In Alan Pardew’s press conference this afternoon there was video of Mike Ashley and Derek LLambias at the Benton training grounds, going around shaking hands with the players and Mike even (trying to) kick a ball.
LLambias and Ashley – they visited training today at Benton
It seems Mike made one of those fleeting visits of his and the owner was smiling all the time – no doubt relived that Newcastle are again in the Premier League next season – aren’t we all.
Mike also had lunch with the players and the coaches and then was seen leaving in that helicopter of his.
Our very last game is against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, and a win in that game could see Newcastle very close to the middle of the table, after what has been a harrowing season, to say the least.
And Alan Pardew was upbeat at his press conference and this is some of what he had to say this afternoon:
“If we get that right, I think we will be okay. But I do think we need to add a little bit more experience of the level we are at.” “We have got some fantastic players here. We haven’t had the consistency this year and the continuity that we had the year before. “
“But without the Europa League next year, we will and if you look at our squad, we have still got some very, very good players and if we get the recruitment right, then we could be a force next year.”
It was a poor season, but Newcastle still have a lot of very good players in the squad, and any team would have struggled when top players like Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye, Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor and Tim Krul were out for months at a time.
Some good transfers in during the coming summer transfer window, coupled with keeping our very best players, should see us have a strong squad next season – and we think we can make a good effort at securing another top six position.
That’s how we see the current situation – and it’s hardly all doom and gloom.
In fact we are really looking forward to the summer to see who we can get through the door.
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34 comments so far
mattnufc
May 17, 2013 at 6:13 PM
Comment #1Looks like Pardew’s here to stay. *Party popper*
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
May 17, 2013 at 6:15 PM
Comment #2Ed…Isn’t it all doom and gloom? I think I need to move to the States!
eaststandgeordie1982
May 17, 2013 at 6:15 PM
Comment #3Could start with a good experienced manager.
Rotonda heights
May 17, 2013 at 6:19 PM
Comment #4The outpouring of joy and relief if Pardew walked to be replaced by a proper manager would be immeasurable.
Ben3arfa
May 17, 2013 at 6:22 PM
Comment #5Oh for goodness sakes , please Pardew piss off out of here with your stupid statements
Newcastle Brown Alien
May 17, 2013 at 6:22 PM
Comment #6Again saying how good it is not to be in the europa, I agree pardew, i prefer just avoiding relegation and not getting extra money, the ability to play against some of the best teams and best players in the world, and not having the ability to compete with teams in the europa league for our target players, that is fantastic
Ben3arfa
May 17, 2013 at 6:24 PM
Comment #7with that being said, I wouldnt mind James Mccarthy here .
Him Tiote and cabaye would form a formidable midfield 3 .
BUT WE NEED GOOD WINGERS
Spoof
May 17, 2013 at 6:24 PM
Comment #8Ben
in fairness, what he say’s above does make sense
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
May 17, 2013 at 6:27 PM
Comment #9Spoof
Depending on your viewpoint of Pardew you will either interpret everything he says as positively or negatively. All subjective I suppose.
Rotonda heights
May 17, 2013 at 6:28 PM
Comment #10Pardew is crushing the life out of me. He wants Carrol back. What a surprise. Hoof ball or should I say more hoof ball it is then.
He’s made us worse than Stoke and West Ham. I’ll pass on a ST renewal, Pardew’s obviously successfully ingratiated himself with Ash and Llambias. Pardew is a mendacious slime.
eaststandgeordie1982
May 17, 2013 at 6:32 PM
Comment #11Only one way to sort this out and thats to force him out.
Next season is paid for im thinking about selling it.
JackButler
May 17, 2013 at 6:35 PM
Comment #12I can’t see how he can stay as there is not one single positive about him.
Get rid and let’s move on with someone who can get the best out of the players and get us playing football thats not as turgid and out of date that this chancer is serving up
jimmysmith
May 17, 2013 at 6:35 PM
Comment #13I’d take a good season in the league or a tilt at the Champions league over a good domestic cup or Europa league run anyday.
Wigan win the Cup and go down. We do well inthe Europa league and almost go down too. Hopeless.
Th EPL and the Champions league really are what it’s all about. The other stuff seems almost as if it hinders real progress.
I want a good league campaign above all else.
Spoof
May 17, 2013 at 6:36 PM
Comment #14Ruddy
at times I think he talks rubbish, and when he does I say so, it’s when people claim that he can do no wrong, or no right depending upon their views of him, are when debates become futile and stupid, the comments for this particular item do make sense, why and how is it so difficult for some to accept that is rather puzzling.
I do not like Mike Ashley, but I will say that his by younger players who will improve is a good policy, their you are, I don’t like him but I’ve just praised him, that doesn’t mean that I now like him, what it means is that I can be rational, its not that difficult, but for some it seems as if it is.
Rotonda heights
May 17, 2013 at 6:36 PM
Comment #15Whats the point coming 6th. Only the top 5 get Europe which Pardew clearly doesn’t want. Pardew wouldn’t even take a fair play place to et in to Europe, so what exactly is the ambition – to just not win anything?
stuart no9
May 17, 2013 at 6:37 PM
Comment #16its not looking good on the pardew front.- it looks like he is here to stay. that has deflated me beyond belief . only one thing for it pardew must suffer verbal abuse at the same time boycotting the ground.
I think some of the blame must lie with us supporters for not showing our feelings towards him like we should have .
He is rubbish but for some strange reason we have refrained from putting our feelings across, maybe now is the time !
Douglas
May 17, 2013 at 6:37 PM
Comment #17Cant believe the nievity ohere:
Pardew is staying, get used to it.
archaeomag
May 17, 2013 at 6:38 PM
Comment #18Wow Mike’s got a helicopter – that’s interesting . . .
donkey
May 17, 2013 at 6:38 PM
Comment #19Pardew Wants More Experience] is colo taylor krul cabaye tioti guti not enough pffff are best starting elevan are all internationals ffs
stuart no9
May 17, 2013 at 6:39 PM
Comment #20eaststand @ 11 it dosnt matter if it is already paid for . Ashley wont care if tou sell it or not. were you one of the ones who went for the 10 year trick ?
stuart no9
May 17, 2013 at 6:41 PM
Comment #21pardew is correct , we need more experience – so sack pardew and get in rafa – thats a start.!
Patoon
May 17, 2013 at 6:41 PM
Comment #22Looks like the c##t isn’t goin anywer soon, isn’t it 2day that he’s goin on the radio 2 talk 2 fans, get Beattie on air 2 tel him we don’t want this hoofball sh1t any more, if we’re gonna b stuck with him surely Ashley wil bring him in a top assistant and a couple of top coaches
Ketsbaia9
May 17, 2013 at 6:41 PM
Comment #23Don’t rate James Mccarthy, prefer Mccarthur. These are the following Wigan players that I’d be interested in us signing:
Alcaraz
Al-Habsi
Scharner
Bearsejour
Mcmanaman
Figueroa (if Santon or Haidara gets injured)
Maloney (experienced player – wouldn’t be a Pardew signing as he does not select players who are under a certain height)
Kone
spitfire_
May 17, 2013 at 6:44 PM
Comment #24Is the lack of experience is the new excuse? This doesn’t looked a issue last season… Oh, I see…
toon kk
May 17, 2013 at 6:46 PM
Comment #25Pardew will be our manager next season so there’s no point in thinking otherwise. Get used to it.
stuart no9
May 17, 2013 at 6:48 PM
Comment #26patoon @ 22 that radio talk – in has been cancelled
Patoon
May 17, 2013 at 6:56 PM
Comment #27Prob 2 scared 2 hear wot the fans really think of him
donkey
May 17, 2013 at 7:03 PM
Comment #28toon kk no we shoudent get used to pardew being manager next season there even if MA wants to keep him he got rid of hughton for doing nothink wrong so why should 80-90 percent of nufc have to put up with it when we pay and buy mechandice . I SAY HIT MA WHERE IT HURTS IF HES NOT WILLING TO SACK HIM or if your happy with boring football week in week out carry on feeding the beast nufc destiny is down to the fans………
9
May 17, 2013 at 7:05 PM
Comment #29Good grief, get a grip on reality lads: Jack Butler @12 “There is not oine single positive about him”- sir, you must have the memory of a goldfish. We all know managers are judged by results. This season makes him a bad manager. Hang, on, what happened last season? What did the other managers rate him as? You can, correctly, say that was a season ago but you cannot have any credibility if you simply ignore it, like so many on here do.
9
May 17, 2013 at 7:07 PM
Comment #30…..and as for stuart @16 “boycotting the ground”!! Take more water with it, young lad.
mattnufc
May 17, 2013 at 7:33 PM
Comment #31Kets:
Players we should get now at 309 for the season.
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
May 18, 2013 at 7:46 AM
Comment #32@18:
It was Ashley,s Heli that flew Carroll to Liverpool when he left ?
Anyone thinking that Pardew will be gping anywhere soon will have to think again !
The stupid thing is that with the squad we have now, and with the right manager, we could be pushing not for a top six but a top four finnish next year ?
IF, in close season a decent Centre back is signed, and at least two half decent strikers? A top four would not be beyond the realms of possibility?
BUT, if we look at Pardews tactics for most of last season, i am afraid that the most of us Mags will just have to carry on suffering like we have for most of the second half of this season ?
It,s sometimes painful being a Mag ?
fatash
May 18, 2013 at 11:32 AM
Comment #33Yes Pardew needs more experience but it is him that needs it not the players, perhaps we could loan him out to Hartlepool
AndyMac
May 18, 2013 at 6:01 PM
Comment #34You know what ? This time its “experienced” players then it’ll be “pacy players” then it’ll be tall ones, short ones etc etc etc.
This bloke will continue to exploit the naivety of the two stooges until eventually the Fatman realises its another case of the “Emperor New Clothes” brought up to date !