John Carver has suggested that even Sir Alex Ferguson might find managing Newcastle United tough going right now.
Alan Pardew’s successor prepares for the visit of Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday having won only two of his 14 games since taking charge at New Year. Carver, though, has been dealt a very difficult hand with the limitations of an already slender squad highlighted by a raft of debilitating injuries and suspensions.
“Whether it’s me doing this job or Sir Alex Ferguson, investment in the team is needed,” said Carver, who has described his role as “the most difficult” in football. “Lee Charnley [Newcastle’s managing director] has told me: ‘We’ve left you a little bit short.’ The board realise I’m in a difficult situation. I’m convinced they’ve realised they have to invest.”
With Newcastle recently announcing profits of £18.7m for the last financial year and those latest accounts also revealing that their bank reserves contained £34m described as a “cash flow” sum, fans are increasingly disgruntled by the lack of investment in new players.
Leading supporters’ groups have called for a mass boycott of the Spurs game which would leave numerous empty seats at a ground which routinely attracts 52,000-capacity crowds. Previous appeals for similar no shows have been largely ignored but disillusion with the owner Mike Ashley’s stewardship of the club is such that there is a sense that, on Sunday, it just might be different.
Carver understands the criticism. “We need quality in the summer, quality in key areas,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s four, five or six players but the investment has to be substantial. It’s going to be a decent amount of money. It has to be.”
A head coach expected to be replaced by Derby County’s Steve McClaren in the summer when he is likely to revert to his old assistant’s role hopes to get those fans that do turn up on Sunday behind his side as Newcastle aim to end a run of five straight defeats.
With relegation still a slight worry Carver is keen to add to the team’s current 35-point tally. “Because they’re at home, our next two games, against Spurs and Swansea, are very, very important,” he said. “If we don’t pick up points, it just adds more pressure and, sometimes, pressure can take you over.”
The 50-year-old’s morale has been bolstered by backing from good friends within the game, including Pardew, Alan Shearer, Freddy Shepherd, Peter Reid and Steve Clarke, who appreciate that coping, as Carver has done lately, with only one available orthodox centre-half is not easy. “I’ve had hundreds of calls offering support,” he said. “I’ve had some great messages from friends but in particular from the Alans [Pardew and Shearer].
“People understand I’ve had my hands tied. Mike Williamson has been our only centre-half and he’s been playing on the left, the side he’s not comfortable with. Even Sir Alex Ferguson would have to manufacture something special to deal with that.”