FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHT TO PARTY
McClaren: It will be celebration time when we get to 40 points
STEVE McCLAREN has admitted it will be party time when Newcastle reach 40 points.
The United boss says the top-eight finish demanded by owner Mike Ashley is currently “miles away” with the club in survival mode.
Instead, after the worst start in 117 years, McClaren says he will resort to advice given by Steve Harrison – his former Middlesbrough No.2 – and throw a party when the safety milestone of 40 points is reached.
Toon entertain Norwich tomorrow needing their first league win of the season with other aims being temporarily downgraded.
McClaren said: “At the moment, being in the top eight is miles away. I remember having conversations with Harry Redknapp, and he used to have a massive party whenever he got to 40 points.
“Whether that was November, March, April, whenever – he’d say, ‘Right, we’re having a party now’. It’s all about getting to that 40-point mark, then you can think about other things.
“Especially this year with the new TV deal, that has to be the absolute priority. That’s the focus. If someone said to me now, ‘ You’ll have 40 points by mid-April’, I’d take it. That’s just the perspective of where we are.
“This is probably true for 10 or 11 of the clubs in the league – get to 40 points. All this talk about tables doesn’t matter. You’ve got to get those points and then everything else is irrelevant.”
Mc C l a ren re c k o n s Newcastle’s slump has been “almost a year” long now. His side have done well in patches, but not sustained a full 90-minute display.
Last time out they led at Manchester City, but collapsed in the second half to lose 6-1. McClaren said: “We’re getting little setbacks that are causing us to disintegrate. They’re shattering the confidence and belief. Everyone can see that.”
The Magpies gaffer has hinted he will lobby for experienced new recruits to be signed in January, in a loosening of the club’s ‘ buy young’ policy.
He added: “My opinions on that will be voiced over the coming weeks and months, which they have been from day one. Everybody knows. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes.”