Ordinary Gweilo

Yet another Premier League manager has been fired, and once again it is by ‘mutual consent’, as if that meant anything: 

“Sorry, Sam, you’re fired.”
“OK.”

It was a shock, but not a surprise.  For several weeks Sam Allardyce has looked to be under a lot of pressure, but I think everyone assumed that he would be given a bit longer to prove himself. 

After all, he was given a 3 year contract at the start of the season, and Newcastle are in mid-table, so you’d hardly think that panic measures were indicated.

Yes, the fans didn’t like the football Newcastle were playing, and some of Big Sam’s signing haven’t looked too clever, but was it really necessary to make a change right now?

Newcastle fans were apparently looking wistfully in the direction of Alan Shearer, but that always seemed like wishful thinking – things are considerably different to how they were when Kevin Keegan was drafted in.  Apart from anything else, Shearer doesn’t have the coaching badges he would need, and having spent his time since retirement playing golf and being on the telly, he certainly doesn’t have the excuses that Gareth Southgate was able to offer up. 

The speculation is that Harry Redknapp is the man that Newcastle want, but does he really want to work so far away from his family home in Dorset?  OK, it’s a big challenge, and I’m sure they will pay him handsomely, but so many top managers (and Graeme Souness) have been sacked by Newcastle that Redknapp must know how it’s likely to end.

Here’s an idea.  Hire a good young manager and give him enough time to sort things out.  No, it won’t happen.