Hughton has to stay!
October 28th 2010 13:35
Link: twitter.com/mattsaltmer
Last night, Newcastle United released a statement, giving the club's backing to manager Chris Hughton. In my opinion, this statement was a disgrace. Not because I believe we shouldn't be giving Hughton that backing, but because there should be no need for such a statement. Why is Hughton's job being discussed? There should be 0% of Newcastle fans, or media, calling for his head. He took over as manager with one target, earn promotion back to the Premier League, we won the Championship title. This season there is one aim again, stay in the Premier League, we are currently 9th.
I was shocked and disgusted yesterday, when I learnt that one of England's leading bookmakers suspended betting on Hughton getting the sack next, suggesting it was a fore gone conclusion. The club have made decisions in the past which have frustrated me, but I think sacking Hughton would leave me feeling the most disillusioned ever as a fan. Talk of his departure is reminiscent of Sir Bobby Robson's exit in 2004. Despite finishing the three previous campaigns in 3rd, 4th and 5th place, he was sacked four games into the new season. Though the finger of blame for Robson's sacking is often pointed directly at then Chairmen Freddy Shepherd, a good memory reminds me that the fans were calling for his head.
While I am stopping well short of criticising the Newcastle fans, as they are unquestionably the best football fans in the country, last night a small section of the Toon Army left me dumbfounded. Would I have taken 9th place and 11 points at this stage of the Premier League season, yes, definitely. There should be no pressure whatsoever in Hughton's position. But at 1-0 down against Arsenal, one of the best teams in world football, last night, some of the calls from fans sat behind me were shocking. 'Hughton your s***' 'Hughton get out of the club', 'sack the manager'.
In my opinion, only someone with a serious lack of footballing knowledge would calling for the Irishman's head. I don't think any manager out there could have done a better job than Chris in his first year in charge. Back in the big league, in the top half, and fantastic dealings in the transfer market. I don't know about other Magpies fans, but I could have only dreamed that we'd sign three players, of Tiote, Ben Arfa and Gosling's ability this summer. Such coup's in the transfer market are testament to Chris Hughton. Also, the emergence of young talent such as Andy Carroll, Nile Ranger, Haris Vukcic and Shane Ferguson, further strengthens his case to stay.
The statement from the club read 'Chris is our manager and will remain our manager. It is our intention to renegotiate his contract at the end of the season'. Hughton himself has admitted this morning, that speculation over his future far from helps, in what is a huge week for the club. Despite elimination from the League Cup last night, the important game is this Sunday against Sunderland. For the manager's sake, I hope we win. Because defeat against our bitter rivals, will lead to more ill-advised calls for his departure.
The fact that his contract is up at the end of the season, and that assistant manager Colin Calderwood left last week, has done nothing but fuel speculation that Chris Hughton's days at Newcastle United are numbered. Personally, I have been enjoying stability at the club for a change, knowing everyone is pulling in the same direction, and being realistic. Of course defeats at home against Stoke and Blackpool leave me frustrated, but not once have I thought 'Its Hughton's fault, get a new manager'. I can categorically, 100% say, that sacking Chris Hughton would get the club no where! Let lessons be learnt from the past, and stick with our manager, whatever happens.
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