Putting all the personal feeling towards Pardew aside I have listed a number of damming facts about NUFC under Pardews reign.
Newcastle's 2014 Premier League record under A.Pardew: Played 25, Won 5, Drawn 4, Lost 16, Goal Difference -28.
5 wins from 26 games.
In 26 games we have scored only 19 goals. Of those 26 games we have lost 17.
9 points out of 81 since Boxing day in Premier league.
Lost 9 out of last 14 home games.
7 without a win worst Premier league record since our relegation season.
After 6 games in 2008/9 we had 4 points and were relegated. We have 3 from 6 so far this season.
The last time NUFC won when losing at half time in the Premier League was Dec 2006.
Emmanuel Riviere has no goals and just one shot on target in 455 minutes of Premier league football this season.
NUFC have scored just 1 PL goal in their last 11 hours & 15 minutes of action away from home - a Skrtel own goal
Premier League record in 2014: LLWDLLLWWLWLLLLLLWLLDDLD.
It is nothing personal Alan - you are just not up to managing NUFC. We are not fickle fans, we do not have unrealistic expectations - the true facts show it is time for you to leave our club.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
Stoke away
How many times have we heard the saying - 'The true test of foreign players coming to the Premiership is a midweek away game at Stoke in the winter?' Well tonight will provide this kind of challenge for this new look NUFC.
This is another test for NUFC and we will really find out how good these players, this team is. How will Cabella or Riviere fancy it tonight against the likes of Shawcross? How will Janmaat hold up against Crouch?
Tonight's trip to the Britannia is a game NUFC traditionally lose - usually as a result of being bullied out of the game. Although Mark Hughes is aiming to shed Stoke of this reputation they remain a physically imposing team who first and foremost are hard to beat.
Pardew knows his neck is still on the chopping block so he needs a performance and a positive result. We all saw the comments made by Mike Ashley this week regarding AP's position and while a denial was issued I personally believe there was some truth to his comments. I feel Ashley was using this 'on the spot' interview to shift some of the fans hatred off him and onto Pardew by indirectly letting the fans know he understand our frustrations and is running out of patience with AP.
Either way this will heap more pressure on AP and elevated the importance of a positive result tonight. To achieve this I feel AP must send out a positive team who can take the game to Stoke. Use our pace and passing ability to hit Stoke on the counter attack. IF we play the long ball game and try to make this a physical battle then we might as well turn the team bus around now as Stoke will eat us alive.
Lets set up with a fluid 4-4-2. With the midfield 4 interchangeable. Tiote sits, Colback, Cabella and Sissoko carrying the attacking threat behind Cisse and Rivierre. Playing the 2 forwards together will bring the best out of both of them.
Unfortunately I see us losing 2-0 tonight..
This is another test for NUFC and we will really find out how good these players, this team is. How will Cabella or Riviere fancy it tonight against the likes of Shawcross? How will Janmaat hold up against Crouch?
Tonight's trip to the Britannia is a game NUFC traditionally lose - usually as a result of being bullied out of the game. Although Mark Hughes is aiming to shed Stoke of this reputation they remain a physically imposing team who first and foremost are hard to beat.
Pardew knows his neck is still on the chopping block so he needs a performance and a positive result. We all saw the comments made by Mike Ashley this week regarding AP's position and while a denial was issued I personally believe there was some truth to his comments. I feel Ashley was using this 'on the spot' interview to shift some of the fans hatred off him and onto Pardew by indirectly letting the fans know he understand our frustrations and is running out of patience with AP.
Either way this will heap more pressure on AP and elevated the importance of a positive result tonight. To achieve this I feel AP must send out a positive team who can take the game to Stoke. Use our pace and passing ability to hit Stoke on the counter attack. IF we play the long ball game and try to make this a physical battle then we might as well turn the team bus around now as Stoke will eat us alive.
Lets set up with a fluid 4-4-2. With the midfield 4 interchangeable. Tiote sits, Colback, Cabella and Sissoko carrying the attacking threat behind Cisse and Rivierre. Playing the 2 forwards together will bring the best out of both of them.
Unfortunately I see us losing 2-0 tonight..
Friday, September 26, 2014
Alan Pardew – Not The Manager But Is He A Coach?
By Stephen Burn
Tony Pulis has always seemed to me as one of the most unsuited managers to Newcastle United.
It conjures up images of cheap tracksuits, club shop baseball caps, and old man runs to the dressing room for half time rants. Tony is prickly in his dealing with the press, uncharismatic on the touchline and generally a dinosaur that plays a brand of football that Allardyce was sacked for. He’s just not our type of coach, or is he?
Whether it is wrong or right, my anger and frustration has moved away from Mike Ashley and has solely settled on his mouthpiece, Alan Pardew.
This frustration has fermented since January and the sale of Cabaye when we were in a great position in the league. In these early stages I could point the finger at our disinterested owner, and yet the incompetence that I have witnessed on the pitch since my return to the area (I was an exiled season ticket holder in America for 15 years) has now overwhelmed my fury with Ashley. It’s not that I don’t blame Ashley, I really do, it’s just Pardew has made it even worse!
If it’s true that Alan is not able to pick who he’d like the club to sign, then I feel for him. This is why I’ve switched from using the term ‘manager’ to the term ‘coach’. Alan Pardew is essentially the head coach of Newcastle United, and this comes to the root of my anger…….we look tactically inept on game days.
I reflect on the difference Tony Pulis made at Crystal Palace, what he did at Selhurst Park was little short of a miracle. Tony came in there and coached that team to what was success for Palace. I can’t really remember being overly critical of their style of football, yes they were probably more direct than those teams in the Champions League spots, however it was exciting and dynamic and more importantly he won games.
The players knew their purpose and roles, they knew when X or Y happened they should do Z, and they did it. He made players like Jason Puncheon and Maroune Chamakh contribute in a big way; he designed a formation that was difficult to play against and effective in the final third.
In a Tony Pulis team, Jack Colback is drilled to know that when that ball drops to him in the box like it did on Saturday for Hull’s first goal, he’s to clear it into a channel to our forward to run down. Yes, we all loved the Keegan days of Ginola on our by-line nutmegging Neil Cox, but we weren’t bottom of the league at that point.
And this is the crux of my frustration; I see no coaching in Alan Pardew’s team. When I watch us from my perch in the Sir John Hall stand, I can’t place one thing during a game that I think, ‘wow they must have drilled that this week, that was deliberate and consistent’.
What are they doing in training? When I say this to people around me I often receive the response of ‘right, our set pieces are terrible’, which they always are, but our training goes way past that. Decide who is going to set our tempo, and if that’s Cabella then get him the ball as quickly as possible, if we want a patient build up then own that and fill the spaces with passing options.
Don’t just keep the ball until we run out of options and Williamson has to hoof it to the opposition centre-back. Cisse saved Pardew’s bacon on Saturday; it was a roll of the dice that worked, knowing Newcastle that could easily have ended up with him out until the spring with an aggravated injury.
I realise that I am sidestepping multiple issues, which can be addressed in due course. I still feel that Pardew is not the man who is going to pull us out of this hole. I purely use Pulis as an example of a coach who has recently got the best out of a poor team. After walking away from Crystal Palace for what looks like a frustration with a lack of control, even Tony Pulis would probably refuse us.
Alan Pardew loves to talk about how he enjoys making a difference during games, whether that is with an inspirational half-time team talk, a shrewd change of tactics, or a brilliant substitution. The recent statistic that stuck with me, was how Pardew has never won in the league after being down at half-time, that’s six points from a possible one hundred and twenty-six!
I love my club and didn’t feel comfortable focusing on Pardew on Saturday; I’d rather support my team.
The atmosphere has steadily improved at home this season; I was shocked at the silence in our last six games of the season but we’ve endured too much.
Pardew once again uttered those fateful words, “judge us after ten games.”
At the half way point Alan, be careful what you wish for,we’ll see if you can dodge the firing squad and make it through the next five.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
We're on a Cup run
Who would have thought it - NUFC have won a cup game!
True to my word I am writing blog entry while digging into a large piece of Humble pie - Humble pie that has never tasted so sweet.
Cup football is all about winning & moving onto the next round so credit to Alan Pardew and his team. This must be a real confidence booster for our squad and Manu Riviere in particular who grabbed a brace - goals he really needed.
Pardew rotated his squad and was rewarded with impressive performances from from Mehdi Abeid, Obertan, and Adam Armstrong who can all look towards making a impact in the first team. He needed a win and he got it. Job done
Pardew knows however he is still under big pressure, he knows a cup win against a weakened Palace team will not right all the wrongs - yet it is a step in the right direction. Nothing would make me happier than Pardew turning things around and having a successful season. Yet the next few weeks and a return to Premier league football will really show the resolve of Pardew and his team.
We're on a cup run - bring on Man City!
True to my word I am writing blog entry while digging into a large piece of Humble pie - Humble pie that has never tasted so sweet.
Cup football is all about winning & moving onto the next round so credit to Alan Pardew and his team. This must be a real confidence booster for our squad and Manu Riviere in particular who grabbed a brace - goals he really needed.
Pardew rotated his squad and was rewarded with impressive performances from from Mehdi Abeid, Obertan, and Adam Armstrong who can all look towards making a impact in the first team. He needed a win and he got it. Job done
Pardew knows however he is still under big pressure, he knows a cup win against a weakened Palace team will not right all the wrongs - yet it is a step in the right direction. Nothing would make me happier than Pardew turning things around and having a successful season. Yet the next few weeks and a return to Premier league football will really show the resolve of Pardew and his team.
We're on a cup run - bring on Man City!
 |
| Manu converts a pen, his 2nd goal. |
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
CPFC v NUFC
The Newcastle United starting 11 for their Capital One cup tie against Crystal Palace is:
Newcastle: Elliot, Janmaat, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Dummett, Colback, Abeid, Obertan, Armstrong, Ameobi, Riviere. Subs: Sissoko, Anita, Ferreyra, Perez, Haidara, Cabella, Alnwick.
Does that look like a 11 strong enough to be a Palace team who are unbeaten since Neil Warnock took the job? A team who scored 3 goals at SJP last week? I don't think so. Fact is Taylor, Dummett, Sammy, & Obertan are not good enough while young Armstrong is not ready.
Newcastle need a win, any win will do. Add that to the fact that we have an awful pedigree in the cup competitions over recent years and I would have thought Pardew would have his strongest possible 11 in South London tonight.
This will do nothing more than support the belief that our club do not care about the cups - much to the frustration of our fans. Can the club suggest they are concentrating on the league when we current sit at the bottom of the league and are obviously not concentrating hard enough.
I hope I have this wrong and I would love to be sitting here tomorrow night writing about a good cup win - but I just do not see it happening.
Enjoy the match
Newcastle: Elliot, Janmaat, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Dummett, Colback, Abeid, Obertan, Armstrong, Ameobi, Riviere. Subs: Sissoko, Anita, Ferreyra, Perez, Haidara, Cabella, Alnwick.
Does that look like a 11 strong enough to be a Palace team who are unbeaten since Neil Warnock took the job? A team who scored 3 goals at SJP last week? I don't think so. Fact is Taylor, Dummett, Sammy, & Obertan are not good enough while young Armstrong is not ready.
Newcastle need a win, any win will do. Add that to the fact that we have an awful pedigree in the cup competitions over recent years and I would have thought Pardew would have his strongest possible 11 in South London tonight.
This will do nothing more than support the belief that our club do not care about the cups - much to the frustration of our fans. Can the club suggest they are concentrating on the league when we current sit at the bottom of the league and are obviously not concentrating hard enough.
I hope I have this wrong and I would love to be sitting here tomorrow night writing about a good cup win - but I just do not see it happening.
Enjoy the match
Monday, September 22, 2014
Business as usual
Has there ever been a more bittersweet goal that Pappis Cisse's equaliser against Hull City?
Personally I didn't know whether to cheer or cry. While I want to cheer every goal, every NUFC win I knew that Cisse's goal would extend Alan Pardew's stay at the club despite another lackluster performance.
There is obviously a big appetite for change at St James yet the atmosphere on Saturday was not as bad as I imagined it would be. Credit to the Sackpardew.com lads but for whatever reason the planned protest did not amount to anything serious. The fans love for the team seems to out weigh their dislike for Pardew. Add to that the emotion regarding Jonas and Pardew really did not have to walk the gauntlet That I and many others were expecting.
So Pardew survives to live another day - today's papers talk about Ashley showing patience - unfortunately for AP the fans patience has gone and it will take a minor miracle for him to win any fans back. The ball is certainly in Mike Ashley's court, like always, and we simply have to wait until he no longer deems AP to be the man for the job.
Pardew's post game reaction was that of a man who is clinging onto his job by the skin of his teeth - lets all remember that we only just managed a draw at home against a average Hull side. Pardew rolled the dice with Cisse and got lucky. To describe this as a great result or to suggest he made a genius managerial decision is farcical.
A line the club released in the aftermath of the Southampton game was that it was "Business as usual for AP and his staff" Well to use their own words Saturdays performance was business as usual for a Pardew side - we lacked any team cohesion or organisation. For me nothing has changed and until I see a team that are organised, positive, and well trained I will not accept that Pardew is the right man for my club.
I saw a banner which I hear was confiscated by the NUFC heavies which summed this up perfectly. It read:
"We do not demand a team that wins, we demand a club that tries"
Personally I didn't know whether to cheer or cry. While I want to cheer every goal, every NUFC win I knew that Cisse's goal would extend Alan Pardew's stay at the club despite another lackluster performance.
There is obviously a big appetite for change at St James yet the atmosphere on Saturday was not as bad as I imagined it would be. Credit to the Sackpardew.com lads but for whatever reason the planned protest did not amount to anything serious. The fans love for the team seems to out weigh their dislike for Pardew. Add to that the emotion regarding Jonas and Pardew really did not have to walk the gauntlet That I and many others were expecting.
So Pardew survives to live another day - today's papers talk about Ashley showing patience - unfortunately for AP the fans patience has gone and it will take a minor miracle for him to win any fans back. The ball is certainly in Mike Ashley's court, like always, and we simply have to wait until he no longer deems AP to be the man for the job.
Pardew's post game reaction was that of a man who is clinging onto his job by the skin of his teeth - lets all remember that we only just managed a draw at home against a average Hull side. Pardew rolled the dice with Cisse and got lucky. To describe this as a great result or to suggest he made a genius managerial decision is farcical.
A line the club released in the aftermath of the Southampton game was that it was "Business as usual for AP and his staff" Well to use their own words Saturdays performance was business as usual for a Pardew side - we lacked any team cohesion or organisation. For me nothing has changed and until I see a team that are organised, positive, and well trained I will not accept that Pardew is the right man for my club.
I saw a banner which I hear was confiscated by the NUFC heavies which summed this up perfectly. It read:
"We do not demand a team that wins, we demand a club that tries"
Friday, September 19, 2014
St James Colosseum
Tomorrow Alan Pardew will face a toxic, poisonous atmosphere as NUFC face Hull City at St James. Football will become secondary to the planned protest organised by the lads over at Sackpardew.com. Pardew knows this is coming and must know the anger is at another level from what he faced against Cardiff City at the back end of last season where he was unable to leave his seat. Enough is enough Alan.
Pardew felt the heat last weekend at Southampton where around 2000 fans turned on him - how will he react when 52,000 demand his sacking on Saturday. I believe even a good performance & win will not subdue the crowd - we are way beyond that & there is simply no going back for Pardew at NUFC.
National media will have you believe we are just a angry group of Gerodies turning on Pardew because he is a 'Southerner' - this boils my blood and really is bloody patronising. Look at the facts, look at our form, look at our playing staff then you might understand why we want Pardew out. How many manager would survive having only taken 18 points from a possible 69 in 2014? many have been sacked for less.
Pardew cannot fail to understand the feeling towards him - pick up the Chronicle, listen to the radio or talk to the man on the street and he must know he is no longer wanted at our club - Saturday will confirm this. I can only picture a scene from Gladiator where 52k Geordies will volcalise a thumb down vote.
During his pre match interview Pardew did nothing other than add fire to the flames by claiming NUFC fans were now acting hysterically & that our actions will effect the players performance. Not once does he suggest his lack of management, tactical or motivational skill are to blame. This again is patronising from Pardew.
‘It's really gone to a level which makes it really difficult for players to perform in. The environment for the players will probably be as tough as it’s ever been and we have to accept that. I am hoping we can turn that around. I don't expect the start to be easy.’
He added: ‘I think I am the best person for the job – but I don't think our fans agree with that.
‘It has been suggested that I don’t care about this position, and that I’ve got this long contract and that I’m going through the motions – nothing could be further from the truth. I was absolutely sick after the game on Saturday. I have been hurt this week.’
At any other club, with any other owner Pardew would be gone. Will a defeat against Hull seal his fate? It should. I believe Ashley is hoping his will quit, yet with Pardew's ego there is little chance of that. What a mess.
- Finally it would me wrong of me not to mention Jonas Gutierrez who revealed this week he is suffering with cancer. This really puts things into perspective and shows how insignificant football is compared to real life health issues. Best wishes Jonas - hopefully you make a fully & speedy recovery.
Pardew felt the heat last weekend at Southampton where around 2000 fans turned on him - how will he react when 52,000 demand his sacking on Saturday. I believe even a good performance & win will not subdue the crowd - we are way beyond that & there is simply no going back for Pardew at NUFC.
National media will have you believe we are just a angry group of Gerodies turning on Pardew because he is a 'Southerner' - this boils my blood and really is bloody patronising. Look at the facts, look at our form, look at our playing staff then you might understand why we want Pardew out. How many manager would survive having only taken 18 points from a possible 69 in 2014? many have been sacked for less.
Pardew cannot fail to understand the feeling towards him - pick up the Chronicle, listen to the radio or talk to the man on the street and he must know he is no longer wanted at our club - Saturday will confirm this. I can only picture a scene from Gladiator where 52k Geordies will volcalise a thumb down vote.
During his pre match interview Pardew did nothing other than add fire to the flames by claiming NUFC fans were now acting hysterically & that our actions will effect the players performance. Not once does he suggest his lack of management, tactical or motivational skill are to blame. This again is patronising from Pardew.
‘It's really gone to a level which makes it really difficult for players to perform in. The environment for the players will probably be as tough as it’s ever been and we have to accept that. I am hoping we can turn that around. I don't expect the start to be easy.’
He added: ‘I think I am the best person for the job – but I don't think our fans agree with that.
‘It has been suggested that I don’t care about this position, and that I’ve got this long contract and that I’m going through the motions – nothing could be further from the truth. I was absolutely sick after the game on Saturday. I have been hurt this week.’
At any other club, with any other owner Pardew would be gone. Will a defeat against Hull seal his fate? It should. I believe Ashley is hoping his will quit, yet with Pardew's ego there is little chance of that. What a mess.
- Finally it would me wrong of me not to mention Jonas Gutierrez who revealed this week he is suffering with cancer. This really puts things into perspective and shows how insignificant football is compared to real life health issues. Best wishes Jonas - hopefully you make a fully & speedy recovery.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
National Shaming
Usually I would be the first to defend our club when the national media would hurl criticisms, yet I can only find myself nodding with approval at the headlines I have seen since out disastrous performance at Southampton.
I am a big fan of Skysports Monday night Football and found their dissection of our performance brutal, but very honest. Neville & Carragher hit the nail on the head and said what many other journalist will not. They did not hold back and if anyone from NUFC heard this then they understand this represents what the majority of fans feel.
I am a big fan of Skysports Monday night Football and found their dissection of our performance brutal, but very honest. Neville & Carragher hit the nail on the head and said what many other journalist will not. They did not hold back and if anyone from NUFC heard this then they understand this represents what the majority of fans feel.
Carragher said: “There’s lots of talk of Alan Pardew losing his job. Forget Alan Pardew for a minute, some of those players are a disgrace.
“We’re not talking about an end-of-season game, which still isn’t acceptable, but this is four or five games into a season.
“I played against a lot of these players towards the end of my time at Liverpool. We beat them 6-0 at St James’ Park and the performance was shocking.
“You think of a club like Newcastle, a working-class club and the fans go there. You want to see great players do great things, score goals and win games – but you want to see a bit of graft, heart and intensity.
“For Newcastle to be seeing that for the last few years is a disgrace.”
And he fears there could be another hostile reception when Newcastle host Hull in the Premier League on Saturday
Carragher added: “Alan Pardew said after the game that the reaction of the supporters didn’t help what was going on out on the pitch. That was just an away section – probably 2,000 or 3,000 of them.
“I would never advocate a manager losing his job. I’ve never been one and I don’t know how tough it is, but can you imagine 50,000 people with banners screaming for Alan Pardew to go?
“Whether you agree with it or not, I’ve said before with managers – David Moyes last season and Roy Hodgson at Liverpool – it becomes untenable.
“To lose your job after four or five games is ludicrous, but he’s on a poor run from January when they lost Yohan Cabaye and we all felt for him then.
“If that carries on, those supporters have turned so far that it might become untenable.”
While is is not great to hear your clubs name be dragged through the mud live on TV - maybe, just maybe this is what is needed for Mike Ashley to take notice of the problems we are facing. Yes well all know he is the biggest problem, however Alan Pardew must be the fall guy.
Monday, September 15, 2014
5 major NUFC concerns
1. Mike Williamson had a nightmare, he has had many yet is still selected. For me his a defensive version of Shola - 1 good game ever once in a while & people think he is Bobby Moore. He is Championship standard at best. Meanwhile Mapou Yanga Mbiwa is now playing for Roma....
2. Coloccini is past it - both physically & mentally. He doesn't want to be here & his is not capable of leading our defense. Ever since these personal issues & the wanting to go back to Argentina he has been missing. How dare he be a part of the Ben Arfa witch hunt when he is showing zero heart for the club right now. Thanks for the service Colo but its time to move on.
3. Riviere will never be a line leading forward in the Premier league - yes he is isolated, however he has shown zero positive signs to give us a glimmer of hope.
4. The players appear to have little concern that their manager is under real pressure. Are these players fighting for Pardew? do they care that he is on the chopping block. To use the old footballing term Pardew appears to have lost the players & the dressing room.
5. Pardew has to go. Saturday was diabolical and these should be no way back for the manager. He showed signs of a beaten man after the match, yet during the match did nothing to rally his troops. He feared approaching the touchline as he did not want to face the jeering Toon Army - well Alan imagine the toxic atmosphere you will face at SJP if you are still in charge this weekend. Will Pardew walk away? no chance. Will Ashley fire him? Well in the opinion of almost every fan, journo, & ex-player -Yes. Unfortunately only one man makes this decision.
2. Coloccini is past it - both physically & mentally. He doesn't want to be here & his is not capable of leading our defense. Ever since these personal issues & the wanting to go back to Argentina he has been missing. How dare he be a part of the Ben Arfa witch hunt when he is showing zero heart for the club right now. Thanks for the service Colo but its time to move on.
3. Riviere will never be a line leading forward in the Premier league - yes he is isolated, however he has shown zero positive signs to give us a glimmer of hope.
4. The players appear to have little concern that their manager is under real pressure. Are these players fighting for Pardew? do they care that he is on the chopping block. To use the old footballing term Pardew appears to have lost the players & the dressing room.
5. Pardew has to go. Saturday was diabolical and these should be no way back for the manager. He showed signs of a beaten man after the match, yet during the match did nothing to rally his troops. He feared approaching the touchline as he did not want to face the jeering Toon Army - well Alan imagine the toxic atmosphere you will face at SJP if you are still in charge this weekend. Will Pardew walk away? no chance. Will Ashley fire him? Well in the opinion of almost every fan, journo, & ex-player -Yes. Unfortunately only one man makes this decision.
Friday, September 12, 2014
NUFC sale
Along with the rest of the NUFC fans around the world I was thrilled to see news that Mike Ashley may sell NUFC appear in this weeks media, however this was followed by the release of a club statement denying any potential sale.
A Toon statement read: “The truth is Mike Ashley remains committed to Newcastle United.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this means that for the remainder of this season and AT LEAST until the end of next season, Mike Ashley will not, under any circumstances, sell Newcastle United at any price.
“The Club cannot be stronger in stating its position on this matter.”
Now we all will see this as a kick in the teeth - many of of may have expected this simply because we are not used to good NUFC news. We have been through the mill so many times that until we see Mike Ashley leave Tyneside with our own eyes we will not believe it.
One interesting and potentially pivotal point I picked up from the statement is that the club state that "Until the end of next season" This interests me as that is when Glasgow Rangers could potentially be back in the Champions League.
We have all know the Ashley already owns a percentage of the Scottish giants, however there is little money to be made from them until they return to the Scottish Premier league & European football. Ashley will be excited by a full house at Ibrox and the Champions league cash cow.
Can we read between the lines of this latest club statement and pin our hopes on a potential end to the Mike Ashley era? I certainly hope so.
Come on Rangers!
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
HBA: A different perspective
My pal Ross was featured on radio Newcasltes football phone in last week where he shared a different perspective on the whole Ben Arfa & Pardew situation. I wanted to share his thoughts so here you go.
After burning rage on Monday night watchin deadline day, I have changed to merely simmering discontent after listening to same balanced Ben Arfa debate on here last night.My experience of closely observing international level sportsmen in my athletics club is that an athlete's performance is 90% down to the athlete themselves & only 10% to the coach, maybe even less.Although brilliant, I think Ben Arfa should therefore take this proportion of the blame for his own demise.However, Pardew had made his point strongly & could have accepted him back whilst still looking like the boss. By forcing him out, Pardew has missed a massive opportunity to win back favour & has again let his vindictive, stubborn & brash side take him to new lows of popularity with the fans. It's this attitude and behaviour rather than his actual ability to coach the players that has left him almost universally unpopular with fans.Please David Moyes or Eddie Howe, come & save us.RossDr Ross Thomas FloydHoway The Toon!
Friday, September 5, 2014
Our next manager is....
So inevitably after a frustrating end to the transfer window coupled with a struggling start to the season the pressure is stacked once again on Alan Pardew.
After HBA and M'biwa left the club late on Monday evening with no replacements arriving the level of frustration and anger went up a level on Tyneside.
NUFC had the opportunity to build bridges with the fans and it did appear during the summer they were making an effort in improving with the squad. Signings like Cabella, De Jong, and Jannmat excited the Toon Army. However we all know we are at least 2 quality players short and are only 1 injury away from a defensive crisis.
Alan Pardew has never been Mr popular on Tyneside and now I really believe there is no way back for him in the eyes of the fans. His decision making is poor, his communication is weak and we cannot trust a word he says. I fully expect the return of the toxic atmosphere which we experienced at SJP last season.
This week the Independent newspaper ran the story at AP has 2 games to save his job. Next up we play Southampton away & Hull at home - both games we lost last year. So if the Independent is to be believed - and they usually are, then the chances of Mike Ashley firing his manager have to be high.
With this in mind I wanted to look at who I realistically feel could replace AP at St James Park.
Lets start with Tony Pulis. I have never been a fan of Pulis although any football fan has to give him credit for the job he did at Crystal Palace last season. However prior to that lets not forget the awful brand of football he created at Stoke City. Yes he kept then in the league for many years, but we need to be aiming higher than survival football. I would rather than Big Sam back than Pulis.
The attraction for Mike Ashley will be that Pulis is current without a club so not compensation would be due, however Pulis walked away from Palace due to a interfering chairman so I could not see him working under the Ashley regime.
Also I cannot respect a manager who wears an awful club shop cap on the sideline!
David Moyes - After his short spell at Man Utd I think Moyes would jump at the chance to manage NUFC. He did a cracking job at Everton with a small squad, and a tight chairman - exactly what we have. He cultivated a great team unity and spirit which enabled him to get the best out of his team who regularly overachieved. Moyes would take no nonsense and could be trusted to run the club from top to bottom. I believe Ashley has tried to recruit Moyes in the past and I really hope he will return for Scotsman if AP is shown the door.
Frank De Boer - The Dutch legend is currently managing Ajax who he has lead to numerous league championships. You might ask 'Why on earth would he leave Ajax to come to NUFC' well for the same reason we signed the Ajax captain Siem De Jong. This being that the Dutch league is nothing compared to the Premiership where everyone wants to work. We did get a small mention from De Boer back when he was linked with the Tottenham job “I see opportunities at Tottenham Hotspur, just as Liverpool and Newcastle, they are sleeping giants". Well realistically none of the top jobs are going to be available any time so soon De Boer may well see us as his best opportunity to lead a Premiership team.
I also wanted to give a noticeable mention to Lee Clark & Peter Beardsley - both are NUFC legends who would pour their heart and soul into the club - but for me this not enough anymore. These two Geordies would be popular appointments who would get the backing of the fans - Lovely lads, just not top managers.
A surprise candidate could well be Glenn Hoddle. We all know Ashley is a Spurs fan so appointing a Spurs legend with a solid managerial background cannot be ruled out.
For me Moyes is the obvious choice followed closely by the impressive De Boer. One thing for sure Alan Pardew's days on Tyneside must be numbered.
After HBA and M'biwa left the club late on Monday evening with no replacements arriving the level of frustration and anger went up a level on Tyneside.
NUFC had the opportunity to build bridges with the fans and it did appear during the summer they were making an effort in improving with the squad. Signings like Cabella, De Jong, and Jannmat excited the Toon Army. However we all know we are at least 2 quality players short and are only 1 injury away from a defensive crisis.
Alan Pardew has never been Mr popular on Tyneside and now I really believe there is no way back for him in the eyes of the fans. His decision making is poor, his communication is weak and we cannot trust a word he says. I fully expect the return of the toxic atmosphere which we experienced at SJP last season.
This week the Independent newspaper ran the story at AP has 2 games to save his job. Next up we play Southampton away & Hull at home - both games we lost last year. So if the Independent is to be believed - and they usually are, then the chances of Mike Ashley firing his manager have to be high.
With this in mind I wanted to look at who I realistically feel could replace AP at St James Park.
Lets start with Tony Pulis. I have never been a fan of Pulis although any football fan has to give him credit for the job he did at Crystal Palace last season. However prior to that lets not forget the awful brand of football he created at Stoke City. Yes he kept then in the league for many years, but we need to be aiming higher than survival football. I would rather than Big Sam back than Pulis.
The attraction for Mike Ashley will be that Pulis is current without a club so not compensation would be due, however Pulis walked away from Palace due to a interfering chairman so I could not see him working under the Ashley regime.
Also I cannot respect a manager who wears an awful club shop cap on the sideline!
David Moyes - After his short spell at Man Utd I think Moyes would jump at the chance to manage NUFC. He did a cracking job at Everton with a small squad, and a tight chairman - exactly what we have. He cultivated a great team unity and spirit which enabled him to get the best out of his team who regularly overachieved. Moyes would take no nonsense and could be trusted to run the club from top to bottom. I believe Ashley has tried to recruit Moyes in the past and I really hope he will return for Scotsman if AP is shown the door.
Frank De Boer - The Dutch legend is currently managing Ajax who he has lead to numerous league championships. You might ask 'Why on earth would he leave Ajax to come to NUFC' well for the same reason we signed the Ajax captain Siem De Jong. This being that the Dutch league is nothing compared to the Premiership where everyone wants to work. We did get a small mention from De Boer back when he was linked with the Tottenham job “I see opportunities at Tottenham Hotspur, just as Liverpool and Newcastle, they are sleeping giants". Well realistically none of the top jobs are going to be available any time so soon De Boer may well see us as his best opportunity to lead a Premiership team.
I also wanted to give a noticeable mention to Lee Clark & Peter Beardsley - both are NUFC legends who would pour their heart and soul into the club - but for me this not enough anymore. These two Geordies would be popular appointments who would get the backing of the fans - Lovely lads, just not top managers.
A surprise candidate could well be Glenn Hoddle. We all know Ashley is a Spurs fan so appointing a Spurs legend with a solid managerial background cannot be ruled out.
For me Moyes is the obvious choice followed closely by the impressive De Boer. One thing for sure Alan Pardew's days on Tyneside must be numbered.
 |
| De Boer to follow De Jong to St James? |
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| Happier times for Moyes |
De Jong blow
You really cannot make this stuff up - Summer signing Siem De Jong has picked up a injury which will keep him out till Christmas.
This leaves NUFC without a player who is key the way in which AP wants us to play. Of course the irony of this all is that AP just let HBA leave on loan - the player in our squad who could replace De Jong in the number 10 role.
In the 2 games he has already missed due to injury it was obvious his link up play between the midfielder and forward was missing - Riviere was so isolated.
Just where the goals are going to come from in this team worries me. This De Jong injury just further emphasizes how weak our squad is.
AP needs a win badly or by the time he returns from injury De Jong could find himself playing for a new manager.
This leaves NUFC without a player who is key the way in which AP wants us to play. Of course the irony of this all is that AP just let HBA leave on loan - the player in our squad who could replace De Jong in the number 10 role.
In the 2 games he has already missed due to injury it was obvious his link up play between the midfielder and forward was missing - Riviere was so isolated.
Just where the goals are going to come from in this team worries me. This De Jong injury just further emphasizes how weak our squad is.
AP needs a win badly or by the time he returns from injury De Jong could find himself playing for a new manager.
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| De Jong injury: Big blow |
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Pardew out on Loan?
While i would never call myself a Pardew sympathizer I would say I have always had a clear understanding that he is simply a puppet controlled by LC and MA - however after the shocking transfer dealings yesterday I am done with AP and want him as far as possible away from St James.
LC & MA are ruthless business men who will see the transfers of Ben Arfa and Yanga-Mbiwa simply as a way of shifting big earners off the wage bill - Pardew however is supposed to be a football man and therefore like all us fans he must know we needed a forward & a centre half in during this window. For the club not to bring in these players is worrying, but for us to them loan out two quality players is shocking. The mis-management at our club is nothing short of a disgrace.
My frustration & anger is turning to Pardew as it is becoming ever clearer that his is happy to align himself to MA and LC - he seems to have no problem with how our club is being ran. If he wanted two players in why not come out and tell us he was let down. If he didn't want to get rid of Ben Arfa or M'biwa then tell us - this would at least gain him some credibility with the fans. I understand not wanting to ruffle and feathers and not speaking out against your boss - however there is a line where your own morals and character have to come first. Can Alan Pardew honestly say he approves of the way our club is being ran?
Just a few weeks ago when we bought two promising youngsters from Nottingham Forest I remember Stuart Pearce sitting in front t of a Skysports camera stating these two players had been sold behind his back and that we did not agree with the sales at all. Peace kept his job and has had cracking start to the season. What chance Pardew makes a similar statement in the coming days? No chance - men like Stuart Pearce are cut from a different cloth to Alan Pardew.
Of course the irony of it all is that there is every chance both HBA & MYM will go onto to have great seasons at Hull & Roma which will only heap more pressure on AP. I wish them all the best and am sure they will flurish under new managers. MYM has made a great move to the top of Serie A and the Champions league....yet he is no better than Mike Williamson eh Alan??
On the field we are weaker than we were at this time last year and I can only see us continuing the for we showed during the second half of last season. Off the field I can see the toxic atmosphere returning to the stands. Obviously this helps no one- but the club have brought this onto themselves and Pardew will bare the brunt of the Toon Army's frustration.
After a summer where we could all finally share in some optimism, a fresh start, and a new NUFC -we have been brought back down to earth with a bump realising it will be another poor season full of disappointments.
LC & MA are ruthless business men who will see the transfers of Ben Arfa and Yanga-Mbiwa simply as a way of shifting big earners off the wage bill - Pardew however is supposed to be a football man and therefore like all us fans he must know we needed a forward & a centre half in during this window. For the club not to bring in these players is worrying, but for us to them loan out two quality players is shocking. The mis-management at our club is nothing short of a disgrace.
My frustration & anger is turning to Pardew as it is becoming ever clearer that his is happy to align himself to MA and LC - he seems to have no problem with how our club is being ran. If he wanted two players in why not come out and tell us he was let down. If he didn't want to get rid of Ben Arfa or M'biwa then tell us - this would at least gain him some credibility with the fans. I understand not wanting to ruffle and feathers and not speaking out against your boss - however there is a line where your own morals and character have to come first. Can Alan Pardew honestly say he approves of the way our club is being ran?
Just a few weeks ago when we bought two promising youngsters from Nottingham Forest I remember Stuart Pearce sitting in front t of a Skysports camera stating these two players had been sold behind his back and that we did not agree with the sales at all. Peace kept his job and has had cracking start to the season. What chance Pardew makes a similar statement in the coming days? No chance - men like Stuart Pearce are cut from a different cloth to Alan Pardew.
Of course the irony of it all is that there is every chance both HBA & MYM will go onto to have great seasons at Hull & Roma which will only heap more pressure on AP. I wish them all the best and am sure they will flurish under new managers. MYM has made a great move to the top of Serie A and the Champions league....yet he is no better than Mike Williamson eh Alan??
On the field we are weaker than we were at this time last year and I can only see us continuing the for we showed during the second half of last season. Off the field I can see the toxic atmosphere returning to the stands. Obviously this helps no one- but the club have brought this onto themselves and Pardew will bare the brunt of the Toon Army's frustration.
After a summer where we could all finally share in some optimism, a fresh start, and a new NUFC -we have been brought back down to earth with a bump realising it will be another poor season full of disappointments.
 |
| Happy now AP? |
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