da esport bet： It was billed as a new era for Newcastle United when Steve McClaren became manager in June; one of competitive spending, a new management structure and without the turmoil of prior campaigns.
da dobrowin： So the Toon army are understandably disillusioned with their club’s start to the new season and the apparent ‘new era’, currently laying second-bottom of the Premier League table with just two points and a division-lowest three goals from their first six games. Only 20th-placed Sunderland have fared worse.
But even in Newcastle’s hayday, the St. James’ Park hot-seat was always a rather tough gig, so McClaren can’t be expected to pull off minor miracles in such a short space of time.
We at Football Fancast have no doubt the former England gaffer will eventually turn the Magpies’ poor form around. To prove we haven’t forgotten to take our medication, here’s FIVE reasons why Newcastle fans should keep the faith in their new manager.
STEVE MCCLAREN IS AN EXPERIENCED MANAGER
He may never escape the nickname ‘Wally with the Brolly’ or that infamous accidental impersonation of a Dutchman trying to speak English. But tabloid jest aside, Steve McClaren is an experienced manager with a solid track record.
He served as Sir Alex Ferguson’s No.2 at Manchester United for three years, reached a UEFA Cup final with Middlesbrough and claimed an Eredivisie title with FC Twente in 2010 – all impressive feats in their own right.
Although the 54 year-old’s career has been peppered with juxtaposing spells of underwhelm, particularly England’s atrocious Euro 2008 qualifying campaign as well as short and unsuccessful stints with Wolfsburg and Nottingham Forest, he certainly possesses a good understanding of the English game and the top flight.
Obviously, he’s not enjoyed the best of starts at St. James’ Park. But whilst one would doubt a foreign appointment’s ability to turn it around through lack of Premier League knowledge, McClaren has the nous and the know-how to end Newcastle’s poor run.
SUMMER SIGNINGS YET TO DELIVER
The fact of the matter is that you can’t do much without a dependable goalscorer in the Premier League and Newcastle failed to sign one this summer despite an outlay of £45million.
They took a punt on Anderlecht’s Aleksandar Mitrovic and thus far it’s not paid off, with the 21 year-old finding more red cards than goals in the Premier League – one and none respectively.
Likewise, £14.5million man Georginio Wijnaldum, although impressive in spurts, is still yet to live deliver on his sizable price-tag.
Of course, ultimate responsibility for signings will rest upon McClaren’s shoulders, but it’s hardly a secret that Newcastle are no longer capable of attracting European football’s biggest names like they once were.
The Magpies have to take gambles on players already overlooked by the Premier League’s bigger clubs. In these instances it hasn’t worked out just yet, but I highly doubt the situation would be drastically different with another manager at the helm.
STICKING TO THE BASICS
Many have criticised Newcastle’s rather conservative style of play under McClaren this season.
Whilst it may seem like more of the same from a Magpies outfit accused of similar crimes under Alan Pardew and John Carver, the cold hard truth is that this Newcastle squad lacks genuine quality and needs a bit more investment from Mike Ashley.
I interpret Newcastle’s playing style as McClaren’s tacit admission of their limits. Without a reliable goal threat, as previously discussed, the majority of their wins over the next few months will likely be 1-0 affairs.
Right now, the 54 year-old is sticking to the basics. It may be rather unpleasant on the eye but until Newcastle’s squad proves proficient in them first, McClaren can’t really be expected to further complicate the Magpies’ play with a more expansive game.
For every club outside of the Premier League’s top seven, survival and sturdy defensive displays must take priority over attacking football.
NEGATIVE ATMOSPHERES DON’T HELP THE PLAYERS
I’m not a Newcastle supporter, so I won’t preach about how the fans should behave, what they should be angry about or how diligently they should attempt to drive Mike Ashley out of the club.
But I will point out that the incredibly vocal supporter disillusionment at St. James’ Park throughout Pardew and Carver’s tenures did not inspire higher performances from the players – in fact, quite the opposite.
Fans are understandably disappointed with Newcastle’s league standing after their first six games and the Toon army are a notoriously passionate bunch, but turning on McClaren already will only send the club into another downward spiral, affect player morale and cause even more turmoil.
What McClaren and his players need most right now is the kind of militant support Newcastle were one famed for, that lifted the players and the whole club under prior regimes.
SITUATION UNLIKELY TO CHANGE
Whether you’re a Steve McClaren phile or phobe, his employment status is unlikely to change in the near future, no matter how poor Newcastle’s results get.
Mike Ashley always stood by Alan Pardew despite the best efforts of the fan base to get him sacked, eventually letting him leave for Crystal Palace of his own accord after five years at St. James’ Park.
So regardless of the Magpies’ poor start, it seems implausible Ashley will be handing McClaren his P45 any time soon after just issuing him a three-year contract with the option of a further five, knowing full well that the compensation package will be a sizable one to say the least.
Likewise, who could Newcastle realistically bring in to replace him, just a matter of weeks into the new season? Steve Bruce, David Moyes or Remi Garde – the usual suspects linked with the St. James’ post – all either turned down Newcastle over the summer or didn’t take Ashley’s fancy. Meanwhile, another John Carver-esque appointment simply won’t do.
The fans may not like it; in fact, they may grow to despise McClaren for it in a similar manager to Pardew; but McClaren will be the man in the dugout until the situation becomes untenable, so they may as well get behind him.