Introduce a new voice
It is almost certainly too late to bring in a new coach, moreover at this stage such a move could end up merely confusing the players and undermining Carver but he is clearly struggling to get his message through. So why not introduce a sports psychologist? After all, relegation battles are won in the head as much as with the feet. Should, as expected, Steve McClaren arrive at St James’ Park from Derby next month it will be no surprise if he employs Bill Beswick as Newcastle’s mind doctor. Maybe Carver should pre-empt him? It would surely be worth seeing what a figure admired by characters as diverse as Roy Keane and David Beckham might do for motivation and morale. There are alternatives – the Yorkshire-based sports psychologist John Muranka, currently working with Bradford, is highly regarded.
Keep calm and refuse to panic
Newcastle’s relegation rivals would give anything to have 35 points and be contemplating a run-in featuring trips to Leicester and QPR and visits from West Bromwich Albion and West Ham. Carver believes they need four points to be safe. With Moussa Sissoko and Paul Dummett returning from injury and suspension respectively at Leicester this weekend, the gifted playmaker Siem de Jong finally fit after major lung surgery and Papiss Cissé, the leading scorer, due back from a lengthy ban on Saturday week, that target looks eminently achievable. Often highly charged emotionally, Carver could also do worse than copy Hull’s perennially sunny Steve Bruce and remain as laid back as possible.
Change the formation to three at the back
Carver describes his side’s defending of set pieces as “our achilles heel”. The back four is not working, with Mike Williamson a particularly weak link and Fabricio Coloccini under-achieving. So switch to a back three. It will not only surprise opponents but airbrush individual flaws while maximising assorted strengths. The strongest XI would be: Krul; Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett; Janmaat, Sissoko, De Jong, Colback, Gutiérrez; Cissé (or Rivière against Leicester), Pérez. This system would showcase Daryl Janmaat’s superior crossing skills from right wing-back – (Newcastle’s best player contributes numerous assists), while helping conceal Williamson’s flaws. Operating at sweeper would highlight Coloccini’s superior distribution skills and ability to play from the back but disguise the reality that Dummett is a decent defender but a poor attacking outlet. Further forward Sissoko’s presence should bolster midfield while permitting the France midfielder counter-attacking possibilities and Jonás Gutiérrez would be restored to his preferred wide left position. Crucially, the newly fit De Jong could advance behind the front two and fill a classic playmaking – and quite possibly goal-scoring – No10 role.
Have a private chat with Coloccini and Sissoko
Carver has been badly betrayed by two of Newcastle’s most influential individuals both of whom have been stupidly sent off recently, incurring damaging bans. While Coloccini is the captain, Sissoko sometimes stands in for the Argentinian but neither has really looked worthy of the armband. Despite some good games this talented pair have under-achieved on too many occasions – remember Sissoko being thoroughly bested by Lee Cattermole at Sunderland? The head coach needs to have a private chat with two of Newcastle’s best paid players and remind them that while a few of their team-mates are playing to the maximum of evidently limited abilities, they actually possess the talent to make a real difference. Relegation, meanwhile, would inevitably mean jobs disappearing behind the scenes. Such culling occurred on a brutal scale when Newcastle last went down in 2009 so Carver could conclude by bringing a few of those casualties from six years ago into the room and asking them to explain precisely what it feels like to lose your house, car etc.
Demand help from Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley
Neither Ashley, Newcastle’s owner, or Charnley, the managing director, speak in public and with players largely barred from talking to the press, Carver is the sole voice and face of the club. He could do with Charnley or – ideally – Ashley meeting the local media and issuing a public apology for leaving the head coach with such a woefully under-strength squad. By publicly shouldering the blame, the hierarchy would deflect considerable heat from Carver. They might also perform a policy U-turn and make players talk to journalists. Those individuals currently letting Carver down have been allowed to duck too many responsibilities of late.
