There are some football teams who just always seem to create headlines. Newcastle United is one of those. Just at a time when they seemed to be re-establishing themselves as a side in the Premier League, albeit not quite back to the glory days under Kevin Keegan (the first time round), they release the man who can claim most credit for their rehabilitation. Chris Hughton is gone, a late first casualty of the Premier League season. His position was thought to be under scrutiny several weeks ago, but this was thought to have been resolved with talks of a contract extension. However, the board have seemingly changed their mind and I can't for the life of me work out why!
Hughton joined the Magpies under the ill-starred second spell of Messiah Keegan himself and cut a fairly anonymous figure as KK proved once and for all that he really had very little managerial nous whatsoever. And eventually took temporary charge when Kev got the chop, before being ousted for a so-called "bigger manager", in this case literally as Joe Kinnear rolled into town, despite having had no top flight experience in the previous 8 years or so! Hughton hadn't done a bad job but seemingly lacked the necessary experience. Kinnear's heart eventually gave way again, so into the breach stepped the willing Hughton, only to be ousted by the second incarnation of the Geordie Messiah, Alan Shearer. He who makes the fat topless men in the Gallowgate End weep with joy, whilst the rest of us weep with boredom during his post-match interviews. At least it kept him off Match of the Day for a bit. Sadly, his tenure also kept Newcastle off MOTD for the next season. After a summer of umm-ing and ah-ing, Big Al decided that he didn't want the job and seemingly neither did anyone else. Who do you think Mike Ashley and co turned to in their hour of need?
And so Hughton landed the job permanently down in the Championship, with a squad shorn of the greats such as Shearer, Shay Given and Nobby Solano, who had made the side so watchable and effective over the years. Instead, he had to work with a young team, mainly homegrown and mainly in his own image i.e. completely unknown to everyone outside Tyneside. These youngsters were interspersed with players such as Alan Smith, Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton, so talented once upon a time but seemingly having missed the boat at Premier League level. And my goodness, how this side responded to its critics. Nolan in particular was an inspiration to the young guns and they shot straight back up, the generall morbidly obese faithful grateful for the work the Hughton had done. However, Ashley's hands were tied in the summer by his continued attempts to sell the club. Hughton could not really add to his squad and so the side were tipped to drop straight back down.
And whilst they have been fairly inconsistent this season, they've never come close to being troubled. Hughton's side have created memories this season which will live fondly in the hearts of those who have been starved of any kind of good for a long time now. Think of the 6-0 demolition of Villa, the win at the Emirates, and especially the derby day destruction of Sunderland, Kevin Nolan again instrumental in a side punching well above its weight. Whilst the haven't won in a month, falling to a 3-1 defeat to West Brom yesterday, expectations need to be managed. For once at St James' Park, the fans knew where they stood. It was the board who got it all wrong.
The statement coming out of Newcastle United today was one of goodwill and gratitude towards Hughton. Empty words in my opinion. The statement goes on to say it wanted someone with "more managerial experience". This is utter nonsense. Hughton has worked with this group of players for two-and-a-half years and knows them better than anyone. He has managed to get the best out of "dodgy" characters such as Barton and Andy Carroll, both of whom cite Hughton as a positive influence on their careers. Where are the better alternatives? Martin O'Neill won't want it, Alan Curbishley would be a disaster. Gianfranco Zola, great man, even less experienced than Hughton. Sven? You see my point. Hughton has been mistreated and deserves far more credit for the work he has done with this side, who will now struggle in his absence.
I hope he gets another top level post soon. It'll probably be the Wigan job!
RM
Hughton joined the Magpies under the ill-starred second spell of Messiah Keegan himself and cut a fairly anonymous figure as KK proved once and for all that he really had very little managerial nous whatsoever. And eventually took temporary charge when Kev got the chop, before being ousted for a so-called "bigger manager", in this case literally as Joe Kinnear rolled into town, despite having had no top flight experience in the previous 8 years or so! Hughton hadn't done a bad job but seemingly lacked the necessary experience. Kinnear's heart eventually gave way again, so into the breach stepped the willing Hughton, only to be ousted by the second incarnation of the Geordie Messiah, Alan Shearer. He who makes the fat topless men in the Gallowgate End weep with joy, whilst the rest of us weep with boredom during his post-match interviews. At least it kept him off Match of the Day for a bit. Sadly, his tenure also kept Newcastle off MOTD for the next season. After a summer of umm-ing and ah-ing, Big Al decided that he didn't want the job and seemingly neither did anyone else. Who do you think Mike Ashley and co turned to in their hour of need?
And so Hughton landed the job permanently down in the Championship, with a squad shorn of the greats such as Shearer, Shay Given and Nobby Solano, who had made the side so watchable and effective over the years. Instead, he had to work with a young team, mainly homegrown and mainly in his own image i.e. completely unknown to everyone outside Tyneside. These youngsters were interspersed with players such as Alan Smith, Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton, so talented once upon a time but seemingly having missed the boat at Premier League level. And my goodness, how this side responded to its critics. Nolan in particular was an inspiration to the young guns and they shot straight back up, the generall morbidly obese faithful grateful for the work the Hughton had done. However, Ashley's hands were tied in the summer by his continued attempts to sell the club. Hughton could not really add to his squad and so the side were tipped to drop straight back down.
And whilst they have been fairly inconsistent this season, they've never come close to being troubled. Hughton's side have created memories this season which will live fondly in the hearts of those who have been starved of any kind of good for a long time now. Think of the 6-0 demolition of Villa, the win at the Emirates, and especially the derby day destruction of Sunderland, Kevin Nolan again instrumental in a side punching well above its weight. Whilst the haven't won in a month, falling to a 3-1 defeat to West Brom yesterday, expectations need to be managed. For once at St James' Park, the fans knew where they stood. It was the board who got it all wrong.
The statement coming out of Newcastle United today was one of goodwill and gratitude towards Hughton. Empty words in my opinion. The statement goes on to say it wanted someone with "more managerial experience". This is utter nonsense. Hughton has worked with this group of players for two-and-a-half years and knows them better than anyone. He has managed to get the best out of "dodgy" characters such as Barton and Andy Carroll, both of whom cite Hughton as a positive influence on their careers. Where are the better alternatives? Martin O'Neill won't want it, Alan Curbishley would be a disaster. Gianfranco Zola, great man, even less experienced than Hughton. Sven? You see my point. Hughton has been mistreated and deserves far more credit for the work he has done with this side, who will now struggle in his absence.
I hope he gets another top level post soon. It'll probably be the Wigan job!
RM
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