Cyber Monday Deal: Up to 60% off InvestingProCLAIM SALE

Rotting Newcastle show no signs of arresting slump

Published 03/05/2015, 19:53
Updated 03/05/2015, 20:02
© Reuters. Leicester City v Newcastle United - Barclays Premier League

By Michael Hann

LONDON (Reuters) - Eight straight Premier League defeats, a player getting sent off "on purpose" according to a vexed interim manager and fan unrest towards an owner for his perceived lack of ambition -- Newcastle United are in turmoil.

Newcastle slipped to 15th, two points clear of the relegation zone with three games remaining, following Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Leicester City and they finished the match with nine men after defenders Mike Williamson and Daryl Janmaat were sent off.

Williamson earned a second yellow card for a reckless tackle on Leicester striker Jamie Vardy and interim boss John Carver said he thought the defender had done it on purpose as an easy way out of Newcastle's current crisis.

Williamson apologised, saying he would "never do anything intentionally to hurt the team or its supporters" but it is just the latest debacle for a club on its knees.

Newcastle's slump started when Alan Pardew jumped ship for Crystal Palace in January, having spent four years as a largely unpopular figure at St James' Park because of his close working relationship with owner Mike Ashley.

Newcastle were 10th in the table when Londoner Pardew departed, but the north-east club were expected to be in safe hands for the rest of the season under the guidance of passionate local man and Pardew's former assistant Carver.

The reality, however, has been very different as Carver has won two out of 16 league games, while Palace have moved away from the relegation zone and up to 12th with Pardew at the helm.

Carver has resorted to verbal attacks on his players in an attempt to fire them up ahead of upcoming home games against West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United either side of a crunch away fixture against 19th-placed Queens Park Rangers.

But 50-year-old Carver, who media reports suggest will be replaced by Derby County's Steve McClaren at the end of the season despite Derby flunking promotion to the English top flight, is not alone in his frustrations.

Angry Newcastle fans held a banner that read "We don't demand a team that wins, we demand a club that tries" against Leicester before swarming around the players' exit where the team bus was parked and shouting "cowards" at squad members.

"I can't disagree with them," Carver said when asked about fan abuse towards the Newcastle players.

Ashley's ownership of the club has angered supporters since he took over in 2007 with fans accusing the British businessman of consistently selling Newcastle's best players and offering little in terms of ambition.

Newcastle have not won a major trophy since the Fairs Cup in 1969 and the last big excitement for supporters came in the 1995-96 season when they were on course to win the league title until a dramatic collapse allowed Manchester United to overhaul them.

© Reuters. Leicester City v Newcastle United - Barclays Premier League

How Newcastle fans must long for a chance to throw away another title.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.