We’ve been quite impressed with Alan Pardew since he arrived on Tyneside.
Alan Pardew – thanks fringe players at Newcastle
It’s true that Alan’s record is very similar to the record former manager Chris Hughton had over the first half of the season.
Chris was rather unfairly dismissed in December, after he had Newcastle on 19 points after 17 games and in 11th place – the same position Newcastle are in at the moment with 41 points from 34 games.
So Pardew has gained 22 points in the 17 league game he’s been in charge – just three more than Chris accomplished in the same number of games.
But it’s also true that Pardew hasn’t had the services of a certain Andy Carroll over the second half of the season.
One of the things we like about Pardew is that he’s a good communicator, and that’s sorely needed with owner Mike Ashley never saying anything to the fans, and apparently having no intention of doing so in the future.
And Alan is also down to earth, and usually tells things as they are.
Today he’s been praising some of the fringe players that came into the side once Carroll was sold, and kept the club afloat, because there was also significant concern as to how the team would fare without big Andy.
This is what Alan Pardew said today:
“The sale of Andy Carroll was a kind of watershed moment of the season for us: how were we going to respond and react to it?””Fortunately for us we had players who stepped up their games and although our results have mirrored the first half of the season, we’ve done that without Andy, without Ben Arfa and without Cheick Tiote for five games as well.”
“And certainly some of the players have grown on the back of having first team games when perhaps they wouldn’t have. Peter Lovenkrands, Shola Ameobi – I have to say if I was a Newcastle fan I might be looking at them in a slightly different light on the back of this season.”
“It’s been good for those players and that will strengthen my hand next year when the competition hopefully arrives, that they’re in that frame of mind and that confidence if they get chosen.” “You have to take your hat off to them.”
“There will be loyalty to them for next year, but only to a degree because there’s no sentiment in this game.” “I’ll pick my best team for next year and these last few games, all those guys need to produce the same level of performance otherwise they put themselves under pressure in the summer and the start of next year.”
It seems that Alan Pardew was a lot more concerned about Andy leaving in January than we first realized, and the possible negative impact it would have on the performance of the Newcastle side.
It was too late for Newcastle to bring in any kind of replacement, and they eventually brought in journeyman Shefki Kuqi on a short term contract, simply to increase the number of strikers the club had for the run-in.
Shefki hasn’t played many games, five appearances to be exact, but he’s been a very positive influence on the training ground, by all reports, so he’s done his little bit as best he can.
But players like Leon Best, Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands have come in and kept the goals flowing for Newcastle, and that’s to their enormous credit. If they hadn’t done that Newcastle could have been in serious trouble in the league.
And we mustn’t forget that Kevin Nolan keeps banging in those goals, and is the Newcastle top scorer on 12 goals for the season.
Alan continued:
“You only have to look at Blackpool.” “At that period when we lost Andy they had momentum – I don’t think anybody thought they were going to go down. I remember Alan Hansen on Match of the Day saying no chance of them getting relegated, so we find ourselves in a decent position.”
“Mathematically we’re not safe, but mentally we feel we are and we need to see out the remainder of the season.” “It’s no good harping back and saying it could have been bad, it could have been this, that or the other – of course, you could say that about any club.”
“Kenny going in at Liverpool could have been a disaster, but it wasn’t, it’s turned out well.” “Both Liverpool and ourselves want to play out the season to the end, but we’re both looking at next year for sure.”
Tomorrow’s game will be tough, but against the good sides Newcastle seem to play well.
Personally we’d like them to play well against the poorer sides, because if they play somewhere near their best then all 3 points are almost guaranteed.
Against good sides like Liverpool, Newcastle can play at their best and still come away with nothing.
We’ll be very happy with a point tomorrow, but then we have to hammer a woeful looking Birmingham side at home next Saturday, and that would give us the double against them, just like the lads accomplished against West Ham.
Comments welcome.
35 comments so far
Brutooon
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:08 AM
Comment #1I would like to thanks every single player that ensure we avoid relegation EXCEPT Shola Ameobi
roshan MAGPIE
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:16 AM
Comment #2we can win against liverpool
T_6_Ford
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:16 AM
Comment #3Yeah I agree with what Pardew is saying about how how fringe players have really helped us out this season, but that doesn’t mean, lets go and sign Liverpool’s fringe players. It would be frustrating as they are not too much higher than us in the table, so if they are not good enough for Liverpool, then they are not good enough for the Toon Army!
realdeal
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:18 AM
Comment #4Brutooon Id like to see you in toon shirt banging in the goals thats real support that is well done
north east lincs toon
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Comment #53-1 strolla hatrick
north east lincs toon
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:21 AM
Comment #6as long as we get rid of smith and perch it will be a good summer
connor_nufc
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:21 AM
Comment #7Brutoon stop going on about ameobi u d**khead
north east lincs toon
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Comment #8can u remember strolla for england?
Brutooon
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:25 AM
Comment #9Why do we thank you him for again?
Brutooon
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Comment #10strolla was never link with the England Senior Cap and already Nigeria want to take him, they eventually knew he is that shit so for now Ameobi is Cap-Less.
Brutooon
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Comment #11STILL Capless
north east lincs toon
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Comment #12and f####n clueless
dave 1961
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Comment #13did I read that right he is hopefully of bringing in new players in the summer. if we don’t we will get relegated 100% its following a trend, if we don’t get 2 forwards that can score goals we are dun fore. I am going to read this again just to be sure.
Brutooon
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:36 AM
Comment #14We need two good striker, Best as 3rd Striker. Ranger as 4th Striker and Shola as 5th Striker
GeordieRob
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Comment #15“I have to say if I was a Newcastle fan I might be looking at them in a slightly different light on the back of this season.”
Best definitely. He’s gone from absolutely hopeless to a decent squad player.
Lovenkrands maybe. 5 goals in 996 minutes since AC not available but he isn’t a target man though.
Strolla: Since Wigan when AC not available – 2 goals in 653 minutes… Not trying to be “NEGATIVE”, but we need better…
fergie
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:40 AM
Comment #16Shola Ameobi – Good or bad?
http://toonbarmy.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/the-man-in-the-plastic-mask/
WWJBD
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:42 AM
Comment #17We wont get two good strikers we will get one and another one maybe two young strikers with alot of potential, like that Argie we were liked with.
dave1961
I take it Pardew says hopefully because we will only bring in quality and those players may not want to come here.
Butoon
I think everyone knows where you stand on Shola…but do you need to mention it in nearly every post?
dave 1961
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Comment #18we need 2 goal scores, if we don’t get them relegation will be odds on. we have best who scored in 4 of the 11 games he played in, good back up but no more.
GeordieRob
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Comment #19WWJBD
3 strikers would be good. 1 “marque” signing like Sow or Gamiero. Stracqualursi and Sigthorrson as 2 promising younger players both around £2-5m. I think there’s a good chance at least one of them would turn out to be quality.
It’s a nice dream I guess…
MonsterMagnet
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Comment #20I don’t understand the Shola bashing that some commenters indulge in on here. When he first broke through under Sir Bobby he was v. promising. Couldn’t finish for toffee, but had power and a little bit of pace. He was frustrating, but lively. Recently he’s been so unselfish. If he hadn’t been injured for lots of last season he would have been top scorer, and I wonder whether AC would have kicked on like he did if Shola was still banging them in. He’s changed his game. He’s a target man now. Remember the days when we were playing him right midfield? He is a class act, will play anywhere for the club. He even stayed after being sent out on loan to Stoke of all places. And best of all, Shola is a proud Geordie who loves to wear the shirt.
GeordieRob
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Comment #21Dave1961,
He got 6 in 10. But I agree, good back up.
WWJBD
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Comment #22GeordieRob
I think it is likely that we will get 2 strikers and come January (if we dont get 3 in summer) probably another who will be a potential ridden player.
Brutooon
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Comment #23MonsterMagnet : Lets compare Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi.
Both break into the first team at an early age
Both tall and got no pace
Andy Carroll got his England Cap at 22 years old, Ameobi already 29 years old NEVER being consider an England Senior call and maybe settle for Nigeria
arfa chance
Apr 30, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Comment #24I don’t get the shola bashing. You crucify him, he scores or leads the line well like at wolves and then u praise him. We are where We are with the team and the selection options. We need to get behind the team.
1-1 suarez and shola to score
lee1892
Apr 30, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Comment #25Brutoon – Shola has never been linked with an England cap? Defo wrong there mate he was back the day (you said never)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2859721.stm
Brutooon
Apr 30, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Comment #26Shola won’t score, trust me.
If he score, i will stop whining about him (until he make a silly mistake – which he always DOES )
GeordieRob
Apr 30, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Comment #27Arfa & Monster,
The article is about fringe players that have saved us from relegation and their potential role next year. I was merely pointing out that 2 goals since Carroll left from the main striker is not really good enough, injuries or not. I’ll support him now and I don’t doubt his loyalty or character. However if he shows that kind of form next year when he’s the only striker we have, we’ll get relegated.
Brutooon
Apr 30, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Comment #28lee1892 : that article was wrote at 18th March, its actually an article for the April’s Fool Article in 2003. Get your facts right mate!
arfa chance
Apr 30, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Comment #29HWTL
Brutooon
Apr 30, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Comment #30look at this clip
http://toonbarmy.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/the-man-in-the-plastic-mask/
the clip said No 9 Next Season
BUT that clip is post 4 years ago HAHA
Phil K
Apr 30, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Comment #31Brutoon – sheer stupidity man.
Shola is some kind of boogie man to some of our fans – why FFS ?
The lad scores and does it on the pitch where its needed – scoring, and gets panned by pillocks like Brutton – while a certain Mr Nile Ranger p*sses about in training, produces NOTHING when he gets a chance, scores only when out on the lash, and the Shola-slaggering dipsticks moon over him as if he’s a sodding world beater.
Even Pardew’s seen through him, and seen the worth of Shola.
Not the dopes like……though.
Phil K
Apr 30, 2011 at 12:28 PM
Comment #32I mean…I believe Shola should have been further along than he is, and like Titus Bramble and a few others, you feel as if he COULD do more, and Shola’s injury record isn’t great (appalling actually)
But if ranger and Shola were playing and you get a goal, from “one or the other” you can put your life’s savings on it NOT being Nile and it being Shola.
And, goal per game, Shola’s returns are not too bad.
Why is fairness not applicable with Shola ?
A local lad, while the Shola-slaggers behave like fan-girls for Ranger (Londoner) ?
Brutooon
Apr 30, 2011 at 2:55 PM
Comment #33Notice the difference,
Ranger start one game (bad game) but people say he is crap etc bla bla bla because he is NOT from Newcastle
Shola start almost 300 games and did poor 95% all the time but people still defend him because he is from Newcastle
frenchmagpie
Apr 30, 2011 at 4:57 PM
Comment #34i don’t understand why people say that we are already safe we need at least 3 more points to say that we are really safe , because the teams behind us can still catch us
Nathaaan
May 1, 2011 at 1:38 AM
Comment #35Brutoon – u are probably the worst Newcastle supporter ever, how about you stop complaining and start supporting the club you are meant to support. I hate giving hassle to other supporters but you are constantly negative and and to be honest pretty annoying!