Newcastle could offer Houllier a homecoming

[Fagan]

By George Caulkin

 

 

 

WHILE THE manager?s job at Newcastle United remains Martin O?Neill?s to turn down, the club continue to receive high-profile representations from other candidates, with Gérard Houllier among those registering his interest in the position. The former Liverpool manager has made little secret of his desire to return to English football and would welcome the opportunity to succeed Graeme Souness at St James? Park.

Freddy Shepherd, the Newcastle chairman, has met O?Neill, the former Celtic manager, for informal discussions and the Ulsterman is his first choice to replace Souness. Yet he is also on the FA?s shortlist to follow Sven-Göran Eriksson as England head coach and, with personal issues still be to be resolved, Shepherd is conscious that other options may need to be considered. Restless supporters also need to be placated.

 

 

 

While O?Neill?s decision is awaited, Newcastle have sifted through applications from other parties. Houllier, who has taken Lyons to the top of the French league and to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, has made Shepherd aware that he would relish the chance to reinvigorate a Newcastle team that has underachieved since the dismissal of Sir Bobby Robson two years ago.

 

Roberto Mancini, the Inter Milan coach, has also asked to be kept abreast of developments on Tyneside, which explains his short price with bookmakers, but Newcastle will remain in limbo until O?Neill?s future is determined.

 

Sam Allardyce?s record at Bolton Wanderers has come under scrutiny by directors, and the club denied recent reports that David Moyes, of Everton, was a contender for the role.

 

Houllier brought copious silverware to Liverpool during his six years at Anfield, including the Uefa, FA and League Cups in 2001. He has recovered from a serious heart complaint and, after being dismissed in 2004, had a break of 12 months before taking the reins at Lyons. It is rumoured, however, that he does not enjoy a harmonious relationship with his French employers.

 

?I would consider managing in England again,? he said. ?Because of my strong ties with Liverpool, England will always be a special place to me ? a second home, if you like. The year off I had after leaving Liverpool did me a lot of good and I was able to take a step back and see football from a different perspective. I have come back stronger and rejuvenated.?

 

If Newcastle supporters have become frustrated by the lack of activity on the managerial front, the same applies to a difficult season on the pitch. With Michael Owen making only fleeting appearances in a black-and-white shirt and Steven Taylor, the club?s most accomplished defender, a long-term absentee with a shoulder injury, there have been further bad tidings regarding Scott Parker.

 

The midfield player, signed from Chelsea for £6.5 million last summer, is almost certain to miss the remainder of the season with glandular fever, a development that finally curtails any lingering hopes of forcing his way into Eriksson?s World Cup plans.

 

?The latest situation is that Scott will stay at his home in Newcastle for the next week when his condition will be monitored by our medical team,? Glenn Roeder, the caretaker manager, said. ?It is probable that he will have further tests to determine, if he has glandular fever, just what strain it is and the strength of it.

 

?But I spoke to Scott last night and he says he will be absolutely devastated if he does have to miss the rest of the season. He insisted that he has really enjoyed his first season with us and that he does not want it to end in this way. However, I have reminded him that his Newcastle career is only just starting and that he is going to have a lot of better times ahead with this football club.?

 

 

 

Times

[jon_hall]

Why the f*** would he want to leave Lyon?

[Fagan]

agree, can see no reason why he would want to leave the french champions who will compete in the CL every year to go to that shambles of a club

[Guest Red Mist]

Why, after managing the Reds AND currently in another dream job would Ged even consider lowering his standards by going to that Geordie circus?

[Nebraska Red]

he has one of the cushiest jobs in world football right now, managing a team that is light years ahead of anything else in France.

 

why on earth would he leave that to go and work in one of the coldest, dampest places in Europe and put up with the ridiculous ambitions of Newcastle's owner.

 

give the job to Fat Sam if he doesn't get the England job that he feels is his birthright.

[Lee W]

Hilarious ! You can just see the headline:

 

"Inter Milan and Lyon managers fight it out for Newcastle Position"

[Gravy]

There is no chance he would leave Lyon for N'Castle. Straight from the horses mouth about 5 minutes ago.

 

Expect him holding a black and white scarf very shortly then.

 

Non commital about the England job but said his personal life isn't exciting enoufgh for him to be offered the England job.

[Mike]

allez allez

gerard houllier

[RP]

There is no chance he would leave Lyon for N'Castle. Straight from the horses mouth about 5 minutes ago.

 

Expect him holding a black and white scarf very shortly then.

 

Non commital about the England job but said his personal life isn't exciting enoufgh for him to be offered the England job.

 

 

Haha. According to the horse's mouth, he's not leaving Liverpool anytime soon either.

[L19red]

What is wrong with being paid what you are contractually owed?

 

Both parties, LFC and Gerard Houllier, signed the contract in good faith at the outset and when it was terminated the Club fulfilled it's obligations towards Gerard.

 

I really cannot see anything wrong with that - would it be better if we stalled over payments due?

 

 

I wasnt knocking Ged I was using the example of how he exited LFC to make a point about why he might take the Newcastle job. The geordies track record is simple

Hire manager on big salary and long contract

fire manager after 18 months

pay up most if not all of the contract.

doing 18 months work for 4-5 years money seems like a good deal to me.

[jimmylibel]

he might sign a 5 year contract, get sacked after 18 months and pocket 5 years worth of loot. That's what souness did. And Ged wasnt exactly slow in getting his payment out of us when the contract was terminated.

 

Wasn't Souness originally only on a 12 month deal with an optional extension of another 12 months?

[Gravy]

Haha. According to the horse's mouth, he's not leaving Liverpool anytime soon either.

 

Hence the crack about holding a black and white scarf above his head.

[jimmylibel]

Link

 

Graeme Souness has admitted he has arrived at Newcastle to take on his 'dream job'.

 

The Scot was lured to St James' Park from Blackburn last week and was presented to the media on Monday, although he took charge of his first training session the previous day.

 

Souness, who has signed a two-year rolling deal, is looking to bring silverware to Tyneside and he feels the club are close to achieving something great.

 

"I feel I've come to a club with so much in place to make it successful," he told Sky Sports News. "I'm inheriting a fabulous situation, I'm so excited I can't tell you.

 

"This is a dream job for me. I've worked at big clubs before and this is up there with any club you care to mention."

 

Souness witnessed his new side take care of Blackburn at the weekend and he feels that performance is the benchmark for the remainder of the campaign.

 

"That's the benchmark," he stressed. "I won't accept them slipping below that.

 

"If you've got quality and you give 100 percent then you've got a great chance of success."

 

Souness is likely to stamp his own mark on the club but he feels there is strength in depth among the playing staff.

 

"I think if you look at the group of players here, there are some top class performers and the next step is to win something," he added.

 

"I know what we have to do and what the fans want and that is to win something.

 

"Looking at the team on Saturday - the way they play is the way I want to."

 

There is a good blend of youth and experience in the Newcastle dressing room and Souness is looking for the old heads to lend support to the youngsters.

 

"My belief in football is quite simple," he said. "I learned far more from the senior players there - not only about football but also how to live my life.

 

"I was beaten up - not physically but verbally - by those senior professionals for a few months and the senior players have a big responsibility.

 

"There has been a lot of talk about the so-called brat pack but I don't see it like that.

 

"There are some lads here that just need a bit of guidance. I am disciplined in my life and I expect them to be disciplined.

 

"All they need is a wee bit of education. It's about me pointing them in the right direction and the senior pros teaching the young lads.

 

"I'll expect players like Alan Shearer to play their part in that."

[G Richards]

If Houllier goes there then he might put in a bid for Cisse. I think he wanted to pair him up with Owen from years ago, and with Shearer retiring...

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

The Geordies would probably do their nuts if he was appointed. Which would make me laugh, as he only won a bucketload of stuff with us. The press would be full of it too, funny how they like to forget

[Gravy]

What part of "he will not leave Lyon for Newcastle" didn't translate??

[RP]

What part of "he will not leave Lyon for Newcastle" didn't translate??

 

 

"Posted by Gravy"

[Ombudsam]

all he has to do is win one league cup and he will be the most succesful manager in their history

 

that's not true

[Benitez]

that's not true

 

 

ok, waffa cup them.

 

Maybe GH likes a challenge, which is why he fancies the Newcastle job

[matty]

Hence the crack about holding a black and white scarf above his head.

 

He's going to Juventus?

[Gravy]

"Posted by Gravy"

 

Oh.

[Ombudsam]

ok, waffa cup them.

 

Maybe GH likes a challenge, which is why he fancies the Newcastle job

 

They've won the League once and the FA cup 6 times

[SKITTLE]

Please god let him go to the Geordies.

 

 

He might have a plan to buy Cisse.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

The Guardian mooted him for the England job

[Raj]

Houllier is far to good for that sh*ithouse club and their equally sh*t house fans

FFS he looks like he's going to win the French League and may win the Champions League.

 

They should hire Steve Bruce and they can laud another Geordie who wins f*ck all