rectify it. You might go through some bad times while everyone readjusts but you feel like you're heading in the right direction.

 

We most definitely feel like we're heading in the right direction atm, indeed any direction, and all the while he's fucking up selections, formations and tactics literally every single game.

 

I just don't see this. Does the modern day football fan expect a manager to pick exactly the side he wants, player for player?

 

We have lost, therefore any defence of the manager is futile but it's worth pointing out that we had a far better 11 on paper than Watford and probably a better one than West Ham.

 

I've seen little wrong with team selections or tactics. Motivation or discipline perhaps but our selections have been ok.

 

There's more to it, leadership is our biggest problem.

Hm, it's a question that can't be answered really. Are things not working because of who is in the side, who is not in the side, or because there are deep rooted motivational and disciplinary issues in the club?

 

Even if it's the latter he's still getting it wrong imo in continuing to pick the same chumps week in week out.

 

Of course no one expects the manager to pick 'their' side but we're approaching game 7 in the league today and McLaren still isn't automatically starting Perez for instance. Literally everyone else knows Perez has to start.

 

Fair play on Perez and Colback who is the weakest link IMO. However I believe his team selections have been fine. We have also tried to pass it around, which is encouraging.

 

As you say, his biggest mistake is sticking with the personalities who are letting him down. The first two being Cisse and Sissoko.

 

Give Janmaat the armband and put De Jong on the pitch who is prepared to talk.

 

I like McClaren, I won't deny it. He and his coaching staff are honest and trying to do the right things. I think he needs to be harder on the players.

 

The tactics are absolutely woeful to compete in the PL, it takes minutes for us to build an attack at times.  Until that changes, we'll be piss easy to defend against.

[Hanshithispantz]

Our squad is shite but any manager who willingly chooses Obertan over Perez 3 games in a row and was led to believe Anita and Colback was his best midfield is clearly inexcusably disturbed. As for tactics I'm not even sure, what he's trying isn't working and we lack the players for it.

[Gallowgate Toon]

He used Obertan for genuine width in the system, tbf, and we don't know what fitness was like at the beginning of the season. I think he also came in and tried to foster a culture of belief and a clean slate, probably rewarding the best trainers at first.

 

Like Yorkie said a while back, I could understand Colback-Anita as a tactic to allow fullbacks to get forward more and protect our central defence. He'll have seen the final game of last season and thought they could handle it but has now probably seen their real level.

 

The build up is an issue but I don't think it's something purely tactical. More a confidence thing and something that wouldn't come as quickly. I think he wants to keep the ball and be intelligent when we need to speed play up, in part to somewhat protect us.

[Hanshithispantz]

He used Obertan for genuine width in the system, tbf

Yet he neglected (and continues to neglect) to play Aarons. There was absolutely no excuse for playing Obertan like.

[Altamullan]

Seems to me that it's always tempting to attribute simple solutions to complex problems. Getting the right (enough...) collection of players, playing in the right (enough...) system, motivated in the right way, to compete on one of the biggest stages in world sport isn't simple. Throw in all the political fall-out from Cashley, and the understandably  short 'despondency-fuse' we all have after last season(s), and the problem faced is an impressively wicked layer cake of sh*t. I believe that we have a better manager and back room staff than we have had recently. I believe they have a viable 'philosophy'. I hope they have the balls to hold the line, I also hope the players and us fans follow suit.

[mrmojorisin75]

He used Obertan for genuine width in the system, tbf

Yet he neglected (and continues to neglect) to play Aarons. There was absolutely no excuse for playing Obertan like.

It's incredible stuff really.

[Gallowgate Toon]

Aarons has just come back from a serious injury (they don't seem to want to rush players, like de Jong) and something appears to be amiss behind the scenes.

[mrmojorisin75]

Aarons has just come back from a serious injury (they don't seem to want to rush players, like de Jong) and something appears to be amiss behind the scenes.

 

I think we all understand that but these decisions only become validated if we win football matches, which we've not done.

 

I always think back to him saying he spoke to fans so he knows what people are saying about the players.

 

Wonder who he spoke to about Colo, Colback, Gouffran, Obertan etc.?  It was probably fucking Carver.

[B-more Mag]

I don't think McClaren is an idiot. I'm sure he has reasons that make sense to him for doing what he's doing. But I'd expect to see more progress than we've seen, and I think we have every right to be impatient at this point. Perhaps a bit "unfair" to McClaren, but he took this on and we didn't ask for him, so I'm not going to feel sorry.

[Gallowgate Toon]

Aarons has just come back from a serious injury (they don't seem to want to rush players, like de Jong) and something appears to be amiss behind the scenes.

 

I think we all understand that but these decisions only become validated if we win football matches, which we've not done.

 

I always think back to him saying he spoke to fans so he knows what people are saying about the players.

 

Wonder who he spoke to about Colo, Colback, Gouffran, Obertan etc.?  It was probably f***ing Carver.

 

Well he's tried other options and dropped Obertan pretty sharp, plus I'm sure the new multimillion pound winger they've signed will have had to be played. If he chopped and changed too much, there'd be no chance to get continuity and he'd be criticised for that.

 

There's also the option that Aarons might not be any good. James McClean looked great for 6 games and was quickly found out. I'm sure if he was brilliant, we'd have seen him more.

[GM]

I don't think McClaren is an idiot.

 

Having seen this pic of him, I'm not so sure.

 

http://4c2lgc59e181vuma1n9bmo1c.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/assets/steve-mcclaren-derby-newcastle-united-nufc-650x400.jpghttp://images.sodahead.com/polls/003306579/4435360107_cliffhangerI2_xlarge.png

 

[move]Some Magpies Do 'Ave 'Em[/move]

[mrmojorisin75]

Aarons has just come back from a serious injury (they don't seem to want to rush players, like de Jong) and something appears to be amiss behind the scenes.

 

I think we all understand that but these decisions only become validated if we win football matches, which we've not done.

 

I always think back to him saying he spoke to fans so he knows what people are saying about the players.

 

Wonder who he spoke to about Colo, Colback, Gouffran, Obertan etc.?  It was probably f***ing Carver.

 

Well he's tried other options and dropped Obertan pretty sharp, plus I'm sure the new multimillion pound winger they've signed will have had to be played. If he chopped and changed too much, there'd be no chance to get continuity and he'd be criticised for that.

 

There's also the option that Aarons might not be any good. James McClean looked great for 6 games and was quickly found out. I'm sure if he was brilliant, we'd have seen him more.

 

Well, we've certainly got continuity

[Altamullan]

I don't think McClaren is an idiot.

 

 

[move]Some Magpies Do 'Ave 'Em[/move]

 

  Funny as...

[Hanshithispantz]

I'm sure if he was brilliant, we'd have seen him more.

 

Howay man GT, I get what you're saying with the rest, but we'll never know this if he doesn't play. It's the same sort of argument that was used when Mbiwa, Ben Arfa and Marveaux weren't playing, Abeid too.

 

I think it's pretty obvious he's better than Obertan too.

[timeEd32]

To be fair, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but our best performances this season came with Obertan in the side.

 

I'm not suggesting he's the reason or that he should come back in the team, but it's a hard thing to hold over McClaren right now, particularly if Aaron's has some attitude issues.

[Hanshithispantz]

I don't think the Obertan selection made us horrible or anything like, I just think it was a poor decision regardless of results/performances in hindsight. The same with the Tiote sub at Man U, we held on for a draw but that doesn't mean I think the substitution was good, I though it was absolutely disgusting and stand by it.

 

I doubt we'd have faired much better going with a different midfield to Colback & Anita either tbh, I still think it's a bad sign he was picking them both though.

[Gallowgate Toon]

I'm sure if he was brilliant, we'd have seen him more.

 

Howay man GT, I get what you're saying with the rest, but we'll never know this if he doesn't play. It's the same sort of argument that was used when Mbiwa, Ben Arfa and Marveaux weren't playing, Abeid too.

 

I think it's pretty obvious he's better than Obertan too.

 

I agree and think that's a pretty unlikely scenario, like, and he does need more time. I'm just sure there's some genuine justification for him not playing and am putting a few ideas out there.

 

He probably is better than Obertan, much better, but I imagine after so long out they didn't want to chuck him in at the beginning of the season and chose to build him back up, instead, just like what we're doing with de Jong.