Last season Newcastle United went though a terrible string of games at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, and in the 13 league games from November 11th and the 1-0 defeat by West Ham at home, to the 2-1 defeat at home by Reading on 19th January, Newcastle had only 7 points – two wins and a draw out of a possible 39 points.
Alan Pardew – under pressure
In the Premier League, and especially at Newcastle, that’s cause for concern, and remember Chris Hughton was fired in December, 2010 when he picked up only two points in five league games, but in the previous three league games before that we had beaten West Ham away, Sunderland at home and Arsenal away – and we had hammered Sunderland 5-1 – our biggest win in eons.
So in those last eight league games Chris and Newcastle had picked up 11 points – but he was still shockingly fired.
Mike Ashley came in after the Norwich defeat in January, and to his credit brought in five good French players, and we just survived relegation last season.
But Alan Pardew will now be under pressure to start winning games, and there’s at least four reasons for that:
- Newcastle now have a much better squad and we should be seeing improved performances in the league, especially when we haven’t got any European games
- Alan Pardew needs to prove he’s the right man for the job, after last season poor performance
- We’re 5th bottom of the league – not where we expected to be after six games – and two very poor performances in the last two league games when we’ve conceded six goals
- Injuries to top players were a problem last season, but we’ve had almost a full squad available so far this season
The conventional wisdom is that Chris Hughton was fired because the then Managing Director Derek LLambias wanted a manager who would be more involved in the transfers, and was just waiting for a poor run of form to get rid of Hughton, and had refused to give Chris a new contract after we were promoted.
And Llambias was a big backer of Alan Pardew during the bad times last season, but he is no longer with the club, and instead we have Joe Kinnear in that position – which may not be good for Alan Pardew, and why he may now be under extreme pressure.
The game at Cardiff City is now an important game for Newcastle, and we cannot have another horror show like the one we had in the first half last night, and there’s no doubt Alan Pardew is now under pressure to deliver some wins.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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89 comments so far
Santon03
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:06 AM
Comment #1Malta mag
I think it’s because Simpson didn’t want to sign new contract and asking for more money.
ToonDarnSarf
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:06 AM
Comment #2On paper we have the best defence that we’ve had for years but the first and third goals yesterday were just pathetic! A Sunday league team would be ashamed at conceding those!
In attack we’re looking ok with some nice options and variety, ironic considering the desire for a striker!
We have other options in defence and things got better when Willo came on so we either need to start with different players or they really have screwed up badly assessing the abilities of those players.
Diggedydaws
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:06 AM
Comment #3We all must be nursing wounds from last nights abismal 1st half performance but I said last season Colo can’t defend a straight ball over the top.
Defence needs an overhaul or at the very least a new manager! 😛
Ciaran
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:08 AM
Comment #4Pardew is a symptom of the disease, not the disease itself. Flush out the root of the problem and we can move forward as a club.
ToonDarnSarf
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:09 AM
Comment #5Oh…and if Simpson and Perch are so good, why did they end up in the championship?
We wanted players good enough for the top half of the PL and we bought the French right back and an up and coming centre back also in the French squad. Shame France aren’t that good any more…
toonbrother
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:09 AM
Comment #6the best choice to replace pardumb – mclaren- has just been snapped up by derby. Unless Sir Arry Redknapp comes available i dont see how this season can be salvaged even if Pardumb gets what he deserves. His P45
Diggedydaws
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:10 AM
Comment #7I also think we need some british players as unfortunately the frenchies aint got the required minerals for the physical nature of the league.
Everton, kicked, niggled and bullied us in to submission in the opening half hour and after that the job was done.
I think Martinez has the measure of |Pardew’s teams in that respect.
Lilongwe Geordie
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:11 AM
Comment #8While Cabaye and Willo defintely made a difference, it is difficult to tell how much. You see it all the time in games like that, a team takes a comfy lead into half time and they ease off in the second half. For all our improved performance in the second half other than Goofy’s shot which hit the post they had the better chances.
Santon was awful last night. Mirallas and Coleman took the piss out of him all game, as did Deulofeu when he came on. I’ll ignore his 2 shocking free kicks.
HBA was poor, and rightly removed at half time. He wasn’t crowded out this time, he just wasn’t good enough to cause problems.
Remy suffered from the same problems Cisse has, isolation.
MYM and Colo were tormented by Lukaku – what a player that boy is and will be. Obviously he wasn’t better than we have as no one was available at an affordable price (loan) that was better than what we have.
Cardiff up next, that and Sunderland are the only games I see as point gaining games in the next 5.
Very worrying how easy it was for Everton last night. Scoring twice is papering over fissures not cracks. Ashley looked distinctly unimpressed when the camera was on him. I reckon Pards is on the ropes now, Cardiff could be his tipping point if we don’t get anything there.
Diggedydaws
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:11 AM
Comment #9Toonbrother, are u off your nut??
Mclaren? OMG I must still be drunk and still asleep! It’s a nightmare…has to be
Rotonda heights
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:12 AM
Comment #10Santon 03
llambias may have given pardew the contract but surely ash would have had to have sanctioned it?
Zola would be a great shout
geordiemark
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:12 AM
Comment #11ashley couldnt shock me at any thing he does, mr ashley just sack pardew now and go for zola and back him up with players
theartfuldodger
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:12 AM
Comment #12Delaying the sack will be disastrous.
Pardew will mentally damage the squad beyond repair.
Santon03
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:12 AM
Comment #13Rotonda
Arsenal have 3 germans
We have 11 french not including reserve and frnch speaking players.
I think we have more french players than ligue 1 teams.
ToonDarnSarf
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:13 AM
Comment #14McLaren and Redknapp?? Are you mad? Just because they’re both English?!
No thanks.
BonVoyageBenny
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:13 AM
Comment #15Williamson made a huge difference last night, Yanga Mbiwa and Coloccini were very very poor. I don’t know what the situation is with Steven Taylor’s injury but I’d be tempted to play him and Williamson at Cardiff, if fit.
Rotonda heights
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:14 AM
Comment #16diggedy
I notice that arsenal now have 3 germans – coincidence?
Lilongwe Geordie
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:14 AM
Comment #17I will say this for Everton, if they can keep Barkley and McCarthy together they have a partnership that in the future will match the best the Prem has to offer. Both have everything you could want in a midfielder.
geordiemark
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:15 AM
Comment #18I reckon the cardiff game might just be pardews last in charge
Santon03
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:16 AM
Comment #19Rotonda
I don’t Llambias need to have permision from Ashley since he was being Managing Director.
MD doesn’t have to ask the owner for every decision.
jimmysmith
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:16 AM
Comment #20How about Gianfranco Zola?
Doesn’t he have Watford knocking it around well and don’t we have the players to do that and mightn’t he be one of the few realistic candidates who might just fancy it?
Of course any compensation payment doubtless would come out of the clubs coffers, meaning even less money for a new manager to reshape the side in his image,
geordiemark
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:16 AM
Comment #21Lilongwe Geordie
yep I agree with you there, ive always liked everton they harras players there at there throats the way our players should be but there not I wonder why
Ciaran
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Comment #22So people think that by sacking Pardew that will cure us of all manner of ills?
Are you forgetting that Ashley would only replace Pardew with someone who he can control as easily as AP, and here’s a little newsflash folks, top quality managers do not allow themselves to be controlled, so we wouldn’t get a top quality manager in, or even a good manager in. If we managed to bring one in you can sure as hell bet that it would lead to a massive public fall out a la Keegan style which would turn Newcastle United into a circus once more.
The ringleader needs to be removed.
ToonDarnSarf
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:18 AM
Comment #23Why is Zola a great shout? What has he done to deserve to manage our club? Same goes for Poyet. Even Di Matteo didn’t do much for West Brom, wasn’t he sacked? Did ok at Chelsea (winning the CL obviously is a big feather in his cap) but why no big clubs in for him yet? He knew Chelsea very well so that’s an advantage. He’s probably the best shout of the available managers with experience of the PL though.
New manager is a gamble though, but a gamble I reckon we’ll have to take if we don’t beat Cardiff and have a more comfortable defensive display.
geordiemark
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:18 AM
Comment #24jimmysmith
yep zolas my man for the job alright, hes doing a fantastic job at watford, they dont let many goals in but they know how to play football alright
jimmysmith
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:21 AM
Comment #25I think Di Matteo, with that FA cup and CL on his recent CV might want a little more than old beer bottle pockets would care to part with.
Santon03
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:21 AM
Comment #26Somehow I still think that pardew wasn’t Ashley’s decision. he just didn’t know which manager to hire, I still think pardew is legacy of Llambias.
Btw who is the current MD?
Diggedydaws
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:21 AM
Comment #27Geordiemark,
That’s how I would like to see us setting up, pressing much higher up the park (FFS we apparently have the best fitness coach going ), we sit back far too much and the type of central defensive paring we have is not inclined to deal with the type of pressure that invites.
I will say this mind…although I think Pardew sets his stall out wrongly all too often the players, full backs especially need to be held accountable, the were awful and have been ( barring 2 decent run outs for Debuchy ) since the start of the season.
toonbrother
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:22 AM
Comment #28Redknapp is a turnaround specialist. Took Spurs from bottom 3 to champions league (thrice in 4 years). Mclaren has won leagues in the England with ManU, Holland with Twente, coached Bundesliga champions and the English national team. He also took lowly Boro to European finals. You cannot tell me he wouldnt be a massive upgrade to Pardumb
ToonDarnSarf
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:22 AM
Comment #29Hmmm…Zola…about 5 years experience and his only experience in the top flight led to him getting sacked by West Ham. I’m not saying he wouldn’t come good but he’s hardly got the best CV
Lilongwe Geordie
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:22 AM
Comment #30McClaren and Redknapp?? And people complain Ashley wants us to be no more than mid table?
I still think Beardsley will be one of the more likely candidates should Pards go, which worries me just as much!
The only little smattering of enjoyment I got last night was I backed 3-2 both ways, and with Lukaku and Cabaye scoring I am now top of the Premier league Fantasy football for Malawi!
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:22 AM
Comment #31Not all Pardews fault
Most supporters would of probably started the same team.
Just the application of our players except Goufran
First half they were SHITE, CLUELESS, GUTLESS
Relegation written all over
Second half EXCELLENT
Top ten
Don’t know how much Everton took off the gas pedal mind you
WILL THE REAL NEWCASTLE UNITED STEP FORWARD
Sorry to say but Ben Arfa is a luxury we cannot afford.
Give me Williamson any day over Mbiwa and Taylor, might not be the most gifted footballer but keeps it simple and can tackle and head the ball.
Krul CHICKEN for the third goal shut his eyes and turned his back – bottle gone since his injury against the Mackems.
PS Goufran Man of the match for the TOON – by a mile!!!!!!!!!
I would start with Williamson and Dummet as two of our back four.
cabaye if fit in for Ben Arfa
Diggedydaws
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:23 AM
Comment #32@ Ciaran.
Agreed, chop the top off the tree! But cannit see it happening anytime soon bud!
Rotonda heights
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:23 AM
Comment #33Ciaran,
That squad is top 10 in any one’s book, with these alone
Remy once valued at 20m
Sissoko once valued at 22M
M’Biwa once valued at 13.5M
Cabaye valued at 15M
Marveaux once valued at 8M
With a different manager we’d see a completely different mindset with these players. I don’t blame Ash for the squad but as their respective CVs show Pardew and JFK aren’t fit for purpose for a club with 52000 home fans and were stupid appointments by Ashley.
Villas Boas, Laudrup, Rodgers, Pochettino, Martinez etc is the level of manager we should be aspiring to, ie up and coming as we will never get a Benitez etc.
Santon03
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:24 AM
Comment #34I will be very happy if we can get temporary manager until world cup ends. Prandelli will resign as Italy coach, he is attack minded manager who can manage Balotelli.
Diggedydaws
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:24 AM
Comment #35@ Charlie, well put.
toonbrother
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:26 AM
Comment #36@ 15BonVoyageBenny Spot on mate.
Unfortunately Pardumb is too dumb to see the folly in this endless merrygoround of partners for colocinni . Bassong, Saylor, Willo, Perch, Mbiwa and now back to Willo. All failed partnerships.
Last time Willo and colocinni played together results got so bad and Willo was so ruthlessly scapegoated he was banished to the reserves by Pardumb no less. Now MYM is the scapegoat of the day and willo is back in favour till he falls out again. When will Pardumb learn? WHEN????
Santon03
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:26 AM
Comment #37why nobody mentioned Anita, I thought he was great.
jimmysmith
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:26 AM
Comment #38No, I agree, Zola doesn’t set the pulse racing, but would any Ashley appointment likely do that.
geordiemark
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:27 AM
Comment #39pardew has to go its as simple as that hes had a lot longer then other managers would have got at other clubs so ashley has to act or his money making machine wont be one anymore so its up to you ashley do you make a move or not
Diggedydaws
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:27 AM
Comment #40It’s no fun being a toon supporter eh?!