Steve McClaren

[The College Dropout]

They got into dangerous positions, in behind our fullbacks, able to put balls across the 6 yard box way more imo. It was down to a lack of quality, an extra touch, a poor final ball that let them down. We played tippy tappy stuff in front of the defences. We play a slow tempo which lets teams get in good defensive positions behind the ball.

 

Also tactically Howe got our lot with ease. Seemed to target our fullbacks and got plenty of joy and knew an extra midfielder would cause unbelievable havoc against our lot.

[Guest ElCid]

They're a good team, we're not.

 

If they were a good team they would have scored five today. They are a well organised, hard working championship team. I like their style, which I put down to their manager, but they don't have good players.

 

They are missing all their best players don't forget. Wilson alone would've won it for them with his finishing.

 

Yeah, so they outplayed us without all their best players. That means either we are spending money on poor players or the manager isn't putting together the right team.

 

Or we just had an off day, performance wise.

 

 

Like picking an unlucky lottery number maybe. Sounds about right.

 

None of our previous 6 performances were anything like yesterday, so it's not illogical to say it was just one of those days where not much was going well. I wouldn't be eulogising about Howe yet either, I caught Bournemouth against Villa and the mackems and they were very average, we just turned up with an open shape and players not at it and it played into their hands.

 

Too open with two defensive midfield players sorry but don't agree in fact it was the total opposite because Bournemouth were able to get mass time on the ball and able to put pressure on at will because we were playing far too deep. This insistance of playing two defensive midfielders is bordering on crass mismangement as it is and has been all season totally to the detriment of the team. Yesterday was on par and in fact probably worse than anything Pardew and Carver served up and against a team in the main with Championship players. We were totally second best in all areas for 90 minutes and yet you say there were not anything special - I totally agree they're not but what does that make us after that display. Mitrovic might as well be on the bench because the amount of support and service he is getting is bordering on pathetic. You have no wingers and no creativity in midfield and it won't change with this bloke in charge - totally shociking manager.

[Ikon]

The way Tiote and Anita played so deep with no pressing whatsoever we might as well have played without them. Every single time the opposition had acres om space and time. Too fucking easy! Why why why?? And the few times they had the ball they gave it away. When they were sitting that deep it was almost like "lets wait here and see what they do"

 

I've had a decent feeling because i have seen some progress, but this to name one thing was fucking criminal. How the hell can McClaren decide that this is a good tactic? And if it wasn't his tactics then why didn't he change it/instruct otherwise straight away? It was soooo obvious from the first few minutes it wasn't working. Both of them are absolutely useless at everything. Especially one moment in the 2nd half just outside of the corner of our box where Tiote didn't even half press the player, who then played a one two around Tiote who didn't even fucking try to move, not an inch! He just moved his head around, looked and stood still before Colo managed to block a cut back with a sliding tackle. It was the most obvious pass and move ever, and he didn't even bother the disgusting useless rat. He can rot in hell.

[mozy]

We played shit and won. The manager acknowledges that we played shit, got relatively lucky and won. Pardew would have been calling that 'a proper away performance' or whatever.

 

It's one game, enjoy the victory. If performances continue in that manner then we have every right to criticise.

[TRon]

They're a good team, we're not.

 

If they were a good team they would have scored five today. They are a well organised, hard working championship team. I like their style, which I put down to their manager, but they don't have good players.

 

They are missing all their best players don't forget. Wilson alone would've won it for them with his finishing.

 

Yeah, so they outplayed us without all their best players. That means either we are spending money on poor players or the manager isn't putting together the right team.

 

Or we just had an off day, performance wise.

 

 

Like picking an unlucky lottery number maybe. Sounds about right.

 

None of our previous 6 performances were anything like yesterday, so it's not illogical to say it was just one of those days where not much was going well. I wouldn't be eulogising about Howe yet either, I caught Bournemouth against Villa and the mackems and they were very average, we just turned up with an open shape and players not at it and it played into their hands.

 

Too open with two defensive midfield players sorry but don't agree in fact it was the total opposite because Bournemouth were able to get mass time on the ball and able to put pressure on at will because we were playing far too deep. This insistance of playing two defensive midfielders is boardering on crass mismangement as it is and has been all season totally to the detriment of the team. Yesterday was on par and in fact probably worse than anything Pardew and Carver served up and against a team in the main with Championship players. We were totally second best in all areas for 90 minutes and yet you say there were not anything special - I totally agree they're not but what does that make us after that display. Mitrovic might as well be on the bench because the amount of support and service he is getting is bordering on pathetic. You have no wingers and no creativity in midfield and it won't change with this bloke in charge - totally shociking manager.

 

I've been willing to back McClaren even though I knew in the back of my mind that he wasn't the right man for us, but the longer he goes on with this two defensive midfielder bullshit it's getting harder not to put our results down to bad management. It's doing none of them any favours either, I'm pretty sure either Tiote or Anita would be far more comfortable having a more dynamic midfielder ahead of them.

[Chris Banaloona]

The roller coaster of emotions associated with Steve McClaren are always going to be there due to the uncertainty surrounding people actually being content with his appointment.

 

Me personally thought we were actually making progress but yesterdays performance was completely uninspiring and down right unacceptable. Today I watched Villa v Man City, and right away there seemed to be immediate signs of progression from Villa. They attacked with more purpose and players seemed to have a fantastic idea of what was required when the bull turned over (defensively).

 

Until the club invest in a commanding centre half with the mindset to lead from the back, a equally commanding central midfield player (our midfield two, whether its Colback/Anita, Colback/Tiote, Anita/Tiote is horrendous and doesnt allow us to retain the ball consistently) then it doesnt matter who is manager we'll always see the same problems.

 

Until that happens I am prepared to give him a chance, but at the same time its frustrating to see the lack of substantial progress in the teams development.

[Ronaldo]

Why did Howe leave Burnley? Poor results?

 

Homesick

 

:lol:

 

What's the joke?

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I wondered too.

[TRon]

All this talk about Pardew getting the England job is bollocks, but I can definitely see Howe getting it a few years down the line. I think he'll do well when he gets a job at a big club.

[Lush Vlad]

I can't say I've noticed it a lot in other games.  But it seemed as if they were under direct orders to let Bournemouth have the ball until the final third?  I've never seen so many players backing off and refusing to close down.  The players seemed to be jogging back, away from the ball carrier.  So lazy going with runners as well. We would lose the ball, then just retreat.  It was shambolic.  If that isn't coming from the manager, then we have a load of gutless fuckers and the manager has no control over the team.  I don't think that's the case though.  It seemed like that was our tactics for the day.  Worrying. 

 

I'll take playing so badly and managing to win.  It was a '6 pointer' after all.  But being played off the park, by the team that are also battling relegation, scares the shit out of me.

 

We need to be far more positive going forward and look to the Norwich game as the blueprint.  Trying to keep it tight and nick a goal with this team.  Will lead to a lot of heavy defeats. 

 

 

[The College Dropout]

I wonder what an ideal Steve McClaren team looks like.

 

I would consider Pardew someone a very poor man's Jose. His ideal team is close to this Palace side. Plenty of 6'2+ players, hard working, aggressive, great on the counter, players with "magic" to win the games. He needs players willing to put their body on the line and graft hard because they'll be defending a lot of the time and be happy to fight on the back foot.

 

 

With Steve I have no idea. He has a passing philosophy but it's very slow. He seems to know in the PL he needs a more physical team but I don't know to what extent. I have no idea what type of temperament he needs from a player.

[The College Dropout]

I can tell someone like Howe would work brilliantly at Newcastle. That high pressure, quick style fits our DNA as a club perfectly. Fear he'll end up at a Soton, Swansea or Everton. We are in that Sunderland bracket of clubs now for managers.

[George Bailey]

Howe to Swansea would be a good fit if Monk is peddled imo.

They seem to have a plan or style that they have been cultivating over several managers now and he would seem a logical candidate.

 

Not sure how 'loyal' he would feel to Bournemouth though.

[Dan Gleebals]

SM is definitely NOT the progressing person / manager / coach some people would have us believe, clear as day that's not the case.  OK our shocking start to his reign and our season has only compounded the need to graft out wins and the expense of any style or substance.

 

Either way, our squad is a major reason we are not doing well, not just him.  I am under no doubt a better manager would get more from these players but the reality is there is a horrible lack of competition and we are currently replying on has been players or those that are simply not up to scratch.

 

Colo

Taylor

Colback

Tiote

 

Really have no place and they are all (bar injuries) the first names on the sheet.  I would put Anita into that bracket as well.

 

Then you have 3 french players that should not be anywhere the first time and Thauvin who IMO is another Cabella.

 

Hardly surprising that Sissoko and the others of merit dont turn up regularly enough.

[Robster]

We are in that Sunderland bracket of clubs now for managers.

Nah, no way.

I think with the proper set up at board level, we'd be a good option for a lot of decent managers.

[The College Dropout]

We are in that Sunderland bracket of clubs now for managers.

Nah, no way.

I think with the proper set up at board level, we'd be a good option for a lot of decent managers.

The board defines what bracket the club is though.

 

If the Ghost of Steve Jobs rocked up as CEO of Wonga i'd believe in them too.

 

Being manager of NUFC means Charnley as your boss and Big Mike as the owner/leader. Kenwright would land the manager over us anyday.

[The College Dropout]

Managers will go anywhere they are paid enough.

 

And we won't pay it.

[Wallsendmag]

And our managers have been Hughton, Pardew, Carver and McClaren.

 

With Kinnear before them.

[The College Dropout]

Went from Keegan, Dalglish, Gullit and Robson to Allardyce, Kinnear, Pardew & McClaren

 

Forget how good or bad a manager those first 4 men where. They are legends of the game. Left a mark on the sport. It says a lot about a club that they want to align themselves with those people as it does the second 4. From an aspiring club to a club "getting by". From hiring winners to men that can come in and do a job.

[lovejoy]

All this talk about Pardew getting the England job is bollocks, but I can definitely see Howe getting it a few years down the line. I think he'll do well when he gets a job at a big club.

 

Theyre not a 'big club' but he struggled at burnley quite a bit, I agree he could be class, but he needs another job to see how he does first imo.

[mrmojorisin75]

Went from Keegan, Dalglish, Gullit and Robson to Allardyce, Kinnear, Pardew & McClaren

 

Forget how good or bad a manager those first 4 men where. They are legends of the game. Left a mark on the sport. It says a lot about a club that they want to align themselves with those people as it does the second 4. From an aspiring club to a club "getting by". From hiring winners to men that can come in and do a job.

 

[Kanj]

Sure that's right but you're only as good as the owner allows you to be in terms of Newcastle.

 

If Ashley was a normal club owner or didn't have Lee Charnley as managing director we'd have had Garde or someone of his ilk long ago. We've taken the cheap route every single time under Ashley and that's all to do with the owner looking for the minimum requirement every time.

 

Sunderland could never attract what we could, ever. All things being equal.

[mozy]

Sure that's right but you're only as good as the owner allows you to be in terms of Newcastle.

 

If Ashley was a normal club owner or didn't have Lee Charnley as managing director we'd have had Garde or someone of his ilk long ago. We've taken the cheap route every single time under Ashley and that's all to do with the owner looking for the minimum requirement every time.

 

Sunderland could never attract what we could, ever. All things being equal.

 

I'm sorry but Garde has proven absolutely jack all as a manager apart from doing a relatively average job with Lille. Could he be the next Ancelotti? Absolutely, but he's nothing as a manager yet.

[Wullie]

He achieved absolutely nothing at Lille, that much is certainly true.

[The College Dropout]

Exactly, Garde still sticks out listed next to those names at the moment. Wasn't a world class player and is currently a promising manager who did a solid job at Lyon.

 

My point is, EVERY club is only as good as it's Owner / people in charge.

 

Some clubs can have fairly dodgy people in charge but they'll have money and infrastructure, culture to make things work (ala Barcelona or recent Man Utd). Most are only as good as the Owner/MD.