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
Look at that team above ... those were the players who BEAT League Championd Chelsea ... and Chelsea have only lost TWO league games all season.
Yet Carver has lost EIGHT games on the bounce with just about the same team.
No Steven Taylor, granted, but is that a BAD thing? FFS.
No Tiote, and he can be a miss at times, but certainly not this season.
Carver is clueless when it comes to tactics, and the players know it!
Now, despite Mike Ashley offering the manager's job to Steve McClaren on Sunday, Carver says he has the “100 per cent” backing of the Newcastle United owner.
Carver also insists he has not lost the dressing room ahead of tomorrow’s crucial home showdown with West Brom.
Newcastle are in danger of the drop after a diastrous eight-game losing streak and were interested in bringing in Derby County head coach McClaren – who had been the frontrunner to take over the Magpies in the summer – for the final three games of the Premier League season.
But McClaren opted to stay at Derby, who missed out on the Championship play-offs last weekend, and Newcastle confirmed on Monday that Carver would stay in charge.
Asked if he had spoken to Ashley, Carver said: “I’ve not had the conversation with him.
“He sent a message through Lee (Charnley, managing director) to say he was 100 per cent behind me. I have a good relationship with Lee – we are both honest and frank and he has been so supportive.”
Carver – who claimed defender Mike Williamson had been sent off “on purpose” against Leicester City last weekend – also feels he has the backing of the players.
Asked if everyone was behind him, he added: “Absolutely. I’m talking about Mike, Lee Charnley, all of the players and all of the staff – everybody.”