Alan Pardew has said Newcastle will try to finish above Manchester United this season, and if we can do that it will be the first time Newcastle have ever finished above the Red Devils in the Premier League era – so it’s something to play for.
Fabricio Coloccini – missed his leadership
But it’s more the decline of Manchester United since Alex Ferguson retired, than Newcastle being good – but we suppose it’s still something to strive for this season, and we did manage to beat them at Old Trafford for the first time since 1972 – so we could even do the double over them too.
And the Newcastle manager mentioned yesterday that Newcastle have struggled lately, because they have missed their captain Coloccini big time:
“We’ve lost too many bodies for the standard to be where it was – that was when everybody was fit and w;eve had key injuries and suspensions – and we’ve lost a great player in Cabaye, and all that impacts training, but I do see a focus in training which is not lost on me.”
“I do expect by the time we get to the Aston Villa game we’re hoping to have all of our players back including Coloccini, because he’s been missed for his leadership, let alone his playing ability.”
“It’s not just Colo’s ability but everything about him.” “We’ve missed his nonchalance and the security he gives us and that calmness. You can’t put a price on that.”
And talking about Coloccini begs the question whether he will still be with us come September.
There are going to be some big changes in the squad over the summer, as fringe players leave and hopefully some very good players are brought in.
And if Coloccini does leave, that will affect the side big time, and will bring to an end six years on Tyneside for the Argentine International, who has turned out to be a good buy, at just over £10M from Spanish club Deportivo in August of 2008.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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227 comments so far
daztoon
Feb 11, 2014 at 10:52 AM
Comment #41Sissoko would be a great in the nfl as a kick returner but then again might fumble just before the end zone ,like he does on the edge of the box
catchy in norway
Feb 11, 2014 at 10:53 AM
Comment #42TS
you focus on there weak sides, you could add attitude to that also
I remember watching a game v Man U , jonas was captain , he pointed to there player at a corner and just watched him run past and score
there has been many games lately where goofy has not picked up his guy . and goals have been scored against us, marv is a better offensive player than goofy , and both are not best at defending
JK
Feb 11, 2014 at 10:53 AM
Comment #43Thats Ashlay, asset stripping but no intention of selling – thats business. Good business, hes smarter than you all.
Journos just making it up
Greebol1892
Feb 11, 2014 at 10:54 AM
Comment #44Under our current manager, Armstrong will be lucky if he gets even 10mins against Spurs. If he does, it will be the same scenario as Campbell and we won’t give him the ball.
Pards says that having a 17-year old on the bench is better than a 16-year old…. so there you have it; STROLLA IS OUR BEST PLAYER – OFFICIAL.
Yanga M’Biwa is better than Colo & Taylor put together:- he reads danger and attacks the ball. Colo has never been able to read long direct balls into our defence. Taylor is a master at backing-off and backing-off and only defends the 6-yard box. Yes MYM has made mistakes but so have all our CBs…… he’s still the best CB at the club. Anyone who thinks Taylor is better, has no idea about defending nor about football.
Fair mention to Willo who was shocking with Simpson next to him but has stepped up to the mark. But he has already proved to be the perfect partner for MYM….. then dropped…… oh dear.
Rebbeca from 7 miles away
Feb 11, 2014 at 10:55 AM
Comment #45Transfer
So you’re answers no, like me I dislike him for all same reasons that’s why I was putting the question out there.
You think he’s passed point of no return and couldn’t get fans back on side? I reckon if he did what I’ve suggested and spent 30mil on transfers a lot of the fans would forget everything.
Jay photo
Pretty much spot on, Mbiwa I feel sorry for as it doesn’t matter wether he’s played good or bad he’s always dropped and that alone must have broke his confidence.
Which to me is pretty much the same thing done to the kids, we build them up saying their good etc then drop them into a game altogether when there just not ready to play in a team all together and wonder why they don’t gel.
jayphoto
Feb 11, 2014 at 10:55 AM
Comment #46Really think something might be in the offing for a sale in the summer. Kinnear going but not being replaced suggests that. He was very damaging for the brand, I expect Ashley to sell after receiving the TV money for this season in June and the brand name has regained some respectability in the next few months
70TWO
Feb 11, 2014 at 10:55 AM
Comment #47Alan Pardew is like a STD, he is an irritating side effect of doing something I love. The silver tongued, lothario continues to talk himself up in the managerial role and makes himself look like Swiss Tony, “…its like making love to a beautiful lady”. Comical, delusional and very inadequate.
jayphoto
Feb 11, 2014 at 10:56 AM
Comment #48rumour is Red Bull is looking to buy into a premier league club…. although i’d guess everton would be cheaper and more attractive…theres hope!
Transfer Sage
Feb 11, 2014 at 10:57 AM
Comment #49cacthy
gouffy is much better offensively than marv…look at his goals and assists return, marv has dropped massively in my estimations.
I think the whole team let men run off them, but then at least some try…some of our ‘better’ players don’t do a lot at all.
Our team is decent but no where near as good as some think in my opinion…hba wouldn’t get into a single team above us i don’t think
daztoon
Feb 11, 2014 at 10:58 AM
Comment #50Transfer
I think the Salery cap in the Nfl is as a whole say 200 Million for every club ( just a rough guess).So you could only have so many top earners at your club,then the rest made up of rookies .
If you had five players on say 100 million between them,the rest of the squad would have to be under the 100 million left
Transfer Sage
Feb 11, 2014 at 10:59 AM
Comment #51rebecca
i do think a lot would forgive him if he spent some money but it’s also just money he hasn’t spent before.
I think he needs to really just engage fans and not have everything shrouded in secrecy.
Transfer Sage
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Comment #52daz
yeh, i like how it works….makes things a bit fairer.
Greebol1892
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Comment #53….I see with Kinnear gone, Pardew feels like he has to step up to the plate & barf more gunge about wanting to win a trophy. You don’t do that by resting your best players. Gobshite.
Rebbeca from 7 miles away
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Comment #5470two@46
The STD closest to Pardew is THRUSH
Because he’s a irratating c**t too.
70TWO
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Comment #55Transfer Sage
Wondered if you had seen this article and what your thoughts were? Sorry if you have commented about it before, has similarities to what Given was saying.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/10625107/There-is-no-club-quite-like-Newcastle-United-for-turning-a-drama-into-full-blown-crisis.html
Markaccus
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:01 AM
Comment #56Rebecca
in the long run, i think it would be better if he just sold up and effed off. F#ck knows who would buy us though.
Rebbeca from 7 miles away
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:03 AM
Comment #57That should be a topic for a article for Ed
Potential new owners for NUFC
Or
NUFC fans who can afford to buy NUFC
A bit like cribs on MTV but looking at new owners instead.
daztoon
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:06 AM
Comment #58Transfer
Yeah if that was brought in ,in football then every club in their respective divisions could compete on an even playing field and would weed out the good from the bad mangers.
Transfer Sage
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:06 AM
Comment #5970two
i hadn’t seen it….a very good read.
For me people commenting on the club seem to miss the point, we know we can’t compete with the likes of man city, chelsea, etc but why can’t we be developing our football and commercial areas to compete with the likes of spurs, there is no reason we can’t do that.
now I know they aren’t much ahead but had two top 4 finishes in the last 5 years and spent the rest of the time in the top 5…we need to look to develop to that.
It’s not something we can do by not improving our squad when we get to a good place and using it as an excuse to cash in our not buy….we need to constantly improve, not only when we are in danger or dropping down the league. I just can’t see it under ashley.
Markaccus
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:08 AM
Comment #60Reb
Pimp my club?? 😀
70TWO
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:09 AM
Comment #61becs@53
It is something we have to live with for supporting a Hoochie Mamma of a club. It is like watching a pole dance, titillating excitement but ultimately unsatisfactory.
Iain Dowie
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:10 AM
Comment #62Why do some of you keep putting Mbiwa in your best 11?, Hes like the second coming of Titus Bramble. One of the clumsiest players ive seen play for us in a long time.
Transfer Sage
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:12 AM
Comment #63Iain Dowie
when he played alongside willo early in the season he looked very good i thought, taylor is much much worse these days
Rebbeca from 7 miles away
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:14 AM
Comment #6470two
That article is talking about basically how were never out the news, which I why I’ve said many times I believe Ashley is here for the free advertising. How many products/companies are associated so heavily with a club you think of the product as soon as teams mentioned?
I do disagree with the you need a billionaire to buy success look at Bayern they’ve done a cracking job spending way less than the other teams in Europe and if I only wanted success that’s thee rote I’d want to take. Fantastic football and the fans are looked after not robbed or abused.
jayphoto
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:15 AM
Comment #65Think is with Ashley, it’s never too late for Newcastle fans to forgive and take you to heart. Invest some (not a lot, just enough to show theres ambition) start talking to the fans and stop mugging us all off. If there was some form of honest communication from the upper echelons of the club I feel alot of the FCB and MAOC would fade away.
Honestly can’t think Mike Ashley brought NUFC just for advertising (and the TV money wasn’t as great when he brought us) he must have had some plan and ambition…. it would have been must cheaper just to buy the advertising….
Rebbeca from 7 miles away
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:15 AM
Comment #66Markacuu
Ye with TINO presenting 😉
stuart no9
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:16 AM
Comment #67Rebbeca——– hahaha -thrush , quality
wolfshead@toon
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:16 AM
Comment #68jay
if pards told the truth he would be signing on next day he has the best job he is ever likely to have well until hodgson leaves that is haha
jayphoto
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:18 AM
Comment #69I still think Mapou Yanga Mbiwa could come good! I saw him for Montpellier in Ligue 1 and champions league and he was exceptional! I don’t think he’s going to come good for Pardew though!
In the summer we either need to change the manager (i’d prefer that) or truly back him with players he actually wants, whether that be Bent, Tomkins etc… if he’s the manager he should be trusted and backed and then any failings be on his head.
jayphoto
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:23 AM
Comment #70@wolfshead Ha yea thats true! I didn’t mean about the powers that be at the club though! Just tired of the same excuses! Saying we where brilliant in the first half against Chelsea was a shocker! We’ve been average and below this season far more often than we’ve been above! One day i’d like him just to come out and say ‘i got the tactics wrong. I will no longer be using the suprise tactic of shola in the 60th minute and launching it’……
stuart no9
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:25 AM
Comment #71talking about potential owners . Are there not enough local millionaires .or north east born millionaires , ie singers, ex players, actors , who are NUFC daft and would gladly put together a consortium to buy the club . I think it has already been talked about but nowt seemed to come of it. I am going o a kevin keegan dinner and talk in , and that is one of the things I want to put to him. I really think , if the opportunity arose KK would be one of the first to put his hand in his pocket. any thoughts ???????
Rebbeca from 7 miles away
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:26 AM
Comment #72Jay photo
Only thing I’ve ever heard that I thought made sense regarding why Ashley bought us is that he’d heard the Manseed family was looking to buy us and he thought if he did all the leg work and owned club outright he’d make a quick 50mil torn over.
Since he screwed all that up the advertising has been to good to miss, as the article above says were never out the news.
None of it has puts a bad light on SD there just associated not affiliated with us. He lost 400mil a couple years ago then since he put advertising everywhere re named the ground etc at the same time as opening in France the SD brand was never off the news for months in connection to us which didn’t cost him or them a penny.
The result is NUFC lose 10 to 20 mil a year income but he made 800milion from SD and his other brands in that time!
Not all down to NUFC but people under estimate what the link between NUFC and SD has had on the growth of his other companies.
expatmag
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:26 AM
Comment #73G/day guys
I see the usual suspect is rearing his ugly side again…..lol
70TWO
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:28 AM
Comment #74Transfer Sage
The door of opportunity is once again open for Ashley to prove himself, invest in players to keep us competitive for 5-7th next season with a good run in the Cups. My only concern is that any new players will now be only bedding in next season, a ready made excuse for AP. I was hoping the next two seasons would be make or break for AP, if he does not provide consistent 5-7th finishes then he should be replaced and all the more easier (financially) once he reaches half way in his contract.
However, I digress from the point of the article which was… the need to establish mediocrity before being able to really challenge the more customary CL clubs. The article also showed, through the comments of some, how much of an effort it is to realise fans expectations. However Ashley could have made things a whole lot easier with a more professional approach to customer relations.
expatmag
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:29 AM
Comment #75STUART
I doubt KK has a pot to piss in after the debts his soccer circus ran up
catchy in norway
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:30 AM
Comment #76Transfer Sage
you carnt fully judge our players under pardew, it is so unfair to
I think pardew plays them out of position to much,
goofy , I think he is more comfortable up front than playing on the left,
remy is better playing on the left than up front
HBA, you have said it yourself, pardew even said it, we all would love him to be tried as a old fashioned no 10,
he play left or right, he has even had him as a striker, so why not try it?
and I know your not so stupid as to think if Hazzard was in our team he to wouldn’t be played in some strange position , where he would do a job for the team,
in the first half, Chelsea had 65% possession, how any times did hazard get hit by one of our players, who let him know he was in a game ?
pardew payed way to much respect to his hero and IMO gave him 3 points on a plate
this is a guy that want a trophy before 200 games, I will put a bet on with anyone, if pardspew is still here next season, we are out of all the cups by mid jan
Rebbeca from 7 miles away
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:32 AM
Comment #77Stuart no9
Wey I fella
Get Wor Cheryl to get will I am to buy us he’s got the hots for her.
Brian Johnstone. He’d throw money in no doubt.
Sting, not so sure.
Could we not get Ant n Dec to do TOON fans in need with all Geordie artists on the line up. All fans pay and even other fans will feel sorry for we can buy the club back and wipe out 3rd world debt at same time 😉
martoon
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:32 AM
Comment #78stuart no9 @70 – The trouble is there are levels of richness. Although celebrities such as Cheryl Cole, Ant & Dec etc. are millionaires You really need to be a billionaire to buy a football club. Unfortunately they are few and far between.
croftus5678
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:33 AM
Comment #79@9 catchy
i completely agree buddy but most things did go through cabaye (when playing) and not many of our players have a pass that can break a defence line atm which is why we will miss cabaye
personaly dont think its the players we have atm just they lack the vision and passing skills needed when it comes to the final 3rd.
ofc you take goofy/remy/luuk and place them into the team and things could and should improve greatly.
ToonDarnSarf
Feb 11, 2014 at 11:34 AM
Comment #80Rebbeca from 7 miles away
I saw you complain when players aren’t getting playing time and there are people complaining that we don’t have strength in depth. The only way we could have both is if we rotated a lot. Then we’d have people complaining that we don’t have a settled side, that certain players don’t deserve to be dropped or that Pardew obviously doesn’t know his best side!
Don’t you see that those arguments are all ridiculous? I was fine seeing the likes of HBA, Cisse and MYM on the bench because it means that the players on the pitch are currently better than them and it means that if we get injuries/suspensions/loss of form, then we have good players to come in.
As for Armstrong, I hope he does go out on loan once Remy and Goofy are back, but that depends on a team wanting him and willing to pay him. Some fans on here are slating our club for developing loan players, yet we expect other clubs to do it?? More ridiculousness. Other clubs would rather develop their own youth if they can but if they have a gap and Armstrong is definitely better than what they have, they will want him.