Newcastle United boss John Carver has hit back at ex-player pundits. Ex-Liverpool player Jamie Carragher branded United "boring" in a lengthy critique of Mike Ashley and while Carver says he doesn't have a problem with people expressing an opinion, he says it is difficult to take from those who haven't managed.

Carver said: "Ex-players? I don't have a problem with anyone having an opinion. Where I have the problem is when there's people that have an opinion who have never been in this situation - never been in my situation.

"They have never had to sit here and pick a team when you have got so many injuries, suspensions, or dealing with situations on the training ground or having to deal with things coming from left-field that you think 'where's that come from'. When I see someone like Peter Reid go on TV, who has been in this situation, he has managed in this region, he understands what it feels like. When he starts to say things, I listen to what he says. I respect what he says.

"That's what I am saying. Let's not start a war here because I accept that the likes of Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher, whoever, have played hundreds of Premier League football matches and I haven't. I understand that. I don't have an issue with that.

"But sometimes there has to be a little bit of sympathy with the people doing this job. When you have never gone in and put your little foot in the water and tested it then it is a little different.

"There are a lot of people out there who don't do it because they can't do it."