Hughton: Good job, but not good enough?



Speculation Hughton may be on his way out
(Guardian)



Chris Hughton has delivered instant success as manager of Newcastle United Football Club. Alright, it's not the Premier League title the club has craved for many, many years. It's not Champions League football, the standard of football the club of Newcastle's stature should be playing at but promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking is something not easy for anyone at any club, but Hughton has delivered success.

Managers' have come and gone at St. James', the late, great Sir Bobby Robson being the most outstanding name in recent history. But the majority have failed the reach expectations.

Ameobi celebrates one of his two goals in the Tyne-Wear
derby (BBC)

Here, Hughton's win percentage at Newcastle is fantastic. Prior to today's Tyne-Wear derby (Newcastle 5-1 Sunderland), Hughton's track record as manager is impressive. He took over in June 2009, when the Magpies were in the Championship, (Newcastle clinch title), after a dismal Premier League season and steered the club to a first place finish clinching the Championship title. Before this derby fixture, he has played 64 games, winning 38 and losing 11 of them. Drawing 15. His win percentage is well above 50. 59.38 it reads, and some of you reading this may think, "the majority of the games played were in the Championship". So? The Championship is one of the most toughest leagues to come across, maybe not the best, but the toughest! You only have to look at Leeds United's fall from the Premier League to League 1! (Leeds Relegation)

Currently, Newcatsle United sit in seventh place, played 10 games and have 14 points on the board. Newcastle played Arsenal in the League Cup and got hammered nil-four. Hughton fielded a weaker side, and all of a sudden there was media talk that he was on his way out! What a load of rubbish! (Rumours)

So if you was Hughton, what would you do? You're doing a fantastic job at one of the biggest clubs in England, you're seventh placed and the fans love you. You're settled. You've exceeded expectations already, but still insist on staying in the Premier League is top priority. You may lose your job.

Sam Allardyce, "Go to the owners, ask them to sort my contract out, and end speculation".
Yes that is an option. But you may hear something you don't want to hear. A new manager may have already been lined up, possibly, they are ready to come in on training on Monday..

Owner Mike Ashley (PA)

They have to think here. And think through this. Mike Ashley isn't exactly the most popular round Geordie land right now, he won't be doing himself any favours if he gets rid of Hughton. So if he gets rid of Hughton, they have to start all over again. You go from the bottom: the supporters - they would go ballistic! The 52,000 die hard Magpies turn out every week to support their beloved club, you lose them, you lose out on income. The players - they love working under Hughton, and a change of manager wouldn't help. You need the player's respect and they probably won't want to play under a new manager. The performances would drop, their league position would falter. So you then have another problem on your hands. He (Mike Ashley) can't afford to find himself and the club in dire straits again.

Everyone, under Chris Hughton, would benefit. The club, the fans, the players and himself would produce the goods. He's no Mourinho. He's no Ferguson. He's an household name in English football but over time you will see success at St James' again. Ashley can not afford to make a rash decision, but make the right one. That right decision would be to kill off any talk of a new manager and stabilise the club and it's position in the English Premier League.

Ashley and Hughton together, will he stay on? (Telegraph)