One of the things Alan Pardew said before the Sunderland game yesterday was that his players had question marks over their heads after the terrible display in April when Sunderland beat us 3-0 – but he pointed out the side had just had a tough Europa League game the Thursday night before against Benfica, and his players were drained – and presumably that’s why we lost that game?
Fabio Borini – after scoring the winner yesterday after 84 minutes
We had a week’s rest before the game yesterday, and we were still out fought by a Sunderland side who started this game like their lives depended on winning it – they hustled and harried Newcastle players all the time – so how come our players started the game like it was a Sunday afternoon stroll?
It certainly brings Alan Pardew’s motivation skills into question, if he cannot get his players to start a derby game like a steam train, and of course it brings into question the character of the players who have played in the last two Sunderland defeats.
This is what Alan Pardew had said before yesterday’s game:
“This group of players have had question marks hanging over them at times, particularly after that derby defeat last year.” “I’ve never doubted the spirit in the group but sometimes you need a game like Liverpool when you are reduced to ten men for it to come to the fore”
Alan Pardew will now be under considerable pressure, but that’s what you get when you are Newcastle manager and lose twice in a row to Sunderland, and it didn’t help Alan that he seemed to be blaming the referee for Sunderland’s winning goal.
He should look at why not one Newcastle player tried to close down Fabio Borini when he took the ball forward and unleashed a terrific shot from just outside the penalty box that screamed past Tim Krul.
It’s best that Alan Pardew take this one the chin, but we need to see some improved performances from the side, and yesterday’s game was the first of four tough games, and we now have to face Manchester City (h), Chelsea (h) and Tottenham (a).
And to think that Sunderland was by far the easiest of those four games. 🙁
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
26 comments so far
catchy in norway
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:31 AM
Comment #1golden boy
you have a voice , use it, by telling others to be quite your given the impression your ok with it,
T4C is needed , and us as fans need to stand together and get what we want,
Barca wake white hankies to let them know the manger is not good enough, this is what we should do,
now more than ever , pardew was one of the one who went against the local press , the press will be on our side to, journos stick together ,
Santon03
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:32 AM
Comment #2The question mark should be on the manager not players.
Just look at Poyet given the same team that can’t win a game and hey! they won against us.
Rotonda heights
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:33 AM
Comment #3Ed
Sadly with that ridiculous contract pardeww ill be under absolutely zero pressure
JAMSHA
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:34 AM
Comment #4PARDEW IS A SCUM… JST SACK HIM
HE OFFERS PASSION JST LIKE THE SCUMS NOTHING ELSE
geordieboy83
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:36 AM
Comment #5Laurent Robert
It’s not me backing down mate I honestly feel some of what catchy said in his previous post is spot on. Only issue for me personally is that his good comments tend to be outshone by the daft ones. Not a huge amount has changed, I’ll admit. But we are knocking the ball about better. Still not fluent by any stretch. Some players are out of position granted. He is not a good manager I am fully behind that. It’s just incessant nagging that irks me. Finishing 5th I was proud as punch, but hearing people complain we bottled it and could’ve finished 3rd. I mean come on lol
Catchy
It’s nowt personal mate as I say it’s just tiresome seeing our fans turn against the club when it at certain times is unwarranted.
BuckLuck
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:36 AM
Comment #6Jail for Ashley
It was on everybodys lips after the last season – Pardew was told to play more attractive. Even a fool like Ashley saw that Pardew played terrible football.
If Pardew had a choice he would play 451 or 442 hoofing it up to a big and strong player. And fair to him, that would probably work out a lot better if we only focus on results. But sadly though, that’s the only way Pardew knows how to balance a team. He is not a modern manager. It’s as simple as that.
Santon03
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Comment #7Ed
If you know Ashley’s email or contact number, please let him know that all will be forgiven and forgotten if he just sack pardew and replace him with foreign manager.
Ciaran
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Comment #8Sports Direct’s growth is more to do with the recession? Sage, it would appear that a certain blogger is rubbing off on you.
If you’re claiming that Sports Direct’s growth has little or nothing to do with the huge exposure Ashley has gotten from Newcastle United then I think you are being more than a little bit deluded.
catchy in norway
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:38 AM
Comment #9how could he be, he has convinced Ashley that he is god when it comes to football , and that Ashley is to confused to understand it
martoon
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:38 AM
Comment #10I always reserve judgement before commenting but I was gutted at how we played yesterday. I normally defend Pardew and his team selection was OK but it was the lack of fight that annoyed me. It was obvious Sunderland would be up for it and come at us hard for the first 20 minutes and we seemed to be surprised. The substitutions were completely baffling especially the first one of Cisse for Sissoko. Cisse has no current form and although Sissoko was not having the greatest game he was adding some bite to midfield which is where we were being out played. Surely Shola (because he has an edge over them) for Gouffran (who was anonymous) would have made much more sense. Then taking Reme off (our top goal scorer) at the end made no sense either and still Gouffran stayed on until being subbed by Sammy which was then too late. A brace decision would have been to, say, sub Cisse for Shola and leave Reme on. Of course it may have made no difference but it least it would have shown some intent.
geordieboy83
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:39 AM
Comment #11Catchy
I know mate we all want change, I can never silence your opinion. I’m not asking you to be quiet just hopefully see the real negative stuff and not just look for anything to complain about. : )
toonarmydownsouth
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:40 AM
Comment #12Sorry for the repost!
toonarmydownsouth // Oct 28, 2013 at 8:52 AM
I’m seriously worried about our next 3 games tbh lads, and think yesterday’s result was genuinely a disaster, not because it was a derby , but because we were facing the team planted on the bottom of league and who were woeful out of form, yes our aspirations are to finish mid table, but that means we have to be winning games like the scum away and hull at home
We’re now going in to face citeh with our confidence shot, and I doubt were going to name an all star line up!
Then on to chelski, who are absolutely on fire
Then to spuds, who despite not playing well are certainly getting the run if the green with there pen decisions and will be facing a team who have had 2 of there four CB’s sent off this season!
Pardew and the team have well and truly put the pressure on themselves now and we could easily be in another relegation battle come Xmas looking at our fixtures IF he can’t get the players to respond in positive manner
The big question over the next 5-6 games is which NUFC will turn up?
As for Ashley…
He has now upset the local media, the local council and the fans, the life blood of the club
He has somehow through, as our manager admitted, his own childish temper put the club in a stand off position with the city
The club is now fractured completely from it’s once proud heritage and is relationship with city is in tatters
For me there is no way back now for Ashley and it’s completely self inflicted
Sage
A couple of points on the last post,
A) why wouldn’t SD pay like wonga for the sponsorship? Why pay when you can plaster it all over the stadium for free and have the same effect?
B) your right fergie did ban the BBC, over an documentary about his son, not because a local paper covering a story
Also man utd were in a constant battle with fergie as they were being heavily fined by the BBC every week!
Not even in the slightest similar situations for me
Jesper
Yet again another post from you which either has no real point or more realistically makes absolutely no sense, once again you’ve dragged out a criticism of one player (whilst completley ignoring the points along with conveniently ignoring counter points and the fact nobody is actually blaming the loss on benny as you keep putting) into a long winded pointless debate just like you managed last season!
Himanshu Dhingra
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:41 AM
Comment #13Two of Sunderland’s last three BPL wins have come against Newcastle
Toon-Prodigy
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:41 AM
Comment #14That team was lacking passion yesterday. It was lacking bite and fight.
We need some English lads in sharpish, it was all to telling yesterday for me.
Would we of lost that game yesterday with Nolan, Barton and the two Taylors?
What has Sissoko been scranning?
Santon03
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:42 AM
Comment #15Ciaran
Exposure from NUFC? Most people from all over the world didn’t know what NUFC is.
Even most tv station didn’t show NUFC games, even some online streaming shows NUFC games.
We are not big global team.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:43 AM
Comment #16TP,
We need Ashley out.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:46 AM
Comment #17Santon,
Where was global mentioned, Sky Sports and football are huge here and the first thing you see when a shot of SJP is shown is a red and blue SD sign, the power of advertising is huge.
catchy in norway
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:48 AM
Comment #18golden boy
5th was fantastic , and he settled for that , make no mistake about it, 3rd was up for grabs,
and if this is the worst thing iv said that makes you get a little annoyed , I worry about you and what you know about football
it’s 90 mins of football , you play to win , you play for the full 90
I can understand in some games if you are winning you might want to see the game out for the last 5 mins
pardew can try and see 60 mins out and sit on a 1-0 against a poor team
Edd Case
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:48 AM
Comment #19Well, here’s where I’m at right now.
Yesterday, was the first derby day that I can ever remember in 36 years of loyal support of NUFC that I actually didn’t really care.
Well, I did, enough to put the TV on and watch the game but the whole game, from start to finish just had a complete feel of nothingness again…
I can’t explain it but it’s something like, the excitement, the buzz, the passion, the belief, the proudness of being a Geordie and die-hard Newcastle fan in me, at least, has just gone.
It’s like losing your mojo.
How can any of us get inspired when week in, week out, we’re left with so many more questions than answers.
It all, as always, boils down to one man, Ashley. Is he really a passionless, gutless loser? A multi-billionaire but squeaks when he walks.
Ashley just completely got wrong what buying a football club is all about. You ‘could’ make this club so much bigger, better, but you settle for mid-table (at best) averageness of gigantic proportions.
Any other club with any other fan base would have deserted you a long time ago but we’re starting to go more and more now…I know I am.
I want my club back.
I want the passion back.
I don’t really care if we lose 3-4 again to the bin-dippers if we play like we did then – because that would be progress from where we are now, something to build on, we were so close all them years ago, we could be there again if we had an owner with passion, Christ Ashley, how much money do you need man?
I’ve had it with Pardew. He’s clueless and the players do not play for him, they do not show any passion and they are all going to be looking for the exit door soon.
We need a fresh, new direction, a youthful manager with a clear vision. Someone that will bond the players again and get them playing like surely they can.
HBA – what’s happened to you again?
Sissoko, Cisse, Cabaye, Mapou and so on – these players are international quality players…sadly, until they pull on our strips – that’s got to be Pardew’s fault.
So, Ashley, new manager, new staff, new direction, new tactics, new players in Jan and something else that’ll be new for you too, PASSION for our (your) club.
Santon03
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:49 AM
Comment #20So.. you are saying that SD growth due to people watching NUFC playing football like last season?
stuart no9
Oct 28, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Comment #21You know what ? I feel it is the start of the fall of the regime . Ok Ash is thick skinned and a selfish tw@t , however , he is upsetting more and more people . He is uncomfortable at he minute , banning the media tells me all is not going smoothly in that mixed up head of his . He is not happy , and he is at a point where he thinks the whole Geordie nation and football in General are against him – they are . He is no good in football , there is no Place for him , as for pardew – his days are numbered – we as fans must stick together. Fight the cause , protest week in week out he is getting rattled , yep he might fu@k the club up before he goes , but the most important thing is that he does go nufc will bounce back better and stronger , but be patient . It will happen .
wynsleap
Oct 28, 2013 at 10:15 AM
Comment #22This club is really starting to go rotten from the inside outwards.
Beginning with Ashley, through to Kinnear, Pardew and the utterly hopeless coaching team, it needs a complete clear out.
As far as I can see, fans are not only losing patience they are losing interest and that is even more dangerous.
After we’ve lost the next three games (and I’m pretty sure that will be the case) I hope every Toon fan gets behind the Time4Change bandwagon and joins the challenge of getting rid of this whole useless, lying, devious, unprofessional and unambitious shower.
We all need to be together if we are ever to, at the least, honestly compete in the Premiership.
And please don’t give me “be careful what you wish for”,
“look at Leeds and Portsmouth”, “Ashley might cut our inheritance/electricity/goolies off” etc.
Grow some for Hell’s sake!
fatash
Oct 28, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Comment #23Players Have Even More Question Marks Over Them Now
what way we kicking then? is there a team plan? what is my position? who is that annoying bloke with the silver hair? what is a corner? can I shoot from inside our half? which is our half? do I have to pass the ball? what am I doing here? how much am I getting paid? why is it important we win?
fatash
Oct 28, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Comment #24So sorry I could not resist, brings me to my own question mark why have I suffered this for 52 years?
Ancientcoptic
Oct 28, 2013 at 2:27 PM
Comment #25Typical reactionary sour puss comments & as predicted, the blog sewing the seeds of discontent.
Try a reality check! Sunderland were very lucky and a draw would have been the correct result.
We were the better side AWAY from home playing with our LAST CHOICE centreback, and a rookie left back playing alongside him.
Lord almighty, it is not the end of the world.
Faustino11
Oct 28, 2013 at 7:29 PM
Comment #26Lets just face it. Our team is the result of years of mistakes by management and owners (apart from mr hughton). Worst ran club ever. No wonder we r crap. We have bit part players. How many “complete” players do we have? Answer – none. Pacey wingers with crossing and dribbling ability – none. Forwards that can hold the ball up and lead the line – none. Tall lean centre halves that can mark tackle with a bit of pace who can win headers both ends of pitch – none. Central midefielder with consistant arriving in the box to join the two strikers – none. Anchor man with tackling ability and discipline – none. Left with junk. Players that aint nowt or summit.