Magpies boss McClaren claims small steps made but giant leaps could take time

McClaren is still searching for his first Premier League win since taking over in June and the situation worsened in midweek when the Magpies were dumped out of the Capital One Cup by the Championship’s Sheffield Wednesday.

It was the worst possible result for the recently recruited boss after a disappointing start to the league season, which has left them struggling to score goals and without a victory in six ahead of today’s visit of Chelsea.

Before the season McClaren and Charnley both insisted that a good cup run was now in the club’s thinking after a couple of years of playing down the importance of a trip to Wembley.

But now Newcastle only have the FA Cup to think about and, what is already looking like, a relegation battle to stay in the Premier League at the end of his first season in charge.

In an email sent to supporters yesterday, Charnley appeared to back the boss. He said: “There is no hiding from the fact that this has been a very disappointing start to our Premier League campaign, and a painful early exit from a cup competition that we were determined to give everything in this year. We apologise to you for this.

“After six league games, the truth is we have not achieved the points that any of us had hoped and expected we would do. None of us can, or will, shirk the responsibility for this situation.

“Now is the time for collective action, and for us to find solutions to the problems rather than allow ourselves to be consumed by them.

“It is important to state that we bear collective responsibility for our position in the table. Identifying the problems in order to find the solutions is crucial, but we are not in the business of apportioning blame. We are a team, from the boardroom to the boot room, and we will respond like one.

“So we have sat down as a collective - myself with Steve and his coaching team, and Steve with his players - to discuss the concerns and to look for the solutions together.''

That email prompted questions to McClaren for a reaction to the comments coming from the man in the boardroom – and he insists that he will get the club to where he wants it provided he has the time.

“I stated before we have come in here and are changing a lot of things and it is hard,” said McClaren. "Some people do not like change but they have to go through it and it is painful at times as it has been.

“We've been here three months. Sometimes it can be very quick, sometimes it takes a long time but that is what we are changing.

"The club wanted it. That is why we came in. I think everybody, certainly from the outside looking in, everyone was clamoring for change at Newcastle United from the top right the way through.

“They have certainly got that from the top in terms of reiterating about the Cups, spending money. I think everything they said about changing Newcastle is happening.

“What is not happening is the results on the field. Change is tough and hard. Why? Five wins in 32 games, staying up by the skin of their teeth. That is why everyone is clamoring for change."

Without going in to too much detail, he does think that it could take even more time to convince certain people that patience is the most crucial thing about his drive to change things.

He said: "In any walk of life if you change whatever, change a habit, it is hard. This is normal in terms of what we are trying to change, the culture, the way of working, standards.

“And this is no criticism to anyone else, it is just a way of working, our standards. This is the same wherever I have been. Trying to change the style of football.

“We have footballers in the team so we are trying to play football and to play football, to try to keep the ball on the ground in possession. It takes courage and it is hard to do and sometimes, especially at the beginning you lose that courage.

“We set out at the beginning and we have to be strong and have courage ourselves to follow that through. Because when we get it right, everything will be better."