You think that will stop Mike? I think he is getting the job regardless.
Absolutely, there's no question about it. They're all mates and that's all that seems to count in Ashley's world, it's not what you know, it's who you know. I mean, what behaviour of the past 8 years leads anyone to think we'll appoint a decent manager? By all accounts, the whispers from the club are that Carver will be there regardless of coach, so it will follow that Charnley will recommend keeping him, instead the finger of blame will be on Pardew, the players, probably even agents for not allowing us to buy players cheaply enough. It will categorically not be Charnley's fault, by extension it won't be Carver's and both will band together on ensuring they're still at the club for the foreseeable.
Inexplicably, Ashley will buy all of this.
As I've said before, even though I know it's coming, it will still sicken me to the core when it officially happens. I guess I have the last vestige, the tiniest flicker, of hope that by "we know we've made mistakes" the club recognises the appointment of Charnley and Carver as chief among them. There's this distant candle almost extinguished in the darkness that represent the thought (on some utterly irrational level) that millions will be spent under the guidance of Christophe Galtier or Frank De Boer. For me, it's the last I have. If Geordie John, the one true JC, is indeed "revealed" under a flood of "we never questioned his commitment or ability, but recognise we made mistakes in buying Yanga-Mbiwa", then I'll be done in. I'll have nothing left. I have enough to get up, watch Hull/Man U (no point watching the Toon!), see what happens and wait for the announcement, before the flame is extinguished and I consign my 30 years following the club to the annals of history.
Not an idle threat, I just can't put up with it anymore. Like TGE, I'll maybe glance at a result, I'll possibly check a league placing from time to time, but watching, paying attention or passing judgement will all just be a distant memory.