Give Steve McClaren the sack, says John Hall
Steven Taylor’s own goal, a Josh King strike and Charlie Daniels late piledriver eclipsed Ayoze Perez’s effort at St James’ Park. The crowd turned on McClaren during this abject defeat, but the former England boss said he has no intention of resigning.
But Hall, who was in charge when Newcastle flirted withe the title under Kevin Keegan in the 1990s, feels owner Mike Ashley must now act to keep the club in the top flight.
“If I was Mike Ashley, I’d be tearing my hair out. He’s put money in to buy players and they’re not gelling,” Hall told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“It all comes down to management. Steve’s not getting the players to play for him and it’s maybe time that he goes.”
On Match of the Day, Alan Shearer suggested the club’s malaise goes deeper.
“He’s (McClaren) in massive trouble, he has to take his fair share of the blame but the whole club is a mess from top to bottom.
“We’ve seen statements from the chief executive, from the fitness coach saying how fit the players are, from the manager, from the captain and from the players backing the manager. If that’s a performance to say ‘we’re backing the manager’, then they really are in trouble.”
David Moyes has emerged as the favourite to replace McClaren if his nine-month stay on Tyneside should end.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was delighted with his side’s performance.
He said: “We don’t want to let up until we know we are safe, and even if we are able to hit that mark, then we want even more.”
Elliot, Janmaat, Taylor, Lascelles, Dummett (Anita 31), Shelvey, Colback, Sissoko (Aarons 69), Perez , Wijnaldum, Riviere (Mitrovic 46).
Gouffran, Saivet, Darlow, Doumbia.
Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie (Distin 90), Gosling, Surman, Gradel (Pugh 61), Afobe (Grabban 69), King.
Elphick, Federici, Murray, O’Kane.
Paul Tierney
