Newcastle’s owner Mike Ashley is said to be furious with manager Alan Pardew, for Newcastle’s third straight defeat against Sunderland for the first time in 91 years, and it was the second time in succession that we have lost 3-0 at St. James’ Park.
Mike Ashley – furious about Sunderland loss
But it doesn’t seem to us the Newcastle manager has had too much help from the owner, after he sold Yohan Cabaye to PSG last week, didn’t replace him, and there was no sign of Mike Ashley or his conduit Director of Football Joe Kinnear, at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
But after what has happened last week, it would take a ruthless and thoughtless owner to fire the manager, after he has just sold his best player and not replaced him.
So it looks like that is possible.
Alan Pardew has made it clear all this season, and last month too, that selling Yohan Cabaye without bringing in a replacement would be a mistake – but that’s exactly what Mike Ashley did.
Rather than sacking Alan Pardew, maybe Mike should be explaining to the Newcastle fan base – what he was doing last week when he weakened Newcastle’s side for the rest of this season.
This is some of what Alan Pardew has said about the situation today:
“I’m a professional manager.” “If I was in charge, solely, of transfers things might be different but I’m not. I think I’ve made my opinions very clear this week and all the rest of it is confidential.”
That’s as close as Alan can get to laying the blame for the mess squarely at Mike Ashley’s feet.
It would be a bit rich if Alan Pardew is fired, and while we don’t expect that to happen, we wouldn’t be surprised at anything Mike Ashley does, given his mistake ridden tenure of Newcastle United over the last six and a half years.
The Newcastle fans are simply furious with everything that has gone on this last week, topped off by another humiliating 3-0 defeat at home by Sunderland, for the second season running.
It seems the owner is furious too.
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112 comments so far
firebug666
Feb 3, 2014 at 7:57 AM
Comment #81Full transcript of Alan Pardew’s post-derby press conference
Question: It’s a tough question to ask you but is the club, as it stands, capable of making permanent signings?
Pardew: “Well …”
Press officer: “I think that’s an unfair one to ask the manager.”
Question: But it’s two transfer windows without one now and Alan said …”
Pardew: “I’ve got no comment to make on that one.”
Question: You said at the start of last wee week that the club can’t not replace Yohan, but that’s exactly what happened.
Pardew: “I didn’t particularly say in this window though. I said, you know, we’ve got to get players of that class, there’s no doubt about that. So don’t try and angle that for this window because I think that’s unfair on me.”
Question: You said ‘we need to bring someone in, for sure. We can’t lose someone of his quality and not replace him. That would leave us vulnerable’. Do you stand by that?
Pardew: “Well, I’ve said it, ain’t I? But I’m meaning in the long-term as well as the short-term, that it’s the quality we need. And, you know, today has been a tough day for us and I don’t really want to add any more to it, to be honest.”
Question: Part of the problem you’ve got is that if you don’t speak out against not getting a replacement it makes it look as though you’re going along with the decisions the board is making and therefore you get criticism heaped on your shoulders and take the blame for that.
Pardew: “Yeah, I’m a professional manager. You know, if I was in charge, solely, of transfers, the answer might be different, but I’m not.”
Question: It does feel sometimes that you’re being asked to manage with your hands tied behind your back.
Press officer: “These are all quite unfair questions.”
Question: Unfortunately the manager is the only person who will speak for the club. Silence.
Question: Alan, is there a collective blame for today, from the top of the club, right down to on the pitch?
Pardew: “The only way I can answer what has happened today is that it’s a disappointing day for the club.”
Question: What do you say to Mike Ashley and Joe Kinnear when you’re having those discussions on Friday and it’s clear you’re not going to get a replacement (for Cabaye)? Do you make your opinions clear on that?
Pardew: “I think I’ve made my opinion very clear this week and all the rest of it is confidentiality.”
Question: How do you lift yourself?
Pardew: “I’ll be alright.” Walks off.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 3, 2014 at 7:57 AM
Comment #82Catchy,
You really don’t get it do you.
Crawley80
Feb 3, 2014 at 7:59 AM
Comment #83Get Ketsbia in as manager! He’s got the passion we’re missing and has a decent managerial record so far
John Tudor
Feb 3, 2014 at 7:59 AM
Comment #84bathtubs out|
Lilongwe Geordie
Feb 3, 2014 at 7:59 AM
Comment #85On the derby, there isn’t one person who you can label solely responsible. Ashley handicaps Pardew by bringing in Kinnear and not wanting to spend, Kinnear hampered Pardew by not making any permanent signings and selling our top player, Pardew hindered the players through his lack of tactical knowledge and inability to change a game plan, and the players impede the club by putting in a gutless and effortless performance.
All in all, the hierarchy, and every player who appeared on the pitch should be held culpable for a second humiliating home derby defeat.
John Tudor
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:03 AM
Comment #86the wheels on the bumbling bus go round and round
ffs lets have some decisive action
Transfer Sage
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:03 AM
Comment #87catchy
We all get it, Pardew isn’t good enough….but ashley doesn’t want any better, pardew ticks every box, mid table manager, not good enough to get europe, does what he is told, doesn’t make a fuss.
Yes eh could hire a better manager to get us a few extra league places but then he’d need to shell out for a few extra player in europe, and he doesn’t want it
Lilongwe Geordie
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:04 AM
Comment #88At the end of the day, comparing the 2 lineups, I’d probably take Johnson, and Borini from Sunderland but that is it. So tactics and a complete lack of passion and desire were the reason we lost.
Going back to basics is going to make the remainder of this season pretty awful to watch….
John Tudor
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:04 AM
Comment #89well with a tosser in charge we can expect more of the same
Transfer Sage
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:05 AM
Comment #90Pardew is the only manager to lose 3 in a row, last time we did we had a selection committee in charge, not a manager….another record for him.
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:05 AM
Comment #91I am amazed how people FAIL to see past the derby at the bigger problem. Football players are fickle f****. They have noticed there was no signings over the last god knows how long.
It plays on their mind, its a replay of the season where we nearly got relegated. Its the same mindset on the field. Doesn’t take a genius to work it out. Very very simple. And yes it changes that quickly. Its confidence nothing more.
Ashley is a club terrorist and needs to be delt with quickly. Losing to Sunderland again is just the beginning. We will remain like this forever until he is at the reign making money of NUFC NOTHING more believe you me. Its that type of business man, stating he wants a CL place is a blatant lie.
King Kev was right on so many levels but people chose to ignore him thinking he was a wounded animal.
Lose Fashley or lap this kinda drivel forever.
lesh
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:07 AM
Comment #92tads@47
IF the Pitt St site was owned by the club, sold off and the proceeds taken in by MASH Holdings abd not used against Ashley’s debt, I like you and many others would find that distasteful, immoral to say the least.
The site in question, the former Magpie Club, used to house The Greyhound, a pub probably owned by S&N at the time.
What I find difficult to understand is how does the writer who raised this know that that was the property? It’s unlikely but not out of the question that it would have been named in the MASH accounts.
Let’s not forget that the land that that SJP sits on is owned by the City’s Freemen and it’s the leasehold that’d be marketable, not the freehold.
I’m surprised that the Chronicle didn’t raise the ownership of the sites when the planning applications were submitted.
Anyway, this isn’t a business site so it’s a good time to shut up!
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:10 AM
Comment #93Santon is right about Cabaye
Cabaye or no Cabaye is not an excuse for the dismal, gutless, passionless display dished out to a average scum team.
we were total SH*T from the start.
NO PASSION
NO GUTS
NO TACKLING think debuchy and Saton won five tackles between threm
TOTAL APATHETIC DISPLAY
Krul – 5 merit marks
did OK stopping shots crap in the air in the six yard box flapped under pressure as if he remembered his injury last year.
Santon – 3 MM
Hopeless could tackle his way out of a soggy paper bag yesterday
Taylor – 3 MM Put more effort in running on puffing his chest up than he did in the game out of position most of the game at fault for second goal along with Santon.
Williamson – 5 MM best of the defence had to cover for full backs going missing most of the game.
Debuchy – 4 MM worst game in a TOON shirt.
Anita – 3 MM same as above countless times give the ball away
fault for the penalty
Tiote – 5 MM did OK but back to his old habits of getting caught in possession time and time again.
HBA – 5 MM did OK but ran into to many cul-de-sacs easily knocked off ball for third goal – can’t tackle.
Sissoko – 6 MM did OK at least tried to run at opposition.
Sammi – 3 MM needs to go out on loan fancy footwork no end result cannot tackle or track back. lazy like his brother. Does not close defenders down
Shola – 3 MM what a waste of space, lazy cannot jump shooting powderpuff, can’t tackle gives to many fouls away does not close. defenders down.
Subs
DU Jong – 4mm did Ok but rusty needs to get shots away quicker – not given time in premiership.
Dummett – 6MM best of subs least got in a cross or two and made the first tackle I can remember from a TOON player.
Marvo – 6MM short cameo but looked good ran at defence got in decent positions NEEDS TO START SATURDAY
Thats my assessment of yesterday gutless performance disgrace to wear the Black n White stripes of NEWCASTLE UNITED
ITS HARD TO TAKE – but in a perverse kind of way this COULD be the result for a change in direction by Ashley
lesh
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:12 AM
Comment #94Sydney Toon. . If the funds were there to sign Grenier et al, then why weren’t they signed?
Because we made offers that were deliberately set way below the sellers’ valuations!
sparky55
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:15 AM
Comment #95furious my arse…he doesn’t give a sh!te so long as we stay in the premiership
Why do you come up with bollox like this ED. After all he’s done to the club what on earth compelled you to write he’d be furious at the result when we all know he doesnt care…it wouldn’t bloody surprise me if he ordered Pardew to lose the game just to wind the fans up…that’s how much that fat b@st@rd cares
magicbus
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:17 AM
Comment #96Be interesting to see how far we get sucked down the table after this result.
lesh
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:18 AM
Comment #97theartfuldodger….. Another way to view the long upfield halls is that maybe the players were so pi$$ed off with events, they just couldn’t be arsed to play them upfield!
Players are human and no doubt affected by the Cabaye debacle!
As usual, Pardew’s left to take tge schidt – cowardly, disgraceful!
firebug666
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:22 AM
Comment #98JK is totally rubbish, he tried to grab a bargain on a player who has a contract till 2016. the only way to get players cheap is wait until their contract is running out. JK is totally out of his depth as DOF and needs to be replaced, or maybe just sacked and transfers handed back to the manager. I think that AP may walk in the summer, it seems he has had enough, Looks and sounds totally gutted, and his post match interview (transcript posted earlier) speaks volumes.
catchy in norway
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:24 AM
Comment #99TS
I don’t get the pity that is being handed out for pardew,
if it is that bad, why would he want to stay? no one has a gun at his head
1st cut off coms
2nd starve him of new players
3 humiliate him
hmm and yet he stays
he is a fool for that alone
Transfer Sage
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:27 AM
Comment #100catchy
I have no sympathy for pardew. Whether you like him or not, he has a decent reputation in the media so he’d walk into another job, if he was finding it that hard and didn’t agree with the policy he would walk into another prem job….sacked managers do so surely he would.
He is bringing this all on himself, he could step away if he didn’t like it.
He’s as complicit in this mess as all others above him.
sparky55
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:28 AM
Comment #101catchy @ 99…still not paid off his debt obviously…that’s why he looks so gutted…can’t tell the fat b@st@rd where to go til all the money is paid back
Transfer Sage
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:29 AM
Comment #102The problem i have is Ashley hasn’t appointed a good manager before so why would he now all of a sudden.
It’s not fear of the unknown, it just ashley has set the bar so low
catchy in norway
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:30 AM
Comment #103TS
100% right
west ham is waiting by all accounts, if he walked fat Sam would be sacked
as long as he stays , he deservs all he is getting
catchy in norway
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:32 AM
Comment #104sparky
I’m sure he could come up with some deal
plus did I read a headline yesterday about his debt and gambling , how it is not true
Jail for Ashley
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:39 AM
Comment #105Well hopefully T4C laid down the foundations and showed that there is a group of people who care enough about the club and now that Malevolent Mike has shown his hand maybe people will get behind them instead of dismissing them as a tinpot organisation, and for all those advocating a boycott who can’t attend games anyway, why not donate a couple of quid to help pay for planning permission, banners etc.
sparky55
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:40 AM
Comment #106catchy…I can assure you it is true…I don’t know the full extent of the debt but I do know it runs to hundreds of thousands. It was in a casino run by Lambias and fat boy cleared the debt on Pardew’s behalf…that’s how they got him so cheap.
firebug666
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:41 AM
Comment #107I have to say though, how can AP say anything at all when Newcastle’s PR office intercedes and basically gags him. The stopped him answering questions about not replacing Cabaye in his last interview, and in the end he just walked out.
catchy in norway
Feb 3, 2014 at 8:49 AM
Comment #108TS
I’d take a chance on a new guy, I’d sit with JFK until a new guy came in,
One thing we know, is he needs the club in the prem, so at least that’s a start
Roger
Feb 3, 2014 at 9:02 AM
Comment #109The only problem in our lub is the owner. Pardew
can not do more with this squad. Ashley ist the
worst case of a football club.
He don`t no what happened. Only money in his
eyes, 24 millions for the Cabaye Transfer to PSG
and nobody comes in. This is fucking business.
Again and again, all you fans, don`t visit the next
home clash against the Spurs. If 50 thousand people
are in front of St. James`s Park, Ashley will learn
that he is not able to manage a premier league club.
Because i live in germany I can not organize a strike
of the fans, you who are living in Newcastle must do
that. The time is near. Ashley and Kinnear to jail.
Roger, German supporter and member of the club
Roger
Feb 3, 2014 at 9:13 AM
Comment #110Again and again. Don´t visit the next home clash
against the Spurs. Ashley can learn if he is doing
nothing for our club, we will do nothing for him to
earn money. This owner is terrible.
And think about the press. No people in the stadium,
Newcastle is in the worldpress all over the world.
And Ashley had to answer questions, why he is owner
of a club, when he will do absolut nothing for him.
bro56
Feb 3, 2014 at 5:54 PM
Comment #111what a load of crap. Mike hasnt been quoted on how he feels about y’day. this is totally made up.
Pardews comments were from Sat Evening, not 2day.
scraping the barrel for a non-runner story
Reggie
Feb 3, 2014 at 9:19 PM
Comment #112MASH is not bothered about the Toon, his interest is in Rangers when they get back into the SPL as he will almost be guaranteed CL football so he can promote sportsdirect.CON. can anyone confirm that his old mate Lambias as at Rangers as I think he could be his spy in the camp???
If the loyal toon fans don’t turn up this will give MASH more reason to sell players into a vicious circle to the bottom of league 2. Hold your nerve lads he will be gone some days, sooner rather than later hopefully.