McLaren: Newcastle 'can be one of Europe's top 10 clubs'

[Blackadder]

It was on this day in 1969 that Newcastle won the Fairs Cup.

46 years since they won anything of note.

 

[sir albion]

Newcastle are a very big club and have fabulous potential with the right backing

 

[bhafc1976]

Talk Sport etc raving about how good he'll be at Newcastle. Sorry but I think he'll be turd. Could live to eat my words, but I just don't rate him. Guess we'll see by Christmas.

 

[Hampster Gull]

Not with that owner

 

[Goldstone1976]

Surely his knowledge of Europe is fundamental to making a statement about how big Newcastle could be within it.

It's one part of the equation, for sure. Equally important, imo, is his knowledge of Newcastle and, especially, Ashley. In order for Newcastle to be in the top 10 in Europe they'd have to displace one of:

Barca
Real Madrid
Juve
Roma
PSG
Bayern Munich
Wolfsburg
PSV
Chelski
Man City

which of the above are Newcastle, under Ashley, going to be better than?

 

[Triggaaar]

In order for Newcastle to be in the top 10 in Europe they'd have to displace one of:

Barca
Real Madrid
Juve
Roma
PSG
Bayern Munich
Wolfsburg
PSV
Chelski
Man City

which of the above are Newcastle, under Ashley, going to be better than?

Or Newcastle under anyone. That list doesn't even include Man U any more, that's how ridiculous McTw@t's statement is.

 

[nicko31]

Hilarious appointment. Specialist in failure that's Newcastle, FA Cup 3rd round PLEASE

 

[fat old seagull]

I actually think he's a decent manager. I just wish he'd stop being silly and trying go speak foreign languages in English. And this time with his 'a top team in Europe quote' he's advanced his linguistic skills by talking Double Dutch!

 

[Pavilionaire]

Rubbish with England, rubbish at Forest, blew it with Derby.

 

[Doc Lynam]

Well at least he's bilingual that will help him conquer Europe.

 

[Mr Putdown]

Ignore me.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Well at least he's bilingual that will help him conquer Europe.

Indeed. How many people on this thread (who have criticised Steve) could go to a foreign country and be fluent in their language within weeks? Steve was popular in Holland because he took the time to learn and speak their tounge, if he can master the Geordie language, he could very well become a success.

 

[Eeyore]

Newcastle United should be a top six club in fairness. It has always puzzled me how they have never pulled off a managerial appointment that would offer them that consistent opportunity. (Keegan aside).

"A club the size of Newcastle United should be winning cups and finishing in the top eight in the Premier League."

He's right.

 

[Triggaaar]

I actually think he's a decent manager.

It's all relative. He was an awful England manager, I actually wanted us to lose against Israel, because I thought he'd get the sack and we'd have time to turn it around. But we didn't, we drew 1-1, and later failed to qualify. But at Championship level he should be decent.

"A club the size of Newcastle United should be winning cups and finishing in the top eight in the Premier League."

He's right.

There's a big difference between top 8 in England, and top 10 in Europe.

 

[wellquickwoody]

If, and it is a massive IF, they could get their act together, they could easily be in the same bracket as Spurs, Everton, Liverpool etc.. as regulars in europe via the league, with the odd toe in the champions league if one of the big boys fail.

Currently though, not a chance.

An 'also ran' in the Prem, let alone Europe then?

 

[Goldstone1976]

I totally agree that Newcastle is, by any reasonable definition, a "big" club that is currently (and has pretty much for 4 decades) under performing. However, as others have observed, there's a big difference between top 8 in England and top 10 in Europe.

If Shteeeve had said "this is a club that should be doing better; I want to get us to top 8 in the PL and win a cup in the next 3 years; then we'll review where we want to go next", I'd have no complaints and wouldn't have started the thread. But to say that he has aspirations of top 10 in Europe, when he's the manager, on a short term contract, and not the Chairman, is frankly delusional. He's set himself up for abject failure.

 

[Doc Lynam]

Indeed. How many people on this thread (who have criticised Steve) could go to a foreign country and be fluent in their language within weeks? Steve was popular in Holland because he took the time to learn and speak their tounge, if he can master the Geordie language, he could very well become a success.

How you say,!? You are big right.

 

[8th battalion East Lancs]

With a new better richer owner, a better manager and 11 far better players, then Steve is right. Newcastle can be one of Europe's top 10 clubs.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Ignore me.

No!

 

[Bozza]

It's one part of the equation, for sure. Equally important, imo, is his knowledge of Newcastle and, especially, Ashley. In order for Newcastle to be in the top 10 in Europe they'd have to displace one of:

Barca
Real Madrid
Juve
Roma
PSG
Bayern Munich
Wolfsburg
PSV
Chelski
Man City

which of the above are Newcastle, under Ashley, going to be better than?

I had mentally prepared a similar list, but mine was both longer and different. I can't see any way in the near-term that Newcastle could be any bigger than:

Barcelona
Real Madrid
Man City
Man Utd
Arsenal
Chelsea
Liverpool
Juventus
AC Milan
PSG
Bayern Munich
Dortmund

All that said, they were 19th in the Deloitte Football Money List which is surprisingly high for a club that has so spectacularly failed to achieve anything of note for so long. To get any higher though, surely they'd need to be playing in the Champions League, and just how are they going to manage that, particularly with Mike Ashley steering the ship?