Newcastle United are being heavily linked with moves for two players that were "suspended indefinitely", or sacked in layman's terms, by their club a couple of days ago. The Magpies are rumoured to be keeping tabs on both Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sidney Sam after their respective careers at Schalke came to an abrupt end at the weekend. The pair were told they could find new clubs following the 2-0 defeat to Koln after the club's sporting director Horst Heidt threatened "consequences" should they fail to win the game. Manager Roberto Di Matteo blamed a "lack of mutual trust" which suggests there more than initially meets the eye with this story. And should Newcastle actually go through with their interest and sign the pair, they will need a real manager to keep everything in check. John Carver just won't do. The Geordie, who once made Sir Bobby Robson's cups of tea you know, has proven over his five months in the Head Coach's role at St James' Park that he isn't fit for purpose in any area of Premier League . One area that he seems most inept at is controlling his players. If he does spend hours on the training ground going through tactics and set pieces, the players are blatantly ignoring him. And Daryl Janmaat's reaction after he was sent off at Leicester suggests he lost the dressing room a long time ago. Normally, when someone is sent off, they at least shake their manager's hand in apology. Not the Dutchman though, who trudged straight past a seething Carver. Well, if he hadn't already lost the dressing room by then, his comments after the game about Mike Williamson should have done it for sure. Should Carver get the job and complex personalities like Boateng and Sam come in through the door, Newcastle could be in for a longer and more turbulent season than this. If that is conceivably possible. Heck, Carver wouldn't last two minutes as the happenings of August 2004 would be sure to raise their ugly head again. John's superior, the late, great Sir Bobby Robson, was sacked by axe-happy Chairman Freddy Shepherd after a horrible start to the season (which was of course common place under Robson who had finished fourth, third and fifth in the previous three seasons). One of the main reasons given for Bobby's departure by Shepherd was not just the few early poor results, but that he'd lost the dressing room and certain players were making a mockery of him, his old age, and the club on a wider scale. Names like Kieron Dyer and Craig Bellamy were heavily linked to the most criminal of misdemeanours, players that had similar personalities that those of the banished Schalke pair today. Newcastle tried to rectify this situation by appointing a disciplinarian in Graeme Souness, but the club plummeted no less than nine Premier League places in less than eight months, finishing the 04/05 campaign in 14th position. He certainly got the lads in check, but so much so that he created the most inharmonious of camps. Newcastle need to find a man who can combine both a regimented running of the club with the tactical nouse that would make for a very good team. Hard to find someone like that on the cheap, isn't it, Mike? They can't afford a similar plunge like the class of 2004/05 as it would mean certain relegation. That's if they're in the Premier League at all next season of course... For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCultureNUFC on Twitter and Facebook.
