It’s been a very frustrating season for Newcastle fans so far, and it’s almost the polar opposite of what happened last season, when at this time Newcastle were flying high in the league in the top six, and we finally finished 5th top, and one place above the European Champions Chelsea.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew – criticism is part of my job
This season has been terrible since November rolled around, and we’ve just had a terrible run of results and we have already lost 11 games in 21 Premier League games played, and to think we lost only eleven games in all of last season in the league.
And it seems one of the big mistakes made was that Mike Ashley and Derek LLambias didn’t strengthen the squad sufficiently in the summer, even though we had a lot more games to play in the Europa League.
The result has been many of our players have been out injured, and those who have been able to play haven’t been anything near as good as they were last season.
Alan Pardew is willing to take responsibility for Newcastle’s poor showing this season:
“I’m not immune from it.” “I take responsibility for the team – I’ve got no problem in doing that.” “If I take the brunt of the criticism, that’s not a problem for me. It’s part of my job.” “It was going well last year, and it’s not going so well this year. I’m not going to shirk from that.”
“I don’t pay too much attention to it. My focus is on winning games.” “I need to get my best players out there, and that’s where I’m at. If they’re not to be ready for Norwich, then we have to make sure they’re on the pitch for Reading on January 19th. Then we go to the next game.”
“I don’t think there’s a problem with the playing style, and I don’t think there’s a problem with the attitude.” “We just need our best players back.”
Next up for Newcastle is Norwich City, and Chris Hughton’s side will be tough – but we will have Mathieu Debuchy, Fab Coloccini, Jonas Gutierrez and Papiss Cisse all back, and they will help strengthen the side.
We need to start playing a lot better than we’ve played of late, and if we can do that we should be able to start picking up some points in the league, and move away from the relegation zone.
But another defeat on Saturday would be the fifth defeat in a row in all competitions, and very hard to take.
Make that very very hard to take.
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40 comments so far
ToonTinka
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:40 PM
Comment #1All the people slaughtering NUFC in regards to that we are buying nowt this window..
I think its pretty evident the work is being done. And seriously aswell.
Really pleased that we’re actually looking at cover for positions instead of buying adaptable players.
Excellent news
?Miguel?
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:42 PM
Comment #2(If remy moves at all thread) 1:56pm ?miguel? Said what people?????
GeorgeNUFC
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:42 PM
Comment #3“I don’t think there’s a problem with the playing style”
So we’re still going to be playing hoof-ball for the rest of the season…
toonarmydownsouth
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:44 PM
Comment #4Toon tinka
Whilst cover is great there are key positions that for me should be tied up first and foremost think the world and his wife know we need a cb and given the amount of time we have known i see no excuse for one not being here already like
Also wish we’d stop signing players who vanish for six months of the season then complain about the ACON to anyone who will listen come january
Novocastrian66
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:46 PM
Comment #5http://metro.co.uk/2013/01/10/newcastle-bid-for-gaetan-bong-as-defence-is-stretched-to-the-limit-3347151/
Anyone know anything about Bong?
colwell
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:50 PM
Comment #6I’d imagine we weren’t actually watching Nicolas Isimat-Mirin then if we have bid for their LB?
croftus5678
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:50 PM
Comment #7@4
erm i see where your coming from but saylor is back and santon is playing really really rubbish so i do think pards is right for the immediate future games.
you right that if a cb gets injured/carded cb even with a bad santon then becomes priority again though.
Magpies-till-d3ath
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:50 PM
Comment #8Either Santon leaving or Fergie going out on loan and Bong will back-up!
t00ntime
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:51 PM
Comment #9@george i dont know if you he been watching lately but since man utd, we have been playing with a more patient build up and a lot lesst long balls. Some times (most of the time) we have been to patient but with cabaye back and hba coming back i cant see a problem with our play. UNLESS we go back to longball, in that case we are screwed. Cabaye was finally starting to play well before his injury (sunderland+liverpool game) so if we keep passing a cabaye gets his form back we will be fine and i will agree with pardew.
Super Magpie
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:53 PM
Comment #10Our playing style has definitely improved lately but to say there isn’t a problem with it is naive. The effort may be there but the belief and confidence in the team are lacking.
Sissoko for €3.5m? Yes, Please. We surely can’t be haggling over that. We can’t afford to wait until the summer because we need players in now.
This LB is we’ve supposedly bid for is unknown to me and probably everyone else. I’ve never saw him play so I couldn’t give an opinion.
We are in a much more desperate need of a CB and that should be more of a priority than a LB at the moment.
croftus5678
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:54 PM
Comment #11think and hope fergie does go out on loan same with tav as they are not anywere near prem quality atm (they both need more experiance) dummet seems decent aswell.
imo i see fergie more of a winger if he can get a bit more pace .
proudtobageordie
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:56 PM
Comment #12ive been saying for a while now that there is a lot of intense work going on behind the scenes reference transfers. these things now don’t get wrapped up in a day they take a while.
Everything Mick Lowes said last night ive been banging on about for weeks now and i get called an ITK. A lot of it is just common sense.
catchy in norway
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:58 PM
Comment #13“I don’t think there’s a problem with the playing style, and I don’t think there’s a problem with the attitude.” “We just need our best players back.”
This I the arrogance of the man, the problem all season has been style and attitude
If he thinks that’s not the problem , then they you go, that’s the problem right there,
I think 2 things most ppl have agreed on is the players attitude and the style of play, well mono style
Williamsonsuks
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:58 PM
Comment #14F*****g SIGN SISSOKO!!! It’s a steal. No need to consider, get him in!!
WWYCD
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:58 PM
Comment #15Sissoko for 3.5 mill Euro s?! Howay man that’s a no brainer right there
Get in a CB and a Striker come winger and will see us through to the summer, LB in addition to all that would be icing imo
GeordieDan
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:59 PM
Comment #16Novocastrian>
Only the stuff off Wiki etc.:
6’2″, 24 years old, athletic player. Seems to be fast and strong on the ball.
toonarmydownsouth
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:59 PM
Comment #17Croftus
Aye santon has had 3-4 bad games but up til then he’d been one of out best players and i think thats a knock on effect from a shaky cb pairing and a DCM not doing his job properly
Like i said cover is good but talking about getting cover in at lb whilst we still haven’t got a CB in just makes the club sound a bit clueless imo
As for staylor being back for me thats really not filling me with hope he’s been very poor this season no better than willo and how long will he be back for?
Personally, and this is purely my opinion, in an ideal world we’d bring in an established CB and one or 2 young promising CB’s like mirin or a zouma to learn for the last half of the season and look to ship out willo and taylor in the summer i just dont see them as reliable cb’s
WWYCD
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:00 PM
Comment #18Proud
I seem to recall u saying Remy was set to be signed within 48 hours about a week ago or am I mistaken?
toonarmydownsouth
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:01 PM
Comment #19Yo
Its a no brainer to normal people
Lamears3 is probably still umming and ahhhing over it!
jettson1971
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:01 PM
Comment #20Proud
Last week you said that Remy was in the bag, and that it was going to happen very soon, now what Mick Lowes said last night differs from wat you have said. What is going on and what is it you know?
catchy in norway
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:01 PM
Comment #21Here guys , I’m sure there wa lots if work going on in the summer time to ,
We need them through the door , not just talk in a paper or website
Magpies-till-d3ath
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:01 PM
Comment #22Apparently M’Vila has asked to leave Rennes. At £6 million, surely we have to go for him! He is French like!! 🙂
WWYCD
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:02 PM
Comment #23Toonarmydownsouth
What’s the bet we offer 1.5 mill instead and lose him to Arsenal
ToonTinka
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:02 PM
Comment #24Tads,
The CB will be in soon aswell mate. Don’t doubt that.
Where not messing around this window. We all should no this by now.
Also, to the people who are slaughtering are style of play?
Do you really expect development players and fringe players to be able to produce the type of football are senior pro’s can deliver. Its called abilty lads. And where lacking in it once our first 11 is hampered by injuries. Or the best part of.
Hoofball. Don’t make me laugh man. The only people i have seen knocking it long this season is williamson and simpson. This could be down to any number of things. Confidence, under performing midfielders not showing for the ball. Blaming pardew for it as a tactic is a very weak argument indeed.
Toon-Prodigy
jettson1971
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:02 PM
Comment #25Catchy
Spot on, same old tripe every window, we can sense wat will come on 1 Feb, the good old ‘ we tried’ – ‘maybe nest window’
wat happensed re pursuit of Peters, Douglas etc, if they were that good then, why not now, when they cheaper??? makes no sense to me
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:03 PM
Comment #26Catchy….Whilst most will agree this seasons “style” has been a problem, I think the majority were happy enough with the style last season.
Now I don’t know with any certainty, but we did discuss earlier in the season that things might not be as straight forward as we’d all like to believe. Pardew is a defensive minded coach, but that to me, doesn’t make him a long ball guru. The passing game only really works if everyone is on the same page, I think that lack of consistency has been an issue this year (not saying the only, but one that can be argued as reasonably important).
I feel you wont ever be happy with him, I mean you weren’t last season, so I feel this is all a bit pointless (not a dig, but if your mind is made up then there is little the man can do) throwing back and forth. I will judge Pardew over the coming months with regards to style, as to date, when he’s had a firing team the style for me has been good, when he hasn’t it’s been dire. That could just as easily be down to the players left at his disposal rather than his mantra being “hoof that ball and hope” which is the impression some on here give.
GeordieDan
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:04 PM
Comment #27Sissoko is definitely a no-brainer at 3.5million Euros.
PLEASE GET HIM IN !!!
WWYCD
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:04 PM
Comment #28Sissoko and Mvila for around 8-9mill pounds both actually worth around 15 each insane
toonarmydownsouth
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:04 PM
Comment #29Yo
Knowing us we will try and get him on loan only paying 10% of his wages and try and get him to sign a pre contract!
nick_9
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:07 PM
Comment #30The playing side need to pass and move more and stop hiding in the shadows scared of the ball. We’ve signed Debuchy and if we get a composed cb when we look much smoother and confident on the ball. The lack of movement or effort from some players without the ball is not good enough. Whilst i think 90% of the players we ate linked with is bull If we’re looking at another full back before a striker and a cb then their might be strong interest in Santon. I don’t buy it though.
On another note look at Bradford and Swansea in the cup taking it to their opposition, it’s nice to see and I hope we can win or mount a serious challenge for a cup in my lifetime. It would also be nice to see us play tika taka football one day
2_goal_tino
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:07 PM
Comment #31I don’t know much about Bong but I’m a fan …
a) name
b) wears some ridiculous outfits (see http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalimbaba/6411694637/ and http://4d.img.v4.skyrock.net/8093/76598093/pics/3124666153_1_3_xWrdD01p.jpg)
c) Every piece of footage I can find of him and he’s smiling.
What else do you need to know about him besides that.
WWYCD
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:08 PM
Comment #32Toonarmydownsouth
Wouldn’t be shocked tbf we should of sorted it before his club went public with his price tag would be amazed if we get him now he’ll probably go to Everton to replace that poor mans Colo
Scotty
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:09 PM
Comment #33Pardew = sooty
Super Magpie
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:11 PM
Comment #34Catchy
You’re back… Not that I’m surprised.
I thought you wouldn’t be returning until Pardew was sacked.
Mister Tuff
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:12 PM
Comment #35I’ve been a bit concerned that there have been no sightings of Dastardly and Charnley at football clubs in France. Usually representatives from other clubs are usually spotted and identified by someone.
I think I can reveal how they are getting around France without being recognised. Check out the photo below, I’m not claiming any scoops though.
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&tbo=d&tbm=isch&tbnid=nUpzhOHVzWvDcM:&imgrefurl=http://britfrance.com/onion-johnny/&docid=Nke4GR0dJti0mM&imgurl=http://britfrance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/onionjohnnies.jpg&w=240&h=320&ei=K_XuUObnEO7J0AXa7oDoDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=550&vpy=318&dur=636&hovh=139&hovw=103&tx=111&ty=176&sig=111517383415957046186&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=103&start=0&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:0,i:133&biw=1024&bih=677
ToonTinka
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:13 PM
Comment #36There is a major problem with fans on this blog how they jump at the chance to have a go at Pardew for any given reason.
I can agree, that he has made mistakes yes. But some people have got it in bigtime for this bloke.
Disgusting really, considering he took us to fifth last season.
I feel these individuals are going to be eating alot of humble pie starting in the next 4-6 wks.
And deservedly so.
Toon Prodigy
sirjasontoon
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:36 PM
Comment #37Going down with the three numpy’s in charge.
Get the “Bald Eagle” in or Big Ron ASAP it will fit Ashley’s Austerity policy too.
sirjasontoon
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:37 PM
Comment #38Numpty’s
Ketsbaia9
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:57 PM
Comment #39Shane Ferguson is a winger. Santon needs some competition at left-back. We do need a left-footed left back, however, it’s essential that we sign at least one defender, Sissoko and a striker.
Sav
Jan 10, 2013 at 11:58 PM
Comment #40I am happy with Pards but this quote “I need to get my best players out there, and that’s where I’m at.”makes him sound like the club physio. In the meantime, I would suggest he works the team at set plays – both taking them and defending, because these are areas we have been shocking at so far this season.