Allardyce.

[JacknDanny]

I think they haven't won anything major in the last 50 odd years at St James Park , the fans must be well piss#d off with the lack of a serious challenge and losing in finals.

1969 Inter City Fairs Cup was the last trophy that Newcastle won.

Anyway looks like Big Sam will hold on to his job for a bit longer as Newcastle got a respectable 1-1 against Arsenal last night.

The Inter City Fairs Cup is hardly a 'major' trophy Spit , by Newcastle standards.

Well done last night and it was a well deserved point against the second best team in England .

I reckon this could be the kind of result Big Sam needed to kick start the season and with a run of good results all the calls for Sam to be sacked will die down.

At a time when news was transferred by word of mouth and could not be verified, it has been proved on the Discovery Channel that Newcastle United didn't in fact win the old equivalent of the UEFA Cup, they actually won the British Rail Inter City Fares Cup when they beat Crewe Railway Yard Albion 5-4 in a best of 9 game of stone-paper-scissors when the original game, tied at 1-1, was abandoned when the ball got stuck between a rail and a sleeper. Until now this remains Newcastle's only silverware in the last 100 years. Any reference to FA Cup glory in the 1950's is pure fiction. It never happened.

[Spit the Dog]

I think they haven't won anything major in the last 50 odd years at St James Park , the fans must be well piss#d off with the lack of a serious challenge and losing in finals.

1969 Inter City Fairs Cup was the last trophy that Newcastle won.

Anyway looks like Big Sam will hold on to his job for a bit longer as Newcastle got a respectable 1-1 against Arsenal last night.

The Inter City Fairs Cup is hardly a 'major' trophy Spit , by Newcastle standards.

Well done last night and it was a well deserved point against the second best team in England .

I reckon this could be the kind of result Big Sam needed to kick start the season and with a run of good results all the calls for Sam to be sacked will die down.

At a time when news was transferred by word of mouth and could not be verified, it has been proved on the Discovery Channel that Newcastle United didn't in fact win the old equivalent of the UEFA Cup, they actually won the British Rail Inter City Fares Cup when they beat Crewe Railway Yard Albion 5-4 in a best of 9 game of stone-paper-scissors when the original game, tied at 1-1, was abandoned when the ball got stuck between a rail and a sleeper. Until now this remains Newcastle's only silverware in the last 100 years. Any reference to FA Cup glory in the 1950's is pure fiction. It never happened.

Ha, Ha Ha Sunderland. Very Witty.

[NALAK]

as a Derby fan i wish we could play newcastle every week.

[mrtoad]

as a Derby fan i wish we could play newcastle every week.

If you had, you would probably been top of the league.

[mrtoad]

The pressure will be back on BSA again after the last couple of results, 1 point from 6 against the bottom two.

[chavy]

as a Derby fan i wish we could play newcastle every week.

Are Newcastle going down as well then

[Spit the Dog]

I'm all for giving Big Sam time but it has to be said that his team looks clueless. One point from Wigan and Derby. It feels like Souness all over again. There is no consistency in his selection and during the games he keeps switching players positions. When Keegan and Sir Bobby were in charge you could almost certainly predict the line up and positions each player would play before the match. With Allardyce, I ain't got a clue and by the looks of things neither do his players. The big decision now for Ashley and Mort is whether to give him money to spend in January. Would he spent it wisely or would we sign more duds like Geremi, Rozenhal, Barton and Smith? Unless things start to improve very soon, I can see the big man getting the boot in the New Year.

[mrtoad]

I'm all for giving Big Sam time but it has to be said that his team looks clueless. One point from Wigan and Derby. It feels like Souness all over again. There is no consistency in his selection and during the games he keeps switching players positions. When Keegan and Sir Bobby were in charge you could almost certainly predict the line up and positions each player would play before the match. With Allardyce, I ain't got a clue and by the looks of things neither do his players. The big decision now for Ashley and Mort is whether to give him money to spend in January. Would he spent it wisely or would we sign more duds like Geremi, Rozenhal, Barton and Smith? Unless things start to improve very soon, I can see the big man getting the boot in the New Year.

Joey Barton is harldy helping things, back in trouble again. What a tool.

[Jockstar]

I'm all for giving Big Sam time but it has to be said that his team looks clueless. One point from Wigan and Derby. It feels like Souness all over again. There is no consistency in his selection and during the games he keeps switching players positions. When Keegan and Sir Bobby were in charge you could almost certainly predict the line up and positions each player would play before the match. With Allardyce, I ain't got a clue and by the looks of things neither do his players. The big decision now for Ashley and Mort is whether to give him money to spend in January. Would he spent it wisely or would we sign more duds like Geremi, Rozenhal, Barton and Smith? Unless things start to improve very soon, I can see the big man getting the boot in the New Year.

I believe he a should also be given time. Get rid of some of the dead wood and bring in a couple of decent players.

[mrtoad]

I DON'T TRUST YOU LOT

The Sun

By STEVE BRENNER

Published: Today

SAM ALLARDYCE is back on the brink at Newcastle after admitting he does not trust his strugglers to save him from the chop.

The Magpies boss was blasted by the 5,000-strong Toon Army during their dismal 1-0 defeat at Wigan on Boxing Day.

And when asked if he was happy his future is in the hands of his players, Allardyce said: “No, not really.

"But these are the players I’ve got. Some I’ve bought and some I haven’t.

“Most of them have shown me what they can do on the good side of things.

Crunch clashes

“But too many are showing me what they can do on the bad side of it.”

Newcastle now face crunch clashes at Chelsea tomorrow and home to Manchester City on Wednesday before a tricky trip to Stoke in the third round of the FA Cup.

Bookies have been swamped with money coming in for Allardyce to be the next top-flight manager to get the bullet — and the weight of money has not often been wrong in the past.

Allardyce is now firm favourite to be on his way with bet365 going just 5-4 owner Mike Ashley makes him the next boss to lose his job next.

The Toon Army are desperate to see Alan Shearer take over but Big Sam is ready for a fight.

He said: “It’s the same old story. You lose a game and lose it badly and you are under the cosh.

“I cannot blame the fans for what they were singing.

“We weren’t good enough and you don’t need to be an expert to see that.

“They spend their hard-earned money and they want to see us fight and do an awful lot better.

“Everyone can have an off day, but our off days are really off.

“I know it’s not good enough, so it doesn’t take much for them to work out it’s not good enough. They are not daft.

“The level of form the players have dropped to is unacceptable.”

Turkish midfielder Emre said: “We have to think positively.

“We don’t have much time, as the Chelsea and Man City games are so close together — but we must be strong.”

Oh dear, it really does look he's in last chance saloon, the sheer weight of betting is normally a good indicator. Time fort Mr Creasote, sorry Mr Shearer to step forward.

[mrtoad]

THE FINGER POINTS

By STEVE BRENNER

Published: Today

SAM ALLARDYCE is right back under the cosh at Newcastle — and he only has himself to blame.

Funny then, that Big Sam is beginning to point the finger at everyone else but himself as the infamous Tyneside pressure cooker is cranked up another few notches.

Toon boss Allardyce now says he does not trust his players to get him out of the brown stuff.

Yet five starters at Wigan on Boxing Day — Alan Smith, Mark Viduka, Habib Beye, Abdoulaye Faye and Geremi — are his signings while another, Spanish full-back Jose Enrique came on as sub.

Remember Enrique? He cost Sam ฃ6million, who then insisted he would not have been up to starting against rivals Sunderland last month.

Why pay so much if he was not ready? Enrique has made just five starts while Charles N’Zogbia, normally a winger, has been played at left-back.

Squad will be decimated

Add in hit-and-miss Joey Barton’s form following his broken metatarsal and it is no wonder new club owner Mike Ashley has refused to hand over a bucketload more cash for Allardyce to spend in the January sales.

Why should he? Allardyce continues to bleat on about how his squad will be decimated by African Nations Cup call-ups.

But he knew when he signed Faye, Geremi and Beye that they would be missing in the New Year.

Just as he did when he signed Jay-Jay Okocha at Bolton . . . and El-Hadji Diouf and Radhi Jaidi. The list goes on. And on. And on.

So to then use that as a bartering tool to try and convince Ashley to give him more money was not going to fly.

You would have thought it would have given Allardyce a lift to see the Toon supremo in among the 5,000 strong Geordie faithful at Wigan.

But as the cries of “We’re s*** and we know we are” rang from the stands, imagine what was going through Ashley’s mind.

As everyone around him was calling for Big Sam’s head, Ashley must have been considering it. How could he not?

He was told time and again, as he was during the Wear-Tyne derby, to get rid.

Which other set of fans get the chance to tell their chairman what they think as he sits among them at matches?

ALLARDYCE ... dodgy signings

It is a uniquely terrible situation for Allardyce. Sportswear magnate Ashley wants to please his punters.

At the moment, it seems they would be more than pleased with him handing Big Sam his P45. Allardyce wants time and he is right.

The mess he was left by Glenn Roeder was never going to be sorted quickly.

Toon legend Chris Waddle reckons Newcastle need a long-term plan.

But he said: “Sam saying he hasn’t got any trust in the players won’t be good for the players’ confidence.

“But it’s clear Mike Ashley has some big decisions to make. Allardyce was Freddy Shepherd’s appointment but to get rid now would cost them so much.

“It wouldn’t just be Sam. It would be all his backroom staff. That would cost millions.

“Then what does he do? Get someone else in and start again? Newcastle has been like a merry-go-round for too long now. It would be good to hear Ashley’s thoughts.

“Sam is now realising this is the biggest challenge he’s ever faced.

“It is crunch time. If he is given money to bring in some flair, it may just work out.”

The fact Allardyce was Shepherd’s last act at St James’ Park does give Ashley a get-out clause.

And Toon sources continue to reveal not everyone in the squad is happy with Allardyce’s direct style.

Too many long balls, too direct and too many players playing out of position.

Then there is Michael Owen. His injury problems have been hard to cope with for the club. Worse still, Owen appears desperate to leave — despite insisting he wants to repay the club for looking after him while he’s been out.

If a bid came in, Allardyce would have thought all his Christmases had come at once. But there is a problem.

Nobody wants a striker on ฃ100,000 a week who has made 21 starts in two years.

Then there is Alan Shearer. The man the Toon army seem to be pinning all their faith on — despite his lack of experience and qualifications.

He is seen as the saviour, not Allardyce.

Newcastle want fantasy football. With trips to Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal looming in the next month, this nightmare could soon get much, much worse.

[Jockstar]

Allardyce wants time and he is right.

The mess he was left by Glenn Roeder was never going to be sorted quickly.

Exactly. I say he should be given more time.IMHO

[mrtoad]

Allardyce wants time and he is right.

The mess he was left by Glenn Roeder was never going to be sorted quickly.

Exactly. I say he should be given more time.IMHO

Agree, 100 per cent, but we all know that Managers do not get much time these days. Newcastle has been a poisoned chalice for a number of years, pretty much since Keegan went, and with Shearer continuing to hover in the wings waiting for hius chance, most of the managers who have gone there have been on a hiding to nothing. Big Sam is no different, and some of his signings so far just haven't performed, along with some pretty dull football inot the bargain. I think he doesn't deserve the <deleted> he's getting, as he is a more than capable EPL manager, but the rot runs deep at Newcastle, and has done, for a number of years. It takes time to sort it, but no one has been given the time, and I rather suspect that Sam won't either.

[Jockstar]

t takes time to sort it, but no one has been given the time.

Here in lies the problem.

[mrtoad]

t takes time to sort it, but no one has been given the time.

Here in lies the problem.

It's no conincidence that clubs who have managers in place for a longer time have been more succesful. It doesn't pay to look for short term solutions in the long run, and you would have thought that Newcastle would have learnt that by no, but they evidently haven't.

[Spit the Dog]

Allardyce wants time and he is right.

The mess he was left by Glenn Roeder was never going to be sorted quickly.

Exactly. I say he should be given more time.IMHO

Agree, 100 per cent, but we all know that Managers do not get much time these days. Newcastle has been a poisoned chalice for a number of years, pretty much since Keegan went, and with Shearer continuing to hover in the wings waiting for hius chance, most of the managers who have gone there have been on a hiding to nothing. Big Sam is no different, and some of his signings so far just haven't performed, along with some pretty dull football inot the bargain. I think he doesn't deserve the <deleted> he's getting, as he is a more than capable EPL manager, but the rot runs deep at Newcastle, and has done, for a number of years. It takes time to sort it, but no one has been given the time, and I rather suspect that Sam won't either.

Spot on Mr Toad. Out of the 9 signings he has made the only half decent player looks like Beye. Cacapa, Rozenahal and Faye are no better than Boumsong and Bramble. Enrique isn't ready. Barton is a tool. Geremi is crap. Viduka doesn't look interested and Alan Smith runs around like a headless chicken.

I watched probably the majority of Newcastle's games this season and it's been painful. I look at Villa and Everton, which are 2 teams Newcastle should be competing with, and it has to be said that they are far superior.

Managers should be given time. But Newcastle and Big Sam just isn't going to work. It's time for Ashley to cut his losses and get rid of him.

[ThaiPauly]

I really cannot understand whats going on with Smith and Viduka?

When they were at Leeds they were a very potent strikeforce.

Viduka did well at Boro and Smith made the most of the limited opportunities presented to him....but now ....somethings wrong somewhere.

Is it down to morale?

[mrtoad]

£50m FURY

Ashley's huge bill to sack Sam

Allardyce rage at 'offside' goal

By Rav Ryan & Andy Dunn - News of The World

NEWCASTLE'S billionaire owner Mike Ashley will have to pay out a staggering £50MILLION to sack manager Sam Allardyce.

Ashley will spend the New Year weekend weighing up his options amid mounting turmoil at St James' Park.

Under-fire Allardyce was fuming after Salomon Kalou's blatant ‘offside' goal sealed United's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.

He stormed: "Managers are losing their jobs sooner than ever and that means there is even more pressure on decisions. That was a horrid decision. I wouldn't mind being fined for criticising but what is the point?

READ: Toon mutiny

"The Chelsea player was three yards offside. It is certainly the worst decision against me this year. But referee Mike Riley should have gone over to linesman Mike Cairns and given him time to change his mind."

Yesterday's defeat at Chelsea comes on top of a shocking away loss at Wigan and a tame home draw with bottom club Derby.

A Newcastle insider declared: "It will cost Ashley a fortune to get rid of Allardyce and find a replacement."

Ashley would have to fork out £7.5m to pay up the remaining two-and-a-half years of Allardyce's £3m-a-season deal.

That figure will rise to a staggering £20m to pay off the huge backroom team which Allardyce brought in.

Any new manager would want at least a £10m contract to take over — plus a £20m transfer kitty.

Twist

The axe could fall on Allardyce as early as next week if the club are knocked out of the FA Cup by Stoke as the Toon boss faces a dressing room revolt.

Alan Shearer is the man the fans would love to take over but he will not consider the job while Allardyce is still in place.

Even then, he has some doubts about whether the job is right for him.

The insider said: "It's by no means certain Shearer will take over because of the situation the club is in. "So Ashley has to decide whether to stick or twist with Allardyce because of the huge sums involved."

A source close to the Newcastle owner said: "We are not going to win the League but we are not going to go down. Not all of Sam's buys have worked out and Ashley isn't convinced there is any need to spend at this stage. If he sticks with Sam, he will wait to see how much more the manager can get out of the existing players."

Former Spurs boss Martin Jol is a long-odds outsider for the job because Ashley is close friends with former Tottenham director Paul Kemsley-the man who was instrumental in the Dutchman's departure from White Hart Lane.

Very interesting bit about Shearer, you get the feeling he is not going to risk his "golden" reputation just yet, but will continue to haunt all the managers that are at Newcastle before him.

[scousemouse]

Would Shearer be stupid enough to destroy the legendary status he has at Newcastle by taking the managers job there .

Souness (Liverpool ) and Dalglish ( Celtic ) did .

I think he is a bit smarter than that and will bide his time a bit longer , anyway, he's not worth 50 miliion squid .

[chavy]

If they lose to Stoke in the FA Cup on Sunday coupled with last nights result I can see curtains for big Sam. I know chopping & changing usually doesn't work out, as the statistics suggest, but, the only outcome I can see is Ashley bowing to fan pressure & getting rid.

[mrbojangles]

If they lose to Stoke in the FA Cup on Sunday coupled with last nights result I can see curtains for big Sam.

I don't think losing last night will get him the sack. After all, not many teams are expected to beat one of the big 4 But i think you're right about having to beat Stoke. However what will Newcastle do then? It's gonna cost a fortune to sack Sam and the back room boys he brought.

[mrbojangles]

From the BBC:-

I am under pressure - Allardyce

Sam Allardyce admits his position at Newcastle is becoming increasingly precarious after seeing the Magpies lose their third successive match.

Club chairman Chris Mort has publicly backed the 53-year-old manager.

But the former Bolton boss conceded: "The support is great, but at the end of the day, the pressure still mounts, it mounts despite that support.

"A team like us should not be losing at home. A team like us should not be losing three games on the trot."

Newcastle were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City at St James' Park on Wednesday.

The defeat followed a controversial 2-1 loss to Chelsea, a disappointing 1-0 reverse to Premier League strugglers Wigan and a 2-2 home draw with bottom club Derby.

The Magpies are nine points clear of the relegation zone, but fans are growing frustrated with Allardyce's reign.

"I am not daft enough not to know that I am in the results business and I need to win some football matches," he said.

"That's clear, but I will have to look at the encouraging performances today and at Chelsea and look to get the right decisions from the players at the right times.

"With that and a bit of luck, we can look to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal, but we are creating chances."

Allardyce was furious that what he felt were several key decisions went against his side against City.

He was particularly upset when Elano received just a yellow card for a challenge on Abdoulaye Faye which he believed should have been a red.

Newcastle have now one just one of the last six games at home, but Allardyce received the backing of City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson after the latest setback.

"He's a very, very good manager," said the former England coach.

"He has shown that in the past and he is, and will be, a very good manager for Newcastle. Just give him some time and he will sort it out, I'm sure."

A defeat to Stoke in the FA Cup this weekend will only heap more pressure on Allardyce, who expects the Championship side to pose a real threat at the Britannia Stadium.

"They will fancy it now won't they? They will think we are there for the taking," he said.

"We have got to stick together and believe that how we can play can get us out of trouble. That starts at Stoke."

But he added that a win on Sunday could spark Newcastle's season into life.

"The FA Cup relieves the pressure of the Premier League. It is not the same competition and it is a straight knockout," he said.

"You have got one chance and we have to make sure we take it and not miss the opportunity to get into the next round because that could be a confidence-booster and turn our Premier League performances, which are good, into results.

"But it is a tough month for us."

After Stoke, Newcastle have to face Manchester United and Arsenal away either side of Bolton's visit to Tyneside.

Nigel Pearson, Allardyce's assistant, admits it is a testing time for the club.

"Hopefully people will stick with us and we can show them exactly what we can do," he said.

"It is a difficult time for us. We just have to make sure we come out of the other side of it."

[technocracy]

It would be nice if we (Stoke) were to put the nail in his Newcastle managerial coffin I have to say!

We will see Sunday AM - can't wait!

[lawling]

Another mutual consent departure. Any thoughts on who is going to replace him?

Apparently Shearer has ruled himself out? Wise man!

[Prakanong]

Another mutual consent departure. Any thoughts on who is going to replace him?

Apparently Shearer has ruled himself out? Wise man!

It does seem abit of a poisoned chalice that job!

Long may it remain so - I am from Sunderland

[JacknDanny]

Another mutual consent departure. Any thoughts on who is going to replace him?

Apparently Shearer has ruled himself out? Wise man!

Its a done deal.

And that man is.......................................

HARRY REDKNAPP

[spot]

Half way through the season, 12 points safely away from the relegation zone and the manager is (by mutual consent) sacked. What the hel_l is going on, and what do people expect? What do Newcastle supporters really expect with injuries to key players and without Chelsea type spending power...

How long will the new manager get....10 games?

Anyway, they deserve to go the way of Leeds for the booing of Gerrard

[chavy]

Allardyce was never the fans no1 choice. Like Ronaldo diving, Gerrard cheating & Alex Ferguson moaning their reputation will stay with them forever. The brand of football Allardyce is 'reputed' to play was always a massive minus point for him, whatever he did.

Next manager.......Martin Jol

[JacknDanny]

Allardyce was never the fans no1 choice. Like Ronaldo diving, Gerrard cheating & Alex Ferguson moaning their reputation will stay with them forever. The brand of football Allardyce is 'reputed' to play was always a massive minus point for him, whatever he did.

Next manager.......Martin Jol

chavy, the next manager is Harry Redknapp. Trust me on this one

[chavy]

I bow down to your inside knowledge

However, I couldn't understand him leaving his comfort zone down on the south coast