Alan Pardew thought that Newcastle were good at Tottenham today but not at their best, and subsequently were not good enough to get anything out of the game at White Hart Lane.
Alan Pardew – Newcastle good – but not at their best
Things were fairly even this afternoon, but it was two pieces of extra class from the North London side in the second half, that got them all 3 points, against a willing but less talented Newcastle side.
Aaron Lennon scored the first goal on 57 minutes out on the right, and Gareth Bale scored one of his special goals from the left on 80 minutes, after Spurs had been reduced to 10 men though the stupidity of Kaboul – who head-butted Cheick Tiote – after 66 minutes.
Pardew had been hoping for Newcastle to produce another good performance this afternoon but it was rather flat compared to the bright and courageous performances at home against Liverpool and Man City, in the previous two games.
This is what Alan told Sky Sports after the game today:
“Their extra bit of quality, especially in the final third, was the difference,”
“We were competitive and worked really hard but we were just off our best today.”
“And some of the quality we had shown against Liverpool and Manchester City was missing.”
Kevin Nolan was suspended for the clash and Jose Enrique failed a late fitness test, and Newcastle missed both players today.
After seeing that his bench is fairly weak, Pardew will be hoping to strengthen the squad in January – at least we hope Alan will be trying to strengthen the squad in January.
Alan continued::
“We were good today but we were below our best,”
“We had two or three key players missing and that is probably where we are weaker than those teams in terms of players coming off the bench.”
“That is something we can hopefully address as we go down the line.”
Pardew also feels that Tottenham should be considered as contenders for the Premier League title, because of the strength in depth they have in the club:
“Look at the strength they have in depth and of course they are going to be.”
“They are fighting on a number of fronts. With that spirit and a bit of luck here and there they may well pick up a trophy.”
It’s getting clear now that when Newcastle have some of their key players missing like Enrique, Tiote, Barton, Nolan or Carroll, they are sorely missed, and the subs that come in are just not as good.
That’s one reason Alan may look to bring in some reinforcements during January.
But our next two games at Wigan and home to West Ham now become very important to get points from, since both sides are below us in the league at the moment.
Newcastle have but one win from their last eight league games, since winning at the Emirates.
Comments welcome.
85 comments so far
davybtoon
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:11 PM
Comment #41i dont think perch had that bad of game today, i agree german id of went colo n willo with simpson lb n taylor rb or kadar lb we lack pace n creativity jonas n routledge hav the pace jus no creativity or end product, wud like a maynard or someone like that but i think hba is gonna play off carroll when fit
jj
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:14 PM
Comment #42do yo think any of our coaches have thought about switching Jonas to the right, his pace is good but his problem is he cant cross with his left and when he cuts in he tries to curl it and it goes along the ground…on the right that would be a good cross if its between the six yard box and pen spot…dont you agree??? like bale does all teh time for spurs…..if he kept it simple and got to teh byline and crossed it??? then put benny on the left when fit or even….put kadar left back and move jose to the wing??? to be honest all ive seen from us is repetition…repetition…repetition…jonas, cuts in cuts out crosses…cleared…
routledge cuts in crosses….cleared…..
barton crossing on the angle…..
taylor long ball diagonal….
jose long ball diagonal…..
we need a plan A and use these long balls as plan B…
I also think Saylor was been playing too deep again and keeping ppl onside so move him to RB and put williamson CB with collo
what do you think lads???
Do ppl have full faith in our Keepers by the way? Harps and Krul….Do you think forster should come back???
jj
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:16 PM
Comment #43when i meant jonas crossing with his right on the right i imagined whipping it in along the floor between keeper and pen spot by the way lol…not cutting in and cutting out lol
davybtoon
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Comment #44jj good shout bout jonas switching side n shud bring in ferguson or vukic on left till we get a left winger, i think krul is a top keeper but is being let down by our defence at moment, what ppl hopes for signings in jan window id like a couple more steals the quality n price of hba n tiote, n i feel someone like nicky maynard would b great
Brutooon
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:26 PM
Comment #45If Alan Pardew said that last night match is good then he MUST BE JOKING
All our players sucks and we cant even make small simple passing.
We got like 3-4 championship players who cant make it in the BPL
Alan Pardew LOSE 100% since he take over
jj
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:28 PM
Comment #46i honestly would like Carlton Cole, Darren Bent or Robbie Keane to partner Carroll for now…
Pacey Wingers as we lack pace in attack such as Larsson, Etherington, Kranjcar etc…
and a top defensive coach to tell Saylor to not stay deep, to teach both CBs to be alert and always win the second ball from a punt up field as we concede a lot of goals that way and to never play perch ever again.
archaeomag
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:28 PM
Comment #47I sure Jonas switches flank occasionally during a game. I agree overall we don’t get enough quality balls into the box, and are too dependant on Barton, [who does deliver well from the right].
There were a couple of games where we played it out from the back, and looked good in possession. I am not convinced by Krull’s long ball distribution.
balubas1
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:32 PM
Comment #48So many pouters on here now..
Tottenham are a brilliant side with a brilliant manager. They are in playoffs in CL and in the top flight of the EPL.
Get over it guys! YES we can be “so wise” now telling ourselves that Pardew made the wrong team selection, but to be honest; when I saw the team, I wasn’t to upset about it. I thought that maybe Tiote could help lift Smith up a bit and create a fierce midfield giving Barton some more freedom offensively aswell… But HEY! It didn’t work this time.. we met a very very good team.
daffy
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:36 PM
Comment #49JJ- you couldnt afford Bents boot laces + why would he sign for a team sliding down the table quicker than a Cheryl Cole single?
GeordieGerman
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:36 PM
Comment #50I’ve just read that Newcastle will never ever play again this year.
davybtoon
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:37 PM
Comment #51i feel n hav even last year n the championship that were so slow attacking n counter attacking n thats r downfall n i blame fat sam allerdyce feel his style of play set us bk years
GeordieGerman
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:38 PM
Comment #52daffy, because he respects Pardew
balubas1
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:41 PM
Comment #53you guys are so bitter.. this is useless..
GG: You must admit tottenham are a better side than us????
davybtoon
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:47 PM
Comment #54daffy i dont care if we finish 15th n u finish 7th were still better tean than you ya sh*te face it, all ya players n manager live in newcastle ya stadium crap n we will always b top dogs wait till jan 13th you will c
Toon1978
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:49 PM
Comment #55Of course they are better than us they have spent an…absolute…..fortune. wtf has Ashley spent, a few million here and a few million there. Come on, Modric on one side and Lennon on the other, we have Routledge on one wing and Jonas on the other, the difference in class is phenomenal to say the least. We have played two teams in the last few days that have spent more money then what NUFC is worth. The EPL is not the same any more, its all about who spends the most money its as simple as that and we have bob hope and no hope under the absolute imbecile of an owner.
daffy
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:58 PM
Comment #56davyb-
Why whats happening on the 13th Jan?
davybtoon
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:01 PM
Comment #57daffy my bad to much drink 16th jan getting carried away with myself whats 3 days were still gonna win lol, here u had similar game against blackpool as we did cud of played for 2 days n not scored
GeordieGerman
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:03 PM
Comment #58balubas1, of course I admit that. I just have a feeling that Pardew is trying to find out which players can do what on the field and not in training. He’s risked a couple of games (where we expected to lose anyway) to find out. I’ll not hang him till after the next two games.
daffy
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:04 PM
Comment #59davyb-
32 shots against 9 + we still couldnt score!
davybtoon
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:07 PM
Comment #60daffy it was the same when we played them up here there a shit team but they sneak wins we battered them 4-1 the year b4 with pritty much the same teams
archaeomag
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:11 PM
Comment #61While it is a shame & disappointing to loose to Spurs, [who are a great team, playing nice football & good luck to them], it is far more important not to loose to teams below us like West Ham & Wigan.
Anyone notice who lost to Blackpool?
daffy
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:13 PM
Comment #62Totally agree , bit of a smash + grab team but fair to them , they scored – we couldnt.
No disgrace being beaten by Spurs – theyre a top drawer team but you got a couple of funny games v wigan & West Ham b4 the big one.
davybtoon
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:14 PM
Comment #63toon 1978 i agree ashly has made some terrible managerial decisions but were nearly debt free, he aint sold any players that aint already wanted to leave n he signed colocini,jose jonas barton,nolan,williamson,simpson,tiote,gosling now it aint all bad, man city spent millions n we out played them altough we got beat think we hav to face facts he aint goin anywere n support the lads
davybtoon
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:16 PM
Comment #64yip 4pts is minimum v wigan n west ham
archaeomag
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:22 PM
Comment #65@davybtoon
A very fair point about debt; it is nice to think that the club is not still paying for FFS’s excesses.
I suspect debt is dragging down Liverpool & even Man U – not that is a bad thing.
AndyE93
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:22 PM
Comment #66We have a terrible record at the DW. Let’s hope we can put that right, and let’s hope West Ham don’t decide to turn their season round against us. I think we could win both of these games but think we will draw with Wigan.
stuart no9
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:25 PM
Comment #67dont panic, i hear people say ,we are 3 points off 4th spot , when our main men are missing, we have nothing in reserve,we conceded and lost to 10 men, today ,ok it was spurs ,but we still could nt score, the game against mah city was effectivly over after 4 mins,yes we pulled one back, then city went up field and scored,(because they knew they had to) and pardew is our manager.admittingly, he is out of his comfort zone(12th place)in the prem, when was the last time he was there,but not to worry, lose against wigan, then its all back to more familiar surrounding so yeah, dont worry (if you would rather play in that poxy league we played in last year)
GeordieGerman
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:30 PM
Comment #68stuart no9, that poxy league? Some how at this time last year I felt better.
stuart no9
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:44 PM
Comment #69andy @29
“the days of playing flowing football against top teams are over” why ?are things that bad now that we should give up and settle for what we get? no chance, ash has got into you mate, thats music to his ears, and yes, CH would have got something out of these 2 games
stuart no9
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:55 PM
Comment #70german, ok, maybe coz we were winning more games, but hand on heart, you would rather be going to chelsea, manchester , arsenal every week or not ?
GeordieGerman
Dec 29, 2010 at 12:14 AM
Comment #71stuart no9, hand on heart? Winning against the likes of Fulham, Bolton, Wigan, Stoke & & &.
Brutooon
Dec 29, 2010 at 12:51 AM
Comment #72Tottenham was not better than us, we did frustrate them for the first like 60 mins?
Bale only did one good run during the first half, other than that he is anonymous.
Perch mistake lead to our lose
Brutooon
Dec 29, 2010 at 12:58 AM
Comment #73Mike Ashley is celebrating last night because his time TOTTENHAM won last night
JWatson
Dec 29, 2010 at 1:48 AM
Comment #74Pardew, seriously..
We need a keeper. Harper is a great keeper but he’s getting on and Krul is just bad.
Enrique is the only real strong point about the defence, he’s one of the best LB’s in the league I think. Colo and Taylor make a few to many sloppy errors for me to be happy.
The midfield lacks flair and pace. Once HBA comes back, that may change. Routledge and Jonas are not EPL quality.
Play with two forwards, please. Playing the long ball to Carroll ALL the time isn’t going to keep working. Stick Ranger on. He isn’t fantastic but he’s fast enough to get down the wing and whip the ball in.
I suggest you seriously look at Hughton’s tactics prior to the 5 games without a win.. You’ll see that 4-4-2 is the best formation for the toon.
Magickit
Dec 29, 2010 at 1:56 AM
Comment #751. We should have stragegy when att and def. Need to think and pinpoint when facing spurs. I feel Padrew juz throw the best 11 he thought.
2. Before the match I already said the dangerous people in spurs are Modric, Bale and Lennon (VDV as well if he is fit). I said use Rouledge on left and Jonas on right to counter their wings.
Jonas is strong enough to handle Bale. Rouledge is fast enough to handle Lennon.
3. In attack, we can use the adv that Lennon vesus Hutton (faster) & Jonas vesus Assou-Ekkoto (use his strength and body).
4. If Perch is played on left, ask him only to def. No need to go upward, it wont help. Plus the def sense of Perch is very very bad. i) for the goal, Lennon make a slightly fake to the center, but everyone know he will go the right side!! ii) for one counter-attack of Spurs, while there are enough people at center, Perch chose to go to center and neglect Lennon on the right !! (luckily Lennon just shoot a bit wide)
5. Tiote + Smith is not work in midfield. They both lack of creativity. Only Tiote is enough and let him man-mark Modric. Palacious and Jenas is shit in attack.
6. Barton is not a shadow striker. He should have been paired up with Tiote in midfield.
7. The only partner with Carroll should be a fresh leg either Ranger or Lovenkrands.
Therefore, I think this match the players themselves is fairly okay (incl. Smith) but we lose the stragegy and tactics to Harry Redknapp
balubas1
Dec 29, 2010 at 2:03 AM
Comment #76I would just like to remind you all that Newcastle Utd was a sinking ship long before Mike Ashley got his hands on the club. And it all started with a manager named Kenny Dalglish.. he ruined our club.
I mention this beacuse it seems that the most common explanation on here is that we lost to Tottenham because of Mike Ashley….
Get over it! I’m pi**ed aswell but Pardew is now clearly looking at some players in january to add to the squad. Maybe we’ll get lucky, probably not. Thats life..
But I’m wondering why Shane Ferguson wasn’t given the chance on the left back instead of Perch? Is he injured or did he play in a reserves game recently?
balubas1
Dec 29, 2010 at 2:06 AM
Comment #77magickit:
decent reasoning there.. I think it is what we are all thinking. the majority at least.
I can see where Pardew is coming from though.. wanting to outnumber in mid.. I “kinda” liked his idea when I first looked at the lineup… but when we play top flight teams away, we really need to get in their faces.
balubas1
Dec 29, 2010 at 2:25 AM
Comment #78Jose Enrique is deleting his twitter account because of dirty journalists digging for information there 🙁 🙁 🙁
Thats just sad….
He said sorry to all us fans who talked with him there…
branunited
Dec 29, 2010 at 2:30 AM
Comment #79MIKE ASHLEY: a magpie billionaire but incompetent.
on August 15, 2009 was breathed uncertainty in st james park. after you burn a lot of glory newcastle fans, returned to the stadium to watch second division football. the same grass that had been stepped on by Alan Shearer, David Ginola and Peter Beardsley, was about to receive a reading players. was no longer Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins or Michael Owen or Alan Shearer who left the team shortly after declining to even Sir Bobby Robson, a cancer victim. who if he was was mike ashley, a Holligan with 700 million pounds in the bank that had bought the club in 2007, he named dennis wise sports, folly pay for mediocrity, Xisco for more than 5 million and Ignacio Gonzalez after observing it in youtube. contract to the legendary Kevin Keegan just to give the kick soon after.
Träsel demoralized descensopublico an ad in the sun asking for £ 100 million off the top club.
that match against Reading with a 3-0 win for Newcastle, the club would return to premier league, ashley Hughton award to the bench for the 2010-2011 season poisoned chalice since the star was signing Sol Campbell.
it is incredible that a guy like Ashley, owner of brands such as Dunlop, Lonsdale and Slazenger, and able to lose 129 million pounds in shares of HSBC in 2008 without flinching, so afraid to scratch his pocket.
Hughton fired for no reason (apparently) because he had an average of 56% since headed the first team in st james park, above average or rafa benitez legendary coach Kevin Keegan.
if they know something else, be so kind as to enter it.
balubas1
Dec 29, 2010 at 2:30 AM
Comment #80http://plixi.com/p/65779824
Thats too bad cuz I wanna see more of this 🙂