United are in desperate need of a win when West Brom roll into town on Saturday.
This is a relegation fight that Ashley and his right-hand man Lee Charnley had not made contingency plans for back in January when the club were around the top ten.
Their attempt at crisis-management yesterday was to hand Carver a huge vote of confidence ... after Steve McClaren turned down the offer!
With an estimated £80million of TV money guaranteed to Premier League clubs next season, and with a huge new deal negotiated with Sky starting in 2016, it is a big call from a managing director who has admitted to “mistakes” in recent months.
A shattered dressing room needs to be brought together for the final three games of the season and Charnley has made the decision that Carver, who has collected just eight points since Alan Pardew left St James’ Park for Crystal Palace, is the man to do it.
Among the options open to Carver are handing the armband to someone other than Fabricio Coloccini, who was labelled an “absolute disgrace” by pundit Phil Neville for his weekend performance.
Coloccini – whose lacklustre performances are understood to have irked other members of the squad – was unhappy at Carver publicly questioning his captaincy.
Mike Ashley, once again, was noticeable by his absence at recent games despite the obvious risk of relegation.
Ashley has allowed Charnley free rein to run the club as he sees fit this season and it isn't going very well.
A statement was released following the meeting that insisted the club would pull together to get the points required to keep the team in the Premier League.
“Following the result at Leicester City on Saturday, there has been two days of frank dialogue with John Carver and senior players.
“The outcome of those discussions is that the board, John Carver, his staff and players are absolutely focused on our current situation and the three hugely-important fixtures that remain this season, two of which are at St. James’ Park.
“All parties accept responsibility for the current situation but are determined, together, to ensure this Club – your Club – retains its Premier League status.
“That is the only focus at this time.”
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NEWCASTLE UNITED v WEST BROM
May 9th
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Newcastle Utd Fixtures ...
2014/15 SEASON
Sunday August 17
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Colback, Anita (63' Obertan), Cabella, Sissoko, Gouffran (74' Aarons), Riviere (83' Perez).
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor, Abeid
Saturday August 23
ASTON VILLA 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Anita (70' de Jong), Colback, Cabella, Sissoko, Gouffran, Riviere (77' Perez - 90+2' S Taylor).
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, Abeid
Tuesday August 26
LC GILLINGHAM 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Egan OG)
Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini, S Taylor, Haidara, Sissoko, Abeid, Obertan, de Jong (68' Perez), Aarons (60' Cabella), Riviere (86' Gouffran)
Subs: Anita, Ferreyra, Elliot, Dummett
Saturday August 30
NEWCASTLE 3 CRYSTAL PALACE 3 (Janmaat, Aarons, Williamson)
Krul, Janmaat (79' Perez), Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Sissoko, Colback, Cabella, de Jong (79' Anita), Gouffran (67' Aarons), Riviere
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor, Dummett
Saturday September 13
SOUTHAMPTON 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita (45' Tiote), Colback, Cabella (69' Perez), Sissoko (90'Ameobi), Gouffran, Riviere
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor, Armstrong
Saturday September 20
NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY (Cisse 2)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote (85' Ameobi), Colback, Sissoko, Cabella, Gouffran (90+4' Perez), Riviere (69' Cisse)
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor
Wednesday September 24
LC CRYSTAL PALACE 2 NEWCASTLE 3 AET (Riviere 2, Dummett)
Elliot, Janmaat (46 Haidara), Coloccini, S Taylor, Dummett, Colback, Abeid, Obertan, Armstrong, Ameobi (66 Sissoko), Riviere (80 Perez)
Subs: Anita, Ferreyra, Cabella, Alnwick
Monday September 29
STOKE CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Sissoko, Cabella (74' Ameobi), Gouffran (68' Obertan), Riviere (45' Cisse)
Subs: Anita, Elliot, S Taylor, Armstrong
Saturday October 4
SWANSEA CITY 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cisse 2)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Obertan, Tiote, Sissoko, Colback (69' Riviere), Gouffran (58' Ameobi), Cisse (85' Perez).
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Cabella, Elliot
Saturday October 18
NEWCASTLE 1 LEICESTER CITY 0 (Obertan)
Krul, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett (72' Haidara), Tiote, Anita (59' Perez), Colback, Obertan, Sissoko, Gouffran (90+2' Cabella), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Abeid, Armstrong
Saturday October 26
TOTTENHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ameobi, Perez)
Krul, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett, Anita (45' Cabella), Colback, Obertan (45' Ameobi), Sissoko, Gouffran, Perez (79' Haidara)
Subs: R Taylor, Ferreyra, Elliot, Armstrong
Wednesday October 29
LC MAN CITY 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Aarons, Sissoko)
Elliot, Janmaat (64' Sissoko), Coloccini, Dummett, Haidara, Colback, R Taylor, Abeid, Obertan, Armstrong (65' Riviere), Aarons (46' Ameobi)
Subs: Krul, Gouffran, Perez, Cabella
Saturday November 1
NEWCASTLE 1 LIVERPOOL 0 (Perez)
Elliot, Krul, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett, Abeid, Colback, Obertan (27' Aarons), Sissoko), Ameobi (66' Cabella), Cisse (45' Perez)
Subs: R Taylor, Gouffran, Haidara, Elliot
Sunday November 9
WEST BROM 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Perez, Coloccini)
Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini (78' Williamson), Dummett, Haidara, Abeid, Colback, Cabella (82' R Taylor), Sissoko, Ameobi (78' Gouffran), Perez
Subs: Anita, Cisse, Elliot, Armstrong
Saturday November 22
NEWCASTLE 1 QPR 0 (sissoko)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Dummett, Haidara, R Taylor (34' Gouffran), Colback, Cabella (68' Cisse), Sissoko, Ameobi, Perez (89' Armstrong)
Subs: Anita, Ferreyra, Elliot, Streete
Saturday November 29
WEST HAM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Janmaat (74' S Taylor), Williamson, Dummett, Haidara, Tiote (63' Cabella), Colback, Gouffran (63' Cisse), Sissoko, Ameobi, Perez
Subs: Anita, Riviere, Alnwick, Armstrong
Tuesday December 2
BURNLEY 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Elliot, Janmaat, Williamson (45' S Taylor), Dummett, Haidara, Abeid, Tiote, Gouffran, Perez (45' Cabella), Ameobi (75' Riviere), Cisse
Subs: Anita, Alnwick, Armstrong, Streete
Saturday December 6
NEWCASTLE 2 CHELSEA 1 (Cisse 2)
Elliot (45' Alnwick), Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Cabella (53' Cisse), Sissoko, Ameobi (83' Williamson), Perez
Subs: Anita, Gouffran, Haidara, Riviere
Saturday December 13
ARSENAL 4 NEWCASTLE 1 (Perez)
Alnwick, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Perez (82' Armstrong), Ameobi (56' Cabella), Gouffran, Cisse (56' Riviere)
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Vuckic, Woodman
Wednesday December 17
LC TOTTENHAM 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Alnwick, Coloccini, Williamson, Haidara, Dummett, Colback, Cabella (80' Vuckic), Gouffran, Perez, Sissoko (73' Anita), Riviere (60' Armstrong)
Subs: Streete, Satka, Woodman, Roberts
Sunday December 21
NEWCASTLE 0 SUNDERLAND 1
Alnwick, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote (75' Cisse), Colback, Gouffran (59' Armstrong), Sissoko, Ameobi (89' Cabella), Perez
Subs: Williamson, Haidara, Riviere, Woodman
Friday December 26
MANCHESTER UNITED 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse pen)
Alnwick, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett (63' Cabella), Anita, Colback, Gouffran, Sissoko, Armstrong (63' Cisse), Perez (82' Vuckic)
Subs: Williamson, Riviere, Satka, Woodman
Sunday December 28
NEWCASTLE 3 EVERTON 2 (Cisse, Perez, Colback)
Alnwick, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Sissoko, Perez, Gouffran (90+1' Cabella), Cisse (73' Riviere)
Subs: Santon, Anita, S Taylor, Armstrong, Woodman
Thursday January 1 2015
NEWCASTLE 3 BURNLEY 3 (S Taylor, Sissoko, Colback)
Alnwick, Janmaat, Coloccini, S Taylor (Williamson 61), Dummett, Sissoko, Colback Tiote, Gouffran (Haidara 71), Perez, Riviere (Armstrong 57)
Subs: Santon, Anita, Satka, Woodman
Saturday January 3 2015
FAC LEICESTER CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Alnwick, Santon, Williamson, Dummett, Haidara, Tiote, Anita, Vuckic (79' Roberts), Armstrong, Riviere, Cabella
Subs: Gouffran, Campbell, Satka, Bigirimana, Woodman, Gilliead
Saturday January 10 2015
CHELSEA 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Anita, Colback, Cabella, Sissoko (84' Riviere), Gouffran (63' Ameobi), Perez
Subs: Santon, Haidara, Vuckic, Satka, Woodman
Saturday January 17 2015
NEWCASTLE 1 SOUTHAMPTON 2 (Gouffran)
Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini, Dummett (80' Williamson), Haidara, Anita (68' Ameobi), Colback, Cabella, Sissoko, Gouffran (68' Riviere), Perez
Subs: Santon, Abeid, Armstrong, Woodman
Saturday January 31 2015
HULL CITY 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Cabella, Ameobi, Gouffran)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Colback, Cabella (72' Gouffran), Sissoko, Ameobi (90+2' Abeid), Perez (82' Cisse)
Subs: Santon, Obertan, Riviere, Alnwick
Sunday February 8 2015
NEWCASTLE 1 STOKE CITY 1 (Colback)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita (65' Cisse), Colback, Cabella (69' Obertan), Sissoko, Ameobi (86' Abeid), Perez
Subs: Gouffran, Riviere, Dummett, Woodman
Wednesday February 11 2015
CRYSTAL PALACE 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Sissoko, Colback, Perez (90+1' Riviere), Cabella (86' Dummett), Gouffran, Cisse (78' Abeid)
Subs: R Taylor, Anita, Obertan, Woodman
Saturday February 21 2015
MANCHESTER CITY 5 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat (R Taylor 71), Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Colback, Anita (Abeid 46), Gouffran (Obertan 86), Sissoko, Perez, Cisse.
Subs: Ameobi, Riviere, Armstrong, Woodman
Saturday February 28 2015
NEWCASTLE 1 ASTON VILLA 0 (Cisse)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara (61' R Taylor), Obertan (78' Gouffran), Abeid, Sissoko, Ameobi, Cisse, Riviere (73' Perez)
Subs: Anita, Gutierrez, Armstrong, Woodman
Wednesday March 4 2015
NEWCASTLE 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 1
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, R Taylor (65' Gutierrez), Obertan, Abeid, Sissoko, Ameobi (81' Gouffran), Riviere (59' Perez), Cisse
Subs: Anita. Armstrong, Satka, Woodman
Sunday March 15 2015
EVERTON 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, R Taylor, Sissoko, Colback, Obertan (45' Perez), Gouffran, Ameobi (58' Cabella), Riviere (62' Gutierrez)
Subs: Anita, Elliot, Armstrong, Satka
Saturday March 21 2015
NEWCASTLE 1 ARSENAL 2 (Sissoko)
Krul, R Taylor, Janmaat, Williamson, Colback, Anita (72' Gutierrez), Sissoko, Gouffran, Cabella, Ameobi (89' Armstrong), Perez
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, Riviere, Satka, Kemen
Sunday April 5 2015
SUNDERLAND 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, R Taylor, Janmaat, Williamson, Colback, Gouffran (58' Riviere), Gutierrez, Sissoko, Cabella, Perez, Ameobi (87' Armstrong)
Subs: Anita, Elliot, Obertan, Abeid, Kemen
Monday April 13 2015
LIVERPOOL 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, R Taylor, Colback, Anita, Janmaat, Williamson, Cabella, Abeid (75' Armstrong), Perez (86' Gouffran), Sissoko, Obertan (67' Gutierrez)
Subs: Elliot, Ameobi, Riviere, Sterry
Sunday April 19 2015
NEWCASTLE 1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 (Colback)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Anita (75' Armstrong), Abeid (45' Obertan), R Taylor, Colback, Gouffran (45' Ameobi), Perez, Cabella
Subs: Riviere, Kemen, Woodman, Sterry
Saturday April 25 2015
NEWCASTLE 2 SWANSEA CITY 3 (Perez, De Jong)
Krul, Janmaat (61' Abeid), Williamson, Coloccini, Anita, Colback, R Taylor, Gutierrez, Cabella (74' de Jong), Riviere (74' Armstrong), Perez
Subs: Gouffran, Obertan, Ameobi, Woodman
Saturday May 2 2015
LEICESTER CITY 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Colback, R Taylor (58' de Jong), Gutierrez, Sissoko, Perez (74' Armstrong), Riviere (64' Anita)
Subs: Cabella, Ameobi, Abeid, Woodman
Saturday May 9 2015
Newcastle United v West Brom
Saturday May 16 2015
QPR v Newcastle United
Sunday May 24 2015
Newcastle United v West Ham United