In a widely expected move, but still one that manages to make us look even more ridiculous as a club, we've finally parted company with Sir Bobby Robson. First let me just note that I think most fans, including his critics, at least respect the man. He's steered us through some difficult times, not always well perhaps but better than those armchair critics could have managed. Something was going to give. As this is football that something was always going to be the manager. The problem is the timing. With a day left until the closer of the transfer window and the team in obvious desperate need of reinforcement the obvious move is not to sack the manager. The club has been in disarray since the end of last season (if not longer). The time to go was close season, with the dignity deserved by the man who came as close as anyone to leading England to World Cup victory since 1966. Having made the decision to give it one last try then, if you're going to change your mind, at least wait until the transfers, if any, are done. Or even, shock horror, give him a chance to turn it round. Apparently dropping Shearer to the bench really is the rope to hang oneself with.
In the mad world of Newcastle United, a club already in a total mess, we haven't solved anything. Now we don't even know who's deciding if Shearer's playing---unless of course it's Shearer himself. Sir Bobby may have lacked some control of the dressing room but his departure doesn't take the in fighting and lack of commitment with it. The results which have led to Sir Bobby's departure are not entirely his blame. We seem to have a board which, if it didn't directly undermine him, seemed to be unable to clearly communicate. He's had to deal with a bunch of prima dona players who can't shut up in public (that's true of the club as a whole though; someone always ready to feed tidbits to the press. It's no wonder that Sky seemed to know more about Rooney bids than did Robson who had just seen his team play a match). And Rooney to us? That must be the joke of the season. To play for who exactly? When we seem to be stuck now with what we have what are we meant to do when the defence seems unable to perform a basic task such as hoofing the ball clear down field never mind anything approaching cultured defending?
I suppose in the end I'm simply sad that Bobby couldn't live out the dream of making his final act taking his home town team to the glory they crave. I think the hurt evident on his face was more that of a Geordie wishing he could have done better for the toon than anything else. And what now? Will Shearer get his chance at that dream? Maybe he'll have to. It's difficult to imagine that anybody qualified would actually be crazy enough to take up the role. I hope it doesn't come to that. Only Newcastle could have such high aspirations and then consider a man with so little coaching experience that he's fresh from gaining his badges. Anybody else would laugh it off and go looking for someone who knows what they're doing. Who would I have? Don't know; nobody being linked springs out. Not Shearer (at least not by himself). I suppose O'Neill can be tempted from the easy life in Scotland he may be the best of a bad bunch. But basically I'm shaking my head wondering how we always seem to end up like this. My CV's in the post to Barrack Road.
(@23:08)
