By Tyne-Talk
January 12 2008

Mike Ashley and Chris Mort may be taking their time until they appoint another manager, and rightly so, perhaps business trips should be aborted and an all hands on deck approach would be more successful, though unrealistic in a world of big money deals.
Never the less something needs to be done fast, I write this as I watch a dismal display by a team who look like they would rather be anywhere else, let alone at Old Trafford, manager-less, with the lowest level of confidence in a long time. Thankfully I view it from the comfort of my living room where the tea is on tap, I am not in the cold wet stands of Manchester having paid my ticket and travel fare and await a miserable journey home.

The team look spiritless and whilst the fans keep singing, they sing for Shearer, well if Shearer is the be all and end all of Newcastle United FC then there isn't a lot of hope at all for the rest of them. Our key striker Owen plays, but his name is hardly mentioned, though his goal would have changed the game, he is an automatic selection, a selection which hopefully the new manager will review with caution. We cannot blame Owen for our downfall; aside of having no immediate support on the pitch his injury status hasn't helped his plight.

By the 70^th minute I was contemplating the final hammering (I went for 5 -0 - he score is 4-0 at the 86^th minute) when the commentator reminds the viewers that they play the return fixture in just 6 weeks time - well wont that be something to look forward to....

Shearer would be foolish to think he would turn this mess around and sustain it. Then again any manager has a huge task ahead of them and it will take a strong backbone to face the critics, as ultimately whoever is appointed will not be 100% supported, there will always be a select group of fans who will call anyone but the appointed managers name from the stands. That in itself is a sad state of affairs.

It would be good to see whoever replaces Sam Allardyce having the confidence to play who they wish, make their own decisions, bring in some decent players if they have enough time to do so, stand up for themselves and tell the players to either shape up or ship out, because at the moment the managers are being punished for the players problems. That issue also needs addressing.

Oh and its now 5-0 in the 88^th minute

...and there goes the 6^th and our captain is sent off - that just about sums it up.