The purpose of pre-season is to get the Newcastle both physically and mentally fit, and also match-fit for the important games coming up in August when our lads play three very important games in the first eight days of the season.
Alan Pardew – creating that magical team spirit again
And one of those games is the first leg of a two leg qualifying tie against opposition we wont get to know until the draw is made on August 10th – which seems just a little ridiculous – but we must qualify for the group stages of the Europa League.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, whose star has risen high since he joined the famous Tyneside club, is very clear what the role of pre-season is for his Newcastle troops, and he had this to say today in the Evening Chronicle:
“This German trip will be a case of really working hard on the physical side and mentally, going into the games and trying to tune up a little bit. In the past, it’s about getting players physically fit.”
“Times have changed – our players have all come back more or less the weight they left, apart from a little pound here and there.” “Some have actually lost a couple of pounds.”
“It’s about getting back in the groove mentally.” “Getting back in the team ethic, and understanding what we do.” “It’s trying to get that mental strength for the season.”
Alan Pardew will be hoping to rekindle that great team spirit all the players showed last season, and this is really another bonding trip, much like the American tour of last summer.
The lads will all eat together and start to get to know each other a lot better as the summer wears on, and Newcastle showed last season just how important great team spirit is to any top side.
There’s a little less uncertainty right now than we had last season at this time, with Jose Enrique wanting away from Newcastle, and that’s always a negative influence in the squad – when somebody’s not happy on Tyneside.
But at the time Alan Pardew was trying to persuade Jose to stay, and we’re sure he would have stayed, if he knew just how well Newcastle would do last season in finishing in 5th place, but the Spanish U21 International, at the time, thought Newcastle lacked ambition.
Of course Jose wasn’t to know just how good the two new signings – Yohan Cabaye and Demba Ba – would turn out for Newcastle – two of the very best signings by any club last summer.
But Jose’s left now and he’s Newcastle history, and we just have to hope our lads can be as good or even better next season than they were last term.
And yes, we know that’s asking quite a lot – but somehow we feel very positive about the future at Newcastle these days.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
104 comments so far
NUFC_LEAZES END
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Comment #41i personally would be ecstatic over a top 5 finish every year, for the next 2-3 years, then hopefully push into a top 4 side 😉
Beardo Ameobi
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Comment #42Ketsbaia
Do you realise you’ve been in large, repeating yourself for about a month?
By the way, what happened to we ‘WILL sign Cissokho’? Lost faith in that one, until a couple of hours time?
Shane
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:08 PM
Comment #43We will not sign De Jong. He has clearly stated he wants to play for that German side that I’m so sick of trying to spell. He wants Champions League football and he wants it with them.
pbNcl
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:09 PM
Comment #44Whooooosh !
ToonDownSouth
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:13 PM
Comment #45How are we going to sign Aldereweild?
Ajax want to keep him, he wants to stay at Ajax, they’re not going to sell both CB’s in one summer, and we’re not going to pay £10m + for him.
pbNcl
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:14 PM
Comment #46I hope debauchy is almost done, he’s the only one I’m really after. Then it’ll prob be development players in my opinion. I think amilfitano and bigirimana will be class tho like, hidden gems quite possibly… Maybe douglas, although I haven’t forgotten his ”club bigger than newcastle statement”… Sure that was him. But a overhaul of first teamers is highly unlikely, in my humble opinion.
Not bothered about loosing one bit yday, not really loosing is it! Just a run out, a practise for the young lads! Good stuff for them! Really pleased, bet they had a mint day!!
veto
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Comment #47dont think ive ever known the club as well run in my lifetime . even the keegan years it was more about kev taping into the clubs spirit and fans adulation that drove the club forward , now we have a great lil squad and a fantastic scouting system , going for players that used tobe on my list of football manager must buy wonderkids, plus the fans behind the squad , roll on the season
cupiddstunt
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:19 PM
Comment #48AndyMac @ # 19
So what are you trying to suggest????
Are you saying I am not a run of the mill fickle NUFC fan then?? 😉
SupaToonKid
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Comment #49Aye i get all the abuse for Ketsbaia as his targets tend to be highly unrealistic but you’re just as deluded as him (well maybe not that much actually but you get my point) if you think we can just sign Debuchy and be fine to tackle next season. When Debuchy is signed we will need another 2-3 more players (CB, CF & WF or CDM depending on where Jonas/Marv are played next season).
jesperfuglsang
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:23 PM
Comment #50My fortune cookie wisdom of the day:
“Speak only well of people and you need never whisper”
Fortune cookie wisdom of the day boys and gilrs! 😉
Will probably go well with a attitude that has persisted on this blog of late 😉 Happy weekend everyone!
ToonDownSouth
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:24 PM
Comment #51SupaToon
He suggested we buy Ganso the other day 😐
SupaToonKid
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:28 PM
Comment #52We have lots of great youngsters coming through but i for one would not be comfatable if we become overly reliant on them. 3-4 new players would just ease the tempo a bit more.
To be honest Pards may be looking to bring in 5 players as he has bid for Debuchy (FB), Douglas (CB), Luuk de Jong (CF), Anita (CDM) & registered an interest in Hoilett and had talks (WF). I wouldn’t be surprised if we got anything from 3-5 new players.
ToonDownSouth
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:28 PM
Comment #53Clubs don’t fix every single hole in their squad every summer, do they?
80% of the clubs go into the season with a couple of weaknesses. We can’t just magic money out of our arse.
st0r3z
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:29 PM
Comment #54hey guys anyone know roughly what time hayes fighting tonight?? search on google seem impossible to give me an answer lol also whattimeis the khn one??
on an nufc note…….some of u guys r deluded to f …de jong…really?? wake up son hahahha
im hoping to go to the tottenham game like i did arsenal last year n tbh then i kinda though summint special was going to hapen perhaps its this year instead ……:)
SupaToonKid
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Comment #55TDS
Yeah that’s why i said not as deluded. Ganso as well is a ridiculously overrated player with a massively inflated price. When Brazil played Argentina he was the worse player on the pitch by a country mile.
Brahimi at £2M or Ganso at £20M? Brahimi anyday!
rich_toonfan
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:32 PM
Comment #56It would be ideal if we brought in 5 quality players but recent transfer activity suggests we won’t bring in that many.
I think 1-3 would be ok, not unhappy if we just get debuchy. Our current squad got us 5th and not many teams below have improved, at least not yet.
We have a good chance of being top 6/7 with the current squad. More additions will be a bonus.
Beardsleys Love Child
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:37 PM
Comment #57I personally think gael and amalfitano are long term replacements for cabaye and tiote….its all part of the buy low sell high blueprint…if we dont break into the top four….t will not be this season…or maybe next but thats the deal. Ultimately players as good as this want to win things…i hope ashley realises the opportunity we have to kick on and establish ourselves..all it will take is debuchy…a beast of a centre half and an up and coming goal scorer as back up…we can create and score our problem last year was conceding silly goals….fulham away….wolves home…west brom home…we would be in the champions league now….lets push on…keep the nucleous of the team and give us a foundation of something special.
nd maybe
st0r3z
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Comment #58what times the haye fight guys?
ToonDownSouth
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:39 PM
Comment #59It’s odd that there’ve been no serious rumours linking our players away this summer – yet.
I expected to endure a whole summer of Tiote, Cabaye, Colo, Santon, Jonas, Krul, Simpson, Ba, Cisse leaving. It’s been pleasant so far.
rich_toonfan
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:40 PM
Comment #60Starts at 7, expect that fight I be on 9/10 depending upon how long undercard fights last
st0r3z
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:42 PM
Comment #61@rich
thanks mate…
and the khan ones around 2 in the morning im guessing…..
seeing as nufc n there lack of activity is boring the shit out of me i cannot wait for the boxing da night
rich_toonfan
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:46 PM
Comment #62Haye is far too good for Chisora and will win near enough every round and possibly knock him out if he gets sloppy.
Khan and Garcia shoul be good but khan is so much faster and has added power to his game in the last year. Close fight but if khan boxes clever he should win.
That’s my predictions anyway.
jayphoto
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Comment #63Ganso is like the love child of kieron dyer and marveaux in terms of being injury prone! Brazil is also possibly the most overinflated league for transfer fees in the world aswell, no value to be had there! Ketsbaia just goes by who gets good on football manager! Il wait for him to suggest renato bressan and sanogo’o coz im sure he will! Think we’ll sign debuchy, Douglas and 1 other, personally think we’ll re-sign Carroll as he’d offer something different! People forget he can play on the floor, saw Liverpool lots last season, his team play was good, for me.his problem was Luis Suarez didn’t link at all with him and when Suarez didn’t play, Gerrard, downing etc just hoofed it long! Some of the crosses Benny, santon etc put into the box last season I woulda loved Carroll on the end of them!
shearermania
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Comment #64magpiesflyhigh #4
brilliant……my favourite Kreutzfeld Jacobs (thats when i realised)
ToonDownSouth
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:50 PM
Comment #65Have any of you guys seen any highlights from last night’s friendly?
The pitch was attrocious, and it was really really small as well! Ridiculous haha.
Toonboy_84
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:50 PM
Comment #66I might put a bet on a haye, kahn double. I wonder what the odds are?
rich_toonfan
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:52 PM
Comment #67Both very heavy favourites so will do well to get decent odds
Beardo Ameobi
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Comment #68Has Niafron grown tired of us, do you think?
rich_toonfan
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Comment #69Always get a few dodgy pitches on pre season friendlies, just need a run out and get the sharpness back. Let the new lads get a feel for the play.
Toonboy_84
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Comment #70@rich.
Both to win by ko or tko 4/1
Both to win by decision 7/1
That’s with betfred.
rich_toonfan
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Comment #71To get decry value go for round betting or group round betting.
Haye somewhere between 6-9 I imagine. He needs a KO to make sure he wins in style, to have aby chance of vitali klitchko giving him the fight he wants
santoooooooooon
Jul 14, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Comment #72off topic how much do you reckon joao moutinho would be available for? He would work well with tiote and cabaye in MF (in my dreams)
dont think we need another striker until january, especially if we only play 1 upfront, would like to see oba as a striker instead of a winger
Shane
Jul 14, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Comment #73If Debuchy does come in he will play second fiddle too our proven Premier League quality RB Danny Simpson. (Well, if I were manager) if it ain’t broke dont fix it, and it definitely ain’t broke. yes, Simpson has weaknesses but he is young and willing to learn. It is desperately important that we keep hold of him. He would start in my first 11 everytime. Debuchy will naturally want to bomb forward more often than not and HBA is not the best at tracking back. Ultimately leaving the right hand side of our team defensively weak and vulnerable. Controversial I know.
Beardo Ameobi
Jul 14, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Comment #74As there’s nothing happening, take your time to appreciate The Great One – https://twitter.com/PicturesOfShola
cupiddstunt
Jul 14, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Comment #75Beardsleys Love Child @ # 54
Have to disagree a little, I for one do not think we have anything like a “buy low sell high blueprint“.
Yes we are looking for good young players at a sensible price that can be developed into squad improving players, as opposed to players that are at the top of their game that would cost a bomb and would from there on be a loss for the club.
Although on the face of it they both look to be the same concepts they are in fact a world apart in fact.
Also we failed to get CL because of our collective performance over 38 games not three.
Toonboy_84
Jul 14, 2012 at 2:02 PM
Comment #767/1 isn’t bad for both to win by decision. Haye, chisora is only ten rounds too.
5Danny94
Jul 14, 2012 at 2:02 PM
Comment #77Moutinho? About £30m if you listen to the Spurs rumours. I doubt Ashley will spend a total of £30m in the next 3 transfer windows…
Beardo Ameobi
Jul 14, 2012 at 2:02 PM
Comment #78Shane
Are you daft? This is a multiple choice survey and the options are:
Yes
Abso-f*****g-lutely!
rich_toonfan
Jul 14, 2012 at 2:04 PM
Comment #79@shane
Debuchy is much better than Simmo.
I get what your saying but need to sell Simmo, can’t lose him for free next summer.
If we attack with debuchy and santon we need the cb’s to sit and have tiote and Jonas hold, covering either full back position if we lose the ball.
Shane
Jul 14, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Comment #80I’ll have to go with… Yes. Mummy taught me not to have a potty mouth. 🙂