Newcastle suffered their 4th defeat in as many games, going down at home to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, thus crashing out of the Capital One Cup. As per usual, social media went into uproar – a ‘McClaren Out’ Twitter page shortly opened, and fans hurled abuse to the main NUFC Twitter feed. It got to the point I had to log out & ignore it for the rest of the evening.
I can’t say I’m flabbergasted by the reaction, as it’s so stereotypical on social media. If Newcastle win, everything’s right as rain, where as a loss means the whole weekend is derailed for fans. Pitchforks out, fingers pointed at players, McClaren, Ashley, Carr, Wonga, Charnley, & horses alike. But never a clock.
Can we all just take a deep breath and remember where this team was in September 2014? Correct, bottom of the table. This is nothing new for Newcastle United, bar 2011/12 they’ve been infamously slow starters. Can we also bear in mind this is a young squad, with newly assembled players adjusting to the PL’s speed, stamina & strengths required? We also have a new Head Coach & backroom staff attempting to overhaul the mundane style of play forced by Alan Pardew, now developing a new style of play to retain possession, essentially becoming a more fluid & entertaining footballing side?
That’s what fans ultimately pay for, entertainment. I was at West Ham & whilst we did end up defeated at Upton Park, I saw an idea attempting to be developed by McClaren, to keep hold of the ball & dictate the play. Whilst West Ham stood firm, were well disciplined and twice caught Newcastle out on the counter attack, I was far more pleased to see Newcastle willingly push for the win away from home even at 1-0 down, rather than simply roll over, accept defeat and lose by 3 or 4 like we saw countless times under Pardew & Carver.
If tough patches like now mean Newcastle’s style will improve, develop & excel as a team a year from now, I can take a home defeat to Watford, who’ve played an intricate style since the days of Gianfranco Zola was at the helm at Vicarage Road. McClaren asked to have his side judged after 10 games. I’d personally go further & not judge him until at least Christmas, given that the majority of this squad he’s inherited was either not part of his plans, not good enough or unable to offload this summer given their shocking performances over the past few seasons (Williamson, Gouffran, Tiote, Obertan etc). But if you are impatient, can you wait to make your judgements after Chelsea at home, Man City away, Norwich home & Sunderland away? It’s no wonder Newcastle fans are branded as ‘fickle’ when they’re so quick to judge & things don’t miraculously improve.
McClaren doesn’t know his best team yet because his players aren’t performing to their full potential. When that happens (& it will), times like now will be shrugged off & seen as a period of transition. In order for that to happen, time has to be given. So be patient, give the guy time. Pardew’s gone, move on. Carver’s gone too, rejoice. Give the Coach that actually wants to entertain you some time, money & patience to form a team to do so.
Remember the last time the club did that?
