Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has said that he received a good luck text from Jose Mourinho yesterday, and Jose has a connection to Newcastle, as his mentor Bobby Robson was born in the area, and finally managed Newcastle to success in five great seasons on Tyneside – in the best job Bobby ever had – and the only job Bobby ever wanted.
Bobby Robson and Jose Mourinho – while at Barcelona – circa 1997
Notice the thick black hair Jose had in those days – then came Chelsea
While the special one has a connection to Newcastle, and Bobby even tried to get him as Assistant Manager when he was appointed as Newcastle manager back in 1999, the connection is not strong enough that Jose would want to manage Newcastle – well not yet anyway. 😀
Alan Pardew to Newcastle has so far been a dream move for the Londoner, and who would have thought that Alan would have done so well so quickly at Newcastle, certainly not us.
But his star has risen dramatically since he replaced Chris Hughton in December of 2010, and had Newcastle in a fantastic 5th position in the league last season.
This is what Alan said today to the local Newcastle press, about the club being back in Europe for the first time in six seasons:
“It’s a feather in our cap and I’m proud we’re going to experience it.” “I’d have found it surprising had anyone said we would be in Europe by now.” “I’d have thought we would have had to win one of the cups because the league looked beyond us.”
“I had a text from Jose Mourinho yesterday wishing me all the best and it’s things like that which make you realise things are good.” “I don’t usually get texts from him so it shows we’re getting noticed.”
It’s really hard to know what team Alan will field tonight – it’s a 6:00 pm Newcastle time kick off – and the lads have a really tough game at Chelsea on Saturday, and the Premier League is the priority for Newcastle this season.
One player who is certain to start is 37 year-old veteran goalkeeper Steve Harper, who had this to say today:
“I’m really looking forward to playing again because I didn’t want my career to peter out and disappear into oblivion.”
Steve has 191 appearances for Newcastle and this will be his first start for a while, and he will likely play every game in Europe this season.
Steve’s vast experience will come in very useful for a side that will be full of youngsters and fringe players, but can still do well in the Europa League.
That’s what we are hoping for at least.
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and +1 us on Google+
You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com
=============================================
21 comments so far
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 23, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Comment #1Who needs the special one, we got Padiola the pusher 😉
MacToon
Aug 23, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Comment #2… but I haven’t texted Pardew recently!
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 23, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Comment #3Mac.. 🙂
ajcrawfs
Aug 23, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Comment #4Marveux had a family issue according to the shields gazette. Hope all is good!
Had him in fantasy football team prior to saturday as thought he could feature and do something special. Lost out there
Now Pard’s reckons he could feature against Chelsea!
bollance
Aug 23, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Comment #5Today will give us an indication of how the season will unfold because I will tell us a lot about our squad
bollance
Aug 23, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Comment #6Also the better we do today means the less likely we are to make signings. I am happy to keep the powder dry and wait for players to become available at the right price like Cisse. The fact we saved a few million means we now have Bigi as well. Strange logic but it is working to date I believe
jesperfuglsang
Aug 23, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Comment #7By the way does anyone wanna show some love for Jimmy Eat World 🙂
…they really made an amazing cover of Prodigy’s Fire Starter and not to mention WHAM’s Last Christmas and it is not even Christmas yet, but that song has just gone to a whole new level 😉
…I am just taking my new Sonos for a spin 😉 so easy, so nice lol 🙂
bollance
Aug 23, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Comment #8Apparently sjp or sda what ever it is called, lol, is on the new cover of FIFA 13. That is right?
Beattie25
Aug 23, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Comment #9Ok guys it’s time for ‘Q & A with Ibizatoon’.
A few tilde before we kick it off.
Please no personal question about ibizatoon himself regarding matters of a potentially sensitive nature, although feel free to ask personal questions of yourself.
Please no shout outs, illogical questions or statements!
Ok so I’ll start with the first question.
Ibiza, who is your current favourite nufc player and why?
steveno7
Aug 23, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Comment #10Vipstand.com tonight for a stream of the match
Beattie25
Aug 23, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Comment #11Tilde? Rules!!!!
bollance
Aug 23, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Comment #12Q2) Spanish prince, what position will nufc finish in league this season?
ilovetoon8788
Aug 23, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Comment #13did anyone catch the chelsea reading game last night. Hazard ripped reading fullbacks all day long. i take back what i said about arfa being better than hazard.
sorry after yesterday’s performance arfa is awesome but hazard is from another footballing planet. with simpson at times clumsy defending, expect hazard to run riot.
as long as we score more. i’m fine.
ilovetoon8788
Aug 23, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Comment #14against players like hazard, is why we so desperately need Debuchy quality fullback.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 23, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Comment #15Beattie….Thanks for the great intro and delayed start, I did have trouble getting my hair just right for the occasion.
So, Favourite player and why. Obviously a hard question as all the players have a place in my heart (except Willo and Simmo as they cost us CL and should be sold immediately). I’ll go for Krul. He has come through the academy and has been so instrumental in our rise back to the top. A great young keeper and a credit to all that is Newcastle United.
bollance
Aug 23, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Comment #16Only saw second half. Chelsea better and played some nice passing football at times as they have lots of flair players. The comentators said they lacked width and therefore played a lot through the centre which was a bit congested.
We could do what we did last season again but it will be tough, very tough
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 23, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Comment #17Bollance….Position finish will be 5th again with a good Europa run and us getting out of the groups.
Are we continuing this on the next thread? Am I allowed to ask questions? Gotta say I’m a little nervous 🙂
stk85
Aug 23, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Comment #18harper should be captain.
and its funny seeing brendan rodgers go mental over AC. yes they paid us 35 mill but thats coz they really wanted hm and we’re thankfully not as stupid as them to pay out such a ridiculous fee.
hahahahahaha, i could laugh at them all day long, esp when my neighbour keeps telling me Allen and Lucas are much much better than Cabaye and Tiote!
hahahaha
check the toastie
Aug 23, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Comment #19Like to know how West Ham can pay nearly 11million quid for Jarvis, wow, Wolves certainly screw teams, 12 million for Fletcher as well, truly amazing business.
stk85
Aug 23, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Comment #20well done wolves. if people are stupid enough to pay that money then good luck to them
89Norcal
Aug 23, 2012 at 5:34 PM
Comment #21@Ibiza: When did Simmo cost us the CL? To my recollection his rescued a good 6 points for us last season by himself.