Top 5: Newcastle Managerial Candidates

The chance of Newcastle grabbing a new manager and righting the sinking Ashley ship in time to secure any type European qualification or even a top half finish, is about the same chance Johnny Depp has of NOT being in the next Tim Burton film.

Before I list the top 5, let me go over those wise souls who have ruled out a move to the troubled club.

-Gus Poyet. He doesn't want anything to do with this job, he's got his own Spurs debacle to deal with.

-Alan Shearer. The Toon legend may want the Newcastle job at some point, but he's smart enough to realize that this position is damaged goods right now. He's not going to take home the sad looking last girl at the bar tonight, when he can come back to same place another night and pull a model with brains.

-Kenny Daiglish. Hmmmm, how can I soil my great Liverpool reputation? How can I make everyone forget my great work at Anfield and for Blackburn Rovers? I know, I'll return to Newcastle. Yeah, it was so much fun the first time round, let's give it a go. I'll take over a broken club, and lead them to mediocrity and then have their high expectation having Toon Army rip me to shreds. Perfect. He was smart to rule it out.

Here's the top five highest qualified managers left (who haven't passed on, expressed disdain for, or died before they could accept, the Newcastle job), for the Tyneside club to hire.


5) David Moyes:
Moyes is pretty disgusted with the way things have gone down this summer in Everton. His team's motivation and form, coupled with the higher ups refusing to dig for transfer change, may be enough to push him out. But why would he go to the Toon for more of the same?

4) Gerrard Houllier:
A long shot to take the job, but may be the best available. Houllier has led both Liverpool and Lyon in solid fashion, and would add some stability to a floundering franchise.

3) Frank Rijkaard:
The Dutchman is still seething from his exit at Barcelona, where he spent the last two years maligned and questioned, despite lasting longer there then anyone since Cruijff. Will likely wait for a more glamorous or profitable position to open up.

2) Dennis Wise:
Only because I would love to see the cacophony of taunts, horrible chants, and flying projectiles upon his first time gracing the bench at St. James' Park in front of the Toon Army. I don't see how Wise is such a terrible choice, he probably would have gotten Leeds promoted had he stayed, he knows the club, and he is the only person who will definitely take the job.

1) Chris Hughton:
If Ashley and Newcastle were smart, they would appoint Hughton as the official and not interim manager. Name him as the choice for the rest of the season and just ride it out. What are the chances that they hire a big name and he takes them places this season? More likely they will hire someone with a successful managing background, he will fail, and the position will be less desirable for any manager who is offered the position at year's end. Think about it, why would anyone take a job that a big name failed at? They will end up hiring someone like Hughton if a name manager fails.

My two cents on the situation. Anyway, right now, the Magpies are the team that everyone wants to play. They are like Derby County last season, only harder to feel sorry for.