Keegan In Crisis Talks
By Tyne-Talk
March 4 2008
Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan is reported to have been called in by club owner Mike Ashley and chairman Chris Mort for crisis talks ahead of this weekends fixture against Liverpool. Ashley is alleged to have wanted reassurance that Keegan is up to the job of saving the club from the drop as the relegation battle hots up. There are 6 teams who could potentially face the battle.
Newcastle are currently in 13th place with 28 points, the table below them looks like this:
Position | Club | Played | Goal Difference | Points |
13 | Newcastle | 28 | -23 | 28 |
14 | Wigan Athletic | 28 | -16 | 27 |
15 | Sunderland | 28 | -20 | 27 |
16 | Birmingham City | 28 | -10 | 26 |
17 | Bolton W | 28 | -14 | 25 |
18 | Reading | 28 | -23 | 25 |
19 | Fulham | 28 | -23 | 19 |
20 | Derby | 28 | -44 | 10 |
Keegan was appointed 6 weeks ago after the sacking of Sam Allardyce - Freddy Shepherd's appointed manager. Keegan is Ashley's choice but hasn't seen the immediate results he expected.
On Sunday Chris Mort claimed the fans were pleased with what they are seeing under Keegan's management:
"He's got the team playing in a manner everyone in this part of the world appreciates,"
Yet the club have yielded just 2 points in 6 games, and have a small squad to complete the season with due to the lack of winter signings.
Keegan has hinted this week that his biggest regret was the lack of signings in the transfer window after he failed to secure the services of any senior players.
There have also been reports this week suggesting that Keegan will have a large sum of money to splash in the summer, but the prospects of a large fund will be tarnished if the club fails to secure its Premier League status over the coming weeks.
Quote:There's an understatement.Keegan is Ashley's choice but hasn't seen the immediate results he expected.
Quote:As optimistic as I was after we dominated possession against Bolton, I have to say that I disagree with this-at least until we get some goals.Chris Mort
"He's got the team playing in a manner everyone in this part of the world appreciates,"
- I cant see how Mort thinks that anyone is happy with 2 points in 2008#2 Man U
#6 Villa
#1 Arsenal
#7 Blackburn
Don't know that Sam would have done any better against these guys--except that with Sam's defensive mind set I could see us getting 1 point v. Blackburn with a 0-0 tie.
Other games:
1-1 v. Boro
0-0 v. Bolton
Could've/ should've been points here. Again, don't know that Sam would have given us different results.
So, are we in a different spot now then we would have been? No. Scoring hasn't happened for us all year.
Sack KK now? For whom? Folly. I'd only consider sacking KK this summer if Mourinho was a sure signing for us. Never understood why we didn't push for him (then again I never understood why Fat Fred didn't outbid City for SGE). Perhaps Mourinho's people made it clear that he wasn't interested in England--which would explain not letting Sam run out the season and sign Mourinho once he was contractually available in the summer.
I'm actually rather up beat. I think we've weathered the storm--well, not exactly weathered it, but it didn't kill us (thanks to the rubbish beneath us).
Up coming games against below the line Fulham and Reading as well as below us Mackems are must wins and winable.
Beat Birmingham and we are going to survive.
Add a point from spuds, perhaps, with some confidence a point from West Ham and we can finish out against Chelsea and Everton withou sweating.
We really do hold our destiny in our own boots.
HOWAY!
I was just taking issue with Mort's rose-tinted glasses take on the situation.

Word is that Mourinho's more keen on the Barcelona job in any case. Especially if the Rossoneri don't end up in a CL spot, which seems like a very real possibility.

I think Mourinho will be able to attract players, yes, but whether or not ACM is in the Champions' League makes a big difference. Given Juventus' quality and Fiorentina's form Milan may be left out.
I think Mourinho goes to Barca. Just my opinion.
Why is anyone making refernce in any form to a top quality manager on a newcastle united forum???
He would only go to a big club (the likes of AC and Barca etc...), the only thing big about our club is the stadium.
Managers need time fans need patience judge KK at the end of next season not now or half way through next season
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:03:09:19:10:55 by roysta.
