Alan Pardew has said today that the squad’s trip to Abu Dhabi was arranged before Newcastle went out of the FA Cup at the first attempt – again – when we lost at home to Cardiff City – a team that had now won in their previous ten games before beating a poor Newcastle side 2-1.
Alan Pardew – Abu Dhabi trip arranged before Cardiff loss
And after the beat Newcastle they lost 2-0 at home last week in their next game to Newcastle’s opponents today – West Ham.
There’s nothing wrong with having a mid-winter break, it’s just that it comes after we were simply hopeless ion that FA Cup tie, so the fans are not too happy right now – although we were so much better last week against a top side Manchester City – but still list again.
This is what Alan told the Shields Gazette today:
“Our fans need to know we booked this before we went out of the cup.” “We were thinking about doing a mini-break, like we did when we finished fifth.”
“We lost the first game when we came back, but we went on a terrific run afterwards. We’d done so much work.” “This would have been our prep for the fourth round, but unfortunately we got knocked out.”
“We’re coming back on Thursday. It’ll be three or four days’ work in the sun. That’s all.” “We’re not the only team,” “All the teams are going to go out there at some stage.” “I think there are a few foreign teams out there at the moment.”
“The only disappointing thing is that there are suggestions we’re doing it in the cup week – it was always going to be done this week.”
We are hoping that Fitness Director Fay Downey is on the trip and then we’ll know the lads will be put through their paces, and we should have a very fit side for the run-in to the season.
And with Mathieu Debuchy back for the next game at West Ham and Colo back a couple of games after that we should be at full strength soon too.
We need a strong finish to the season in the remaining 17 league games.
Comments welcome.
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2 comments so far
Ian Toon
Jan 18, 2014 at 9:06 AM
Comment #1Anita the Legend and rivettCatcher- I personally don’t have a spare ticket but the toon army fans will be in the Duke of Edinburgh ( Green Street) a few minutes down the road from Upton Park underground station. After 12 noon the pub will be buzzing.
At the ground were in the Trevor Brooking lower stand and fans from time to time have travelled with a spare ticket. Good Luck.
Ian Toon
Jan 18, 2014 at 9:20 AM
Comment #2jazzyp
The lack of the regulars you seek on here has nothing to do with the teams performance but the boring daily regurgitation of the same posted drivel.
I know I am not alone in preferring to read the passionate toon fan who doesn’t constantly plug an agenda but is interesting , amusing, witty, imaginative and informative.
HWTL.