It is to their credit that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and Managing Director Derek Llambias moved quickly in January to strengthen the squad, which was never big enough to withstand the additional games in the Europa League this season and with our many injuries too, things looked very gloomy after we had lost at home to Reading 2-1 on 19th January.
Moussa Sissoko – brought in for £1.8M – what a great acquisition!
But then some magic seemed to happen, and we quickly brought in four players ion four days after the Reading defeat, and in total Newcastle paid out £18M in transfer fees for five very good players, in order to rectify the mistake that was made last summer.
Mike Ashley and Derek LLambias deserve to be complimented for that, whether you love them or hate them.
And Alan Pardew was obviously thankful for those new players, and now he’s trying to do his utmost to save the season for Newcastle and their fans by getting as many wins as possible through the end of the season.
Alan was interviewed today in the Independent, and he was asked if he had ever thought of how things could have been, if no reinforcements had been brought in during January:
“No, I don’t really think like that. I don’t think there would have been any chance of signing Sissoko, for example, or Mapou in that summer window.” “Debuchy, we know, could have possibly got over the line, but it’s difficult to say. At the time, it seemed the right thing.”
“It’s that momentum, it changes the outlook of players as well as staff, directors and supporters.” “All our supporters will be looking closely at this game. It’s a key game and we have got to make sure we get something out of it, a positive result.”
“We are much more aggressive in our play. We have tried to be aggressive all year, even with teams that perhaps didn’t have the quality to play that way.” “We have always played on the front foot, as Manchester United and Arsenal proved, but ultimately, we didn’t have enough to win those two games.”
“I always enjoy it, but you don’t want to have defeats. I don’t like any time when we lose and we have had some tough weeks when I was looking at the squad and knew it wasn’t good enough, not strong enough.” “It’s difficult to go into games like that.”
“So it’s been nice this last few weeks to have a strong squad – strong enough – and not only that, but to get results on top of that as well, because it doesn’t always go hand-in-hand.” “Your squad comes together, but it takes a while for it all to click into gear. “Fortunately, we almost hit the ground running when the new guys arrived.”
Newcastle signed Mathieu Debuchy, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Massadio Haidara, Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran in January – and Newcastle have looked a very different and a much better side since that time.
And now we hope we can win as many games as possible through the end of the season, starting at Swansea tomorrow afternoon – and of course we’re still in the Europa League.
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132 comments so far
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 1, 2013 at 2:40 PM
Comment #1At least he’s admitting it now.
““No, I don’t really think” 🙂
Mister Tuff
Mar 1, 2013 at 2:41 PM
Comment #2rainrix -previous post. I would not recommend making your R’s larger. Ibiza will be straight on a plane with the promise he’ll do it for nothing.
Rainrix
Mar 1, 2013 at 2:45 PM
Comment #3Tuff… Probably but ibizas so poor he can’t afford plane tickets so I’m safe hopefully.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 1, 2013 at 2:45 PM
Comment #4Some good word play there Rev. Or is it letter play? Letter/word play?
Aww man, now I’m all confused. Where am I?
Rainrix
Mar 1, 2013 at 2:46 PM
Comment #5Oh look it worked ibiza all that fear mongering for nowt 🙂
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 1, 2013 at 2:47 PM
Comment #6That’s not cool.
Ed…Do you play favourites or something?
Mister Tuff
Mar 1, 2013 at 2:47 PM
Comment #7rainrix – he’ll be determined -he might make a raft or stowaway in in lorry. He’ll be like a dog at broth.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 1, 2013 at 2:50 PM
Comment #8Last time I stowed away in a lorry it was my R’s that was enlarged. No thanks.
Rainrix
Mar 1, 2013 at 2:52 PM
Comment #9Dok… Sorry i didn’t see you there. 🙂
Ibiza… I wasn’t trying to stifle you i was just too preoccupied with making sure you were looking the other way, but if you insist:
Ibiza you are so clever and funny and totally not poor and/or stupid. In fact you’re so smart that when you got locked in barker and stonehouse you remembered to sleep on the beds. 😉
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 1, 2013 at 2:54 PM
Comment #10Ibiza…Life of Brian who doesn’t love that one!
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 1, 2013 at 2:54 PM
Comment #11rainrix (that’ll teach you, I will never use a capital r)…Thank you. Was that so hard?
Rainrix
Mar 1, 2013 at 2:55 PM
Comment #12Tuff… I think you’re overestimating him a bit there mate, Ibizas so stupid that he tripped over a cordless phone.
Sorry what? Oh hi ibiza you’re so funny and clever *whistles*
DokToon
Mar 1, 2013 at 2:57 PM
Comment #13ibiza is so funny… well hes just funny… no joke, you are 🙂
DokToon
Mar 1, 2013 at 2:58 PM
Comment #14ouch rain, just cause im over the pond, sheesh 🙂
Rainrix
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:00 PM
Comment #15Dok… Sorry but it was like 10 minutes or so since you’d posted i though you might’ve gotten intimidated/confused by my and Ibizas banter, light a signal flare next time so we can see you 🙂
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:01 PM
Comment #16Dok…Thank you. I like you. As for “r”ainrix, he’s dead to me.
Jesper..I had a girlfriend (no, that’s not the news) who didn’t like Life of Brian. Shortly after learning that she became an ex. How could someone have such great taste in men but not films? It’s a strange one.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:03 PM
Comment #17rainrix makes more excuses than Pardew. What a loser.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:04 PM
Comment #18Ibiza…women! can’t live with ’em…period!!! lol
Rainrix
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:06 PM
Comment #19ibiza are you sure she didn’t leave you because you thought moby dick was an STI?
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:07 PM
Comment #20Jesper…If we had been intended to then we wouldn’t have disposable plates and cutlery, food delivery or hookers.
I feel I should probably end that one with some sort of disclaimer, but what’s the worst that could happen?
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:08 PM
Comment #21That was weird. Some dead guy just tried to talk to me.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:10 PM
Comment #22I think he was a mackem as well. Anyone know a good exorcist or do I just invite Shola around?
Rainrix
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:12 PM
Comment #23How childish although I’m not surprised its finally boiled down to this . 🙂
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:14 PM
Comment #24Sorry, did I stray away from our mature conversation? 🙂
Rainrix
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:14 PM
Comment #25You see he’s so stupid that he thinks you need shola to exorcise a mackem when its common knowledge and scientifically proven that mackems don’t have souls. What kind of newcastle fan doesn’t
know that?
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:14 PM
Comment #26So who hopes Citeh beats Villa…really bears ’em and SOTON makes a joke out of QPR (strike that ‘Arry had already done that) 😀
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:15 PM
Comment #27*bears = beats
Rainrix
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:16 PM
Comment #28Admittedly its been one level of maturity above you’re dead to me but its still more mature damn it! 🙂
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:16 PM
Comment #29Yeah, well, you see, the thing is, ermm, wait one second the doorbell just rang.
And Ibizatoon was never seen again.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:18 PM
Comment #30Jesper…I’d actually prefer a QPR draw or win. I don’t see them catching us, so keep Soton as far away as possible.
Rainrix
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:18 PM
Comment #31Jesper…Me! I hope villa go down badly, same with QPR. i hope southampton stay up i like them for some odd reason.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11711/8530822/Chris-Samba-rubbishes-talk-he-only-joined-Queens-Park-Rangers-for-the-money
Speaking of QPR we believe you samba 😉
WWYCD
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:18 PM
Comment #32http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2286139/Shola-Ameobi-Sammy-Ameobi-say-Newcastle-want-local-star.html
Lovely read
NUFC_LEAZES END
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:20 PM
Comment #33If we go on a couple of games winless streak I think we should try this formation.
………………………………….krul………………………….
…………….yanga m’biwa………colo……..Taylor….
Debuchy……………………………………………………….santon
……………..sissoko………..tiote……………cabaye…..
………………………………Ben arfa………………………..
………………………..cisse…………gouffran…………….
( 5-3-1-2 ) attacking wing backs, Ben arfa with a free role behind the strikers. I personally love this formation
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:21 PM
Comment #34Ibiza…we won’t go down mate! Have a little faith.
…the important thing now is that both Villa and QPR crash and burn 🙂
rainrix…that’s the right attitude (take notice Ibiza ;))
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:22 PM
Comment #35LEAZES…I don’t you are allowed to field that many players 😉
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Comment #36*think
NUFC_LEAZES END
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:24 PM
Comment #37@jesper
Haha we’ll spotted! It was a test to see who would spot my mistake.
Same team without tiote in the middle of the 3 cms
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:24 PM
Comment #38Jesper…Sorry mate, but you surely can’t expect me to follow rainrixs lead? Now I just want QPR to win even more 🙂
Pettiness aside, I don’t see Southampton going down or finishing above us, but I would always like as much of a safety net as possible.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:27 PM
Comment #39LEAZES…depending on ones temperament, but I would be more keen on a 3-4-3.
I more or less looks the same you just push the wingbacks forward and the same goes for Benny 🙂
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 1, 2013 at 3:27 PM
Comment #40*It