Geordie pride is returning to Newcastle, as the team is doing so much better this season than we ever thought possible.
John Carver and Alan Pardew – have done great this year
When Alan Pardew was appointed Newcastle manager last December, not many fans thought he would be a good appointment, in fact most of us thought it was simply a hopeless choice.
Pardew was not particularly welcomed on Tyneside, but he did well to win his first game at home to Liverpool 3-1 and talked a good game as soon as he arrived, and the players seemed to immediately take to him.
The Wimbledon-born former West Ham manager maintained the momentum former manager Chris Hughton had created last season, and Newcastle finished in 12the position in the league, with no relegation concerns.
And we would have been in 9th place but for a collapse in the last 30 minutes of the season, when the lads conceded three goals against West Brom in that final game, and at home too.
Newcastle will assume second place in the league if they can beat Everton tomorrow, and that’s until Manchester United get 3 points against Sunderland at Old Trafford later tomorrow.
After relegation just two years ago, most fans are more realistic and down to earth about Newcatsle’s chances of success.
And today, Pardew has rejected claims that the fans are thinking about a European Champions League position for next season, which would happen if Newcastle somehow finished in the top four:
“I really don’t sense that,” “When I’ve been in and around the city, most people are just really pleased with the way things are going.”
“There’s a pride and maybe this team has gone a long way towards putting a spring back in everyone’s step.”
“But I don’t see people thinking we are going to be Champions League material or a top-four team.”
“I don’t see that pressure building. Maybe it will if we are still in this position with two months of the season to go, but not at the moment, no.”
Gabriel Obertan is not available for the game tomorrow with an infected toe, and Cheick Tiote is not as certain as we thought of starting the game, and the Ivorian will have a fitness test on his injured knee tomorrow morning.
Cheick was only “touch and go” today for the game after missing Monday’s 3-1 win at Stoke City, and if he is unavailable then Danny Guthrie will get another chance to impress, in his efforts to win a new contract at Newcastle.
Comments welcome.
14 comments so far
toonashwin
Nov 4, 2011 at 9:00 AM
Comment #11st
toonashwin
Nov 4, 2011 at 9:02 AM
Comment #2Indian Magpie may i know from which country u belong?
WWJBD
Nov 4, 2011 at 9:03 AM
Comment #3I dont think Newcastle ever lost its Geordie pride tbh but the optomism and hope was brutalized to a extent but I have always been proud to say I was a NUFC supporter even when we are a circus rather than a football club
ferritass
Nov 4, 2011 at 9:04 AM
Comment #4Posted this on previous post Has any one got pardews stats W L D from total toon career they must be up near KKs
roshan MAGPIE
Nov 4, 2011 at 9:08 AM
Comment #5well GUTHRE IS also playing well so it DOSENT matter who starts but i would like to see how marveux plays
toonashwin
Nov 4, 2011 at 9:11 AM
Comment #6Mr. OVerrated ENglishman , see we r lot better without you !!!
thanks for leaving the club and joining Manshiter!!
HWTL
WWJBD
Nov 4, 2011 at 9:14 AM
Comment #7games Wins Draws Losses %
Pardew
36 14 13 9 38.89 (10-present)
KK
251 138 51 62 54.98 (92-97)
Sir Bobby Robson
255 119 72 64 46.67 (99-04)
Chris Hughton
64 38 11 15 59.38 (09-10)
Think its harsh to compare Pards to any managers of old tbh as he has barely had the job
cla5hb0y68
Nov 4, 2011 at 9:18 AM
Comment #8“Pride goeth before a fall”, just concentrate on beating Everton this Saturday. One game at a time etc….HWTL
ferritass
Nov 4, 2011 at 9:18 AM
Comment #9Yeah it’s not as good as I thought yet but with only a short time in the job it’s only going to get better
Doctapaul
Nov 4, 2011 at 9:18 AM
Comment #10Pride before a fall.
Stick with the humility.
Our head and heart space is in exactly the right place, right now. Keep it going.
Pride leads to arrogance and we know what happened when we had players who thought they were too good for……
Let us go about our work diligently. Every game’s a test now. The rest of the PL watch from the wings wondering how we’ll fare against the likes of the top two clubs. BUT first we must work even harder against Everton.
We got past Wigan by a very late goal. That performance was not good enough.
Game on…!
/|\
WWJBD
Nov 4, 2011 at 9:19 AM
Comment #11Haha I hope its only going to get better mate 🙂
Indian Magpie
Nov 4, 2011 at 9:31 AM
Comment #12India, New delhi
Jimay
Nov 4, 2011 at 9:33 AM
Comment #13That picture with John and Alan is almost as beautiful as this one.
http://www.nufcblog.org/2011/01/john-carver-appointed-as-pardews-number-2/
The same grey hair and everything…I really miss him but he is up there with a big smile on his face with that current league position of ours.
wynsleap
Nov 4, 2011 at 10:16 AM
Comment #14Carver looks like he’s smuggling some green glowing Kryptonite in that jacket.
Energy boosters for the boys?
Have to say Pardew is winning me over gradually. Still can’t believe we’re third at the moment but three points against Everton is going to make everyone sit up and take notice.
Have a sneaky feeling that the Mackems may grab a point at Manure so second would be very nice!