Newcastle-Online.com forum member Mick had this to say regarding the appointment of caretaker manager Glenn Roeder as Graeme Souness’ long-term successor.

It would appear that Glenn Roeder is about to be appointed as the next manager of Newcastle United FC. Freddy Shepherd recently thought a manager like Steve Bruce was right for the job. A chairman who thought that it would be a good idea to sack Sir Bobby Robson and replace him with one of the few managers who were below Newcastle in the league at that time, Souness and Blackburn were lying in 18th position, it doesn’t look like a good track record of decisions and appointments.

The chairman couldn’t see what most fans could, he’d appointed a man best known for falling out with players and failing in management. Souness had managed teams who had won trophies, he’d also reduced the mighty Liverpool to also-rans, the perpetual winners were firmly knocked off the top under the management of Souness, the fans could see that, the chairman couldn’t.

What is the actual track record of Freddy Shepherd? He’s appointed 4 managers to date, that is likely to be 5 very soon. Out of the 4 appointed at this time only one of those could be classed as a success so he has a 75% failure record. Would a chairman of industry survive with a record like that?

I can’t think of any who have survived with such a record of failure. The league record of the club shows that under Freddy Shepherd we’ve finished with an average of 9th in the league, just above half way, again, not a good record.

In early February Freddy Shepherd told the fans:

“Everyone wants to know but we had to leave it until the Portsmouth game was out of the way. It was so important that we got the right result, we had to put it on the back burner until Monday, but we’re not ruling anybody in, we’re not ruling anybody out. We’ll find out the next step when we have another meeting in the week, but we don’t want to react too hastily. We feel that the team is in safe hands with Glenn and Alan, but I’d prefer to get things sorted sooner rather than later.

“Unfortunately, Graeme never really clicked with Newcastle fans. It’s a fact of life and everybody knows it. I’m not saying anything that I wouldn’t say to his face, but the fans just didn’t take to him. It’s vitally important that the new manager is popular, that the supporters like him. It goes without saying, but its part and parcel of the game that you get somebody in who the supporters are happy with.

“In the past I have expressed a preference for a British manager, but I feel that at this difficult time we have to look at every option open to us. That means we will be looking at every available candidate, no matter which country they coach or manage in. It’s a World Cup year and that could throw up some interesting possibilities. Ideally, I would like to have it sorted out sooner rather than later but, if waiting until after the World Cup led to getting the right man, I would be prepared to bide my time.”

In early February everything was pointing to a manager who the fans could relate to and get behind, we were virtually promised as much.

Freddy also came out with this now famous statement:

“Of course people want the job. It’s one of the biggest in world football, so why shouldn’t they?”

Freddy, if the job is “one of the biggest in world football” how come we’re about to appoint a manager who was until early February in charge of our academy? How come we’re about to appoint a manager who has been sacked at all three of his previous clubs?

Who are these people who back in February wanted the job? Im sure I remember being informed that top managers had actually applied for the job. What do I think we can or should expect from our manager? Sir Bobby Robson was sacked for finishing 5th so that must be seen as a measure of failure.

The only thing that gets in the way of that assumption is where we finished under Souness in his first season, 14th was not seen as a failure, Freddy reminded us that reaching the quarter final of the UEFA cup was a success. Hold on a minute Freddy, Sir Bobby failed by taking us to the semi-final of the same competition.

My guess that under Roeder we’ll be lucky to finish as high next season as we have this, I expect 7th or less. What will be the outcome of such a finish? I really hope that the fans do not turn on Glenn. After all, it’s not his fault that he will probably become our next manager, he’d be mad to turn down the job.

To me if the fans are going to turn on anybody and shout for a head then it’s got to be the man who picks the manager, the man who has got a 75% record of failure, the man who has taken so much from our club while claiming to be a fan. If you are to call for a head then that head should belong to Freddy Shepherd, the man with such a record of failure you would only expect him to get it right by mistake.

Call for the head of the man who thinks Geordie woman are dogs and that the fans are mugs for buying the clubs football shirts, call for the head of the man who thinks so much of his wife and family that he gets scammed by the News of The World inside of a Spanish brothel. Call for the head of the man who has lead the club from being known as “The Entertainers” to becoming known as a laughing stock, the joke of fans of most other clubs.

I doubt Freddy Shepherd has it in him to spot a good manager, he can only see the improvement under Roeder as a good job because his previous appointment did so badly, I agree with football writer Martin Samuels when he said:

“Newcastle’s improvements say more about Souness’ failings than any improvement made by Roeder. It shows there was a lot wrong with Newcastle that Roeder can go in there on such a basic level and make such a dramatic change. Roeder had half the England team at West Ham - Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe - and they were still relegated. No offence but that shows you he isn’t a miracle worker. So for him to go in there and do what he has done shows how wrong things were.”

Freddy, this time it will be your head because I think the pressure will be too great when thousands call for your head, I doubt you’ve got enough money to go and buy another Michael Owen, Nobby Solano and Albert Luque to appease the fans when they turn on you.

I really hope Glenn and Freddy prove me wrong, nothing will make me happier than to say I was wrong, I hope I get the chance. Long term my prediction is Glenn Roeder to fail and the Ace to come out of the pack will be Shearer to follow Roeder as Shepherd tries to silence the fans, I hope Shearer has the bottle to say no and I hope Shepherd walks.

Mick