If at first you don't succeed.....

Sack the Manager! That's what's happened at Newcastle United yesterday as Sam Allardyce was dumped unceremoniously. For many years I have had an enormous empathy with the Geordie Nation (for a number of personal reasons as well as their love of football and traditional loyalty etc) but it is beginning to wear thin. For me , they look like someone entering old age who has a bitterness for lost opportunity and who may be on the verge of manic depression or worse.

They are the latest "top" Premier Club for whom anything apart from instant success is now no longer good enough. Ironic this considering their history. Allardyce had just 24 games in charge. He leaves them 11th in the Premier League and still in the F A Cup. He spent £24m during the Summer strengthening the squad and brought in a large team of professionals and experts to Newcastle with him which will cost additional millions in compensation. I really hope they know what they are doing but I suspect they don't and they will pay the price sooner or later. Fire-sale signs will be put up during the January transfer window - we can expect Alan Curbishley to pounce.

You have to feel sorry for Big Sam. He suffered from a long list of injuries, particularly to his new signings and never escaped the stigma of having built an over-performing Bolton side that profitted from a physical emphasis and direct style of football. The Newcastle public weren't happy from the off but the Board were undeterred. Shame on them then that they have pressed the panic button and sacked him.

As Charlton fans, I think we can talk from experience of the benefits of perseverance with your manager as well as the perils of quick managerial changes. Let's hope our Board are paying attention and that some of our more temperamental supporters bare this in mind during the months ahead.

Speaking of the Board and our Manager, apparently they meet as scheduled today to discuss January transfer options. We are lead to believe a spate of transfer activity will follow. I find this strange if true. Surely the time for planning your transfer moves should be at the December Board Meeting and it should warrant a discussion in the first days of January and not be left to the formal date of the next session? Nonetheless, I'm sure we'll find out if the first few faces arrive in the next few days.......