Caught Cold

Chris Waddle Talking to The Chronicle:

“They need to start the process of getting a manager now. I don’t know Alan Shearer that well – he came into the England squad after my time – but I think he is the man for the job. I have met him a couple of times and I know Alan is a straight talker. He is what Newcastle need at the moment.“The Championship is now starting to be like an extension of the Premier League – the top six to eight clubs for certain – and his experience of top-flight football will help that. There is a big question mark over Newcastle, and it needs answers soon.

I don’t think they will get relegated like Leeds did. It is too big an operation with too many fans for that. Will they be a Premier League club or will they be a Championship club in 12 months? Who knows? They can’t afford to get caught cold in the Championship. They need some players who know the division.

They need a goalscorer. At the moment there isn’t one.“Michael Owen and Mark Viduka have gone. It just needs to be sorted as quickly as possible. To rebuild you need between £20-30m to spend on players. But the longer it goes on the less chance you have of getting them. Look at Wolves last season and Birmingham – they had a goalscorer. You need somebody who is going to get 20-plus goals and some more who will contribute 15-plus.“The agony for the fans can’t go on much longer. If they don’t come out of the traps quickly they will get caught cold. Realistically, they need to start strongly. That way if they are near the top of the table they will get the fans behind them. I still think there will be crowds of 40,000-plus next season.”

Mark Viduka to Fulham?

According to Mark Viduka agent he is considering offers from two Premier League clubs, with Fulham offering him a "pay as you play deal". Viduka is a free man following the expiration of his contract at Newcastle last week.

His agent Kutner told the Sunday Suns "Mark is mulling over two offers from two very good sides, His reason in continuing to play on at the top level in England is to make sure he is there in South Africa. He's feeling fit again and he's hungry."