Stoke were a mediocre side yesterday at the Britannia Stadium, but after beating Newcastle 1-0 with a fluke goal from Erik Pieters in the 42nd minute, that was enough to haul Stoke to only 3 points behind Newcastle in the league, and they could yet catch us, and then we’d finish in 10th place.
Erik Pieters – after scoring yesterday
But that would still meet Mike Ashley’s target of 10th place for the side, and everybody would still get their bonuses, but the season is ending in such a negative way that Newcastle have looked a very poor side since we beat Stoke 5-1 in December – when they had only 9 men in the second half.
This is some of what Alan Pardew said after the game:
“The way to settle it down is to get a win, unfortunately it hasn’t come today.” “It was close today. I thought we had good character in the group. It was an honest performance but we lacked creative flair.”
“And we lack a little bit of ability in and around the box. Loic’s return, which I think will happen next week, will be important to us.”
“It was a bit of a fluke goal, and the wind took hold of it, which made it almost impossible for Tim Krul to save.”
Alan Pardew mysteriously also said after yesterday’s defeat in one interview, that we were missing 10 senior players , but we are missing only three – Loic Remy, Mathieu Debuchy and Moussa Sissoko.
All three are expected to be in the French squad for the World Cup, and Loic hopefully will return next Saturday when we are at home to Swansea – and maybe we can score a goal in that game.
And we haven’t achieved that in the last four games, and have scored only once when Loic Remy has missed his 11 games for Newcastle this season.
And that Pieters goal was the first time in six years the Dutch International has scored a goal, and it was meant to be a cross, but the ball floated into the top right hand corner and evaded Tim Krul.
Fans had two signs at the game calling for Alan Pardew to be fired, and after last season’s nightmare, the second half of this season is not turning out to be any better.
Comments welcome.
16 comments so far
Bambams
Apr 13, 2014 at 8:46 AM
Comment #1Not good at all when your clueless manager says a whopper of a lie on tv…..
Alan we often strain/bend some truths a little but for God’s sake ….10 players missing ! Benny still cant get a start !!!
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Apr 13, 2014 at 8:48 AM
Comment #2Ed, how about posting something positive for a change?
…it is very difficult to comment optimistically about the results, manager or owner 🙁
Laurent Robert 32
Apr 13, 2014 at 8:50 AM
Comment #3It’s funny how Pardew doesn’t mention how our flukey goals are lucky or when we get an individual goal at the end of a very poor game to nick a point. He just bigs it up as another great 3 points.
The excuses continue to flow.
For him to go back to basics with a complete change in formation shows he’s desperate because his other ‘tactics’ if that even is the right word, just don’t work without the luck of an individual winner.
After 3 years, you would think a manager may know what he is doing. Not him.
Whoarya.com
Apr 13, 2014 at 8:50 AM
Comment #4We need to keep faith now but it’s tough when the rub of the green is going against you.
In fairness we are where we are because it reflects the ability of our squad and management. The fact that we want more is what makes it hard to bear.
My heart isn’t totally broken yet as it has been worse.
Himanshu Dhingra
Apr 13, 2014 at 8:53 AM
Comment #5The scary or frightening thing is
If Pardew is not sacked b4 August, The club WILL get relegated. No doubt.
Steven Taylor and Shola Ameobi are legends. God help us.
Laurent Robert 32
Apr 13, 2014 at 8:55 AM
Comment #6Bambams, yes indeed.
He says he has all those players out, yet refuses to start Hatem instead of Shola, plays Taylor instead of Yanga and the one guy who can play a final ball in Marveaux is nowhere to be seen.
He’s said things like this about injuries often, yet it is his choice not to play the creative players, yet he still complains about the lack of creativity. He’s an idiot.
Fill your team with players not capable of getting regular assists and goals, then you will struggle.
What does he do and what does he complain about? Idiot.
Dennis Twice
Apr 13, 2014 at 8:58 AM
Comment #7Is this Pardew same guy who kept Tevez and Macherano on the bench?
Laurent Robert 32
Apr 13, 2014 at 8:59 AM
Comment #8Charlton protest for Pardew to be removed: http://youtu.be/E2-yg6gdk6A
Charlton fans protesting at wanting Pardew out.
He brings his footballing misery everywhere he goes. This isn’t a one off. His 5th position was the one off. This is his norm.
catchy in norway
Apr 13, 2014 at 9:11 AM
Comment #9Jesper
the only good news I want to hear is pardew sacked
catchy in norway
Apr 13, 2014 at 9:18 AM
Comment #10we want our club back
we want our club back
we want out club back
petters09
Apr 13, 2014 at 9:20 AM
Comment #11First time poster on this blog, although I have read through the forum almost daily for many years.
I remember the time when reading this blog was exciting and interesting.
I do not blame the members of the blog for it’s degradation, nor do I blame Ed whom have constantly tried to feed us news from the club (although many similar articles).
However, the blame is to be put at the feet of MA and AP. The football our beloved Newcastle Utd. are showing these days are dire and warrants no excitement.
I beeive what this blog needs to be reinstated to it’s former glory is out of it’s hands and rely and te excitement given from watching a Newcastle team that at least makes an effort.
Th recent performances have been lacklusture and could quite possibly be attributed to our mid-table position. However, spending hard earned cash to watch this team with no effort, no morale and no sense of entertainment is becoming tiresome and feels more and more wasted.
What I want for our team (as MA obviously are not going anywhere) is a manager that at least can inspire the players to make an effort week in – week out. Since there are a Limited amount of managers willing to take the position under the MA-regime I woul like to hear the views of a manager that are not particularly known for his flashy football tactis, but are well known for nstalling his teams with effort.
The manager I speak of is Uwe Rösler. Manager at Wigan, and former manager of Brentford, Lillestrom, Molde and Viking.
Btw. nice to finally say hello to all posters of the blog. Even thugh I hve noticed some internal dissagreements, at least we all share our love for Newcastle United 🙂
Douglas
Apr 13, 2014 at 9:22 AM
Comment #12We need a manager who has a clear idea of how his team should play – attacking football. We dont need Pardew who’s approach is pick a team to nullify the opposition. And this doesnt work long term. As we are seeing. We also need someone who will stand up to Ashley, but this means they wont last long. Soo there is no real way out of this mess unless FMA sells
petters09
Apr 13, 2014 at 9:23 AM
Comment #13My Norwegian keyboard and Dictionary made some Capital letters in the text, and I also noticed that the grammar was somewhat off. Sorry for the inconvenience 🙂
Sav
Apr 13, 2014 at 11:55 AM
Comment #14Alan Pardew’s Press Conference: ‘My boss is a clueless, tightwad bully and total loose cannon so I never know where the next fire will start or when the next rock will be chucked in over the wall. As for my players, I’ve mostly inherited a load of sh*te who couldn’t give a toss now that the boss has sold Cabaye and pocketed the dosh yet again. I have been scrambling around trying to make a few loan signings but the idiots and lickspittles they employ here to complete that are worse than useless and the last nutter turned down an international centre-back, a deal we’d been working on for months.
Thank goodness we did really well early on when we had Cabaye and Remy because the boss has told me 10th – 7th is where he wants us.’
Is that what Neil Macdonald wants to hear?
toonluvva
Apr 13, 2014 at 5:21 PM
Comment #15It’s not the defeats that bother me. It’s the MANNER of the defeats that really gets on my nerves.
We have lost matches in the past due to sheer bad luck, but this season we have lost matches simply because of not turning up.
I know that sacking is the answer, but given that it will be Charnley and Ashley who will appoint his replacement then the future looks really dark indeed.
As a season ticket holder, I took the decision to renew for 1 more season in the hope of seeing some improvement. I’m sure that there are many others taking the same approach, and a number who will not be at SJP come the start of next season.
It will hurt if I have to cancel my seat, but not as much as witnessing the slow death of a magnificent club at the hands of an owner who is clearly either out of his depth or totally disinterested.
toonluvva
Apr 13, 2014 at 5:22 PM
Comment #16* sacking Pardew.