Shearer Takes Control At Newcastle

[Spit the Dog]

That'll do.

With 30 minutes left they looked knackered, fair play to the manager for changing it about.

Still lots to do.

It's quite simple, if Hull lose at Bolton on Saturday, you've stayed up as they're not gonna get anything out of Man Ure on the last day..

It says an awful lot about the standard of Newcastle this Year with the points tally that's gonna keep them up & the only reason they will stay up is because of the sh*tness of others ( Hull specifically ), not because you deserved to..

Still, you've got to be in it to win it...

I didn't wnat to see a Club like Newcastle go down personally as i know what i'd prefer on my trip Home next Year for an Away Game if i had to chose out of Newcastle or Preston/Reading/Burnley..

Agree with you Singhy, that those three points are probably enough. Newcastle are shit, but they are lucky that Boro are even worse, and West Brom have left it too late. As for Hull, they couldn't score in Afterschool on Soi Cowboy and they look doomed.

I still feel that there will be another couple of twists in the last 2 games. Hull might look unable to score in Afterschool on Soi Cowboy, but they will probably get lucky and face Man Utd's reserves on the last day of the season if the title has already been sewn up. Fergie will surely not risk playing his star players in a pointless match 3 days before the Champions league final. This means that it's important for Newcastle to go into the last game with their destiny in their own hands.

Also, Sunderland must be worried now as they could be in the bottom 3 if results go against them by the time they face Pompey on Monday. The pressure might get to them and with Chelsea on the last day, who knows what can happen.

[bkkjames]

Sorry James, for you I should have changed it to Lolitas.

haha, well as much I would like to believe that, unlike afformentioned others, I find this hard to swallow.

[mrtoad]

Sorry James, for you I should have changed it to Lolitas.

haha, well as much I would like to believe that, unlike afformentioned others, I find this hard to swallow.

Yes, certainly in this establishments swallowing is something that isn't a problem, according to my friends.

[sanmiguel]

It's quite simple, if Hull lose at Bolton on Saturday, you've stayed up as they're not gonna get anything out of Man Ure on the last day..

You still cant rule out Boro, West Brom or even Hull getting 6 points in the 2 last games, Newcastle need 6 points to be certain to stay up and all of a sudden our 2 last games look fcuken hard and everyone elses really easy.

[sanmiguel]

A reprieve for the geordie boys,didnt watch the game as it was irrelevant to the Stokies,but did you deserve the win???

I think they did as they took the game to Boro, but looked nervous in patches

If i was a betting man i think you will avoid relegation but i sense a mass exodus for your players,but that wont be a bad thing as no balls,no heart springs to mid.

I will carry their bags for them, but not many will want them on the wages Newcastle pay.

you lovely non violent supporters go on youtube and see the scenes from Newcastle/Sunderland match,see how you outnumbered Sunderland and your chavys didnt even run.

I dont go in for football violence i really cant be bothered with it, but if people like it and want to kick <deleted> out of each othe good luck to them but they shouldnt complain if theyre outnumbered, im at the boxing gym pretty much every day whilst here in LOS maybe it takes away the need to "beat someone up for fun".

PS I moved back to Newcastle for a few months just after Xmas after many years away, and its unbelievable the way SOME people from Newcastle and Sunderland despise each other just for being born 10 mile away.

[rixalex]

As for Hull, they couldn't score in Afterschool on Soi Cowboy and they look doomed.

Nor could i on one certain visit...

*head hung in shame*

I too have visited said establishment without so much as a sniff.

[StevieH]

As for Hull, they couldn't score in Afterschool on Soi Cowboy and they look doomed.

Nor could i on one certain visit...

*head hung in shame*

I too have visited said establishment without so much as a sniff.

haha. you should maybe try crawling around on all fours then and just breathing in.

[rixalex]

On a more serious note, just want to say how heart-wrenching it was to see Sir Bobby in the crowd last night - he looked so weak and frail. Really brought me down to earth.

[bkkjames]

On a more serious note, just want to say how heart-wrenching it was to see Sir Bobby in the crowd last night - he looked so weak and frail. Really brought me down to earth.

Yea nobody like to legends of the game like this,

On a less serious note maybe jstar can rename this thread "shearer loses control at castle-not fit to manage"

Is it just me but doesn't shearer and dowie standing on the sideline remind you of the movie "dumb and dumber"?

How about "clueless in newcastle"?

Or an oldy but goody "the last castle"

[sanmiguel]

So let me get this clear you watched a game of football where his team had a perfectly good goal disallowed were the better team throughout and were unlucky not to get at least a draw and you mention about they way he stands??????

How is he supposed to stand as maybe you should send him a letter explaining what he is doing wrong, which manager has the best standing pose? Im actually stood whilst on the computer as i write, i just wish you could see the way im standing .... kind of a Paul Newman meets Steve Mcqueen kind of stand would probably win the premiership with a bunch of cripples this standing pose.

[bkkjames]

I referring to the way he glances over to dowie everytime castle concedes with a bewildered look on his face that says "is that supposed to happen? this seemed easier when I was playing"

[patklang]

So let me get this clear you watched a game of football where his team had a perfectly good goal disallowed were the better team throughout and were unlucky not to get at least a draw and you mention about they way he stands??????

How is he supposed to stand as maybe you should send him a letter explaining what he is doing wrong, which manager has the best standing pose? Im actually stood whilst on the computer as i write, i just wish you could see the way im standing .... kind of a Paul Newman meets Steve Mcqueen kind of stand would probably win the premiership with a bunch of cripples this standing pose.

There were 5 car-toon supporters in the bar last night and they said Newcastle were crap and embarrasing,but i didnt watch the game,i was watching super STOKE beat Wigan easy.

[patklang]

That'll do.

With 30 minutes left they looked knackered, fair play to the manager for changing it about.

Still lots to do.

It's quite simple, if Hull lose at Bolton on Saturday, you've stayed up as they're not gonna get anything out of Man Ure on the last day..

It says an awful lot about the standard of Newcastle this Year with the points tally that's gonna keep them up & the only reason they will stay up is because of the sh*tness of others ( Hull specifically ), not because you deserved to..

Still, you've got to be in it to win it...

I didn't wnat to see a Club like Newcastle go down personally as i know what i'd prefer on my trip Home next Year for an Away Game if i had to chose out of Newcastle or Preston/Reading/Burnley..

Its a sad state of affairs when oldcastle have to rely on other clubs losing,because thay are not good enough to string to wins together.

[ThaiPauly]

I thought the barcodes were very unlucky.

Absolutley nothing wrong with Viduka's goal.

Webb made a cock up at Man Utd when he gave them a penalty against Spurs a few weeks ago for Gomez's non-challenge

AND...more importanly did the same thing when Reading played at Burnley. (outside the box)

Yet he will more than likely be the UK's sole representative ref at the next World Cup

He's made a lot of howlers recently

[sanmiguel]

I thought the barcodes were very unlucky.

Absolutley nothing wrong with Viduka's goal.

Webb made a cock up at Man Utd when he gave them a penalty against Spurs a few weeks ago for Gomez's non-challenge

AND...more importanly did the same thing when Reading played at Burnley. (outside the box)

Yet he will more than likely be the UK's sole representative ref at the next World Cup

He's made a lot of howlers recently

To cancel that Viduka goal could relegate Newcastle as a point would have kept them above Hull and i cant see them getting anything V Man U reserves, it was without doubt a perfectly good goal and this bloke will get away with making another colossal <deleted> up without a word. If someone were to make a mistake of that magnitude in a 9-5 job theyd be looking at getting their P45.

For the sending off im not 100% sure if the rule it probably was by the letter of the law a sending off but the initial foul the player was by the half way line, he couldnt have had a clear run from there.

[bkkjames]

I thought the barcodes were very unlucky.

Absolutley nothing wrong with Viduka's goal.

Webb made a cock up at Man Utd when he gave them a penalty against Spurs a few weeks ago for Gomez's non-challenge

AND...more importanly did the same thing when Reading played at Burnley. (outside the box)

Yet he will more than likely be the UK's sole representative ref at the next World Cup

He's made a lot of howlers recently

To cancel that Viduka goal could relegate Newcastle as a point would have kept them above Hull and i cant see them getting anything V Man U reserves, it was without doubt a perfectly good goal and this bloke will get away with making another colossal <deleted> up without a word. If someone were to make a mistake of that magnitude in a 9-5 job theyd be looking at getting their P45.

For the sending off im not 100% sure if the rule it probably was by the letter of the law a sending off but the initial foul the player was by the half way line, he couldnt have had a clear run from there.

I understand your frustration SM, but Castle had 36 other games to get their house in order. For the record, I see a Hull draw against our reserves.

[sanmiguel]

But when youre in that position after 36 games youve still 2 left to get out of it, unless the ref decides otherwise

[patklang]

Howard Webb will be happy to have a rest after some howlers.If that guy is one of the best in England god help us all.Rob Styles has got to be the worst ref ever and more interested in his side job of guest speaker at functions.Was it Styles who reffed West Brom v Liverpool last night???.After seeing Carragher have a right dig at his team mate who reacted angrily back,how could both not be sent off for fighting,not even a booking.Ricardo Fuller got a red card for a very mild slap on the captains face,so again one rule for Stoke and one rule for the mighty Liverpool.

DISGUSTNG REF AGAIN

[bkkjames]

Howard Webb will be happy to have a rest after some howlers.If that guy is one of the best in England god help us all.Rob Styles has got to be the worst ref ever and more interested in his side job of guest speaker at functions.Was it Styles who reffed West Brom v Liverpool last night???.After seeing Carragher have a right dig at his team mate who reacted angrily back,how could both not be sent off for fighting,not even a booking.Ricardo Fuller got a red card for a very mild slap on the captains face,so again one rule for Stoke and one rule for the mighty Liverpool.

DISGUSTNG REF AGAIN

Relax Pat : Stoke will be in the BPL next year.

[Devil]

Howard Webb will be happy to have a rest after some howlers.If that guy is one of the best in England god help us all.Rob Styles has got to be the worst ref ever and more interested in his side job of guest speaker at functions.Was it Styles who reffed West Brom v Liverpool last night???.After seeing Carragher have a right dig at his team mate who reacted angrily back,how could both not be sent off for fighting,not even a booking.Ricardo Fuller got a red card for a very mild slap on the captains face,so again one rule for Stoke and one rule for the mighty Liverpool.

DISGUSTNG REF AGAIN

Should of been sent off give me break, never a sending off in a million years...

[coxhoedave]

The expenses scandal sweeping the UK has finally hit the football world. It would appear Newcastle United have been claiming for silver polish since 1969!!!

[Jockstar]

Shearer not thinking about the drop

May 23, 2009

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Alan Shearer has refused even to contemplate the prospect of relegation as he prepares for a final-day showdown with Aston Villa.

Newcastle United will run out at Villa Park on Sunday knowing defeat will send them back into the Football League after 16 years, while even a draw or a victory would not be enough to keep them up should Hull match their result at home to Manchester United.

The implications would be massive for a club which twice finished as Premier League runners-up during the 1990s.

However, Shearer, who will be kept fully informed of developments elsewhere in the dug-out, remains convinced they will retain their top-flight status, and will not countenance the alternative.

He said: "No. I can't, I won't think about that. I will be as positive as possible and my players will be, and we will see what happens."

Shearer, of course, is a legend on Tyneside after giving 10 years service and a record 206 goals to his hometown club, and no one would feel the pain of relegation any more acutely than him.

He played in huge games for the Magpies - the FA Cup Finals of 1998 and 1999 and the UEFA Cup semi-final in 2004 among them - but he admits preparations for them were in complete contrast to what he has gone through this week.

Shearer said: "It doesn't compare, it is totally different.

"It's a massive game. We all know the stakes, we all know what we are playing for, but I still believe, I really do."

Shearer's task has not been helped by a continuing selection crisis which had already robbed him of suspended duo Sebastien Bassong and Joey Barton, but which has now claimed his only specialist right-back, Habib Beye, through injury.

Left-back Jose Enrique could be fit after missing the last three games with a hamstring injury, but the manager could have to turn to the likes of David Edgar, Ryan Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini as he attempts to find the men to join Steven Taylor at the back, where midfielder Damien Duff has performed well on an emergency basis in recent weeks.

The lack of depth in the Magpies' squad will be only one of the issues which will need to be addressed during the summer - although relegation would have major implications on recruitment - and Shearer knows however things eventually turn out, a detailed post-mortem will be required after a desperate campaign.

He said: "Whatever happens, we have to look at what has gone right and what has gone wrong this season, and people will do that after the season, I know that.

"We will look and will pick the bones out of everything that as gone on.

"We will look at that on Monday morning - hopefully with Newcastle still being a Premier League football club."

[technocracy]

Well he's got think about it now! Bugger off to the fizzy pop league and close the door behind you!

How many teams is that now that Dowie has a hand in relegating?

Like I said after our game to stay up all they needed to do was play every game in a 10-0-1 formation - a draw should of been there aim for every game - and if they sneaked a win along the way it would of been a bonus.

Instead the 3 monkeys decide that they'll try and go out for a win every game . . . I don't know which one is the most inept Shearer, Dowie or Houghton! Trying to play pretty football when you are in <deleted> and completely lacking any confidence just doesn't work. I think the 4-3-3 away at Liverpool pretty much summed it up!

Tony Pulis has saved teams who are deep in the relegation mire on several occasions (ourselves included) and his general blueprint was - drop any creative players who don't put in 100% and players that hide, 2 holding midfielders, play a tight 4-4-1-1 with the 2 holding midfielders sitting close to the CBs, make sure the LB and RB don't push forward and under any pressure hit the ball long to a target man for counters attack. All the training would of been is formation, formation, formation . . . keeping 2 banks of 4 tight.

Sure in hel_l it's not pretty and it squeezes the games into battles of attrition rather than 'pretty' football but if Shearer had done this I pretty much believe the Barcodes would still be in the premiership.

[ThaiPauly]

I would be rarther worried if I were you Tech.

Pullis has done a tremendous job over the last 2 years at least ....there may be a few big name clubs who may be casting their eye at him.

He has served his apprenticeship well. Sunderland, Newcastle and who knows what other manangerial casualties there may be in the coming weeks

[mrtoad]

Nowhere man say goodbye: Newcastle are over-rated and now relegated By Martin Samuel Last updated at 1:40 AM on 25th May 2009

The falsely maligned novices of Manchester did their job. So, too, the old sweats from Stamford Bridge. It was to no purpose, in the end.

The nowhere men of Newcastle were beyond redemption, beyond the reach of local heroes and saviours empowered by tired old myths from an era that matters less with each passing campaign.

You have to laugh: Villa fans taunt their rivals

Newcastle are a thoroughly modern club in that they embody all that is soulless and uninspired in the 21st-century game. And that is how they went down at Villa Park. An over-rated and over-valued collection of players, stitched together by a series of moribund managerial teams and posturing, useless owners, offering nothing by way of resistance, and little of remorse.

When Chris Foy, the referee, brought their Premier League tenure to an end, several of the group, including the defender who came to sum up the malaise, Fabricio Coloccini, disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel with barely an acknowledgement of the travelling fans who, along with temporary manager Alan Shearer, if he stays, are all the club has left.

Shearer intends to meet Mike Ashley, the owner, this week and tell him what is wrong with his club. Ashley should schedule a long session and perhaps book a room for the night, plus breakfast. He should also make keeping the manager a priority.

Shearer has won a single game in eight and his players can hardly have been less impressive on their final Premier League outing. Yet while this is hardly the standard recommendation for employment, it must also be recognised that he inherited a squad that would have tested managerial genius.

If he was to leave, where would Newcastle go without him? This is a club in rudderless turmoil. Apres moi, le deluge, in the words of Louis XV. At least the weather turned out nice at first. In keeping with the misplaced optimism, the supporters began the day bathed in sunshine but as the game wore on, were increasingly shrouded in shade, nature writing its own metaphors for their plight.

It would have been fitting had a small cloud hovered, raining only on them, like the one that used to follow the Addams Family car.

There would have been a time when the players and supporters would at least have been united in misery on an afternoon such as this, but at the moment when all hope disappeared only Shearer seemed aware of the enormity of the event.

He walked forward from his dugout, slowly, as if in shock, like a battle- weary soldier emerging from the trenches after ceasefire. It may have been that he expected to meet his players half-way as they also made their way over to the supporters; instead he stood alone, the traditionally intrusive television lens thrust in his face.

As players passed him on the way to the dressing room, to switch on mobile phones and contact agents to facilitate the next move, Shearer tried to corral them to the rightful place. Like errant sheep, they avoided him, or made to take one path, then veered off.

All smiles: Scunthorpe's Cliff Byrne celebrates promotion to the Championship and a meeting with Newcastle next season

A few, like Nicky Butt, offered applause by way of thanks, or apology, but the days of empathy between those on either side of the pitch-side hoardings have passed. Many of those that took Newcastle down will not be around to suffer the consequences.

The loyalists, meanwhile, will report for duty in the Championship on August 8. 'Hexham Mags on tour' read one banner. Who would have thought that next year it would include stop-offs at Scunthorpe and Peterborough? Survival Sunday was the television billing, but this had more of a suicide pact about it.

There was little drama on the day, because the teams at the bottom were too poor to take charge of their fate and would have dragged each other down like puppies in a sack had numbers allowed.

All four lost, Sunderland by a significant margin to a coasting Chelsea bidding farewell to Guus Hiddink (and manager Ricky Sbragia resigned immediately), Middlesbrough after fleeting resistance at West Ham United, Hull City to a Manchester United team that had little on its side except mystery.

A goal from Darron Gibson was enough to inflict defeat but that did not stop Phil Brown, the Hull manager, turning the celebrations at the end into an impromptu karaoke session, ignoring the fact that his team won one match in the last 23.

Ultimately, that was enough. This was not a vintage year. Despite the achievements of Manchester United and the summit that may be reached in Rome on Wednesday, this campaign will not be recalled with great satisfaction by the majority in the Premier League.

The worst teams went down, as Shearer manfully admitted, but some pretty poor ones stayed up, too.

Newcastle are flattered having made it to the final day of the season. One would have to wind back five seasons to find a year in which a total of 34 points would have kept a team up. The total that West Ham were relegated with in 2003, 42 points, would have placed a club 13th this season.

Yet Newcastle were relegated by a tiny margin, a single point, for want of a goal. That was all it needed yesterday. One measly goal. A tap-in, or a deflection of the type that Damien Duff afforded Aston Villa for their victory. It never came, nor did it look like coming.

The statistics on the Villa Park scoreboard told of Newcastle's three attempts on goal and slightly more off, but maybe the analysts were just being polite. Brad Friedel, the Villa goalkeeper, would have had few quieter games this season.

Gallows humour: Newcastle fans keep the faith

The paucity of invention from Newcastle was demonstrated when a wayward cross from Jose Enrique, a lacklustre substitute, drew cries of excitement and frustration normally reserved for a true scoring opportunity, of the type that used to be conjured by Newcastle strikers.

It is an irony that a club defined through history by its iconic No 9s should be relegated in this way; it is shameful that a squad that includes Michael Owen, Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins and Shola Ameobi should find itself short of firepower.

So no alarms and no surprises, as the song goes. Newcastle were shut out, overwhelmed by Villa's midfield, picked off by their defenders. This from a team who have hit relegation form themselves of late. Villa were there for the taking yesterday had there been any fight in the opposition.

Newcastle, though, were damned and doomed long before the mathematics of relegation were confirmed. Shearer fumed on the touchline, but it was impotent fury, the frenzy of the powerless. 'Each day we delay planning for the future another room burns down,' he said, later. The firefighter had arrived too late. There was nothing left to do except turn off the sirens and go home.

Think this is a fairly accurate description of Newcastle. There were some very funny pictures with this as well.

[technocracy]

I would be rarther worried if I were you Tech.

Pullis has done a tremendous job over the last 2 years at least ....there may be a few big name clubs who may be casting their eye at him.

He has served his apprenticeship well. Sunderland, Newcastle and who knows what other manangerial casualties there may be in the coming weeks

Naaaaaaaaaaaa TP won't be going ANYWHERE - he's apparently got 35 million to spend and the Chairman not only backs him 100% but trusts him 100% and he loves it at Stoke - it's one big happy family!

Fun really how it all comes around when the gormless Icelandics owned the club they sacked TP for the most bizarre reason of 'failing to exploit the foreign market'(!) the now owner was on the board at the time and wasn't consulted about the sacking.

When he was sacked half into the following season he joined Plymouth as a favour to a friend on the Plymouth board and I remember on the ITVs Championship they had a feature comparing him to Ron Manager. Anyway Plymouth were adrift at the bottom of the Championship - he shored them up got them out of the relegation zone and eventually finished mid table above Stoke (if I remember rightly).

The one thing that TP does where ever he goes is play to the strengths of the players he has, he doesn't try to get average/poor players playing one touch passing. He's said on numerous occasions the better the players you have the better football you can play. How we've played since we've had Etherington and Lawrence on the wings has been very different than without that width.

Same when we were in the Championship and we got Hendrie on loan - all of sudden because we had a ball player he had them playing it down on the ground more. Commonsense stuff really but it's amazing how many manager don't seem to grasp it - Mowbray being a prime example - only playing pretty football regardless of it his player are up to it or not!

Anyway TP won't be going nowhere!

[mrtoad]

Must be time for Newcastle to give Ant and Dec a chance to manage them.

[MSingh]

Must be time for Newcastle to give Ant and Dec a chance to manage them.

[MSingh]

A sad day for the Prem in my opinion & no matter whatever we think, the Club for all it's faults, the Stadium & travelling Support will be missed & without it, the Premiership will be weaker for it..

[bkkjames]

A sad day for the Prem in my opinion & no matter whatever we think, the Club for all it's faults, the Stadium & travelling Support will be missed & without it, the Premiership won't be better for it..

I politely disagree Singer, nothing against the fans, but NCUTD are a joke of an organisation.

Cull the herd I say.