Has anyone heard or seen anything on how much Keegan is going to have to spend this transfer window? I remember reading a rumor that they were offering a kitty of 20 million to Rednapp, wonder what Keegan is going to get. Thanks guys
i have heard shearer, sir les, & coleman as part of his backroom staff... the coleman rumor has legs because he resigned today from sociedad...
KEVIN KEEGAN made a sensational return to Newcastle last night, sparking astonishing scenes on Tyneside. The Toon legend, back at St James’ Park 4,025 days after quitting as boss, was named as the shock replacement for Sam Allardyce. Keegan, 56, watched from the directors’ box as Newcastle beat Stoke 4-1 in their FA Cup third-round replay — to seal a fourth-round clash at Arsenal. He said: “It’s nice to be home. I’m delighted to be back.” And Toon chairman Chris Mort added: “I think we’ve got the right man in the end.” Keegan, out of the game since leaving Manchester City in 2005, has signed a 3½-year deal worth a whopping £20million. The news triggered waves of Keeganmania across Newcastle, with fans snapping up shirts emblazoned with their messiah’s name. At 2.30pm yesterday only 30,000 tickets had been sold for last night’s clash. When news of his appointment broke, thousands more were sold in minutes. The ex-England chief, who has been running his soccer school in Glasgow, landed the job following a final round of talks yesterday and will be given a £50m war chest by owner Mike Ashley to spend now and in the summer. He will also move quickly to appoint a No 2, with Derek Fazackerley — his long-time aide who is currently at Manchester City — in the running along with Chris Coleman, John Carver and Portsmouth assistant Tony Adams.
i would have rather had harry... but the fact of kev's record shows that he has some idea of how to run a club... also the fact that he has a soccer school makes me think of cris mort talking about the need for a better youth system at nufc...
I think the best part of KK appointment is the morale boost. He may not be the best manager, but he instantly lifted the malaise that has been affecting the club since SBR's last season. You don't always need the best soldiers, equipment, or plan to win a battle but you must have good morale.
In watching yesterdays highlights...you could really see an enthusiasm at St. James that hasn't been present in quite awhile. I was getting goosebumps just listening to the crowd.
I remember years ago first following football in the early 1990s and I first got introduced to the Premiership. I went through a routine that was probably familiar to a lot of us on these boards... first getting familiarized with the so called "big clubs" and their perennial stars and names...and then slowly filtering down toward understanding things about the mid-table clubs and such. I only began to notice Newcastle United (honestly) because at that time I noted to myself that their shirt looked like Juventus (little did I know that it was Juventus who actually incorporated the black/white stripe kit as a result of English influence). But those years were the early years of Keegan's first stint when he resurrected Newcastle from the ashes. I never had a favorite club in England (still don't) but I do distinctly remember disliking Manchester United of that era. Then the 1995-96 season came along and to see another club challenge for the title in the style that Newcastle were playing was refreshing. Now mind you the season before Alan Shearer's Blackburn Rovers had been crowned champion and Man Utd didn't have eight titles under their belts, so there was nothing out of the ordinary that another club like Newcastle could challenge. I wasn't aware then as I am now that Newcastle hadn't won silverware in years...and it didn't matter. The way Ginola, Ferdinand, Beardsley (and later Asprilla) brought the side together that season was brilliant. Srnicek wasn't a Schmeichel, but Keegan brought about a "Brazil-esque" (if such a word can be created) attitude that if the opposition was going to score 3, Newcastle would score 4 (except for the game at Anfield). The passion he brought to the side with that unforgettable rant "I will luuv it" against Ferguson is something that seems lost in football today. But the one thought that can't seem to escape my head is whether Keegan is going to be given enough time to make his mark. In that 95-96 season, Keegan had already managed the club and bought his own players for several preceding seasons. It takes time to cultivate sides that can not only win but do it in style. Newcastle have been blighted by a disease of instant success expectations with nothing to really show for in recent years. I almost wonder if the feeling by all Toon fans is that Keegan will bring success. Ferguson was appointed in 1988 and his only first league title came in 1992 (he did win the 1991 Cup Winners Cup but let's keep this domestic). The legacy that Keegan has can hurt him this second time around. I'm a neutral and already I'm looking at this situation as a second coming so what's a Toon fan going to think? Unless these new owners are patient and willing to bite the bullet to create a world class team, Keegan may simply be the 2008 Gullit. Keegan has to deal with this current crop of players that have been so aclimatised to mediocrity. It's going to take a bit of time before we see shades of 95-96. But as a fan of football I hope we do see it again.
I think Keegan is one of the only managers that will be given the time necessary to change the club. Because we have been burned by so many crap managers since him (not including SBR), Newcastle fans are skeptical of any new manager asks for 5 years to win anything. I don't think the expectations can be any higher than they are already.
I always remembered the quote from one of the spanish commentators on fox sports spanol during a man city game (when Keegan was manager) "manchester city is the worst team that best plays" The team was good to watch, put on some nice moves but wasn't getting results. I don't think anyone expects Newcastle to win anything but as long as they regain their identity of attacking soccer it will be enough for most fans.
Here's a question I was thinking about. We all know that Shearer is going to hang over this club and when Sam failed, his name was thrown out there. But did Ashley put more thought into this hire than we think. Could he have gone into this on some level thinking this was the one hire he could make that Shearer's name would not be held over? Just putting it out there.
As Director of Football?? It's ********ing pathetic. It's a joke. Ashley is starting to make Fat Fred look like Socrates.