Glenn Roeder on the Norwich v Newcastle game.

GLENN ROEDER is a man who lives life to the full. And there is a very good reason for it.

But now he is urging Newcastle United to “live for the moment” as they look to claw their way out of trouble in the Premier League in this weekend’s clash between his two former clubs, as Norwich play host to the Magpies.

United’s slump into the relegation battle has been described by many as a crisis; for Roeder, who came so close to losing his life, he can look at it with context but also concern given his love for the black-and-whites – and having been in the same position Alan Pardew is now.

This year will mark 10 years since the ex-Newcastle skipper collapsed while on Premier League duty as West Ham boss thanks to a brain tumour.

And Roeder told the Chronicle: “Things can change very quickly, 10 years ago I had a brain tumour, and a decade on we’re talking about Newcastle United again!

“That’s what life can be like. Look at all those things that have happened since, it’s quite amazing.”

Indeed, even before Roeder’s trauma at Upton Park as Irons boss, he lived his life as the eternal optimist. As a player he skippered Newcastle in the old First Division and helped bring out the best of emerging young stars like Paul Gascoigne, Peter Beardsley and Chris Waddle.


As a coach for Glenn Hoddle at World Cup 1998 he saw a blossoming Michael Owen, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Sol Campbell push Argentina all the way before yet more penalty despair.

As a manager he’s had the knack of lifting spirits at clubs, he did so with the Hammers after guiding them to seventh in the top flight in 2002/03 and he repeated the trick again three years later with Newcastle. But only after playing his part as Academy chief and helping lay the foundations for the years to come with the likes of Tim Krul and Andy Carroll all starring for his youth team.

Leading Newcastle into Europe in 2006 is also on Roeder’s highlight reel, but the season after had similarities to the current campaign.

After Pardew’s fifth place finish the season before, he has had similar problems.

Roeder is still an instantly recognisable figure to Newcastle fans, and chatted with supporters after taking in Newcastle’s 2-0 loss at Brighton last weekend.

Yet the New Year will bring with it memories of when he blacked out after a Premier League game in April 2003.

He said: “It’s coming up to 10 years now and it seems to have gone so quickly.

“I have a scan every year, the last one left the doctor particularly pleased. I’ve never felt healthier. I’m very motivated.” He also quipped: “I always think back to when the surgeon joked with me at the time.

“He said ‘If anyone says you’re a brainless former player send them to me, I’ve seen the scan; you’ve definitely got one!’”

But Roeder is a fighter and while others are quick to talk about relegation as a staunch black and white follower and adopted Geordie will be kicking every ball – and will be a very interested spectator when Newcastle take on the Canaries.

He said: “I don’t look at this game as a must win, I look it at it as a must not lose.

“You look at the dial and it’s not on red yet, but it probably will be if they get beat at Norwich.

“Going to Norwich is tough and although I don’t think it’s impossible for teams to win there, look at the job Chris Hughton has done; it’s solid so far.

“Chris is a good manager and an intelligent man. He’s looked at the situation and knew it wasn’t broken so why fix it?

“They are well oiled and he hasn’t changed a lot.”



Taken from the Ronnie.

 

Similarities with the current campaign? I think that's grossly unfair on Roeder that. As I recall, we were mid-table and at worst looking like doing nowt that campaign, not fearing relegation at all. I liked him as boss, and felt it was a mistake sacking him in truth. I don't understand how a man, promoted from Academy chief, almost against his will, can be sacked from the manager's position instead of at least being restored to the Academy role where he was doing a good job.

I believe Roeder was a much better manager than Pardew is right now, mainly for the fact he got more out of the fringe and young players than Pardew ever will. That's my big reservation about our current boss in truth, if he can't get anything from the back-ups, why doesn't he just go on holiday til the better players return? As I see it, the best case scenario now is this season being a learning experience for him and the board (whose game plan is still relatively young, so mistakes and learning perhaps expected). If learning all round is to be had, we'll probably be stronger for the experience, that's the positive.

Hughton blitzes Pardew in a similar regard really, and for the life of me I still can't fathom why he was sacked if the board had designs on such a small squad... Anyway, hope Pards turns it round, desperately need something from this game and that's a dire thing to say at present.

 

The sacking of both Hughton and Roeder were based on the principle that you never demote. Roeder was Academy manager. Hughton was first team coach. Neither asked for the management slot. Both, I think, started as Interim Managers. If they'd atayed Interim Managers, then they might have staeyd on when someone else was hired. Once you become Manager, however, then there's no stepping down a notch.

As for why Hughton was fired, it was because MA didn't fancy him but fancied Pards instead. No accounting for tastes.

 

Agree with everything you say Gandalf , however I think Pards is too stubborn to change things and more or less admit he's been wrong so far.

 

Roeder is a batler and has been through the mill in life.
I'll always have a lot of time and respect for him.

 

Great post - I agree with all of it!

People bypassed Roeder when drawing similarities between Sir Bobby and Chris Hughton and I think that's massively unfair...Roeder's time at Newcastle was ravaged by injuries to his squad, lets not forget he handed Krul and Carroll their debuts (and was forced to rely on the likes of Matty Pattinson, David Edgar and Paul Huntington). Had he been given more money, more time or more respect I seriously doubt that we'd have gone down...Pundits say sacking Big Sam started the downward spiral - I say it started with Glen! I remember watching a program about a nurse who wanted all Premier League footballers to give up a days wages for charity - she made a point of saying what an absolute gentlemen Roeder was!

 

Exactly . I think he had a bit of a man crush on Pattinson because he took him with him when he left, probably thought Matty could fulfill his potential under him. Peter Ramage, who most have labelled varying degrees of **** since he's gone, was like first choice under Roeder. And these people then claim Pardew has it bad with Willo as back-up! Probably both championship defenders! It's funny looking back at all the youth products that came through around about that period, most were "up and comers", yet none of them have hit the heights since... Got to say, I was more excited about that group than the group currently coming through (minus Bigi), which might be ominous!

Very dignified man indeed Roeder, and a very decent football manager, but most especially a football man I hold in high regard. It's a shame people tend to look at his reign as some form of disaster, but hand on heart I was upset when he was forced out.

 

true that!

It just seems a bit of a waste to bypass something which so obviously has benefit for club and staff member, just because he was manager. Oh well, I'm sure they were the Fat Freddy days of high-rolling expense, so hopefully Roeder got a nice little pay-off!

 

Yeah, once again, spot on! I think we'd all like for Sammy to make it 'cause of his last name, Vuckic because of the time invested in him and 'the potential' when we first got him but I just don't think they'll hit the heights. Realistically, Bigi (based on ability and composure), Adam Campbell (on pace) and Freddy Woodman (on reputation) out of our current crop stand out as genuine prospects. Remi Streete has a massive reputation but I know very little about him, having never seen him play.

 

Fergie

 

Saw Fergie 31 and Streete 44 in a reserve game a long time ago and they both stood out.

Fergie with great ball skills and Streete with solid defensive qualities.

We've seen a bit of Fergie, I'd have thought we might have seen a bit of Streete seeing how the defence has been so shabby of late.

 

I think Streete is only recently match fit, he has had quite a serious injury (ankle I believe)

 

Just checked, he's available for selection.

 

Aye, Fergie has something about him like!

Plus I saw him at the airport a few months ago when I was picking up my mate (must've been on the same flight from Belfast as whoever he was picking up) and he gave me a wave - instant club legend!