John Carver was appointed manager of Newcastle United for the remainder of the season, after Alan Pardew left for Crystal Palace. The appointment was for the public seen mostly as a temporary solution. Still, if Carver can lead the club to a mid-table finish then he will definitely be a contender for the job long-term. Results so far suggest that that won’t be happening.
Newcastle’s match at home to Arsenal will be John Carver’s twelfth match in charge. Only two of these games have resulted in wins. Needless to say, Carver’s reign has not been impressive so far. After a very disappointing 3-0 loss against Everton, some are even starting to consider the possibility of Newcastle being dragged into a relegation battle. However, the quality of the teams in the relegation zone looks to be too poor to threaten Newcastle.
One of the points to consider regarding United’s ambitions is that the season is already over. Both cups were exited early, and the 40 point marker is not far off with nine games left to play. It is no secret that the club’s ambition is to finish safely in mid-table and nothing more. There will be no late push for a Europa League place next year.
That leaves Newcastle supporters with one more important game, one final chance of some achievement this season. Within two weeks, Newcastle will be facing rivals Sunderland. With such a poor run of results against The Black Cats in recent matches, Toon Army supporters are desperate for success in this derby match. For Carver, a victory in this match would do wonders for his chances of renewing his contract as manager. He will also be scratching his head to figure out whether the appointment of Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat is good or bad news for Newcastle’s chances in the derby. Considering Gus Poyet’s excellent run in the derbies, it can’t get much worse for Newcastle.
What will Carver have to do to impress his own team’s supporters? Firstly, Sunderland must be beaten. Secondly considering the current circumstances it would make sense to give Newcastle’s promising crop of youngsters a chance. The likes of Adam Armstrong and Oliver Kemen are looking for first team experience, and with the injury situation as it is, the timing could be perfect. If Carver is seen as a manager willing to trust young players, he will be viewed as more than a defensive-minded manager, continuing in just the same path as his predecessor Alan Pardew.
For most Newcastle fans, the departure of Pardew was a welcome, long-awaited relief. However, it is far-fetched to think that his best possible successor is under Ashley’s nose. Carver needs to do much to show that he is a better solution than an international manager with previous success. His Newcastle side have looked poor in too many matches under his reign, and Carver needs a derby win to win over some more fans.
