Robson's successor

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One of the worrying things about Halls weekend comments was him saying he had no thoughts about who was going to take over Bobby Robson.

Robson at the max has two years left I reckon so unless they are going to scupper the stability in the club by just replacing him the day after he leaves, the board will have to get someone in the management team who willl be groomed to take over Robson.

We will not be able to appoint an established man for this job because no self respecting manager will want to play second fiddle to Robson.

Vialli was touted for the Totenham job for the rest of the season but he has discounted that because he wants to take over a "blank sheet of paper" role i.e. Complete control and the ability to form his own side. He couldn't do that if Newcastle made him coach with a view to making him manager.

That doesn't leave to many options.

David Platt, Stuart Pearce, Rob Lee??? Shearer's too young.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

Answers

Venison? Barton?

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

Sources close to Mr Robson suggest that his remaining at the helm for two years might be a tad optimistic.

Start thinking about the possibility of his retirement from full management at the end of this season.

You heard it here first...............

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001


Where on earth did you hear that?

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

George Burley?

Clarity of roles is what is crucial. According to our esteemed chairman of vice we should have the money to attract any manager we want (Fabio, can you hear us?), so if the new man is given a clear timetable for development he should be able to put his ego aside while the huge pay packet rolls in.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001


Burley, no chance!

He is building himself a steady reputation at Ipswich and coming to work at Newcastle as Bobby's No.2 effectively would be a downturn in his fortunes, especially if Ipswich continue to be in the European positions.

That is the trouble with the position Robson's age gives us. A new manager will either have to be young and willing to work with him for experience or a straight replacement with Robson being removed form day to day affairs.

Robson has performed the Director of Football role for Barcelona would he do it for NUFC.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001



My choice would be kevin K Peter Taylor, but Leicster are a bigger club than Newcastle so I reckon we'll be promoting Mr Wadsworth.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

I believe that if results continue to go against us then BR might throw in the towel at the end of the season. What do we think of Vialli?

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

With a proposed injection of some cash (amount speculated on but not accurately stated) Robson may decide to give it one more season and go for bust.

I'd like to see Vialli installed as Robson's assistant manager for next year, his ideas would give us another dimension and he could then take over from Robson.

I can't see it happening though, it probably wouldn't work for either person.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001


In the adsence of KK, Vennison. Please, not Shearer

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

I'd like to see Venison get the job as well.

Keegan would never do it.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001



..... virtually anyone except Mick Wadsworth, a distinct possibility.

I'm curious as to why Shearer is totally and utterly unacceptable because he has no management/coaching experience - and yet Barry Venison, who's only recent work experience is keeping a chair warm in a TV studio, would be just fine and dandy.
The general hostility towards Alan Shearer on here is something I will never, ever comprehend.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001


clarky, I don't think its really hostility, more the view that big al is not a 'manager'

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

My first thought , when I saw the thread title, was that surely Venables has already replaced him. I did not imagine this could be about the immortal YBR.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

It's not just the manager issue Swift. On another thread just this afternoon AS's terrific goal-scoring performance last season - which essentially kept us in the PL - was branded as being "nothing special".
There is a general dislike for the man that simply I don't understand, and don't know what he's done to deserve it.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

I freely admit to being totally biased when it comes to Shearer. I can't help it. I don't want medication or counselling. My mental health is not impaired( most of the time )-it was a close run thing on Saturday. I think Alan (as I call him) is the mutts nutts. If he wants to be manager, so be it. If he wants to sell second hand cars, so be it. If he wants to lead us out of this apathetic, second rate quagmire, so be it. He is a God, and I am not worthy to bask in his reflection. How anybody can slag him off in view of his record for us mystifies me. As a goal scoring, black & white hero I can't find anyone who comes close to filling his boots. Which is one reason that we are in the mess that we are in. Perhaps I've said too much. Anyway, bugger it.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001


......well that's a big relief. There are at least two of us anyway, Tony - I'd come to believe I was IT.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

I think Shearer has too much influence . Football is a team game and Alan Shearer is the best player in our team. However I think many feel we are becoming a one man club. Ruud Gullit tried to take him down a peg or two and it cost him his job. I think at the time the club was split into those players that accepted Shearer as "god" and those that didn't. Are we any better a club now that most of the anti Shearer contingent have departed? I worry about what will become of Newcastle if Shearer becomes manager.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

Where's aal the support for Vennison come from? He's totally inexperienced as a manager. Same (or similar) boat to Shearer on that one.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

Wearing a Toon Shirt in;

Miami - hey hows Shearer

Chicago - Shearer Shearer

New Orleans - a taxi driver hoots 'one Alan Shearer'

Climbing Mt St Helens - Shearer

Las Vegas, Jackson Hole, Nassua you name it. SHEARER

Point being everywhere I went in the US Shearer was a talisman for NUFC.

I was proud.

Tell you what - that pride was enough for me.

Got me and the wife a few beers to

Cheers Alan and thanks for making me feel good.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001


Well said Pete

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

That's three. We're in danger of forming a movement at this rate.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

If we make it to 4, we can be a Gang!

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

Hey, find a lass for No.5 and we might even manage a Gang bang.

Would you mind passing me hat & coat please, Mr. Shearer?

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001


I'll join in. Just remind me - what am I joining??

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

There's no way your going to be No.5, Screach - you can be No.6 when we're finished, but we might be occupied for half an hour or so!

;- {))

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001


Oh geez.....not sure about the gang bang, no offense guys, but unless you can get Shearer himself involved, then I might feel differently. ;-))

I love Shearer. He's the reason I scoured the web for info on NUFC and found this bbs. I still get a completely stupid grin on my face when I think of speaking to him last summer, and being stalked by him in the hotel the next day. ;-) I'm desperate for him to get some degree of health back and start scoring goals for us again.

BUT, I also feel his influence on the club is bordering on the unhealthy and unrealistic. And I don't entirely blame him for that. It's too many people putting him on a pedestal for too long. FAct is he's getting older, the injuries are taking their toll, he's going to have to get used to not playing every minute of every game. And his coaches and managers need to deal with that as well, and plan for it.

His attitude is only to be admired, but he needs to be told when it's time to rest. If he seriously wants to go into management/coaching he can use his down time to take classes and learn from Bobby. I don't want to hear he doesn't have the time. Barton and Pearce have managed to get badges while playing. So can Shearer.

There is absolutely no reason he can't make a valuable contribution to the playing side for another few seasons....if used properly and not flogged.

IMO, he absolutely should NOT become our next manager after Bobby. Should he fail, and the chances of failure are far higher than of success, it would be a terrible tarnish on a Toon hero. And I honestly can't see where else he'd go, or would he want to go elsewhere after such a failure. This is the club he loves. He should get his experience elsewhere, then come back and continue to build his legend. Or do a few years on staff as a full-time coach, then step up.

/nightly blabber mode off :-)

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001


Well, if Shearer was to be our next manager, and then failed, he could always go to the Mackems. At least he might take them into the NWl ;-)

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

Now there's an idea. Have his first managerial failure and enhance his legend status at the same time!

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

My opposition to Shearer as manager (I love him as a player) is that his mentor was always TSM. He is obsessed by getting crosses in while I love to see a lot of movement in the middle of the oitch & mixing it up a little.

Vennison is my man as he seems to know every player & style on ITV (Ok he's up against Bob Wilson), the successor needs to have been with KK for the best part of his reign but remember him in one of our first games in the premier League v Ipswich. He & Steve Watson had psession surrounded by 5 Ipswich lads. Rather than belt it, Venners orchastrated a series of one-twos into our own box, then setting up a counter attack. It was pure class that was appreciated by both sets of supporters.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


Very thoughtful post ciara.
You have to rememer that AS is immensely wealthy - if he tried and failed at the Toon, he would probably decide to do something else rather than try elsewhere - like making movies!
BTW I'm not certain myself he would be the ideal choice because of his inexperience. However, I do feel we desperately need some continuity and a period of 'evolution': appointing another outsider would inevitably mean yet another 'revolution'.

Looking inside the Club, I feel AS is by far the best equipped to do the job. Dave LeF raises a very valid point about his relationship with and admiration for TSM. However, we have to remember that he also played for England for 10years, and gained experience with several good managers and their differing styles - including Venables, Hoddle and KK - and watched and played against the top national sides in the World.
If he really is a student of the game he wil have learned a lot from these expereinces. Time, as they say, will tell.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


Continuity is the key, we're not going to sack YBR so it's a great opportuity to groom the new manager. The thing is this may already be in action with Mick Wadsworth, the problem is we like the theory but don't like the personality.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

I think Shearer will make an excellent manager, although there don't seem to be any others agree.

He's played at the highest level, for a lot of good managers, both tactically in Venables and inspirationally in Keegan and Dalglish (he was at one point, and players seem to like him). He's also seen rubbish and how easy it is to piss off good players.

He is single minded, with the same attitude that Sir Alex so nicely portrays.

To me is th eone hope we have of producing a team which hates losing, which is hated by others, has a seige mentality. None of our managers have ever managed to invoke that. He could. He is availablke to us as a potential manager, we shouldn't send him away from us again, only to get him back in 10 years time after he's won trophies elsewhere but is tired of it by the time he reaches us.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


Faced with the alternatives Macbeth, if it was my personal decision I would go with Shearer, and do whatever I could to prepare him for the eventuality.
As you say, he has many of the personal qualities required, but perhaps could tend to be a little distant and autocratic. I would actually get him on a top personal skills course to hone his leadership ability - there are some very good ones available - in addition to him getting his coaching qualifications.

He would be a risk, but so would all the alternatives, possibly more so.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


I don't like Shearer(or any player) when he cheats ... diving. Otherwise I love him.

I personally think it would be a massive mistake to make him manager. I'm not 100% sure he is a team player. If we had to pick a new boss from our current playing staff I'd go with Warren Barton.

Venison? not for me. We can't afford to give ex-players a trial at being manager. Let them go and prove themselves elsewhere. It is a completely different role to playing.

Will we be able to attract a top manager? Most of the good ones wouldn't move from their current clubs. In summary, we need YBR to hang on as long as he can.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


........don't think we have that luxury Geordie. Ourplanning has to recognise BR's age and the fact that he could depart with little notice. IMO, we have to be planning for an orderly transition, now.

As to Barton as a candidate, you might be right. In truth, none of really knows the candidates so we aren't really in a good position to evaluate them as potential managers.

BTW, got to agree with you regarding cheating - and the Team Manager is the one who must set the standard.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


If we had to chose eight candidates as eventual sucsessor to Bobby Robson , who would they be?

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

Even the thought horrifies me, but seeing as how you asked:

(not in any order of preference)
Alan Shearer
George Graham
Glenda Hoddle
Martin O'Neill
George Burley
Peter Taylor
Jean Tigana
Steve Bruce

Is that 'incoming' I hear? ;-{)

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


Martin O'Neill
Houllier
Peter Taylor
Vegetables
Graham
Sven Goren cellphone(his England demise should coincide with YBR's retirement!
Jonno
Shearer
Barton



-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


Houllier!! Interesting choice Geordie - I really detest that man. I think he's a sly, underhand, scheming charlatan.

Doing a canny job I suppose, but just can't stand him and would hate to see him at SJP. He's the sort I could just imagine training his forwards in multiple 'diving' techniques.
Each to his own, I guess.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


I detest Martin O'Neill but I'd put up with him if he won us a trophy!

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

So now we know why Jonno has returned from self-imposed exile. He's had a word with Geordie and is in the process of nailing his colours to the mast of future management. And you all thought it was because DH has come out of exile.

BTW - has anybody ever seen DH and Jonno at the same time? The piece in the paper said that DH was barely recognisable these days. Makes you wonder..........

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


Catch them all on the hop. Get a manager in from outside football and appoint some seriously talented players as coaches with some hard- working bloke like Barton as fitness instructor (can't believe someone was accusing him of having no pace - the only one moving on Saturday and did it until substituted surrounded by Madame Tussaude's rejects). It worked spectacularly well for the England RFU team with Jack Rowell. Get someone in who understands getting the most out of people and one who won't be weighed down with 100 years worth of football cliches but will instead just be looking with the eyes of a motivator and organizer.

At a stroke you get rid of the problem of football experts learning business the hard way but bring in someone who knows business inside out and needs only to appreciate the game to see what is needed. No more of that petulant star problem: "What would you know about it? You only played as a jouneyman and I'm a full international."

"Oh aye, bonny lad? I've been managing a multinational business with thousands of employees depending on me. This is Peter Beardsley. Not one of you lot is fit to clean his boots when it comes to playing football and he thinks you need to work on your shooting. Barry Venison was defending corners when men were men and you were in short pants - if he says your positional sense is dodgy then it's dodgy, ok?"

Christ, it's a simple enough game, I mean we can see how to sort things out.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


I don't have a problem with Alan Shearer as a player (although I doubt he'll ever play 30 games a season for us again). I do have a reservation about the effect that it has on other players in the squad when he is apparently an automatic selection even when far from fit.

When it comes to management, I'd have someone who has taken the trouble to get coaching qualifications ahead of one who apparently thinks they are unnecessary. Every time.

Hence my strong preference for WB. And my belief that we should steer clear of undeniably good players who think that that is all they need to manage successfully. There are plenty of past examples of people who have tried this and failed miserably. However, I don't really think either AL or WB is anywhere near ready yet to manage a PL team - which is, hopefully, what we still will be.

In the medium term, I'd like to think we could prise Tigana away from Fulham, but doubt it. And I have this sneaking feeling that if we did, he would make demonstrating that nobody is an automatic selection a high priority, er, pour encourager les autres.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


As for the future manager, there's one overriding thing which makes the choice difficult. How long will YBR go on? If it is for (say) 2-3 more years, then an internal appointment, or possibly a first-timer like Venners, would make best sense. They would get the benefit of working alongside the great man and being exposed to his great knowledge. (btw - I rate Andy Gray's reading of a game as a footy-show host as mcuh as I do Venners, but as a personality, well I'd go for BV). In this category, I'd go with AS with possibly WB on the coaching staff.

However, if YBR decides that he'd rather be playing golf or putting his feet up,then we could not afford the risk of appointing a newbie (sorry Jonno - Athletico Backworth don't count) and would have to go with an experienced head. O'Neil would be my choice - especially if he could bring Larsson with him.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


sorry Jonno - Athletico Backworth don't count

Just because you went to Blyth Grammar School Screacher is no reason to attack my intellectually challenged lads.



-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

Screacher,

Your analysis is fine as far as it goes; however, it raises two problems:

i) BR could leave with very little notice, which means we must be actively working on his succession - we simply don't know whether he is going to be here for 3 months or 3 years, and should not let ourselves have to go into blind panic mode when he does go. ii) Why on earth would Martin O'Neill or Jean Tigana come here? Or George Burley? Or Peter Taylor? They'd have to be barmy, or blind greedy - always possible! I'd be concerned we'd find ourselves fishing around in the B or C pool, chasing people like John Aldridge, or Mark McGhee.

Why for once can't we do things professionally - as, for instance, Derby have done very quietly, bringing in Colin Todd to work alongside, and then take over seamlessly from that Baldy Blerk?

Leaving things open, in the hope you can pick up someone with a quality pedigree "on the fly", I feel is way too risky and decisions based on judgement need to be made now or in the very near future - assuming, of course, they haven't already been made, which as I've said before, is my guess.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


Clarky,

I agree with you that the professional approach would be to plan to manage the transition. Surely YBR would have been asked to recommend to the board how to do this and who to put in place as a result? I seem to remember that some sort of review of the set up and recommendations for the future were part of his brief on appointment - is that correct?

All of which leads me - with an inexorable feeling of utter dread - to the conclusion that YBR's recommendation is that his successor, who he is currently grooming, is ... Wadsworth.

I'm going to stick two pencils up my nose, put my underpants on my head and go "wibble" for a while...

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


It's a gamble either way.

Wait till Robson packs it in then appoint someone = Gamble (As previous appointments have proven).

Groom someone in to take over from Robson = Gamble because no manager with a decent reputation will work under Robson for a length of time. They would want to make the decisions not carry out instructons. So the person that does come in to be groomed is unproven as a manager and therefore is he any likelie to succeed?

In whatever fashion this is done and whoever takes over from Robson, they have to have the respect of the players.

Wadsworth has managed at lower levels but wasn't that successful by all accounts so he may just be a good coach,although I've seen nothing to suggest that either.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


I cannot believe some of you suggesting Shearer, Venison or Barton as YBR successor.

Have we not just got rid of a great ex player who HAD some managerial experience.

Let them go to Carlisle, Hartlepool or Darlington. Get some experience. Could you trust Shearer with an injured player? Venison is great watching from a warm studio. Barton is going for a "coaching" badge not a managers. He could turn out like Wadsworth, he MAY be a good coach but a shite manager.

In a few years perhaps but NOT NOW.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


YBR wasn't happy to go quietly at Barca or PSV but had the decision taken out of his hands. It would be the same with us. If you want a successor then he will need to be appointed over Bobby's head (dressing it up as a move upstairs won't wash either) and you'd better just hope it isn't over his dead body. Could be the final piece of PR to stick us into eternal notoriety.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

I'm going to stick two pencils up my nose, put my underpants on my head and go "wibble" for a while...

I think you've just established your credentials as a leading contender for the position there Dr Bill.

It would be "nice" to have this "successor in waiting" idea but how many times does it happen? I think Manu were grooming Kidd who didn't want to wait around (silly boy). Leeds managed it with O Weary and Liverpool were hugely successful with a number of managers in "the boot room". Other succesful managers, like Wenger, or Ferguson were brought in when the vacancy arose.

I daresay that Newcastle have an "advantage" here in that it must be recognised that Robson will pack it in sometime soon and I'm sure that the board can privately establish with him when is the best time. So on that basis they can be either grooming the new man (or woman - NUFC is an equal opportunities employer as evidenced by the fact that lack of any football ability is no disbarment to becoming a player) or discretely talking to possible successors. Oh dear - weren't they talking to Gregory recently?

I'll be relieved if Bobby hangs on long enough for George Graham to get a new job...

Contenders? I'd like to check out Burley, Curbishley(work ethic - unproven at a big club just like O Neill was) and Redknapp(plays the game the way we like). I'd also want to sound out Tigane. There must be many more on the continent (outside of Amsterdam) as well. Inside the club, Shearer has the mental strength, Barton the commitment and passion so necessary on the pitch, Rob Lee a great deal of tactical awareness - all are risky and unproven - just like Keegan. It's a tough one to call, but with Robson being as young as he is, it would, as Clarky suggests, be very negligent not to have some plans and options in place.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

YBR has a twelve-month rolling contract. This means at any time he can say "I'm out in a year." A complete overhaul of the club's business (post-Bosman, and following European Commission upheaval) was part of his brief when he took the job. Grooming his successor is also surely part of his brief. Anybody identified as being right for the job can be told that Wor Bobby has invoked this clause and that the new man will be in sole charge in a year. Assuming we don't decide "sod stability, let's get a top man in now" (by which I mean one of the top managers in Europe like Capello, Cuper or Hitzfeld, not big names with no experience), any lesser name identified but not prepared to wait can bugger off. If we go for the internal approach (like Man U if they appoint McClaren rather than O'Neill), I think someone like George Burley or David Moyes (the Preston guy) could be right for us. They would have to take a step down from being in sole charge of a club, but given the assurance of taking over in a year, the challenge could appeal. The thought of Shearer, Barton or any other current player with no experience strolling into the job gives me the Nationwide willies.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

This is all why Robson has intentionally left his Assistant Manager's position empty then?

So will someone be appointed in the Summer then? Curbishley or Burley wouldn't leave heir respective clubs. Someone like Moyes would probably do the job if the time limit was right. Tough one.

As I posted earlier whoever we get in is a gamble. I'd still think about Stuart Pearce and I reckon he'd do it.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


Try again.

NUFC manager poll
Who should succeed Bobby Robson when he retires?

Alan Shearer
Warren Barton
Kevin Keegan
Barry Venison
George Graham
Terry Venables
George Burley
Peter Taylor
Peter Reid
Mick Wadsworth


Results



-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

Don't like David Moyes then Rik? Or Fabio Capello?

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

I like the idea of a manager form outside football. Off the wall thinking, set a trend.

But it throws up (!) an obvious candidate. Lets get someone who has taken a team that is mid table, with some aging 'superstars' who have had their day and replace them with young talent that is eager and ready to improve. Oh yeah and win the a trophy with them. Added plus of already being in the area.

Got to be Rob Andrew, just got to be. Add him to your poll Rik, instead of Wadsworth.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


I think you need an option for "None of the above"

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

Get Steve Redgrave in as fitness instructor and Jonathan Edwards to advise on looking after your hamstrings. Manager? Maybe Major Dick Strawbridge from Scrapheap. There's a fellow who knows how to get people motivated and pulling together whilst working on advice of experts :-)

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

Brilliant Softie, Scrapheap great programme!

Redgrave certainly knows it all on motivation and fighting against adversity. I saw him on that programme that was on before the Olympics and he literally squeezed every last drop of energy out of himself on a rowing machine. You can't see any of our lot doing that.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001


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