Steve McClaren

[Frazzle]

And then what? Be angry?

 

 

 

Yes

[Lenny]

I think people are trying to make the best of it, mate. What do you suppose they should do?

 

Stop making the best of it and view it for what it actually is?

 

Well that's it really, there's no right way to look at it. You can either remain cynical and disillusioned by an underwhelming and expected appointment, or you can try and find a glimmer of hope that the new guy is going to come in and improve us. I'm not going to tell anyone which way to look at it as everyone's entitled to view it as they please, and are also well within their rights to remain cynical given the shite we've been through.

 

Personally though, I'm fed up with both wanting us to lose and even when I don't want us to lose, having to put up with shocking football. At this moment I'm going to look for that glimmer of hope.

[Lenny]

In an ideal world, we'd give McClaren a chance but keep the heat on Ashley. Dunno how we'd achieve that though

[Foluwashola]

When McClaren was first touted a few months back I would have been reasonably pleased with the appointment as I do somewhat admire him as a coach. The absolute dullness of the situation has taken over now. Vieira rumours aroused and then we revert back to MC foreign accent syndrome. Sigh.

[Skeletor]

I think people are trying to make the best of it, mate. What do you suppose they should do?

 

Stop making the best of it and view it for what it actually is?

 

Well that's it really, there's no right way to look at it. You can either remain cynical and disillusioned by an underwhelming and expected appointment, or you can try and find a glimmer of hope that the new guy is going to come in and improve us. I'm not going to tell anyone which way to look at it as everyone's entitled to view it as they please, and are also well within their rights to remain cynical given the shite we've been through.

 

Personally though, I'm fed up with both wanting us to lose and even when I don't want us to lose, having to put up with shocking football. At this moment I'm going to look for that glimmer of hope.

 

That glimmer of hope isn't there. It's all coming across as weak and delusional.

[Frazzle]

It doesn't make the blind bit of difference who the manager is, hoping a manager will lead us yo glory while working under Ashley is just wrong

[Skeletor]

It doesn't make the blind bit of difference who the manager is, hoping a manager will lead us yo glory while working under Ashley is just wrong

 

It would make a difference. However a successful manager would just be let go for raising fans expectations which would lead to more demand for spending money. Appointing someone like McClaren just allows Ashley to put his feet up and rake in the TV money and see his company grow through free exposure.

[afar]

Normally, I would give anyone coming in the benefit of the doubt, but I remembering telling my wife that Carver wouldn't be that bad, so clearly my judgement is impaired. I don't have anything against McClaren, just utterly disappointed at the lack of ambition.

 

Personally I'm no giving him any benefit of the doubt. Which is kind of against my general outlook on life, where I trust until someone does something that loses that trust. For this guy, I'm definitely in the camp I was in with Carver, where I knew it was going to be crap. There is a slight difference here, though as I am sure he will have a spell where people are sucked into thinking, like they were with Pardew, "well he's actually pretty good, I was wrong". There was no chance whatsover of that happening under Carver. 

 

Anyway another ill advised appointment in a key position, it's what we do, and we seem to continue to do it despite being burned by the experience over and over again.

 

I really think this is a miles better appointment that Pardew. Pardew had been out of the game for a fair while (for a reason, he was s****) and if we start to think "he's actually pretty good" about McClaren, it's not that we've been sucked in, it's because he's actually half decent.

 

Is he really that much better than Pardew ? Pardew got West Ham to a cup final (that people took more seriously than the league cup that McLaren won) and was only an injury time goal away from actually winning it. What is McLaren best final league position in this country as opposed to Pardew's ? Outside of that one season with Twente and of course the league cup win backed up with the UEFA cup final, the highlight of his career has been nearly getting Derby promoted. Something that Mick Mc, Steve Bruce, Paul Jewel, Chris Hughton and a bunch of other world beating managers succeed at.

 

His last success of any kind is 5 years ago, but his last success in this country is some 10 years ago, he is a washed up has been or even never was that's made a career from being Alex Ferguson's assistant during their spell of dominance.

 

He should never have been considered for this role, his appointment is not acceptable, but I can sense the general feeling here is moving towards, "he's the best we could have hoped for, and at least it's not Carver". Sad really.

 

You realise you've just excluded every one of his achievements to come to the conclusion that he's no better than Pardew, right? Outside of his success at Twente/outside of winning the league cup/outside of getting into the UEFA cup final... You've excluded 3 achievements greater than the achievement you've listed as McClaren's greatest achievement.

 

I don't think he's a spectacular appointment by any stretch, but I also don't think he's just a case of "well, he's better than Carver". Given where we are at this time, he's a step in the right direction. He's a manager that's had some success, and has been seen to play a style of football that the fans might actually like. It's not ideal as we all know we should be aiming much higher in ideal circumstances (i.e. Ashley has f***ed off), but it's a step in the right direction (in my opinion, of course).

 

Also, has it been confirmed he's having to keep the existing staff? I think I missed that.

 

No what I said was that the League cup win was perhaps equal in value to Pardew's FA cup final appearance. The UEFA cup final appearance was noteworthy but we've played in that competition to know that there is enough crap teams their that for an English PL club making the QF should be the minimum expectation, then it's all about the luck of the draw. The season at Twente when he won the league is the only thing that suggested he's better than Pardew. It's certainly not a forgone conclusion though that he is. Had that been the case he would have been managing in the PL these last 10 seasons since he lost the England job. If you compare his PL record to Pardew's, Pardew probably knicks it. And that's what is really relevant.

 

[oldtype]

I don't see how you can look at getting to the UEFA cup final with Boro and say "meh."

 

There's no comparison between McClaren and Pardew really. They're only similar if, as Lenny mentioned, you arbitrarily distinguish all of his major achievements as irrelevant.

[Guest ElCid]

He's a totally shocking appointment and I just cannot understand how some are saying they can accept it - just a pure piss take from the fact cunt after spouting total shit on the tv. He is on a par with Pardew and even that is debatable. He hot sacked not resigned but sacked from a Championship club because he was not up to the job - total shit by a mickey mouse regime.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

He's alright, if he doesn't let his ego stop him using Carr's signings properly than we'll likely be significantly better than under Pardew. Less shock wins but less horrible thrashings as well. Obviously not an exciting choice though, and doesn't change the overall direction like we maybe hoped.

[Skeletor]

I don't see how you can look at getting to the UEFA cup final with Boro and say "meh."

 

There's no comparison between McClaren and Pardew really. They're only similar if, as Lenny mentioned, you arbitrarily distinguish all of his major achievements as irrelevant.

 

This is part of the problem. We should never be measuring a manager by how he compares to two giant turds.

[The College Dropout]

It's comparable to the point - it stands out as an anomaly in an otherwise very mediocre career. He hasn't shown the ability to finish in such a brilliant league position since.

[Guest ElCid]

I don't see how you can look at getting to the UEFA cup final with Boro and say "meh."

 

There's no comparison between McClaren and Pardew really. They're only similar if, as Lenny mentioned, you arbitrarily distinguish all of his major achievements as irrelevant.

 

Unreal totally unreal - he's a total fucking Muppet man.

[The College Dropout]

That UEFA Cup run was the luckiest I have ever seen. Massimo Maccorrone must've scored 4 goals in injury time in various matches. No tactical masterstrokes  or anything. Every time he just put 4 up top and they scored lucky goals.

 

 

Hodgson got his club into the UEFA Cup final and he's a dinosaur of a manager too.

[oldtype]

I don't see how you can look at getting to the UEFA cup final with Boro and say "meh."

 

There's no comparison between McClaren and Pardew really. They're only similar if, as Lenny mentioned, you arbitrarily distinguish all of his major achievements as irrelevant.

 

Unreal totally unreal - he's a total fucking Muppet man.

 

Just don't see how anyone can find the energy to be outraged about a managerial appointment when the soul of this club has long since been destroyed by Mike Ashley. We're not a competitive football club so there's no need for us to have a top class manager. That is all.

[Wullie]

It was extraordinary like. They were in a four goal deficit in two consecutive ties.

[Guest firetotheworks]

I can't wait to hate this bloke. 5/1 it's his squinty eyes that'll annoy me first.

[Astroblack]

Agree with Oldtype and Lenny. It's either get behind this version of Newcastle or fuck off because it's not gonna get any better.

 

Terrible attitude to have? Yeah, but what I can do?

[The College Dropout]

It was extraordinary like. They were in a four goal deficit in two consecutive ties.

They showed tremendous spirit. But I remember at the time thinking they were lucky as hell. And well beaten in the final.

I'm basing McClaren largely off his time at Boro, England and since he's been linked with us. 2 horror jobs in there.

[KaKa]

I am genuinely fascinated to see if I can come to hate this guy as I did Pardew. Don't think it's possible. He's actually a pretty nice guy, which I will appreciate after Pardew and Carver.

 

Besides I think he will do well,so it won't be necessary 

[Ronaldo]

I think he's a better man and manager then Pardew, like.

[Tiotes Witch Doctor]

It's horrible supporting this club just utterly horrible.

 

I just want to sack the whole thing off and never watch us again but on the other hand I miss watching us and actually wanting us to win so much that I'm willing to give McClaren a chance and just try to enjoy the season with a bit of optimism.

 

I just find it impossible to root for the club as a whole when there are so many detestable characters running it.

 

Just constant

[The College Dropout]

The fact he's resigned from a job means he's a better man. He's marginally a better manager for me. If given the same brief of exit the cups asap, in league form I expect 8th. A slight improvement on what Pardew managed. Any better and I would be surprised.

 

Being a better man might mean he could convince the powers to let him chase a Cup which would make a massive difference tbf.

[dilligaf]

Now I haven't spent a penny towards Ashleys Nufc/SD since KK, and wont until Ashley sells up, the only difference will be if McClaren plays decent football I might actually look forward to a game, celebrate a goal etc instead of  wanting us to lose just to spite Ashley. All we can do is wait and see really. I couldn't give a fuck what he's won before its all about how he plays now.