Newcastle Manager's First Interviews - Did They Deliver On Their Promises?

5. Graeme Souness

"I think I'm ready for a big challenge, and they don't come much bigger than this. I don't need to be told by anyone that Newcastle are one of best supported clubs around. Everything is geared to be successful, and I hope I can bring success. I know what I have to do to be successful here. "This is arguably the best squad I have ever worked with but I know that I have to win something. The players know that and, although I'm coming in with my own ideas, there won't be any dramatic changes." "I'm so excited to be here I can't tell you - my vocabulary doesn't extend that far. I have played and worked at some big clubs before but this is up there with any of them. I can only relate to my own experience. (speaking about the alleged problems Sir Bobby Robson had with some of the squad) "When I was 22 I went to Liverpool thinking I knew all the answers. I learned far more from senior players about football and how to live my life away from it. "I was beaten up verbally by senior professionals at Liverpool. "You might have your players for two hours a day. The senior players have a big part to play in terms of educating the younger ones."

Too much emphasis was put on the disciplinary procedures here after Sir Bobby was let go in the midst of talk about how certain players were taking advantage of his old age. Souness would have been better off in the army rather than at Newcastle as he proceeded to take the club back a long, long way in less than one season. After finishing fourth, third and fifth United were down in 14th by the end of the 2004/05 season. Arguably the worst (full time, don't worry John) manager in Newcastle's Premier League history. Did He Deliver? No!