Thoughts On Schteve...?

I think he'd do a job for a few months, if you can't get a good deal (which is a must for your owner) on a CM. He's not rapid, but he's not a slug either. He's creative though which is a bonus and maybe it'd just be a short term deal to put himself in the shop window for one last contract.

Andros Townsend seems to have done himself a bad turn at Spurs as well, I'd imagine he'll be on his bike in January now.

 

We won't look at players over 25-26. The model hasn't changed that much. Its a shame because a bit of experience is what is lacking in some areas.

 

I know it was a different time and a different world, but look at the difference a 'past it' Kilcline made to a defence low on confidence. I agree that sometimes a cheap but experienced short term solution can help you plug a gap and also offer younger players a bit of space and encouragement to develop onto the type of players you need them to be - or to give you the safety net of an experienced head covering them if they can't.

 

Fire him he's not good enough

I like him but we're crap

 

Austin at 26 out of contract
Matip at 24 out of contract
N'Koulou 25 out of contract
Feghouli 25 Out of contract

I think these are the types we'll target for a Sissoko type situation.

I think Eder Balenta is running out of contract at River Plate. A mad transfer scramble will ensue there if he doesn't sign a new one. A lot of Europes top clubs have been linked with him over the last few years. Same goes for Andrija Živković who Chelsea were linked with, I'm sure he is out of contract too.

I like the look of that Luka Jovic. Some top brass club will pick him up. Helps that he and Balenta were stunning for me on FM15 Not sure on his contract but Red Star only wanted 8-10m.

I think Sam Bryams out of contract too who we have been linked with?

 

The greatest footballer of all time Franco Baresi was still going strong at about 37. He only stopped because he didn't think it was fair to keep embarrassing all the young whipper snapper strikers who couldn't beat him

Its true though. KK made a few of those signings. Beardo, Venison, Kilcline, Bracewell, Sheedy - all did jobs of one type or another until we could get the guy he really wanted Shearer, Albert, Peacock, Batty, Ginola

 

Some really great points guys! It's definitely nice to have an optimistic fanbase after the last few years, not so nice to almost have to suck balls...

I think what interests me is actually the consistency of what fans want, based on demands from a pretty successful Pards era, but it will be interesting to see how that changes if things keep going against us.

I think we've all agreed the only way he's going to be successful is if Mike Ashley supports him, so coming up to January we'll see how many items are crossed off the lengthy shopping list. As mitro has pointed out, there's some great cheap signings available.

 

Yeah, but most you mentioned were in the Championship, which is fine. We already have a platform and for the glamorous names you mention we now have Thauvin, Mitro, Wijnaldum and Mbemba. It's not a bad Summer on paper, the problem we continue to have - that isn't Steve's fault - is these players aren't signed on the needs of the manager, more on the opinion of a geriatric scout on the basis they'll be worth more money. In Thauvin, it's a fail. In Wijnaldum, the guy's already a £25m player, so is Carr's eye the problem? It's no more hit and miss than any other club - all I'd rather see is Carr having a piece of paper given by Steve as to what's needed, and Charnley doing whatever it takes to make it happen. If we did it that way around, it'd be a completely different scenario.

Look at your list of out of contracts - again, on paper looks fab. Would anyone complain if all four rocked up in Jan? Nope. But Matip could be another Boumsong, Austin could do his ACL, it's not an exact science. All in all, lessons appear to be being learned....slooooooowly. If they simply change ONE thing and make Steve the man asking and Carr/Penfold making it happen, rather than those two hunting for bargains and palming them off to the manager, it would be much better. So if Steve wants Matip, great. But if we sign Matip 'cos Carr fancies it, not so much.

 

This

 

This.
You suck good balls though.

 

Despite the league position, it's a case of so far so good for McLaren IMHO. It could have gone much better but the team is coming together and he deserves a lot more time than this. This season is about survival (although I think we'll comfortably achieve that goal in the end) and then next season and beyond is about a steady march up the league. Much of that will depend on Ashley's desire for us to succeed or merely survive, though.

 

Its very frustrating watching us at the minute. I can see we are at least trying a little bit harder and there does seem to be some sort of gameplan in place for each game. But, we just do not have the correct personnel on the pitch to put the plans into action. We have a very weak squad and if we start to get injuries to key players, like we do around this time every season, then we will really struggle to stay out of the bottom three. I hope for the best, but fear the worst. We are, at best, an average team with, at best, an average manager!!

 

It doesn't matter if its championship or not, experience counts and its about balance. Beardo, Kilcline, Venison, Bracewell all played important roles in the PL. You have got to remember when we replaced them, we bought players who had experience - Ginola, Batty, Peacock, Albert, Ferdinand, Shearer were all signed at 26-28ish. You need younger players like Cole, Dyer, Jenas, Bellamy too. The best teams all have a good mix. If we are sitting saying I don't fancy them if they are over 25 then you are cutting your nose off to spite your face.

As for whether they work out, every transfer has the potential to go wrong. Its all risk and reward, sometimes beyond your control.

I agree though the manager needs the majority input on transfers, its his neck on the line.

 

Graham Carr shouldn't have the clout that he does. He was a second rate manager so his judgement on player abilities can be questioned.

 

We should keep going for 15-16 year olds, This guy looks like he can finnish

http://www.themag.co.uk/2015/11/on-...k-for-newcastle-in-behind-closed-doors-match/

If we look at the overall picture, we need to invest in much in experience as we do in the youth set up. Whenever I look at the youth, im always bouyed by some of the players we have coming through, previously the likes of Bigi, shane ferg, Harris Vuck, Adam Campbell and alike, now Calum Roberts, Adam Armstrong, Gillead and Ivan Toney, but I reckon that as much as I really want some of these players to come through, they will probably end up as second rate players.

If we dont have leaders in the pack, the the youth have nothing to aspire to, no one to lead them, show them how its done and pick them up when we are down, I think thats something the side has really lacked since the likes of Barton/Nolan/Caroll left.

 

So in summary, according to the poll results, Schteve is the right manager for us at the moment (caveat being that under current management we can't expect much better).
Oh and apparently JPF sucks balls.

 

I reckon if we had a proper center half to partner Mbemba and a decent left back he wouldnt persist with 2 defensive mids every game. Could be wrong though. I reckon if we sacked him any time soon we'd be mental

 

I think he get all season but i just don't know what he's doing at times.

 

I think he is a good coach. On match day when actual management and decision making comes into it, not convinced

 

I see David Moyes has today been installed as the 3/1 Fav to be next manager after a short break from his Spanish exploits. Would we want him instead of McLaren?

 

No. I would stick with any manager who can get us 3 points by sticking his head in his hands and presumably saying a little prayer.