NEWCASTLE UNITED MANAGER Steve McClaren believes the club are not “bonkers” but admits the Tyneside club can appear so from the outside.
McClaren’s side are sitting in the Premier League relegation zone after 15 games, adrift of safety on goal difference ahead of their trip to Tottenham tomorrow.
Some of Newcastle’s off-season signings have struggled to adapt to football at St James’ Park this season, with £13m (€18m) signing Aleksandar Mitrovic left on the bench for the club’s last two Premier League fixtures.
But McClaren has come to their defence and admitted it is not easy for some players to settle in quickly in the north-east.
When asked if allowances had to be made for players arriving at a “bonkers” club, McClaren replied: “That’s a bit harsh! You don’t work inside it, and it’s not so bonkers inside. It looks it, though, doesn’t it from the outside?
“A lot of players have been here longer than I have, a lot of them. We only introduced five, I think, and we always said that it would take time for them to adapt.
“And in terms of the job and adapting and blah, blah, blah, it can take the first half of a season to do that. I fully expect us to be stronger in the second half than we are in the first half.
“It’s not an easy football club, as you and we all know, but that’s the situation that we’re in.
“I think the players know that and I think those new ones are coming in and adapting to that. I think it can be a culture shock to them.”
He must really not like his brother.
Think it’s just good retirement planning by the parents. He signs his brother to take over the carers role.
A head scratcher if ever there was one.
Hate to slate a loyal servant but, it makes sense he allowed John afoa to go to Gloucester then.
Does make you wonder!
Not at all, that was a done deal long ago and Gloucester on sacked their present director last week.
NO ONE saw this coming, a real shocker!
Wow, I did not see that one coming! He was Mr Ulster, and I wouldn’t imagine he was anywhere near completing his objectives he had outlined with Ulster. Still, we should be able to attract a top class director. Conor O’Shea?
Big of a shock especially after the transformation that has happened up in Ulster the last few years…maybe he felt he couldn’t take them on any further?
Head coach
Mark Mc Call?
Not so strange. Frustration at the lack of success. By moving to Gloucester is he saying this is as far as I can take Ulster at this time? Is he saying that the powers that be do not share his ambition? What does Gloucester offer that he cannot achieve with Ulster? Shane Logan’s comments are curious, particularly regarding development as Ulster has a single representative in U20 in the junior world cup and a senior squad that can beat the best in Europe but has no trophies. Has the wrong man left Ulster?
That’s a strange one didn’t see that coming,are you any relation to charlize theron?
Hope it’s not a sign of things to come with the new financial clout of the premiership & top14 deals. I had worried about losing players but managers & directors are just as important.
Is it because there are simply too many too comfortable in their roles at Ulster paying lip service to sharing the vision or is it because he has read which way the financial wind is blowing?
Sad day for Ulster Rugby. Brilliant player, captain and leader. He spotted and attracted the best players and brought them to Belfast.
After 91 years you just can’t write off Ravenhill and its rugby history despite new stadium name. More to this story.
But can they afford to let ambition walk out the door?
If David was the director of rugby what was the title for Mark Anscombe ?
Coach
It was probably in the works for a while, but just officially announced today, in case it was a distraction during the tail end of the season. Real surprise though