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 9:28 AM
Comment #41nomore british manager please unless we can get SAF.
toonbrother
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:28 AM
Comment #42@Rotonda heights well said. Under a manager whose unafraid to try something radically new, this team could be a top 6 contender!
believeintoon
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:28 AM
Comment #43I also think AP isn’t good enough.
He has a good relationship with the players,especially like HBA,but with this squad,he should be doing much better.
But on the other hand,I cannot believe MA will bring in a proper manager.
Maybe we will end up with JFK as the manager,which is much disasterous.
So sacking AP cannot say that it will definitly be a good decision for the club.
If they sack AP,I want to see Di Matteo as our manager.
He will do much better with this squad.
Scouse_geordie
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:30 AM
Comment #44Please change the #$@#@! record!! Why is pardew getting so much grief. The man set his team up to play a specific way, in the pre match interview he even said how he wanted to play! We were supposed to play a bit defensive and then catch them on the break, instead we defended beyond poor with possibly the most nonchalonte performance by a centre half since Taylor at Liverpool.Pardew may not be the best manager about but no one can argue that his changes weren’t correct. And it takes balls to pull your cb away from home. He is just an easy target now and his job is already hard enough seen as though he is constantly undermined by an ownerbwho wont even back him financially.
Again I’m not saying he is a great manager but I’m so bored of people blaming him when the players are the ones not even close to doing their job.
geordiemark
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:30 AM
Comment #45Diggedydaws
been one for over 50 years it never has been
GenralHez
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:31 AM
Comment #46Pards has once again failed to pick the correct players or tactics to get anything like a result.
I was pleasently suprised at Williamson, and hughly disappointed at Collo, Santon and Mbiwa.
Goofy up front instead of Cisse is the right choice.
Injuries to Taylor S and Jonas are no excuse because they are only championship class anyway and should be sold along with Shola.
If anyone suggests DiCannio now that the other numpty Mclaren is no longer available, I want some of their smoke.
TorqToon
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:31 AM
Comment #47TDS – just skimmed through the posts as about to head to work, but did somebody suggest McLaren? Surely not?! We aren’t in THAT place yet are we?
BandB
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:31 AM
Comment #48TDSarf,
Weren’t you you dissing Martinez in much the same way before the game last night?
toonbrother
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:31 AM
Comment #49what on earth does his nationality have to do with his incompetence? Rodgers, Lambert, moyes, Hughton etc Of what nationality are these managers? sheesh
Diggedydaws
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:34 AM
Comment #50Comin up for 30 of them meself at christmas Geordiemark.
Always, always feel like a cheated husband! 🙁
Santon03
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:35 AM
Comment #51believeintoon
Why wouldn’t he bring proper manager? It’s much cheaper than bringing new players that pardew wants and bring more results.
Excellent manager probably cost 3-5mil/year and probably no need for new players.
If we have proper manager, there is big posibility that he will sell a lot of players to bring in few players that he wants.
Rotonda heights
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:35 AM
Comment #52TDS
I think the obvious common denominator is that we need a good technical, continental coach and have done for a long time.
Somebody who is modern and progessive, may not have quite made it but is getting there and is on the right lines.
Villas Boas, Laudrup, Rodgers, Pochettino, Martinez are on their way now after imperfect beginnings but I’m sure Zola or Poyet could come good too. Pardew has 1 top 6th finish in nearly 16 years !!!!
ToonDarnSarf
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:36 AM
Comment #53He gets grief because he selected the team and he decides what to do behind the scenes. A 3-2 defeat at Everton is no disgrace but that first half performance was, it just seemed to carry on from Hull!
I’ve advocated time for Pardew to have a chance this season but he hasn’t got many games left to get things right. It’s not as if this is just a bad start, we’ve had a long run of poor form.
Santon03
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:36 AM
Comment #54Montella has done woderful job at Fiorentina, selling superstars and buying cheap and free players. He only bought 1 expensive player Mario Gomez.
theartfuldodger
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Comment #55Are we keeping the ball on the ground (non hoofball) at the cost of debs and santon coming forward a lot. That too without runs from players or throughballs.
When you hoof yr back four dont come forward as much.
Im not advocating hoofball, but it might be all pardews good at setting up.
scitoon
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Comment #56Aye but Pardew has an 8 year contract; will be expensive to sack him. Will Ashley dig deep to do so? Im not sure he would. On the other side, who can we hire? RDM and GZ are not exactly improvements. Whoever said Mclaren or Arry is having a laugh.
@toonbrother. Interesting point about failed partnerships with Colo. You are right on that one.
Rotonda heights
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Comment #57scouse geordie
In a word because he is s….e!!!!!!!
ToonDarnSarf
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:38 AM
Comment #58Torq
Sadly seems so! And Redknapp! We’ll have fans saying they’d prefer JFK soon…
believeintoon
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:40 AM
Comment #59Scouse
I understand what you’re saying.
But we can also say that making the players show high quality performance every game is the manager’s job as well.
What makes the teams like ManC,Chelsea,liverpool,and so on the top team is not only because of their squad and tradisions,etc…but also the players constantly show high performance.
There aren’t so much tops and downs in their performance.
ToonDarnSarf
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:40 AM
Comment #60BandB
Martinez is still unproven but he’s got off to a good start. People can’t mention a dozen managers that they wanted to replace Pardew this summer and then brag that they mentioned one who’s doing well!
If Pardew had gone then Martinez would have been on my short list but it would still have been a gamble, as it was for Everton.
Rooster
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:40 AM
Comment #61Pardew got away with a hanging last night, how can he vig up our defense all the time??? Not just thar but Everton ran right theough our tippy tappy midfield. There isnt a player in the prem who would be afraid of Anita n Sissoko. My god.
Our second half performance was improved but when we aee on kwvel terms we have not got the balls to take it to any decent team, we lack any type of real conviction, we are like bleeding custard, thats how i see most our players and certainly our manager, they do not deserve our magnificent fans. If that second half performance gad of carried on last night i expected Pardew ti get the bullet today. Skin of his teeth again, body language and motivation was awful, yea Custard Utd at this moment in time and it is embarrassing me.
ToonDarnSarf
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:43 AM
Comment #62Rotunda
I don’t think nationality has anything to do with it to be honest. Fergie had Man Utd playing much more expansive football than Mourinho at Chelsea and besides Poyet and Zola have played and managed a hell of a lot in England so a lot of their knowledge is from here.
There are plenty of bad continental managers too, fancy another Gullitt?
Scottiedog
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:43 AM
Comment #63I have to say I find reading these blogs bloody hilarious!!
Before the match last night bloggers were coming out saying that the team selection was great and congratulating Pardew for dropping Cabaye and playing a 4-3-3.
Well everyone you got what you wished for!! 4-3-3 will not work with counter attacking teams like Everton as our Midfield collapsed and our defence had to come too far forward to pick up players. IMO Ben Arfa is a tactical attacking sub if we are winning as defensively he cannot be arsed.
Deeper down the Carrs players who he has bought in have not worked to Premier League levels and he is the main cause of concern, IMHO. ALL other teams are focusing on Spain, Belgium & now Germany, yet Carr seems stuck in France?? Why??
scitoon
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:44 AM
Comment #64I honestly don’t blame the players for this one. It is all down to tactics and Pardew not doing his homework. Time and again we lose the 1st half but come back in the 2nd once we have made changes. I have been pro Pardew far too long but ive had enough now.
Santon03
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:44 AM
Comment #65Scitoon
There is Marcello Lippi
HullMag6
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:47 AM
Comment #66Is hiddink still unattached?
If Ash will pay his rate though?
scitoon
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:47 AM
Comment #67@scottiedog Pardew did well going back for to the 4-3-3 but this is one plus in a sea of negatives. Last night tactics were all over the place. As you say 4-3-3 was useless against Everton…Pardew should of packed the midfield and kept HBA as a late impact sub. Our french contigent are not to blame here. Tactics and Pardew’s inability to choose the right one.
Wiz
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:48 AM
Comment #68Any new manager would need to win the confidence of the dressing room immediately. Steve McClaren would have been a poor choice for us, because he might think he can speak French by speaking English with a funny accent, and frankly, and more seriously, I think he is a busted flush and would be floundering in today’s Premiership. It’s a shame we have missed the boat with Rudi Garcia. He developed Hazard and has coached the best Lille team for years. I don’t know why they sacked him. He is not free at the moment, and would not come, but he is the kind of guy I would suggest Newcastle need. A good coach, a savvy manager, and experienced in European competitions.
scitoon
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:48 AM
Comment #69Santon are you suggesting Lippi as our nxt manager? How much would he cost………
believeintoon
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:49 AM
Comment #70Santon
I think if we look at who MA has brought in as our manager,we cannot expect good things.
Allardyce,Keegan,Hughton,Kinnear,Shearer,Pardew
MA doesn’t have great connection in the football world,so there aren’t so much choices for him.
Do you think MA has the power to bring a manager like Montella?
Besides,who wants to work for under an owner who refuses to pay to strengh the squad and lack ambition.
Lilongwe Geordie
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:50 AM
Comment #71Di Matteo got sacked for taking West Brom to the brink of relegation. For Zola read West Ham.
Martinez isn’t a great manager, but he has been well backed by his chairman getting Lukaku and McCarthy. I think as time goes on his team will start to unravel. Defensively they were not great yesterday, and when we put them under pressure they struggled.
As for it not being Pards fault, well, to a point that holds true. Certain players, and we all know who they were, put in performances that were just plain and simple shambolic. But at the end of the day, it is his job to get them playing well, and operating as a team. Something we still seem to fail to do despite a starting 11 and 2 subs where only 1 (Goofy) hasn’t featured for their full national side in the past 18months.
HullMag6
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:52 AM
Comment #72Is hiddink still unattached?
If Ash will pay his rate and would he come?
Quality has a price, a concept lost on Ashley & Sports Direct.
Ian Toon
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:53 AM
Comment #73Aside from the abject defending, Everton gave us a master class in the art of power, pace and precision. Lukaku demonstrated a strong and powerful but skilfull demolition of our CB’s. He scored two and made another for Barkley.
An inquest into the abject defending will not put matters right unless individual players take responsibility on the field because too many just bottled it. Coloccini is a shadow of the player he was a couple of seasons ago and gave a timid performance.
Kinnear prevented Douglas and Redmond joining us at a minimum cost and his remit was to look at the squad and it’s needs. We are for ever saying we need a reaction from the team to a setback but we need to get something from the Cardiff game.
I understand that the various action groups were prevented by Everton stewards from showing dissent towards our esteemed owner. They had to abandon banners or not get into the ground.
JaxtheMag
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:54 AM
Comment #74we are a club in crisis, the manager should walk or sacked,we have very average players. things have to change soon or we are going down.
scitoon
Oct 1, 2013 at 9:56 AM
Comment #75@ ian
Douglas plays for a mid table Russian side that narrowly avoided relegation last season. Hardly the kind of player we need to improve us.
ArtyH
Oct 1, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Comment #76Just my little bit. As I stated earlier in the week Pardew set up not to lose, it all went wrong in the first half so it was $hite or bust in the second, he had no choice! Yes he changed it, but it was forced on him, there is a big difference. His tactics are woefully inept. If he is NOT shown the door we will be in big trouble and suffer dreadful games to watch. He will NOT change! He needs to be changed! The only person available at this time is RDM, not my first choice, but we did not go for Rafa at the close of the season so options very limited.
On the plus side was pleased with the way Williamson performed last night cos usually he is poor, a good well done. Cabaye played well when he came on, and Goofy has proved he is worth a starting place, covered every blade of grass, reminded me a bit of Beardo, but not there yet by a long way, showed heart though. Remy was not given the service until 2nd half but showed AGAIN he is class and worth whatever QPR want for him, if he would want to stay that is, and at the moment who could blame him for wanting to go back to his home club, it may be small but it looks like it is run correctly and the manager knows what he is doing.
Rant over.
Ben3arfa
Oct 1, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Comment #77If you think Pardew is a good manager and isnt to blame for us losing games please do yourself a favour and jump off the nearest skyscraper .
ballerfan2
Oct 1, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Comment #78I do feel sorry for Pardew (up to a point). Collo is without doubt missed when he’s not there but had a shocker in the first half. I thought he was so much better in the second half, reading situations before they progressed out of his control. His lack of pace means he can’t recover once the ball is past him. That is M’biwa’s strength on the other hand. Who could have foreseen that both, IMO still our best 2 central defenders, would have their worst 45 mins together. Williamson, with a fraction of the talent of M’biwa, showed him what was required in the second half and thankfully Collo recovered his composure. Santon was shocking throughout and Dummet should get a chance now. Although Debuchy had a torrid first half I actually thought he came on to a decent second half. Anyone else think he is probably the best header of the ball along with Willo? I am beginning to really like Gouffran- he was everywhere last night (and needed to be).
One thing though. If we had had a second half like Everton last night from 3 goals up, everyone would have blamed Pardew for going defensive. Let’s get real and stop blaming Pardew for everything that goes wrong.
Wandering Geordie
Oct 1, 2013 at 10:19 AM
Comment #79The curtain will come down on the glazier and the Sunday league coach at Cardiff.I believe Fatley has someone lined up in due course.Only pluses from last night Gouffran Williamson and the hilarious beard donned by Howard reminiscent of those old magnetic identikits we had as kids.
ArtyH
Oct 1, 2013 at 10:24 AM
Comment #80A bit more, why were we not in for the loan of Lukaku? Where is Douglas now, he was a free. Why were we not in for Mccarthy also, R.M played a blinder getting him to follow him to Goodison.
At the moment I do not look forward to matches any more as I know what to expect, A.P has played all his cards and has a losing hand, so is going through the pack again. M.A should bring in an assistant manager and then sideline A.P ( make tea, sell nuts etc ) and hopefully he would resign if he had any respect for himself and the club.