Alan Pardew has given a good interview in the Newcastle Journal today, but something he says seems almost certain to be untrue – and that is that Southampton are in a much stronger position than Newcastle in terms of purchasing players – how can that possibly be true?
Alan Pardew shakes hands with Ally McCoist last night
This is some of what Alan said in the Journal this morning:
“When you look at the teams now and the money that’s being spent, you have to be honest and say it’s going to be difficult replicating that 5th place finish. But our ambition must be to try to do that.” “Demba Ba went to Chelsea, and that was a big blow for us last year. I think the fact that we never really replaced him got missed a little bit.”
“We brought in Yoan Gouffran, but we weren’t really able to replace Demba like for like. If I can replace Demba into this team, I think this team is stronger than the one that finished fifth. But I think the task of finishing in the top five is more difficult for us because of the growth of some of the other clubs who were just below us.”
“In particular, Liverpool and Spurs have spent a lot of money, and other clubs such as Swansea and Southampton have coordinated their financial strength really well.” “You look at a club like Southampton, and they’re in a much stronger financial position than us in terms of purchasing players.”
We have no idea why Southampton are in a much stronger financial position than Newcastle, after all they got successive promotions to get into the Premier League a year ago, so how come they are better off financially than Newcastle?
Surely that cannot be true – but the truth is probably they are more willing to spend the money they have coming in next summer than Newcastle are.
And Swansea were also only promoted a year ago, but they shelled out an initial £11M for Vitesse striker Wilfried Bony, plus an extra £2M in add-ons and installments, and Bony was reported to be a Newcastle target.
So Alan Pardew’s statement about Southampton and Swansea just cannot be true, and it’s more like those two teams plus smaller clubs like Norwich City and West Ham are more willing to spend the money this summer.
And don’t forget the Financial Fair Play rules state that clubs cannot spend more than they bring in – and those two club’s revenues are so much smaller than Newcastle’s, which was £93.3M in the last financial year – and were the 20th biggest in world football.
We hope that the Newcastle manager will clarify the statement, because surely Newcastle are a wealthier club than those two clubs, who have just been promoted, and who have less than half the gates Newcastle get at St. James’ Park.
Are we missing something here or is that just a wayward statement from the Newcastle manager?
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154 comments so far
MrMojoRisin76
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:43 PM
Comment #81Toonlee,no they haven’t.Don’t be a dick
martoon
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:47 PM
Comment #82I’m sure this has been discussed before but Pardew is obliged to do a certain amount of interviews especially after a game. Reporters ask leading questions and try to trip him up into saying something contraversial. Pardew is normally pretty good but is bound to slip up sometime and say something out the ordinary and that is what gets reported with headline banners – he doesn’t just come out with random statements like some of you lot seem to think!
jimmysmith
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:47 PM
Comment #83Porr old Pards, not to be taken seriously, Joe neither obviously, but big Mike, one serious son of a bitch!
mindshaft
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:48 PM
Comment #84I get the feeling Pards is already getting his excuses in – we weren’t in a position to strengthen due to finances blah blah
Tactics will remain hoof and hope which means that we’ll no doubt suffer more injuries which in turn Pards will have the old injury excuse at the ready blah blah
Totally underwhelmed by the coming season
MrMojoRisin76
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:49 PM
Comment #85Rowan
I have also seen it in games where we get an early goal and try to defend for well over half the match and that is just ridiculous!
I think the West Brom example i gave explains why this happens
We have had attacking line ups out and still struggled but i can’t remember once were we could put our full strength team out 10 games in a row,it was always players coming back into the team then somebody else gets injured.Like our 5th placed season where we had a reasonably good season with injuries.
hisnameisjonas
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:49 PM
Comment #86It’s pretty simple realy. Southampton and Swansea don’t come close to the wagebill and the value of the squad newcastle had prior to this transfewindow. They have good foundation because they have developed steady ground with cheap and smart buys in the past along with good promoting of youth players. With the new tv deal they have alot of money to take them to the next level contra newcastle who only this year had a balaced economy revenue wise. Because of the new uefa rules wich is integrated they can use the money and still be balanaced because of their lower wagebill than newcastle. contrary to newcastle who have to trim the squad to stay with in a reasonble wagelimit if we are going to buy alot of new players. But still as beeing said by pardew and kinnear newcastle will look to bring in 2 more players if they can find good deals that is not economical irresesponsible. Hope that sumed it up for you ED.
Toonleee
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:49 PM
Comment #87Sorry to MrMojoRisin76 and everyone els i just couldnt resist?
MrMojoRisin76
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:51 PM
Comment #88Ok bud,touchy subject transfers.
toonluvva
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:52 PM
Comment #89You can expect nothing but meaningless platitudes from Pardew until he files his constructive dismissal case.
I suspect that he would love for there to be more money for players, but he has to toe the party line in public.
Once he has gone I expect he’ll come out with a different version of events.
hotdog
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:55 PM
Comment #90Which part of “You are not a top 4 Premier League team” do Liverpool not understand??
Live with it scousers just as you pillaged Peter Beardsley and more recently Caroll/Enrique, it happens.
Transfer Sage
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:56 PM
Comment #91mojo
I agree every game is difficult…i am not saying we should be torturing teams etc
just i think if we weren’t so negative and defending single goal leads then we would have done better with the problems we did have, just my opinion of course.
yo-yo
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:56 PM
Comment #92The bottom line is that our owner aspires to us being a stable mid table side.
Everything about his approach to the club says Top Ten not Top Five. We finished 16th but have only one signing to bolster a weakened attacking force.
Even Pardew surprised himself by gettting the 5th place finish. In Alan’s head he doesn’t begin to aspire to CL levels – at best he is a 7th-9th place man and that is where we will stay. If Alan leaves he will be replaced with another mediocrity – no use blaming AP for the poverty of ambition or his managerial appointment. He is Ashley’s man. It is the guy running the show who ought to be taking the blame. The very best we can hope for is that Alan overachieves.
Alan is not total shite at all – he is reasonably competent, has been handed a pretty small deck of mostly Top Ten players with a few above average – but not a full suit of Top Five players. If the players or manager strike a run of confident and strong form we’ll do okay – but we won’t do amazingly well. Nor is the owner particularly bothered. He wants to protect his asset value in the club and sell at the right price fior him. That is the level of his aspiration for the Toon.
Don’t blame the monkey – blame the organ grinder
gonufc (Release the Hatem Bomb)
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:57 PM
Comment #93Maybe Pardew will release a book telling all the stories of the Ashley reign. With a bit of good spin for him as well “it wasn’t my fault!”.
BandB
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:58 PM
Comment #94This season’s minimum expectations were set out in the club’s statement of a couple of months ago.
“We’re now looking forward and are entirely focused on the forthcoming campaign, with an expectation of at least a top ten finish.”
It’s there in black and white, and I’m happy to take that as an assurance.
The manager may want to make it sound is if he’d be working wonders to match that. But it’s not his call.
As Markaccus says, the debate could rest for a while.
DEEB0rider
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:58 PM
Comment #95Swansea, Norwich, and Southampton have both operated at 35m wages and stayed in the premier league. We’ve been operating at 65m for the least two seasons.
We’ve operated at break even for two years, theyve operated at 20m profit for the last two years.
They’ve had the money in the bank and have decided to spend it….we owe 130m to our owner after operating at a loss for the first 4 years he was in charge, including a season in the championship and high wages paid out to the likes of owen, viduka, martins, duff, geremi, smith, xisco, barton
Rowan Milsted
Aug 7, 2013 at 3:59 PM
Comment #96MrMojoRisin76
The West Brom game is a good example of your argument and I remember it well but I can think of many examples to the contrary. The Wolves game season before last is the best example; 2-0 up after 20 mins and ended up drawing 2-2 because we started to see the game out in the first half. In that game we had plenty of attacking firepower.
I do see your point re available players and consistency of starting 11s though, and it is a fair one. I also agree with you 100% @77. I just can’t help feeling that Pards is naturally negative and that is his managerial style, regardless of the players he has at his disposal. I’d love to be proved wrong.
So, do you reckon that, given a reasonably fit squad and attacking options available (HBA fit, Remy/Marvs/Cisse/Cabs etc) and a starting 11 that shows some consistency, Pards will be a bit more positive this season?
toon kk
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:00 PM
Comment #97Pardew is told we are hard up all the time to keep him quiet, he knows we need strengthening in certain areas but it makes him understand why transfers don’t happen. BUT he knows MA could afford to do more but if he wants to keep his job he has to agree, then he gets the job off Mashley to explain to the fans times are hard.
ToonDownSouth
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:00 PM
Comment #98This article is embarrassing. Southampton are owned by the Liebherr family, and hence have tremendous financial backing – more so than most of the PL.
It’s not hard to do a tiny bit of research before writing a whole article on something.
Rowan Milsted
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:01 PM
Comment #99Toonleee
Please try resisting in future.
Transfer Sage
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:01 PM
Comment #100Toon KK
how i see it is that Pardew knows this is the best job he can hope for and therefore wont rock the boat as it could land him the sack.
Transfer Sage
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:02 PM
Comment #101TDS
exactly….plenty teams have a super rich owner. Our owner has money but a lot tied up in assets and not free cash like city, chelsea, etc etc.
gonufc (Release the Hatem Bomb)
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:04 PM
Comment #102@yoyo – that’s because it serves it’s purpose with minimum expenditure. Gets SportsDirect a huge amount of advertising across the world- more than any advert ever could. Think about the amount of people that will watch a man united match at St. James around the world.
Just like when we had to play Atromitos. he had all of the advertising boards changed to “SportsDirect.gr” just for that match!
JackButler
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:05 PM
Comment #103Club’s like Swansea and Southampton are simply spending the additional 30 million that they have coming at the end of the season through the TV deal while we only play cash for any deals so do not expect any big money to be spent as we simply have not had the money yet
ochytoon
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:06 PM
Comment #104Southampton are owned by a Swiss banking family. They are the fifth richest club in the country in terms of owners wealth. It has nothing to do with ambition. They just have more money than us. Although, MA should spend a lot more than he does.
Rotonda heights
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:06 PM
Comment #105It’s funny how pro Pardew people always think all the criticism of Pardew only applies to the game just played in isolation.
It has been clueless, joyless to watch dross for ages now. We ask the same questions after every game seemingly.
Some time, somewhere, even Pardew’s most ardent and blinkered fan must look at himself and ask why am I supporting this man?
JackButler
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:08 PM
Comment #106http://rt.com/news/russian-football-anzhi-sell-134/
Ketsbaia9
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:08 PM
Comment #107Marveaux is our most creative player. He has to play if we want to win games. Ben Arfa is probably slightly better at dribbling but Marveaux has the better footballing brain. I wouldn’t be dissappointed if we sold Cabaye. Man Utd could come in with a £25m bid. Bring in Marvin Martin, Ryad Boudebouz and Siem De Jong with the Cabaye money.
Yorkgeordie
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:08 PM
Comment #108This is Pardew making excuses, in advance, because he just hasn’t got the confidence in his own ability, despite the arrogant appearance. Making excuses is all he does, all of the time. I don’t want to be negative, but looking at the pre season games so far, Pardew is sticking with tactics that just didn’t work last season. I don’t think he knows how to change. fear the worst and can see him getting the sack after a poor start. I hope I’m wrong.
MrMojoRisin76
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:09 PM
Comment #109Rowan
So, do you reckon that, given a reasonably fit squad and attacking options available (HBA fit, Remy/Marvs/Cisse/Cabs etc) and a starting 11 that shows some consistency, Pards will be a bit more positive this season?
For sure,imo he done it when we finished 5th,i think we played positive attacking football that season,with a fully prepared squad this season and if we stay injury free i think we can get near top 6 again.If we don’t do well everyone knows he’ll be gone by Christmas.
Rowan Milsted
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:12 PM
Comment #110JackButler
Hahaha!!!! Is it wrong that makes me laugh? ‘Cause it does! Now can that happen to Chelski & City please!?
JackButler
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:14 PM
Comment #111MrMojoRisin76
Pardew will always revert to type, he’s always been a negative manager and always air’s on the side of caution
Markaccus
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:14 PM
Comment #112Rotonda
By all means, if people insist on having a go at him, use the things you have outlined, if that be your oppinion. It is respected whether agreed with or not. Whats p1ssing me off is that somehow the fact that he said soton are richer than us has suddenly become a reason why everyone should hate him, ditto player signings which is jose kinnearnho’s bag. It becomes innane and pointless. I realise you personally stick to the football shortcommings we saw last season, so it is not you i am moaning at, but these people are diluting your argument by making stupid sh1t up
Ketsbaia9
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:14 PM
Comment #113I think if we signed Gomis and Alderweireld, we’d have a much better squad than Man Utd’s. I can see Swansea and Southampton finishing above Man Utd this season. West Brom could do well as well. They have recently signed some quality players.
SaintNick
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:16 PM
Comment #114I see many have gone off the original topic, but thought I would try and clear up Saints’ finances.
In 2009 we were bought from admin my Markus Liebherr. (of the crane family, but he left that and set up a precision engineering business on his own) who originates from Switzerland. He was, at that time the 5th richest owner (sometimes different) in English Football. Markus was canvassed to buy SFC by the now Chairman (not owner as some have said), Nicola Cortese. (An Italian Swiss Banker).
Murkus said the club would be invested in comensurate with the league it found itself in and there was a 5 year plan to be in the EPL. We managed it in 3 years.
Markus invested £2m in upgrading the already superb training/academy facilities from his own pocket (Not shown on SFC books) and at the turn of our accounting year (even since his death), the debt has been written to equity. (Effectively leaving us debt free. This I suspect is the difference).
Markus died (far too soon) in 2010 and the Leibherr Trust now owns the club (with his daughter as trustee) but Cortese is still firmly in charge and you may have seena spat recently where he said if that was not the case, he would go having been offered a job at the helm of Inter Milan. It was sorted, he stays. The trust effectively controls the 5bn euro of his wealth. Couple this with having no debt and our ‘ratios’ are VERY good.
A second strand is Cortese’s (and many others at the club, Les Reid, Jason Dodd, Pochettino) wish to progress with dynamic attractive football, played in the main by young players, with eventually up to 20% having come through our academy (Barcelona type model)
I hear many laughing but Walcott, Nathan Dyer, Chamberlain, Bale, Lallana, James ward-Prowse, Shaw, etc, etc is not a bad start? (Add to that young talent like Rodriguez, Ramirez, Clyne, Schneiderlin, Cork). we could have this side and follow-ups for some time), home grown talent is VERY cheap and we no longer need to sell.
I don’t think revenues on matchday have much to do with it now, Certainly the Toon are much ‘bigger’ as a club with a more global fanbase (particularly in France!), but we are now getting much coverage in Japan (Yoshida) and Kenya (Wanyama) to counter that. The actual money’s from Saturday at 3pm are insignificant really to both clubs.
Hope that gives you some insight into ‘little ol’ Southampton’. You’re not alone in thinking, what? Southampton, but don’t be surprised if we feel the need to spalsh over £20m in a minute on a striker and MP has already said he is ‘tracking’ Damiao. Buying these players young is less of a risk, £12m for Wanyama. If he’s using us for 2 years, at 24 (then), if it works out in the EPL would he not be worth more? Andy Carrol was ‘worth’ £30m FFS!
Just my £0.02
Markaccus
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:16 PM
Comment #115Kets
Marv has not proved thst yet. I would exact mote than just flashes of excellence, even during his limited playing time as i outlined earlier. For every excellent moment there has been 2 or 3 times he has messed up. He does need more time on the pitch, but he needs to improve while hes there.
~Joke-innear~
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:16 PM
Comment #116http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2385951/Chelsea-tipped-win-Premier-League-Bloomberg-forecasts.html
Has us finishing 8th. Sunderland down in 15th 😛
Markaccus
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:17 PM
Comment #117*expect more
JackButler
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:17 PM
Comment #118Rowan
I’d love to see more of the ‘Rich’ clubs go that way mate
~Joke-innear~
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:17 PM
Comment #119Normally I just ignore Kets.
But Swansea and Southampton finishing above United. Come on… lets be serious here. That won’t happen
Rotonda heights
Aug 7, 2013 at 4:18 PM
Comment #120Ok you don’t have to spend fortunes, you just need a good scout and manager. We have a very good scout.
Krul Dutch international
Debuchy French international
Colo Argentine international
M’Biwa French international
Santon Italian squad member
Sissoko French international
Cabaye French international
Anita Dutch international
Ben Arfa French international
Cisse Senegal international
Remy French international
Haidara French u – 21 international
Tiote Ivory coast international
Jonas Argentine international
Gouffran French B international
Marveaux French B international
Bigirama England u-20 international