The latest edition of I Wish I Was A Geordie's audio stylings features the Four Brusqueteers testing out various levels of panic and blame for an early-season run that looks frighteningly like the last late-season run (on the league table, at least). Is it a failure of the transfer strategy? The game strategy? The management strategy? The strategy strategy? Is there evidence of a strategy at all? Plus: A brand-new professional-style "lead-in" (the bulk of the broadcast remains thoroughly unprofessional). Click below to listen, or visit Stitcher to download a copy to call your own.
Good listen as usual. On the back of several awful seasons it's difficult not to panic after such an abject start.. albeit 6 league games in. I would advise against it.
I'm not sure I buy the lack of passion amongst the players as the primary explanation. Even if there were unsettled players in the squad, there are too many examples - including recent NUFC deserters- of this leading to an improvement in individual performances. At the moment, lackluster performances are too epidemic to bother with second guessing an individual's mental state (least of all in cases where the Daily Mail are referenced).
The 'sleeves-up' passion of Bournemouth and Watford is nice and probably not too far away from the passion of Burnley last year, or Blackpool before them. Lots of promoted teams come up, charm neutrals, put the 'superstars to shame', then run out of steam and go back down. Raw passion may be the most important factor in the lower leagues, but in the top division - superior players producing a series of individual/combination moves per game, equals survival.
I know what you mean about lack of old-fashioned leaders, but Wijnaldum, just as an e.g. was the captain of a championship winning team, with all kinds of international and Champ' league goals so we are presumably factoring in character, aptitude, etc. Payet is playing well so far which makes us - and other clubs - question our recruitment model - but who's to say he won't be another Jelavic and be out of ideas and sparkle by Xmas.
McClaren may have been better advised to ease in new players more slowly. But then, the abuse he would get for sticking with Obertan, Taylor/Willo (and has done with Cisse) makes it difficult for him to do much else but play the fantasy team the fans in the terraces want. I have no answer for that, other than to accept as derision as Pardew did, to his credit.
Over a season, things change, then they change, and then they change again. McClaren may go on to be totally useless throughout his time here, and Thauvin may never come good.. but the data is too small to make any sense of whatsoever yet.
Posted by: Geordiepat | 09/21/2015 at 09:26 PM
Watford will not go down they have recruited good quality players so all this bullshit about being a "big team" is rubbish the table does not lie.
Watford have beaten Swansea Newcastle and drwn away at Everton and at home with Albion and Southampton does not seem like a team going in the downward direction but improving every game. Newcastle need rid of McLaren and get a proven manager in then they might see an improvement in play and passion for their club.
Posted by: Neil | 09/22/2015 at 08:02 AM
Agreed - Watford is not going down. I don't think Bournemouth is either. It will probably be Aston Villa, Sunderland, and Newcastle. Now to listen to another good podcast...
Posted by: Mister Sterling | 09/24/2015 at 12:01 PM
...Damn that was a very good podcast. I loved Phil's reaction to "he wears number eleven."
Posted by: Mister Sterling | 09/24/2015 at 01:38 PM
So, no shows when club isn't doing well?
Typical, from fair weather fan types who oppose pro-rel.
If they get relegated will you change this blog over to Man City?
Posted by: StevieH | 10/17/2015 at 06:18 AM