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Post by dorf on Jan 9, 2015 9:30:01 GMT
 John Carver regards Newcastle United’s next two games as an extended audition for the manager’s job at St James’ Park and is determined to shine.Alan Pardew’s caretaker successor will be in charge at Chelsea on Saturdayand seems almost certain to continue in temporary control when Southampton visit Tyneside the following weekend. “I’m not bothered about anybody else,” said Pardew’s former assistant. “There are a million people out there who would love this job. But I’m in this position now and I’m going to try and get it. All I’ve been told is to get on with the job for the next couple of games at least and see where it goes from there. But if they want to bring some new guy in, then I’m a big guy and I’ll deal with the situation. If a new guy comes in and wants me to work with him then I’ll be happy to do that.” Carver’s first two games as caretaker ended in a 3-3 Premier League draw at home to Burnley and a 1-0 FA Cup defeat against Leicester but, in mitigation, his team selection was hampered by a raft of injuries which dictated Jak Alnwick, Newcastle’s third choice goalkeeper featured on the team-sheet. Carver - who should have Tim Krul back in goal at Stamford Bridge - was buoyed by messages of support from Pardew, now at Crystal Palace. “I’ve had a couple of texts from Alan and a conversation with him,” he said. “He told me to get my head down, he said ‘you’re good enough to do the job and I trust you can do it.’” Newcastle fans reacted badly to what they perceived as a deliberate decision to field a weakened FA Cup side at Leicester. The consensus was that Carver might have been ordered to maximise the team’s chances of elimination from a competition unloved in the St James’ Park boardroom. “I would like to put the record straight,” he said. “I have not had a conversation with Mike [Ashley, Newcastle’s owner] since Alan left. I had a conversation with Lee [Charnley, the club’s managing director] late on Friday night, around about 10.30pm. “I said to Lee ‘this is the team that’s playing tomorrow.’ I then told him ‘these are the reasons why this is the team.’ “He was a little bit surprised, I have to be honest. I told him I’d picked the strongest team I could. I took medical advice from the doctor. I actually physically felt sick when the doctor told me Fabricio Coloccini, Moussa Sissoko and Daryl Janmaat were not fit enough to play. But we’d played four games in eight days, he’s the expert and I have to trust his judgment. “I have to listen to what the doctor tells me. We’re not going to force any player with a problem to play. I will never ever force a player with a problem to play and I will tell you why. When I was a young player I was forced to play with an injury and I ended having to finish my career because of that. That’s the reason I’d never do it. I trust these players 100% – and I think they trust me.” by Lousie Taylor / Guardian |
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