10 Reasons Why Newcastle Fans Wish It Was The 1990s Again
9. The Club Targeted Winning Managers
It was towards the end of January that Lee Charnley - concierge to Mike Ashley's evil whimsy - absurdly claimed he was sifting through an 80-strong pool of candidates for the vacant head coach vacancy at Newcastle.
Even after rejecting the oft-lamented Managing Director's overtures on two occasions and seemingly exterminating his candidacy quicker than a Dalek could bark its famous catchphrase, Steve McLaren remains the prime candidate to replace Alan Pardew, six months after the automated-excuse merchant switched to Crystal Palace at the first presentable opportunity.
Yes, the Wolly with the Brolly. The same McLaren who hasn't managed in the Premier League for nearly a decade after five prosperous seasons at Middlesbrough and categorically failed as England manager. Relative success in Holland aside, he's an underwhelming and unwelcome choice. But what else is to be expected from the club of perpetual disappointment?
Then again, between McLaren and John Carver, he is the lesser of two evils.
It wasn't like that in the 90's. Newcastle rarely dawdled on their appointments and succeeded in attracting several highly-esteemed legends of the game to take the reins at St James' Park.
Okay, so most fans won't look back on the tenures of Kenny Dalglish or Ruud Gullit with great fondness, but the duo won 50 major trophies as players and managers prior to landing on Tyneside, and their appointments were a huge statement of intent at the time. Same goes for the selection of Ossie Ardiles, a World Cup winner in his heyday, whilst Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson barely require an introduction.