Is FMB the man to wake the giant?

[Guest Nappy Rash]

Is Allardyce really the man to wake the giant?

00:12am 13th May 2007 Comments Comments

 

Patrick Collins

Sam Allardyce will attract a decent crowd for his induction as manager of Newcastle United. They know how to welcome a new manager at St James’ Park, having had so much experience.

 

And Allardyce will cheerfully jump through all the usual hoops, pumping hands and slapping backs and quite possibly posing with one of those scarves which Newcastle acquire so cheaply and sell so dearly.

 

He will ask for patience and hint at glory. The phrase ‘sleeping giant’ may well pass his lips. At some stage,he may mention Jackie Milburn. Most of them do. And if he should forget his lines, then Freddy will be there to remind him.

 

Say what you will about Freddy Shepherd but he knows how to pick his managers. Unfortunately, picking the right manager is a rather different matter.

 

From sacking Bobby Robson to selecting and dismissing Graeme Souness and Glenn Roeder, not to mention the caretakers Steve Clarke and John Carver, poor Freddy can never get it quite right.

 

And, do you know, I’m not at all sure that he’s worked the trick this time.

 

When it became clear that Allardyce was to be Newcastle’s new manager, one radio station conducted a vox pop among Newcastle fans. It was fascinating. A fair few recited the ‘Big Sam . . . man of the people . . . takes no nonsense’ mantra. But a significant number worried about his methods.

 

It seems that when they thought of Allardyce, they thought of his Bolton — long balls, muscular scuffles, heaving throws, endlessly rehearsed free kicks and ‘Let’s see how far we can launch it this time’. Sammy Lee, once his lieutenant and now his successor, argued that the perception was unfair, that his old chum was simply trying to draw the best from the players at his disposal.

 

Well, Allardyce was there for eight years and he chose all of those players. We must, therefore, assume that the way they play is the way he prefers.

 

Which may be why so many Boltonians are not prepared to buy a season ticket at the Reebok. Launch and chase has a limited appeal, even when disguised in scientific trappings.

 

Then there is the matter of aspiration. At Bolton, Allardyce could get away with occasional qualification for the UEFA Cup. Little Bolton . . . playing in Europe . . .how great is that? But Newcastle is different.

 

After all, this is a club which won the English title as recently as 1927 and the FA Cup no more than 52 years ago. This is a place which sees itself as a Big Four club in waiting.

 

And the new manager, however unreasonably, will be expected to deliver that status.

 

He will not be assisted by an apparent inconsistency in Shepherd’s rigorous standards of probity. When Kevin Bond was named in the BBC Panorama investigation into football corruption, Newcastle relieved him of his duties as assistant manager.

 

There was no dramatic public announcement, just the implied assertion that the club could not afford to be associated with that sort of thing. Yet Allardyce was the central target for the Panorama programme.

 

Serious allegations were made and important questions went unanswered. Had he issued a writ, then the matter might have been tested at law.

 

But no writ has been issued, no charges have been satisfactorily rebutted. So Bond is sacked, Allardyce is hired, and the chairman sees nothing amiss with this train of events. Strange.

 

For the moment, Freddy is preoccupied with Michael Owen, whom he bought at outrageous expense and may be forced to sell rather cheaply. It may surprise Shepherd to learn that this column has some sympathy wth him in this affair.

 

Confined by injury to just two games this season ater being signed for more than £17 million and paid around £110,000 a week, Owen clearly owes Newcastle a debt of honour, and his reluctance to declare his loyalty does him no credit.

 

But even when he is in the right, Shepherd remains lumpenly unsympathetic.

 

His decision to go public with the news that none of England’s major clubs have shown the faintest interest in Owen could scarcely have endeared him to the striker.

 

Once again the chairman reminds us that the very rich are not necessarily very bright.

 

Yet he has landed his Sam. And Sam, or Big Sam as he likes to be known, will take them to places they have not visited since the current following were unborn. At least, he’d better take them there, because if he fails then there will be a terrible price to pay.

 

And at last — at long, long last — it might be Freddy Shepherd who is required to pay it.

 

[Howaythelads]

Some will always snipe ....

[Parky]

Seriously Obi half on here are ready to throw themselves off a cliff......Is it wise to encourage them?

[Guest Nappy Rash]

Seriously Obi half on here are ready to throw themselves off a cliff......Is it wise to encourage them?

 

Depends which half it is, speeding up evolution is surely a good thing  :parky:

[Parky]

Is Allardyce really the man to wake the giant?

00:12am 13th May 2007 Comments Comments

 

Patrick Collins

Sam Allardyce will attract a decent crowd for his induction as manager of Newcastle United. They know how to welcome a new manager at St James? Park, having had so much experience.

 

And Allardyce will cheerfully jump through all the usual hoops, pumping hands and slapping backs and quite possibly posing with one of those scarves which Newcastle acquire so cheaply and sell so dearly.

 

He will ask for patience and hint at glory. The phrase ?sleeping giant? may well pass his lips. At some stage,he may mention Jackie Milburn. Most of them do. And if he should forget his lines, then Freddy will be there to remind him.

 

Say what you will about Freddy Shepherd but he knows how to pick his managers. Unfortunately, picking the right manager is a rather different matter.

 

From sacking Bobby Robson to selecting and dismissing Graeme Souness and Glenn Roeder, not to mention the caretakers Steve Clarke and John Carver, poor Freddy can never get it quite right.

 

And, do you know, I?m not at all sure that he?s worked the trick this time.

 

When it became clear that Allardyce was to be Newcastle?s new manager, one radio station conducted a vox pop among Newcastle fans. It was fascinating. A fair few recited the ?Big Sam . . . man of the people . . . takes no nonsense? mantra. But a significant number worried about his methods.

 

It seems that when they thought of Allardyce, they thought of his Bolton ? long balls, muscular scuffles, heaving throws, endlessly rehearsed free kicks and ?Let?s see how far we can launch it this time?. Sammy Lee, once his lieutenant and now his successor, argued that the perception was unfair, that his old chum was simply trying to draw the best from the players at his disposal.

 

Well, Allardyce was there for eight years and he chose all of those players. We must, therefore, assume that the way they play is the way he prefers.

 

Which may be why so many Boltonians are not prepared to buy a season ticket at the Reebok. Launch and chase has a limited appeal, even when disguised in scientific trappings.

 

Then there is the matter of aspiration. At Bolton, Allardyce could get away with occasional qualification for the UEFA Cup. Little Bolton . . . playing in Europe . . .how great is that? But Newcastle is different.

 

After all, this is a club which won the English title as recently as 1927 and the FA Cup no more than 52 years ago. This is a place which sees itself as a Big Four club in waiting.

 

And the new manager, however unreasonably, will be expected to deliver that status.

 

He will not be assisted by an apparent inconsistency in Shepherd?s rigorous standards of probity. When Kevin Bond was named in the BBC Panorama investigation into football corruption, Newcastle relieved him of his duties as assistant manager.

 

There was no dramatic public announcement, just the implied assertion that the club could not afford to be associated with that sort of thing. Yet Allardyce was the central target for the Panorama programme.

 

Serious allegations were made and important questions went unanswered. Had he issued a writ, then the matter might have been tested at law.

 

But no writ has been issued, no charges have been satisfactorily rebutted. So Bond is sacked, Allardyce is hired, and the chairman sees nothing amiss with this train of events. Strange.

 

For the moment, Freddy is preoccupied with Michael Owen, whom he bought at outrageous expense and may be forced to sell rather cheaply. It may surprise Shepherd to learn that this column has some sympathy wth him in this affair.

 

Confined by injury to just two games this season ater being signed for more than £17 million and paid around £110,000 a week, Owen clearly owes Newcastle a debt of honour, and his reluctance to declare his loyalty does him no credit.

 

But even when he is in the right, Shepherd remains lumpenly unsympathetic.

 

His decision to go public with the news that none of England?s major clubs have shown the faintest interest in Owen could scarcely have endeared him to the striker.

 

Once again the chairman reminds us that the very rich are not necessarily very bright.

 

Yet he has landed his Sam. And Sam, or Big Sam as he likes to be known, will take them to places they have not visited since the current following were unborn. At least, he?d better take them there, because if he fails then there will be a terrible price to pay.

 

And at last ? at long, long last ? it might be Freddy Shepherd who is required to pay it.

 

 

I have some sympathy with FS on this as well. This was perhaps an attempt to put Owen in place after all the paper talk.

[Guest BooBoo]

Those scarves were handed out for nowt!

[Guest Knightrider]

Fat Mackem Bastard?

 

[NE5]

it would appear some people are so deluded and have such a negative stance at the club they think anyone will be better than the current board, they actually want Big Sam or whoever is the next manager to fail, just so they can think they are right.

 

Until a new board with a Bob Murray type as chairman comes in of course.

 

 

[Guest TheOrder]

Fat Mackem Bastard?

 

 

Obi/NappyRash/ Default WUM, didn't you back Souey to the hilt?

[Guest Nappy Rash]

it would appear some people are so deluded and have such a negative stance at the club they think anyone will be better than the current board, they actually want Big Sam or whoever is the next manager to fail, just so they can think they are right.

Until a new board with a Bob Murray type as chairman comes in of course.

 

Some people take anything other than optimistic rhetoric as a personal insult and deduce from there 

 

Deluded indeed 

 

 

[Guest Nappy Rash]

Obi/NappyRash/ Default WUM, didn't you back Souey to the hilt?

 

Here's a new one, go and read the thread some nugget dragged up the other day to try and prove the point you think you're making, nugget 

 

Being stupid is taken to a new level on here 

[Guest Knightrider]

Everyone knows my stance on the board but you can't knock them for this appointment, for once they've looked at everything here at Newcastle and what needs done and found a manager capable of doing these things, someone actually experienced and qualified to do them. In short I think the board have forgot about trophies and great football for a moment and decided there are far more pressing concerns needing attended to first and about fucking time, and a begrudging well done to them for finally realising this. Lets now hope they keep out of things and give Big Sam a free hand in running every aspect of the club which is something he will no doubt demand and expect otherwise he wouldn't have taken on the job.

[Guest Nappy Rash]

Everyone knows my stance on the board but you can't knock them for this appointment, for once they've looked at everything here at Newcastle and what needs done and found a manager capable of doing these things, someone actually experienced and qualified to do them. In short I think the board have forgot about trophies and great football for a moment and decided there are far more pressing concerns needing attended to first and about f****** time, and a begrudging well done to them for finally realising this. Lets now hope they keep out of things and give Big Sam a free hand in running every aspect of the club which is something he will no doubt demand and expect otherwise he wouldn't have taken on the job.

 

Wait until you have 12 Months of hindsight 

 

 

[Guest TheOrder]

Why are you here then? Surely that makes you stupid, if not MORE stupid, for knowingly visiting this website, and posting, safe in the knowledge its full of spakcers. Smacks of 'grooming' to me.

 

 

 

[Guest Nappy Rash]

Why are you here then? Surely that makes you stupid, if not MORE stupid, for knowingly visiting this website, and posting, safe in the knowledge its full of spakcers. Smacks of 'grooming' to me.

 

Have you ever heard me say stupid people reach stupid conclusions?  :parky:

 

Why would I be here, let me think, I support Newcastle United, this is a forum for.....

[OzzieMandias]

...not to mention the caretakers Steve Clarke and John Carver, poor Freddy can never get it quite right.

 

 

How desperate is that?

[Guest TheOrder]

Why are you here then? Surely that makes you stupid, if not MORE stupid, for knowingly visiting this website, and posting, safe in the knowledge its full of spakcers. Smacks of 'grooming' to me.

 

Have you ever heard me say stupid people reach stupid conclusions?  :parky:

 

Why would I be here, let me think, I support Newcastle United, this is a forum for.....

 

Surely somone of your superior intellect would feel more comfortable around other people of the same standard?

 

 

[Guest Nappy Rash]

Surely somone of your superior intellect would feel more comfortable around other people of the same standard?

 

I dont only post here numbnuts and not everyone on here has the intellectual capacity of a common garden worm and the comprehension ability of a wallflower  :parky:

 

But alas, stupid people will arrive at stupid conclusions 

[Guest Knightrider]

Stupid is as stupid does

 

/F Gump

 

 

Sorry, just love that film.

[Guest Nappy Rash]

Me too, rather apt too I feel  :parky:

[Guest TheOrder]

Me too, rather apt too I feel  :parky:

 

Where else do you post? I wouldn't mind taking a walk on the wild side tbh

 

 

Wouldn't mind seeing if you keep up your rugged exterior everywhere you frequent

[Guest Nappy Rash]

Wouldn't mind seeing if you keep up your rugged exterior everywhere you frequent

 

I can PM you if you like, its the complete opposite of here mind, we encourage abuse as we're all adults with a sense of humour so if you're sensitive don't bother 

 

Im off out now, pm Parky or I if you like 

[NE5]

it would appear some people are so deluded and have such a negative stance at the club they think anyone will be better than the current board, they actually want Big Sam or whoever is the next manager to fail, just so they can think they are right.

Until a new board with a Bob Murray type as chairman comes in of course.

 

Some people take anything other than optimistic rhetoric as a personal insult and deduce from there 

 

Deluded indeed 

 

 

clipping an article from a cockney based journo who hates Newcastle is a dead giveaway

 

 

 

[Guest Hodgson09]

Fucking hate Cockneys, the Premier League minus 3 London clubs will be just fantastic.

[merlin]

Collins has always hated NUFC, esp since we turned his beloved Man ure over 5-0 - he wrote about how disgusted he felt when neutrals expressed their dellight in seeing Fergie's mob given a hammering.

He never misses a chance to have a go at the club, but, sadly, the way the club has appeared to the rest of the country over the past 3 years has given him plenty of willing readers.

 

Whatever the merits or otherwise of Allardyce, you can bet your boots that Collins will be rooting for him to fail. Basically, this scribe is just a Champagne Socialist writer , based in London, but supporting Man U.

He must have cringed in the 90s when it looked for a while , that we were going to seriously challenge his beloved Reds for dominance of English football.

 

However, we cannot deny that the current Chairman has given him plenty of ammunition for fire at us - we are the laughing stock of the Prem., and it will take a few seasons of progress before the club gains respectability again.

Lets hope we get the chance to ram Collins' words down his throat....

Over to you Mr Chairman & Mr Allardyce....