Is Freddy Shepherd Using Terry Venables To Get His
No.1 Man?
It would appear so. If all the reports are to be believed
that Steve Bruce is "mulling over" a decision to stay with
Birmingham City or to submit to Freddy Shepherd's apparent overtures,
then the name of Terry Venables could be the carrot dangling in front
of him to finally make a definite decision one way or the other. I
think it's safe to say that Steve Bruce would love to manage Newcastle
United and that Shepherd would, it seems, also love him to become
Bobby's successor and with the Blackburn game at St. James' Park 6
days away a replacement before then is becoming an increasing priority.
It wouldn't surprise me if Shepherd is pressing for Bruce to make
a decision with the premise that Venable's is waiting in the wings,
forcing Bruce's hand.
Where that leaves Venables should Bruce turn down the offer and remain
loyal to the Blues, remains to be seen.
Conflicting reports today have Bruce as No.1 choice with David O'Leary/Ottmar
Hitzfeld as No.2 and although Venables has today confirmed that he
has had talks with Freddy (despite previous denials from FS), I don't
for one minute believe our under-fire Chairman would appoint a man
who has had the vast majority of Toon fans spitting venom at the very
idea of having him in charge. He is many things our Chairman and his
recent management or mismanagement certainly makes him look a fool,
but with passions running high and an Army baying for his blood, it
would be foolish of him to appoint a man who simply isn't wanted full
stop.
Maybe the idea of having Venables in charge to wet-nurse Shearer into
the job had crossed his mind but with Shearer not wanting to have
anything to do with managing or coaching for a good few years yet,
I suspect that idea was quickly squashed.
Bruce of course, with his past record of deserting a ship will be
in no doubt that leaving Birmingham City will create a lot of bad
blood and even then, a compensation fee rumoured to be anywhere between
£3-7m would be a huge financial outlay on Shepherd's part considering
Chelsea paid £7m compensation for a Champions League winner
in Jose Mourino. And they have money to burn - we don't.
Would this prompt a move for Aston Villa's David O'Leary who has a
clause in his contract according to various sources, stating that
the Irishman can speak to interested clubs?
Or would Freddy look abroad where he is rumoured to be at this minute?
Time will tell, lets just pray it's not El Tel...
Steve Bruce: Show Some Loyalty For Once - We Don't
Want You!
It seems Steve Bruce has a decision to make: Stick with
a club that has supported him all the way both on the stands and in
the transfer market or submit to the persuasions of managing his "beloved"
Newcastle United. Not regarded for his loyalty, Crystal Palace, Wigan
Athletic, Huddersfield Town, Sheffield United and now Birmingham City
will attest to that, does he really want an 6th club to be placed
on that less than impressive C.V of his?
A club notorious for being one hell of a difficult job that has brought
the demise of better managers than him, managers who had the tools
and resources to do the job but failed.
He's done a great job with Birmingham City, winning promotion to the
Premiership via the play-offs and then consolidating the Blues. In
a Summer where he asked for 7 new signings Birmingham's board granted
his wish and signed all 7 of those players Bruce wanted to help take
City to the next level.
To throw all that away to manage a club he has blood ties to only,
will be a massive insult to David Sullivan, David Gold, Karen Brady
and those thousands of Birmingham fans who pay his wages. It will
also be a massive insult to the Toon Army (Freddy Shepherd), because
the vast majority of Newcastle supporters simply don't want the man
who is to loyalty, what Elena Marcelino is to playing first-team football.
Steve Bruce is a good manager with qualities but he is not a great
manager/coach and that is the man Newcastle United need more than
ever. Bringing in Bruce will further disgruntle Toon fans as to the
ambition of our club and the direction it is heading in - questions
that are being asked.
I personally rate Bruce as a fine club manager, a man capable of transforming
a club to establish that club in the top flight but he has shown nothing
to suggest he is capable of taking a club to the very top of that
League and a club of Newcastle's size, expectations and hopes demand
that from the man in charge, now.
One man with a record and past experience to suggest that he is more
than capable of giving us what we all crave is Ottmar Hitzfeld,
not Steve Bruce, not David O'Leary and certainly not Terry Venables.
Indeed Bruce would be at the bottom of many a list as to who Toon
supporters would like to see as Bobby's replacement, contrary to popular
belief (Sky Sports, the Chronicle, Century Radio, the Sunday Sun et
al).
That's right - it's not Bruce who we favour!
What goes against Bruce is his lack of loyalty, not just his less
than impressive managerial credentials. Should he come here and do
a good job many feel he would up and leave at the beck and call of
one Manchester United - the real club in his heart. Bruce, since becoming
a manager, has regularly confessed his love of his boyhood club, yet
as a Man Utd player, he would regularly take swipes at the size of
our club, our ambition and indeed our right to then challenge the
Red Devils for honours.
That hasn't been forgotten by the Toon Army.
Nor has he in the Old Trafford boardroom. If he become Sir Bobby's
replacement and it all went horribly wrong, which, if history tells
us, it very well could, he will be finished in management. Does he
take that risk? Bearing in mind his desire to one day manage England
and most certainly Man Utd.
He has a good thing going for him at Birmingham, a board who have
faith and belief in him and a loyal set of fans who love him as we
did King Kev and Sir Bobby. Should he answer the call to come home
he will prove an Army right - just another wannabe, opportunistic
manager with no loyalty whatsoever.
Not a man who Newcastle United need. We need a great manager and Bruce
certainly isn't one of them Freddy...
Is Freddy Shepherd Lying Again?
Having denied having had any talks with Terry Venables over
the vacant Newcastle manager's job, Freddy Shepherd it seems has some
explaining to do (again) after quotes today from El Tel claims he
has been in contact with Shepherd.
Venables quotes from the News of The World:
"I feel very happy with the way things went. We had a meeting, a good
chat and our conversations will be on-going.
"I have an open mind about the situation now. Sir Bobby Robson would
be a difficult act to follow - but to manage Newcastle is a great
opportunity and I am very pleased to be considered.
"Freddy is a down-to-earth, normal guy and we got on well. There are
a few problems that need to be solved but providing I can sort those
out I feel very excited about the future."
"I was at Barcelona, where the Catalan people are so passionate about
their football team. There are very few places where you get that
strength of feeling - but Newcastle is one of them.
"At Barcelona you would see everybody in the stadium from kids to
old women - it was absolutely amazing.
"Newcastle has that same atmosphere - you know it means so much to
them. It really is a unique place.
"I don't think there is a club in this country bigger than Newcastle
United.
"People say Manchester United but I think Newcastle could be up there
with them - all they have been missing is the success.
"It is a shame because the fans deserve the very best and I know how
hard Bobby and other managers have worked trying to give it to them.
"That is why I need time to make this decision. I want to be able
to make it happen because I know how important it is to everybody
at the club. It is not something I can rush into."
This is what Shepherd said on Friday (3rd):
"Terry Venables has not been here (st. James' Park). I have not spoken
to Terry Venables. I can't remember the last time I saw him."
N'Zogbia Is A Toon Player At Last
The Sunday Sun are reporting that FIFA have gave the go ahead
for Charles N'Zogbia to play for Newcastle United
after a battle to sign the 18 year old French winger ensued with Le
Havre's claim that he was their player.
A FIFA spokesman said:
"FIFA has informed the French Football Federation of their
duty to immediately release his international transfer certificate
(ITC) to the English FA, as the player has signed for Newcastle."
Great news!
Academy: Man Utd 1-4 NUFC
Newcastle's under 18's thrashed Manchester United 4-1 yesterday
at their Carrington training base with Marc Walton grabbing himself
a hat-trick with Jon Evans of Man Utd scoring an own goal. |
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
 |
 |
Toon
Shirts |
|
Sponsors |
|
