Chronicle editor answers criticism in regards to recent NUFC coverage

[Beren]

Who brought NE5 there

 

How does he do that?

 

EVERY single NUFC forum brought to it's proverbial knees by Shepherd's number one fanboy himself.

 

He never gets bored of defending Shepherd, wonder if another forum means a bonus?

 

Fair play to the lad. Multiple forums and an in depth knowledge of the copy and paste shortcuts could well be enough for a Number 1 St. James' Park suite all to himself.

 

He's like an inalienable force of the galaxy. It's quite cool really.

[Crumpy Gunt]

Can you please tell us whether any of the journalists at Thomson House are being paid for work by NUFC?

 

This ultimately is the question which needs an urgent answer. Among all the bullshit regarding Oliver this needs answering.

[BottledDog]

Who brought NE5 there

 

How does he do that?

 

EVERY single NUFC forum brought to it's proverbial knees by Shepherd's number one fanboy himself.

 

He never gets bored of defending Shepherd, wonder if another forum means a bonus?

 

Fair play to the lad. Multiple forums and an in depth knowledge of the copy and paste shortcuts could well be enough for a Number 1 St. James' Park suite all to himself.

 

He's like an inalienable force of the galaxy. It's quite cool really.

 

Yup. It's always good to have constants in life. Makes you feel safe.

[Guest Invicta_Toon]

There are three separate polls on 'do you trust the Chronicle' on the first page

 

mongs

[Mick]

Here's a cracking post in response to a question and answer session.  I'm not formatting it but have copied it to here as it might get deleted, it might be better reading the original.  Edit, I've changed his latest comments to a blue font, the rest should be easy to work out.

 

 

http://forums.icnewcastle.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=1602#1602

 

Dear Paul,

 

Thank you for your responses to fans' questions on another thread. Since it is locked, I will have to submit my reply here and hope you see it. Unfortunately, I have to say that a lot of the replies are misleading at best and I will attempt to demonstrate why below:

Quote:

 

Why has Alan Oliver asserted that Glenn Roeder is the fans choice when there is not a shred of evidence anywhere that this is the case, indeed all polls on fanzine sites, the Chronicle's own poll and the various texts and message board posts all clearly demonstrated that Glenn Roeder was well down the pecking order of fans choice of manager at the end of last season?

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

I have searched our archives.

 

All our coverage in the run up to and the appointment of the manager mentioned the various polls including our own with Martin O’Neill leading the poll of polls and Hitzfeld close behind albeit through an internet “campaign”.

 

We did say in our coverage Glenn Roeder, who hadn’t wanted the job, was being seriously considered because of the job he did at the end of the season.

 

On his appointment we spoke to the chairman, as you would expect, who we quote as saying he had won the job.

 

He also told us the club had many messages of support for Glenn Roeder prior to him getting the job.

 

He was the choice of many fans, as was Martin O’Neil, Hitzfeld, Keegan and so on.

 

It is an urban myth that we have described him as the fans’ choice.

 

 

The reason that people are upset with you is that you allowed Shepherd to remain unchallenged when he was quoted as saying that he had given the fans the manager that they wanted. You failed to question the hiring of a man on the back of fifteen games when he had nothing to lose rather than a career of success as the Chairman had promised. The fact that Shepherd was completely unchallenged in his public pronouncements surely points to a failure in your newspaper? Whilst you may not have indulged in your own campaign for Roeder to be appointed, your newspaper's total refusal to engage in any sensible analysis of the merits of his appointment amounted to the same thing. He wasn't the fans' choice, Shepherd said he was, yet you didn't question that for reasons best known to you.

Quote:

 

Does Alan Oliver receive payment for his NUFC programme column and if so how does the editor feel about the man who is supposed to provide objective coverage being in the pay of NUFC?

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

Alan’s programme notes do nothing other than chronicle the exploits of people in the media who cover Newcastle United.

 

As the main NUFC writer it is hardly surprising he has profile in the club programme but it in no way conflicts with his job of covering the club.

 

We advertise in the club programme and Alan’s contribution is to maintain our profile without commenting on club affairs.

 

Whether he is paid or not is his business.

 

 

The question is pretty simple yet the answer is evasive. Reading between the lines, I guess the answer is "Yes but we don't think it matters". I, and many others, do think it matters and that's just one of the reasons that we can't take anything that Oliver writes seriously. You can't be an objective journalist and yet be in the pay of those you write about.

Quote:

 

Why does Alan Oliver appear to have an agenda against certain players e.g. Obefemi Martins and regularly marks him down despite him being one of our better players?

 

And yet the likes of Kieron Dyer who has been woeful except for about 4 games this season never gets any form of criticism, constructive or not.

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

As always it is a matter of opinion and you can take anything out of context.

 

Many fans share Alan’s opinion that, in certain games, his workrate has not been what is expected and he contributes little when he isn’t scoring.

 

The frustration is he can do it. Marking players is subjective and based on an honest opinion of a player’s performance on a particular day.

 

Whether you or I agree or not is why it is a fascinating subject – although merit marks are the thing which upset players most.

 

As for Dyer – Alan rightly heavily criticised him for his attitude when he refused to play on the right – undermining Bobby Robson’s authority.

 

Again – he has marked it as he sees it.

 

My personal opinion as a FAN is Martins has had a good first season in a struggling team and is a good signing but there are times when he could do more.

 

Dyer is, in my opinion, over-rated.

 

 

I'd suggest that it is you who is taking things out of context. Pointing to the odd occasion which supports your argument rather than looking at the overall weight of pro and anti articles towards individual players is misleading. A study of Oliver's articles would be extremely revealing if the results were categorised according to whether the player concerned regularly gave him interviews, was deemed surplus by the manager at the time, was foreign/local, or had a perceived standing in the team. In my book, Oliver chooses his targets and comments very carefully indeed.

 

Quote:

 

Why does the Chronicle completely ignore the mismanagement of the club at boardroom level?

 

Your newspaper is written for the people of Newcastle and the wider North East area, the majority of whom are Newcastle fans, yet you're alienating them by failing to ask tough questions of the people who are losing this club substantial amounts of money year in, year out.

 

Also, how do you react to the suggestion that the Chronicle is merely a propaganda leaflet for the club rather than a newspaper?

 

 

The comments are anything but unfair. You have failed miserably in your failure to question why huge dividends were being taken out of the club when profits didn't support it. You failed to investigate exactly what role Hall Junior performs for his huge salary in his tax haven bolthole. You failed to qustion why Shepherd has taken zero responsibility for spending huge sums on countless players and then blaiming the inlated fees and salaries on the manager at the time, whilst the buck should stop with him. You have also failed to question the complete lack of corporate governance within a PLC. Reporting the facts is very different from questioning them - I believe you have a duty to do the latter - you plainly don't believe you do.

 

Quote:

 

Why do you not express the fans feelings on the clubs situation, when it is we, the fans, who are in my opinion, the back bone of the club?

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

I defy you to find another media outlet in this country which opens up its channels to fans more than the Chronicle.

 

You can text, email, write letters or post messages on our website or Lee Ryder’s blog.

 

We have a Punters panel which all fans are invited to apply for prior to the season beginning.

 

As well as columns from ex-players, Alan and John Gibson host talk-ins in their own time which many fans attend and express their opinions.

 

We try to reflect the opinions of all fans who are our readers.

 

It is funny how when things are going well on the field we hear nothing apart from positive text messages.

 

When things are going wrong the voices are raised and it seems fair game to kick the local media along with anyone with an interest in the club.

 

 

You know full well that the space given to fans' views is minimal compared to the likes of Oliver's articles. E-mails and forum articles like mine will never be seen by the mass public.

 

Quote:

 

Ask them if they think they should stand idly by and let this once great club go down the pan, if not, when are they going to change policy towards the club.

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

We don’t pick the team, decide the tactics, buy or sell players.

 

We can question, challenge and influence.

 

In the past the paper led the campaign which saw Sir John Hall, Freddy Shepherd and the rest of the Magpie Group takeover the club.

 

Since then it has been a transformation and rightly expectation levels have risen along with the capacity of the ground and so on.

 

The fact is there is no credible alternative waiting in the wings and, like it or not, Freddy Shepherd will continue to run the club for the foreseeable future.

 

And while we or any of you can continue to question some of the decisions no-one can deny he has ensured funds are available to strengthen the squad.

 

Like every fan we want the team to win.

 

Like every fan I and the Chronicle are frustrated at the way things have gone over the past few years.

 

This is a critical summer for the club as I know many who claim they will not be renewing their season tickets.

 

We will watch, report and comment on the club, as we always have done, as we see fit and give others the chance to voice their own opinions.

 

 

The problem is that you don't question , challenge and influence. You do when you think you have the backing of someone big and powerful behind you ( as in the case of the Magpie Group takeover) but I'm afraid you're as meek as kittens without someone to hold your hand.

 

Quote:

 

Does the editor of The Chronicle feel that the views of his writers reflects the mood of the general public?

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

As I have said repeatedly, football is a matter of opinion, and for every one who agrees with one of our writers there is someone else who doesn’t.

 

When things are going wrong we all have opinions on what could happen to improve the situation.

 

 

Again, you are being evasive. Do your articles really strike you as reflecting the mood on the forums and fanzines over the last couple of years? Ask 1000 fans what they think of Alan Oliver/Roeder, you may get a shock. Your finger is not on the pulse, full stop.

 

Quote:

 

Why does the Chronicle not offer its readership its analysis of the fall from 5th placed finish under SBR in his last season to our current plight?

 

We never hear any significant analysis of the deterioration in the clubs fortunes ever discussed seriously in the pages of the Chronicle.

 

If NUFC were any other local business/council/hospital etc. which had a similar calamitous performance and fallen so far in national rankings, the Chronicle would be considered derelict in its duty if it did not analyse the situation and express a forceful opinion on the matter.

 

After all that is surely what local media is for!!!

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

You make your point well and there is a place for an analysis of the situation at the end of the season from 5th to wherever we finish.

 

However, at the end of the first season Souness was in charge we took a detailed look at the situation and put questions we asked you all to submit to the main players.

 

To be fair they answered them – not to everyone’s satisfaction – but they did answer them then signed Michael Owen among others which silenced most critics for a time.

 

Alan’s main job is the day to day reporting along with Lee Ryder.

 

John Gibson provides analysis on an almost weekly basis of matters on and off the pitch.

 

Both John and Alan have covered the ups and downs of NUFC since before any of us were born, have unrivalled contacts and are well qualified to express an opinion when the time is right.

 

 

Again, you point to the odd occasion when you've given space to watered down questions rather than the constant stream of pro-Shepherd propaganda that we've been fed. I agree with you about John Gibson though, but certainly not Oliver.

 

Quote:

 

1. Why is it that Oliver continually promotes the case that Shepherd has done all he can by backing his managers when the problem over the last couple of years is that he has made disastrous appointments to back?

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

We have said the appointment of Graeme Souness was, in our and most fans’ opinions, a mistake as was the timing of sackings of previous managers.

 

But to be fair it was a vocal number of fans who actually called for the heads of those managers at that time.

 

As for Glenn Roeder – some fans feel he deserved the chance after finishing seventh and perhaps another season given the injury crisis – others feel he is the wrong man and want him out.

 

We reflect both sides of the argument.

 

He has more of a feel for the club than the last manager and passionately believes he can succeed. We have to wait and see. We don’t appoint the manager. 

 

 

You didn't question Souness's signing. You didn't question Roeder's signing. It's all very well stating the obvious once someone's been sacked and you can slag a guy off when he's been sacked and have Shepherd's approval to do so. That's the problem, basically, you're only critical in hindsight.

 

Quote:

 

2. If Roeder were to be sacked tomorrow, which Premiership club does Mr. Oliver think would rush to sign him up? 

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

Who knows? You may be surprised. 

 

 

If you don't want to debate a serious question, just say so. Your answer just makes you appear truculent.

 

Quote:

 

3. Does Oliver think that Roeder is the man to take Newcastle forward to challenge the top four? 

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

He believes so, given the right support on and off the pitch.

 

Alan can speak for himself but I agree with him when he says we need a period of stability

 

 

This is an idiotic comment. Then why not keep Souness? Or any clown if the over-riding criteria is stability rather than ability to do the job?

 

Quote:

 

4. Why is a foreign coach considered to be a bad thing, even if he has a bag of trophies under his arm?

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

Who says that?

 

We don’t appoint the manager but would welcome a one laden with trophies with open arms whatever nationality if it meant we could have a winning football team.

 

 

Actually, your newspaper has said that in many Oliver articles. Time and again, the guy has appeared in print (and on Sky) as saying that the last thing Newcastle need is a foreign manager. Unfortunately, your paper has allowed him to say it repeatedly without being pulled in - strangely, Shepherd has said the same thing, weird that ...

 

Quote:

 

5. Why does the paper not question why Roeder was telling us how great the squad was when he was looking to get the job yet is now trying to say they're all **** and he can only be judged on his signings? 

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

We have.

 

Read John Gibson’s piece just two weeks ago.

 

I also think you have taken what Roeder said out of context.

 

He has been unhappy with the performances of certain individuals not the squad as a whole.

 

 

Again, you point to a single article written a couple of weeks ago when we've had hundreds over the last year without so much as a murmor. Again, you've failed to look at the "seniority" of those that Roeder has attacked. He is a weak man and your paper has allowed him to go unchallenged.

 

Quote:

 

6. Why does the paper never question why money is being given to a man like Roeder to spend when his transfer record was shocking at West Ham and, in all likelihood, he won't be around beyond the first few games next season?

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

If everyone was judged by this criteria then Alex Ferguson would not have still been in charge of Manchester United.

 

Roeder has been able to buy three players – Duff, Martins and Sibierski.

 

While Duff has yet to prove himself every fan saw him as a good signing at £5m while both Martins and Sibierski have done relatively well in the circumstances.

 

Let’s see what happens in the summer.

 

 

Erm, let's not mention Ferguson and Roeder's transfer dealings in the same sentence shall we? That's would just be plain daft.

 

I wasn't particularly talking about Roeder's short term record in the market, more his long term failings, especially shown at West Ham.

 

Quote:

 

7. Why does the paper not question the awful long ball game that Roeder has introduced when our front two are midgets whose strengths are best served when the ball is played to feet?

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

In various match reports the tactics are discussed and criticised.

 

Alan slaughtered the team for their performances in Alkmaar, at Charlton and home to Manchester City in particular.

 

 

Oliver has often slaughtered the team, it's true and fully deservedly. What he rarely does is slaughter the men responsible, Roeder and Shepherd. Even when he does slaughter the team, Oliver picks his targets carefully. An example of this would be Alkmar, where bramble was made the scapegoat by Roeder, backed by oliver when Taylor was just as culpable, probably worse on the night. Agin, Alkmar was a disaster purely of Roeder's making, yet he largely managed to escape blame whilst a whole bucketload was dropped on his team.

 

Quote:

 

One year ago, the Chairman said this:

 

"Our aim is to have the new management structure in place before the last ball of the season is kicked.

 

We don't want to have uncertainty lingering on through the close season and we want supporters and players to finish the season knowing who will be in charge in August.

 

We have taken our time because this is one of the biggest decisions in the history of the club.

 

The top clubs are opening up a huge gap between themselves and others and we need to get the right man to ensure we are one of those leading clubs.

 

We have had a host of top names declaring their interest but we have kept them secret.

 

When the time is right - and that isn't too far away - we will name the man to lead us into the future" Freddie Shepherd, 2nd April 2006

 

If the Chronicle's journalists are incapable of seeing that quote, and then reflecting upon the gulf that exists between the Chairman's imagined fantasy and the stark cold reality of where we are now, then really it's time for certain people to be considering whether they too are up to the job.

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

As always in football quotes can come back to bite you.

 

But we are not party to discussions with potential managers as to why they may or may not have come at the time.

 

He made the decision to appoint Glenn Roeder and he has to live with the consequences – positive or negative.

 

Obviously when things don’t go well then questions are asked and will continue to be so until such time he situation turns around.

 

 

The point is, where the Chronicle and Shepherd is involved, quotes DON'T come back to bite you. Shepher doesn't have to live with the consequences because his failures won't be jumped on by the local press but the blame will simply be laid at the feet of the outgoing manager.

 

Quote:

 

During the transfer window in January it was obvious given the state of the team that we needed to strengthen, and yet the chairman went missing for a month and Oliver was stuck in wide of the mark mode on any speculation.

 

It’s happening again the club is in turmoil with huge apathy amongst the fans and all our illustrious leader does is talk about extending the ground and a chuffing hotel.

 

Why is the chronicle not asking the right questions of the boardroom buddies ie have you taken this club as far as you can and have you thought about stepping down?

 

These need to be asked quickly because the vast majority of supporters have lost all confidence in Freddy boy and Rodent, or is that to much to ask of Olly boy who clearly has a working relationship with old Shep!!!!!

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

Freddy Shepherd has consistently said he would step down if a credible alternative arose who could invest millions into the club and take it forward.

 

There has been no credible alternative come forward.

 

The January transfer window closed without significant business for which we criticised the club.

 

The speculation you refer to about possible arrivals was informed – the fact it didn’t come to fruition isn’t down to us.

 

We reported on the plans to extend the ground, widen the income base from the club’s perspective and we have reported on residents and fans opposed to it.

 

We happen to support the club’s position on this issue although we have said success on the field needs to be top priority – which goes without saying.

 

 

How would you know if a credible alternative has come forward or not? No-one went out and spoke to those parties looking to take the club over, the paper just took Shepherd's word it that they weren't up to it. Shepherd has gone on record as saying he'd sell to a "Geordie Abramovich", why has the paper never questioned why a buyer must be local? Why has the paper never questioned why the reason that a deal can't be done? Could it be because the payoff that Shepherd wanted was excessive and unrealistic?

 

Thanks for the opportunity to put forward my thoughts. I guess it's a start.

[Rebellious]

Here's a cracking post in response to a question and answer session.  I'm not formatting it but have copied it to here as it might get deleted, it might be better reading the original.  Edit, I've changed his latest comments to a blue font, the rest should be easy to work out.

 

 

http://forums.icnewcastle.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=1602#1602

 

Dear Paul,

 

Thank you for your responses to fans' questions on another thread. Since it is locked, I will have to submit my reply here and hope you see it. Unfortunately, I have to say that a lot of the replies are misleading at best and I will attempt to demonstrate why below:

Quote:

 

Why has Alan Oliver asserted that Glenn Roeder is the fans choice when there is not a shred of evidence anywhere that this is the case, indeed all polls on fanzine sites, the Chronicle's own poll and the various texts and message board posts all clearly demonstrated that Glenn Roeder was well down the pecking order of fans choice of manager at the end of last season?

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

I have searched our archives.

 

All our coverage in the run up to and the appointment of the manager mentioned the various polls including our own with Martin O’Neill leading the poll of polls and Hitzfeld close behind albeit through an internet “campaign”.

 

We did say in our coverage Glenn Roeder, who hadn’t wanted the job, was being seriously considered because of the job he did at the end of the season.

 

On his appointment we spoke to the chairman, as you would expect, who we quote as saying he had won the job.

 

He also told us the club had many messages of support for Glenn Roeder prior to him getting the job.

 

He was the choice of many fans, as was Martin O’Neil, Hitzfeld, Keegan and so on.

 

It is an urban myth that we have described him as the fans’ choice.

 

 

The reason that people are upset with you is that you allowed Shepherd to remain unchallenged when he was quoted as saying that he had given the fans the manager that they wanted. You failed to question the hiring of a man on the back of fifteen games when he had nothing to lose rather than a career of success as the Chairman had promised. The fact that Shepherd was completely unchallenged in his public pronouncements surely points to a failure in your newspaper? Whilst you may not have indulged in your own campaign for Roeder to be appointed, your newspaper's total refusal to engage in any sensible analysis of the merits of his appointment amounted to the same thing. He wasn't the fans' choice, Shepherd said he was, yet you didn't question that for reasons best known to you.

Quote:

 

Does Alan Oliver receive payment for his NUFC programme column and if so how does the editor feel about the man who is supposed to provide objective coverage being in the pay of NUFC?

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

Alan’s programme notes do nothing other than chronicle the exploits of people in the media who cover Newcastle United.

 

As the main NUFC writer it is hardly surprising he has profile in the club programme but it in no way conflicts with his job of covering the club.

 

We advertise in the club programme and Alan’s contribution is to maintain our profile without commenting on club affairs.

 

Whether he is paid or not is his business.

 

 

The question is pretty simple yet the answer is evasive. Reading between the lines, I guess the answer is "Yes but we don't think it matters". I, and many others, do think it matters and that's just one of the reasons that we can't take anything that Oliver writes seriously. You can't be an objective journalist and yet be in the pay of those you write about.

Quote:

 

Why does Alan Oliver appear to have an agenda against certain players e.g. Obefemi Martins and regularly marks him down despite him being one of our better players?

 

And yet the likes of Kieron Dyer who has been woeful except for about 4 games this season never gets any form of criticism, constructive or not.

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

As always it is a matter of opinion and you can take anything out of context.

 

Many fans share Alan’s opinion that, in certain games, his workrate has not been what is expected and he contributes little when he isn’t scoring.

 

The frustration is he can do it. Marking players is subjective and based on an honest opinion of a player’s performance on a particular day.

 

Whether you or I agree or not is why it is a fascinating subject – although merit marks are the thing which upset players most.

 

As for Dyer – Alan rightly heavily criticised him for his attitude when he refused to play on the right – undermining Bobby Robson’s authority.

 

Again – he has marked it as he sees it.

 

My personal opinion as a FAN is Martins has had a good first season in a struggling team and is a good signing but there are times when he could do more.

 

Dyer is, in my opinion, over-rated.

 

 

I'd suggest that it is you who is taking things out of context. Pointing to the odd occasion which supports your argument rather than looking at the overall weight of pro and anti articles towards individual players is misleading. A study of Oliver's articles would be extremely revealing if the results were categorised according to whether the player concerned regularly gave him interviews, was deemed surplus by the manager at the time, was foreign/local, or had a perceived standing in the team. In my book, Oliver chooses his targets and comments very carefully indeed.

 

Quote:

 

Why does the Chronicle completely ignore the mismanagement of the club at boardroom level?

 

Your newspaper is written for the people of Newcastle and the wider North East area, the majority of whom are Newcastle fans, yet you're alienating them by failing to ask tough questions of the people who are losing this club substantial amounts of money year in, year out.

 

Also, how do you react to the suggestion that the Chronicle is merely a propaganda leaflet for the club rather than a newspaper?

 

 

The comments are anything but unfair. You have failed miserably in your failure to question why huge dividends were being taken out of the club when profits didn't support it. You failed to investigate exactly what role Hall Junior performs for his huge salary in his tax haven bolthole. You failed to qustion why Shepherd has taken zero responsibility for spending huge sums on countless players and then blaiming the inlated fees and salaries on the manager at the time, whilst the buck should stop with him. You have also failed to question the complete lack of corporate governance within a PLC. Reporting the facts is very different from questioning them - I believe you have a duty to do the latter - you plainly don't believe you do.

 

Quote:

 

Why do you not express the fans feelings on the clubs situation, when it is we, the fans, who are in my opinion, the back bone of the club?

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

I defy you to find another media outlet in this country which opens up its channels to fans more than the Chronicle.

 

You can text, email, write letters or post messages on our website or Lee Ryder’s blog.

 

We have a Punters panel which all fans are invited to apply for prior to the season beginning.

 

As well as columns from ex-players, Alan and John Gibson host talk-ins in their own time which many fans attend and express their opinions.

 

We try to reflect the opinions of all fans who are our readers.

 

It is funny how when things are going well on the field we hear nothing apart from positive text messages.

 

When things are going wrong the voices are raised and it seems fair game to kick the local media along with anyone with an interest in the club.

 

 

You know full well that the space given to fans' views is minimal compared to the likes of Oliver's articles. E-mails and forum articles like mine will never be seen by the mass public.

 

Quote:

 

Ask them if they think they should stand idly by and let this once great club go down the pan, if not, when are they going to change policy towards the club.

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

We don’t pick the team, decide the tactics, buy or sell players.

 

We can question, challenge and influence.

 

In the past the paper led the campaign which saw Sir John Hall, Freddy Shepherd and the rest of the Magpie Group takeover the club.

 

Since then it has been a transformation and rightly expectation levels have risen along with the capacity of the ground and so on.

 

The fact is there is no credible alternative waiting in the wings and, like it or not, Freddy Shepherd will continue to run the club for the foreseeable future.

 

And while we or any of you can continue to question some of the decisions no-one can deny he has ensured funds are available to strengthen the squad.

 

Like every fan we want the team to win.

 

Like every fan I and the Chronicle are frustrated at the way things have gone over the past few years.

 

This is a critical summer for the club as I know many who claim they will not be renewing their season tickets.

 

We will watch, report and comment on the club, as we always have done, as we see fit and give others the chance to voice their own opinions.

 

 

The problem is that you don't question , challenge and influence. You do when you think you have the backing of someone big and powerful behind you ( as in the case of the Magpie Group takeover) but I'm afraid you're as meek as kittens without someone to hold your hand.

 

Quote:

 

Does the editor of The Chronicle feel that the views of his writers reflects the mood of the general public?

 

 

You replied:

 

Quote:

 

As I have said repeatedly, football is a matter of opinion, and for every one who agrees with one of our writers there is someone else who doesn’t.

 

When things are going wrong we all have opinions on what could happen to improve the situation.

 

 

Again, you are being evasive. Do your articles really strike you as reflecting the mood on the forums and fanzines over the last couple of years? Ask 1000 fans what they think of Alan Oliver/Roeder, you may get a shock. Your finger is not on the pulse, full stop.

 

Quote:

 

Why does the Chronicle not offer its readership its analysis of the fall from 5th placed finish under SBR in his last season to our current plight?

 

We never hear any significant analysis of the deterioration in the clubs fortunes ever discussed seriously in the pages of the Chronicle.

 

If NUFC were any other local business/council/hospital etc. which had a similar calamitous performance and fallen so far in national rankings, the Chronicle would be considered derelict in its duty if it did not analyse the situation and express a forceful opinion on the matter.

 

After all that is surely what local media is for!!!

 

 

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You make your point well and there is a place for an analysis of the situation at the end of the season from 5th to wherever we finish.

 

However, at the end of the first season Souness was in charge we took a detailed look at the situation and put questions we asked you all to submit to the main players.

 

To be fair they answered them – not to everyone’s satisfaction – but they did answer them then signed Michael Owen among others which silenced most critics for a time.

 

Alan’s main job is the day to day reporting along with Lee Ryder.

 

John Gibson provides analysis on an almost weekly basis of matters on and off the pitch.

 

Both John and Alan have covered the ups and downs of NUFC since before any of us were born, have unrivalled contacts and are well qualified to express an opinion when the time is right.

 

 

Again, you point to the odd occasion when you've given space to watered down questions rather than the constant stream of pro-Shepherd propaganda that we've been fed. I agree with you about John Gibson though, but certainly not Oliver.

 

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1. Why is it that Oliver continually promotes the case that Shepherd has done all he can by backing his managers when the problem over the last couple of years is that he has made disastrous appointments to back?

 

 

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We have said the appointment of Graeme Souness was, in our and most fans’ opinions, a mistake as was the timing of sackings of previous managers.

 

But to be fair it was a vocal number of fans who actually called for the heads of those managers at that time.

 

As for Glenn Roeder – some fans feel he deserved the chance after finishing seventh and perhaps another season given the injury crisis – others feel he is the wrong man and want him out.

 

We reflect both sides of the argument.

 

He has more of a feel for the club than the last manager and passionately believes he can succeed. We have to wait and see. We don’t appoint the manager. 

 

 

You didn't question Souness's signing. You didn't question Roeder's signing. It's all very well stating the obvious once someone's been sacked and you can slag a guy off when he's been sacked and have Shepherd's approval to do so. That's the problem, basically, you're only critical in hindsight.

 

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2. If Roeder were to be sacked tomorrow, which Premiership club does Mr. Oliver think would rush to sign him up? 

 

 

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Who knows? You may be surprised. 

 

 

If you don't want to debate a serious question, just say so. Your answer just makes you appear truculent.

 

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3. Does Oliver think that Roeder is the man to take Newcastle forward to challenge the top four? 

 

 

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He believes so, given the right support on and off the pitch.

 

Alan can speak for himself but I agree with him when he says we need a period of stability

 

 

This is an idiotic comment. Then why not keep Souness? Or any clown if the over-riding criteria is stability rather than ability to do the job?

 

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4. Why is a foreign coach considered to be a bad thing, even if he has a bag of trophies under his arm?

 

 

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Who says that?

 

We don’t appoint the manager but would welcome a one laden with trophies with open arms whatever nationality if it meant we could have a winning football team.

 

 

Actually, your newspaper has said that in many Oliver articles. Time and again, the guy has appeared in print (and on Sky) as saying that the last thing Newcastle need is a foreign manager. Unfortunately, your paper has allowed him to say it repeatedly without being pulled in - strangely, Shepherd has said the same thing, weird that ...

 

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5. Why does the paper not question why Roeder was telling us how great the squad was when he was looking to get the job yet is now trying to say they're all **** and he can only be judged on his signings? 

 

 

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We have.

 

Read John Gibson’s piece just two weeks ago.

 

I also think you have taken what Roeder said out of context.

 

He has been unhappy with the performances of certain individuals not the squad as a whole.

 

 

Again, you point to a single article written a couple of weeks ago when we've had hundreds over the last year without so much as a murmor. Again, you've failed to look at the "seniority" of those that Roeder has attacked. He is a weak man and your paper has allowed him to go unchallenged.

 

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6. Why does the paper never question why money is being given to a man like Roeder to spend when his transfer record was shocking at West Ham and, in all likelihood, he won't be around beyond the first few games next season?

 

 

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If everyone was judged by this criteria then Alex Ferguson would not have still been in charge of Manchester United.

 

Roeder has been able to buy three players – Duff, Martins and Sibierski.

 

While Duff has yet to prove himself every fan saw him as a good signing at £5m while both Martins and Sibierski have done relatively well in the circumstances.

 

Let’s see what happens in the summer.

 

 

Erm, let's not mention Ferguson and Roeder's transfer dealings in the same sentence shall we? That's would just be plain daft.

 

I wasn't particularly talking about Roeder's short term record in the market, more his long term failings, especially shown at West Ham.

 

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7. Why does the paper not question the awful long ball game that Roeder has introduced when our front two are midgets whose strengths are best served when the ball is played to feet?

 

 

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In various match reports the tactics are discussed and criticised.

 

Alan slaughtered the team for their performances in Alkmaar, at Charlton and home to Manchester City in particular.

 

 

Oliver has often slaughtered the team, it's true and fully deservedly. What he rarely does is slaughter the men responsible, Roeder and Shepherd. Even when he does slaughter the team, Oliver picks his targets carefully. An example of this would be Alkmar, where bramble was made the scapegoat by Roeder, backed by oliver when Taylor was just as culpable, probably worse on the night. Agin, Alkmar was a disaster purely of Roeder's making, yet he largely managed to escape blame whilst a whole bucketload was dropped on his team.

 

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One year ago, the Chairman said this:

 

"Our aim is to have the new management structure in place before the last ball of the season is kicked.

 

We don't want to have uncertainty lingering on through the close season and we want supporters and players to finish the season knowing who will be in charge in August.

 

We have taken our time because this is one of the biggest decisions in the history of the club.

 

The top clubs are opening up a huge gap between themselves and others and we need to get the right man to ensure we are one of those leading clubs.

 

We have had a host of top names declaring their interest but we have kept them secret.

 

When the time is right - and that isn't too far away - we will name the man to lead us into the future" Freddie Shepherd, 2nd April 2006

 

If the Chronicle's journalists are incapable of seeing that quote, and then reflecting upon the gulf that exists between the Chairman's imagined fantasy and the stark cold reality of where we are now, then really it's time for certain people to be considering whether they too are up to the job.

 

 

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As always in football quotes can come back to bite you.

 

But we are not party to discussions with potential managers as to why they may or may not have come at the time.

 

He made the decision to appoint Glenn Roeder and he has to live with the consequences – positive or negative.

 

Obviously when things don’t go well then questions are asked and will continue to be so until such time he situation turns around.

 

 

The point is, where the Chronicle and Shepherd is involved, quotes DON'T come back to bite you. Shepher doesn't have to live with the consequences because his failures won't be jumped on by the local press but the blame will simply be laid at the feet of the outgoing manager.

 

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During the transfer window in January it was obvious given the state of the team that we needed to strengthen, and yet the chairman went missing for a month and Oliver was stuck in wide of the mark mode on any speculation.

 

It’s happening again the club is in turmoil with huge apathy amongst the fans and all our illustrious leader does is talk about extending the ground and a chuffing hotel.

 

Why is the chronicle not asking the right questions of the boardroom buddies ie have you taken this club as far as you can and have you thought about stepping down?

 

These need to be asked quickly because the vast majority of supporters have lost all confidence in Freddy boy and Rodent, or is that to much to ask of Olly boy who clearly has a working relationship with old Shep!!!!!

 

 

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Freddy Shepherd has consistently said he would step down if a credible alternative arose who could invest millions into the club and take it forward.

 

There has been no credible alternative come forward.

 

The January transfer window closed without significant business for which we criticised the club.

 

The speculation you refer to about possible arrivals was informed – the fact it didn’t come to fruition isn’t down to us.

 

We reported on the plans to extend the ground, widen the income base from the club’s perspective and we have reported on residents and fans opposed to it.

 

We happen to support the club’s position on this issue although we have said success on the field needs to be top priority – which goes without saying.

 

 

How would you know if a credible alternative has come forward or not? No-one went out and spoke to those parties looking to take the club over, the paper just took Shepherd's word it that they weren't up to it. Shepherd has gone on record as saying he'd sell to a "Geordie Abramovich", why has the paper never questioned why a buyer must be local? Why has the paper never questioned why the reason that a deal can't be done? Could it be because the payoff that Shepherd wanted was excessive and unrealistic?

 

Thanks for the opportunity to put forward my thoughts. I guess it's a start.

 

I`m impressed with that. Pretty much sums up how I feel.

[Mowen]

I can't believe you felt the need to quote the longest post I've ever seen in order to post an 11 word comment about it.

[BottledDog]

I can't believe you felt the need to quote the longest post I've ever seen in order to post an 11 word comment about it.

 

Great post though by WShak. I hope it gets the response it deserves.

[Dave]

I can't believe you felt the need to quote the longest post I've ever seen in order to post an 11 word comment about it.

 

 

Me too.

[garth]

God it sounds like with all the answers coming from the Chronicle that it was NE5 doing all the answering. :D

[Rebellious]

I can't believe you felt the need to quote the longest post I've ever seen in order to post an 11 word comment about it.

 

 

Me too.

 

 Me too. Had a long hard week. I thought that but I was just checking the forum before I went up to bed to watch some TV.

[Minhosa]

That Guys in the article makes some excellent points and really sums up my mood/thoughts on the club at the minute.

 

Hope that isn't the end of it and he gets a response.