Former Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has done well against Newcastle, since he was fired in January of 2008, after only eight months on Tyneside, and his Blackburn side and his West Ham side earlier this season, have both won at St. James’ Park since he left.
Chris Mort and Sam Allardyce at Newcastle in 2007
And Sam will be wanting to notch another win against his former club this afternoon, and if he’s successful that could be another blow to Newcastle’s chances of staying in the Premier League.
Alan Pardew seems worried about West Ham’s set plays, and the ability of our former captain Kevin Nolan to get goals in the penalty box – and we’ll not even mention local striker Andy Carroll’s heading ability.
This is what Alan Pardew said in the Evening Chronicle today:
“We’ve done well against teams who are direct, like Stoke and Everton.” “Since I’ve been here we have been very competitive in those games.”
“But West Ham because they are very good at what they do.” “We know at some point they will leave something for Kevin and we need to be around him.”
“In all my time in football I haven’t seen anybody who is a more clinical finisher than him in the box.” “We need to make sure we look after those two for sure.”
“You have to compete – it’s as simple as that.” “Set-pieces have been a problem for us this year.” “We’re one of the smallest teams in the Premier League.”
“But defensively we have been pretty strong.” “We have to take that into today because their set-pieces are a key feature of Sam Allardyce’s game.”
Newcastle are in a nose dive as far as results go, and we must get something out of the game this afternoon.
The longer we go without picking up points the more likely it is that our Premier League survival will be dependent on how we do against Arsenal at St. James’ Park on the last day of the season, which is two weeks tomorrow.
We want to have Newcastle safe before that game – so we can regroup and build in the summer for another Premier League season.
The alternative is just unthinkable .
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179 comments so far
Laurent Robert 32
May 4, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Comment #41More unbelievable comments from the devious one. So unbelievable in fact, that he’d tell you black is white and white is black. Worst thing is, the deluded fool is believing believing it himself.
It’s simply his verbal morphing of facts which is getting him the managerial jobs. His CV certainly isn’t a selling point.
BandB
May 4, 2013 at 10:22 AM
Comment #42I’ve just read that JFA.
The SJP crown are inured to 94 minutes of stomach-churning misery. It takes a fair bit to make them boo.
Folks say Pardew isn’t an innovator. But he’s invented an entirely unique brand of football….the football version of Pointless.
“We’ve been pretty strong defensively?” I presume he means we’ve played lots of people in defensive roles.
But for the rest of today, he gets my full support.
C’mon The Wizard of Drivel!
Prove everyone wrong.
Newcastle Brown Alien
May 4, 2013 at 10:27 AM
Comment #43Just been thinking, with wigans game in hand and their usual end of season form, today is a must win, or we will be going down, unless we get still get more than norwich or villa or scumderland, really 2 wins is needed
Laurent Robert 32
May 4, 2013 at 10:27 AM
Comment #44I heard the lad on the radio saying about MYM at left back also. He can play at full-back as well I do believe.
Munster Mag
May 4, 2013 at 10:29 AM
Comment #45Ian well done for being there! Give them hell from Munster Mag! HTL
Dubaigeordie
May 4, 2013 at 10:31 AM
Comment #46hopefully Pardew plays something along the lines of
————-Elliot——————-
Simo—–Saylor——-Collocini—–Yanga
——Sissoko——Cabaye——–Anita
——-Benny——-Cisse———-Gouffy
Purely because 4-2-3-1 is not working for us at all !!!
4-3-3 will see a lot more attacking threat to the game and with the defence simmo saylor and collo all know how each other play and yanga is a strong player who likes to roam with the ball so put him as a full back and he will have a lot more time on the ball to pick out the passes and do the little runs he likes to do.
Anita over Tiote simply because Anita has better pace has a cooler head on him and does not always get caught in no mans land
Cabaye down the middle for those chip through balls and to control the park
Sisso on the right of CM simply because he has good pace accel and strength so can back up benny when needed
Gouffy out wide instead of centre because of pace again and Cisse in the middle will see a lot more chances with this sort of team!
magpie6699
May 4, 2013 at 10:32 AM
Comment #47Bet they’re not better than us at corners!
BandB
May 4, 2013 at 10:32 AM
Comment #48Ian
Looking forward to a match report later. Have a great day.
Munster Mag
May 4, 2013 at 10:32 AM
Comment #49If he says they are a fret again I wont be happy….
Munster Mag
May 4, 2013 at 10:37 AM
Comment #50Alien, there’s no way we are getting 2 wins. My prediction has been one point off QPR. I really cant see us getting much today. I just hope we dont ship 4 or more. I reckom 3-1 to ” West Am cos they were a bigger fret ( threat ) than us and had more experience , but our “group” is still in this and we are fighting ( amongst ourselves ) and my warrior ( Tiote the useless pub clogger ) was tired today because he got a new haircut in midweek ….” and on and on……..ad nauseum…..
Yohan
May 4, 2013 at 10:42 AM
Comment #51Harper has the experience and commands his box a lot better than Elliot. Must start today
yo-yo
May 4, 2013 at 10:44 AM
Comment #52The chances we will go down will be massively increased should we fail to take a single point from the Hammers.
Wigan could easily win two of their remaining games so today is very squeaky bum time indeed and …. ‘every game is a cup final’ blah bvlah blah
Joe Blog
May 4, 2013 at 10:48 AM
Comment #53I call 2-1 to the Hammers.
Carroll and Nolan for them, a big gust of wind for us. Wigan will win at West Brom too and Villa will garner a draw.
Jail for Ashley
May 4, 2013 at 10:48 AM
Comment #54well it ain’t easy coming to a place like this,they’ve got a great crowd who get behind em trust me I’ve been ere,yeah they’ve got some big,big players make no mistake and yeah it’s ard to compete wiv teams who can afford the big fees,being away from ome don’t help eiver,we need the crowd onside if were going to get over the line.
Munster Mag
May 4, 2013 at 10:50 AM
Comment #55Agree. Wigan could win all their remaining games. They just need luck but competed against everyone , including City and spurs ( should have won ) ….we however ……oh for Keegan now….
Spotlight Kid
May 4, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Comment #56Here’s a classic from Lee Ryder today in the Chronic:
‘In studying Pardew’s managerial career it has to be noted he has developed the skill of knowing when to react and when to stay calm.’
Not sure a certain assistant referee will agree with this assertion of the silver-supremo’s zen like qualities. He sure had me fooled last week as well when he stormed off down the tunnel without so much as a by your leave.
‘Relax – the Pardew way’ – now on betamax at most branches of Poundstretcher.
thai-mag
May 4, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Comment #57“defensively we’ve been pretty strong” pardew must have been watching different games from the rest of us, we’ve conceded more goals than any other team in the league
Spotlight Kid
May 4, 2013 at 10:56 AM
Comment #58Yo-Yo@52
The chances we will go down will be massively increased should we fail to take a single point from the Hammers.
I truly hope this is meant as a statistical assertion as opposed to an honestly held insight.
yo-yo
May 4, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Comment #59I really don’t care whom plays and it what formation.
I want to see commitment, spirit, hard work and organisation not desperation, halfheartedness and headless chickens.
It ain’t over til the final whistle in the Wigan Villa game. But the thought we may need to rely on Villa’s performance again to stay up is pure irony.
northernirishtoon
May 4, 2013 at 10:59 AM
Comment #60Cisse 2-1 85/1
Can feel it in my bones. Thought we might get a draw, but I’d rather set myself up for massive disappointment than settle for mediocrity
Come on the toon
Munster Mag
May 4, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Comment #61Thai, I think Pardew is referring to games against Stoke and other long ball teams? Leave him alone!!! 🙂
Spotlight Kid
May 4, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Comment #62But the thought we may need to rely on Villa’s performance again to stay up is pure irony. Yo-Yo@59
No, Yo-Yo, it is not pure irony, it is pure managerial incompetence.
Williamsonsuks
May 4, 2013 at 11:01 AM
Comment #63West Ham definitely have a height advantage for set plays. We should hold a high defensive line today, their strikers are to slow. God we need a win today!!!
yo-yo
May 4, 2013 at 11:01 AM
Comment #64Spotlight
I sat and looked at the table, then looked at the fixture list, looked back at the table, looked at the form table and then worked out we need 4 pts to be sure of safety as Wigan are so unpredictable formwise and Swansea could easily take a loss against them.
It’s both head and heart I’m afraid.
Munster Mag
May 4, 2013 at 11:01 AM
Comment #65Does anyone else remember the home game v Portsmouth years ago when David Kelly scored? Or am I getting premature dementia?
AussieNUFC
May 4, 2013 at 11:01 AM
Comment #66What’s a good online streaming site to watch the game tonight?
Munster Mag
May 4, 2013 at 11:02 AM
Comment #67Yo Yo, thats incorrect. Wigan are in decent form and playing well. I listened to the game on the radio here in Ireland and they said Martinez outfoxed the Spurs boss and they should have won? I think Wigan will win at least 2 games.
hibbitonthewing
May 4, 2013 at 11:03 AM
Comment #68If we play this spine bottom to top and the rest work as a bungee cord off them..
Colo
Sissoko
Cabaye
Cisse
…we have enough technical players to take on pretty much anyone with any style. Even a resurgent hammers.
All we needed is a good motivator to get then going.
Oh…..
yo-yo
May 4, 2013 at 11:03 AM
Comment #69Spotlight
Remembering the last half hour in the EPL in our previous relegation season I was being… well, ironic
JAMSHA
May 4, 2013 at 11:04 AM
Comment #70DO NOT WORY… CAROLL AN NOLAN WILL SAVE US, CAROLL WILL B INJURD IN 1ST HALF… IM SURE HE WILL FAKE A INJURY… N STILL BELIVE NOLAN WILL TRY TO PLAY CRAP N GIVE AWAY THE BALL
yo-yo
May 4, 2013 at 11:07 AM
Comment #71Munster
Exactly … That’s what I said… Wigan could easily win two of their remaining games
But then they could get a couple of draws. If they get 8 points out of 12 we need 4… or 3 and a better GD
yo-yo
May 4, 2013 at 11:09 AM
Comment #72And Wigna have only taken 2 points from the last 12 in offer so they’re not in great form – it just looks like their in better shape than us
AussieNUFC
May 4, 2013 at 11:11 AM
Comment #73Anyone I need a good website to watch the game ?
Spotlight Kid
May 4, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Comment #74Yo-Yo @ 64
It’s knife edge, Sir, and that’s a fact. We shouldn’t be in this mess, but now we are we will never get out playing the same hoofball as got us in. 4 more points should just about do it – but from where? 2 more points might not be enough this year.
Pardew’s worrying comments about being good against long-ball teams suggests he reckons more of the same hoofball bilge will actually work today simply ’cause we are playing Big Sam.
Alas, if we do score first we are surely doomed as Pards will then park the open topped bus at half time – and we will be peppered. Best we can hope for is a dull, dreary 0-0 for 89 minutes with Cisse miraculously staying onside to to snatch a late win (a la Fulham).
But WHU at home are a completely different prospect to Fulham, so I can’t see any points in this.
Laurent Robert 32
May 4, 2013 at 11:15 AM
Comment #75For inspiration… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydF8_mNzMdc
Hopefully the magic of Hatem can produce more miracles.
(then cue Pardew with self appreciation and filling himself with his own self awesomeness, even though once again, it is a moment of brilliance produced by the talent he hasn’t a clue how to manage… they’re too small… OK there Tony Pulis).
Nolan is a threat, yet we have a team full of internationals. Alan, give it a rest will you please.
Laurent Robert 32
May 4, 2013 at 11:17 AM
Comment #76Aussie. I usually use first row sports if I can’t get to games. Spam central, but nevertheless…
Laurent Robert 32
May 4, 2013 at 11:17 AM
Comment #77firstrow1 it’s called
Spotlight Kid
May 4, 2013 at 11:19 AM
Comment #78In the end survival this year is not about how well we play in the next 3 games (because under Pardew, trust me, we won’t), it’s about how badly Wigan play, and whether Norwich or Sunderland manage to get sucked back in.
I suggest selecting Wiziwig, tuning into West Brom v Wigan or Norwich v Villa, and adding years to your life this afternoon. Unless you are some sort of masochist.
jimmysmith
May 4, 2013 at 11:25 AM
Comment #79Those two home home results were hideous but they were extraordinary games compared to this match.
One was the derby, with Sunderland suitably up for it and us clearly not, with a logical outcome.
The other was one good team on the up meeting a jaded one on the slide resulting in an unlikely hammering that sometimes happens.
This game is more run of the mill and perhaps more predictable.
West Ham probably will win by the odd goal or we’ll earn a battling or lucky point, but it’s not inconceivable either that we deliver a performance the team is capable of and win either deservedly or with a little luck.
We could be safe by tea time.
ginola_tonic
May 4, 2013 at 11:30 AM
Comment #80Just a quick question. What’s happened to marv?