Our next game is at home to Cardiff City at St James’s Park on Saturday afternoon, and since Cardiff are rock bottom of the league right now with two games to play, we could in normal circumstances expect to win the game – but Cardiff have already beaten once at home this year, and these are not normal circumstances.
Koscielny scores first goal last night
This is what Alan Pardew told the Shields Gazette last night, after fans had Pardew Out banners on display and were not too happy – to put it mildly:
“I’m not going to moan about what they were singing and their feelings.” “I can’t hide from that. It’s six defeats and they’re not happy.”
“The only way we can put it right is get ourselves in a position to win the game on Saturday.” “All I know is that when you’re manager of Newcastle, to lose six games is going to bring massive pressure on you.”
“I have to accept that, but I still have to focus on my job.” “And my job is to try to get this team in the best possible shape for Saturday.”
“I want a top-10 finish, and I want to get that on Saturday.”
Newcastle have lost six games in a row and seven of the last eight, and in those eight games we have managed to score just two goals. 🙁
And after such a pathetic run of form, it’s a little surprising that if we can beat Cardiff City on Saturday then we could still finish in 9th place in the league.
The last game at Liverpool will be like last night’s game, and Liverpool will be far too good for a Newcastle team that’s looked hopeless for most of this year.
And to think after Boxing Day and the 5-1 win at home to Stoke City, we were in 6th place and just three points behind Liverpool.
We are now 34 points behind Liverpool. 🙁
As we said these are not normal circumstances.
Comments welcome.
121 comments so far
Average_Contents
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:31 AM
Comment #1Tds
He came out and said the target was a goal not an instruction
How ironic a “goal”
Average_Contents
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:33 AM
Comment #2I can’t hide from that. It’s six defeats and they’re not happy.”
No no Alan just NO! See this is his problem, it’s not just the six games you tit face cnut!
Laurent Robert 32
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:33 AM
Comment #3What Neville and Carragher hadn’t quite clicked onto because they don’t watch us enough, was that we were disjointed even when Cabaye was there and his freekicks and long rangers from nowhere were helping us get team points when the football was still clueless. That is why nicking points will only get you two points.
As I said months ago, take out the ability of Cabaye and Remy for long shots and individual goals because we are in trouble because we don’t have any way of planning our attacks, they play off the cuff and look general lost. Playing on a pass to pass basis. It is based on hope and containment. Yesterday was appalling and I was angry even when I saw the puppet’s face appear on tv.
Rotonda heights
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:35 AM
Comment #4Alan, the fans frustrated….you think,…really,….surely not !!!!!
Yes Alan, totally frustrated you’re still here you classless, clueless oaf. Has this man no shame whatsoever?
The way he says we haven’t won for 6 games, inferring we’ve had some draws!!!. No Alan we’ve LOST 6 games
Pardew already held the record for 2 losing streaks in ours and West ham’s history and he’s just trumped his own record of failure again!
You can maybe take getting mashed by Man city etc but cardiff, swansea, sunderland , hull etc all at home !!!
The guy is just NOT TENABLE. GET OUT.
Laurent Robert 32
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:39 AM
Comment #5Ben Arfa came off the bench to set Cisse up with that header yet is nowhere to be seen and Remy backs in and uses his skill on a deflection and we once again nick points through last minute goals covering over the cracks as usual. Without even those two games of individual skill we’d be hovering very close to relegation above those relegation places.
Pardew is an embarrassment to himself that he won’t leave for the good of the players and club. His ego is unreal and simply not justified.
Toon Tang
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:42 AM
Comment #6Funny rant from the true geordie says everything we already know and more eh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cobhsHVM3lE
Lilongwe Geordie
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:43 AM
Comment #7If, and it is still a big if, we manage to get a draw against Cardiff when we lose at Liverpool (lets be honest, that is almost definite with them probably needing to win if they want a chance of the title) then we will only have managed 6 more points than last season, which we all accept as a disastrous Premier league campaign. Shocking.
Laurent Robert 32
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:44 AM
Comment #8*nicking points will get you so far that was supposed to read.
Joint record losses ever at the club it is now I think. That is WITH Remy, Debuchy and Sissoko in which Pardew was banging on about plus the fact that the players needed him on the touchline(!!!).
What an egotistical statement that was. Especially when we were shown up last night, which we knew we would be anyway.
The team management and coaching are a disgrace.
Give this idiot more players and all they’ll do it paper over the cracks for a bit then they will be Pardew’d as well.
Laurent Robert 32
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:50 AM
Comment #9I hate this memtion of ninth, when it is the players’ individual performances that have got us there by nicking points. Not through great football.
Yes, we’ve kept the ball on the floor more this year, but 12 year olds can do that if you tell them. The football has still been clueless in the final third.
Ashley and Pardew out. They have absolutely killed my love of even watching our games on tv and that has been like that for a while.
Laurent Robert 32
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:54 AM
Comment #10Those players are not that bad. No way. They are being made to look poor by disjointed and clueless tactics.
It’s far beyond cringeworthy.
It’s not even in Man City’s hands really. If Liverpool go for double figures against us, they could still win it. They could get it as well.
It could be the most embarrassing game for Newcastle United and Pardew has already lead us to similar performances this season alone.
Laurent Robert 32
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:55 AM
Comment #11* led
Toon Tang
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:56 AM
Comment #12Surely we can beat Cardiff at home…
Lilongwe Geordie
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:59 AM
Comment #13Laurent,
But it is the players putting in a total lack of effort, and having no stomach for a fight. Pardew is a massive problem, but can any of those players look themselves in the mirror and honestly say they gave all they could in terms of effort? No chance.
Toon Tang
Apr 29, 2014 at 9:59 AM
Comment #14eh, eh, somebody… anybody… Cardiff at home ????
If we cant beat them at home I will be forced to send someone a ‘turd in the post’
ToonDarnSarf
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:04 AM
Comment #15Lilongwe
Thanks. I ignored the idiots who just offered abuse and engaged with the nice bloggers instead. 🙂
I was similar to you last summer. I was 50/50 on him staying or not. He might have felt a little hard done by being sacked after a terrible season with injuries after getting 5th the previous season but managers have been sacked for less. But once he was confirmed as manager, I think all fans should get behind him and he was bang on target for the first half of the season.
I don’t like a lot of the local media stuff because they’ve had an agenda for a long time and that’s to stir up the masses and get more readers. The “cockney mafia” line has been sold so much that it’s an easy way to sell a story.
But…he could have swayed the media with good performances or at least some charm and style. Insulting the education of NE kids, headbutting Meyler and whinging about everything does not demonstrate charm or style…
I don’t see scraping 9th or 10th as any achievement. When you hit your MINIMUM target, it has to be assumed that you were so very close to completely failing, so his position has to be reviewed. Not to mention the total collapse in the second half, the inability to have a plan B without Cabaye, the conflicts, the fact that most fans don’t want him and the fact that some players clearly don’t want him either!
Pardew’s time is now up I believe.
Lilongwe Geordie
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:05 AM
Comment #16Toon Tang,
They will be scrapping for their lives. Will any of our players, especially those with World Cup aspirations be willing to go in to a full blooded 50/50? We definitely have more quality, but do we have the desire? From recent showings the answer is no. I think we will get a draw in that one.
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:06 AM
Comment #17“I’m not going to moan”
First time for everything i suppose alan……
Also if you think 3 points against Cardiff is going to make everything peachy you are seriously deluded
Your position is surely now untenable, we’ve been in free fall since mid December, the fans have reached breaking point and i don’t think you can get them back on side, the players aren’t putting any effort at all in that’s something you’ve needed to address for months now but have failed to
The only thing that is truly baffling is how the hell Pardew still has a job, that for me fully highlights the ambition and interest that our owner has in this club
ToonDarnSarf
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:06 AM
Comment #18Average_Contents
He lied. Or the club did. Who cares…
The club has come out in defence of accusations of a lack of ambition by saying that “top 10” was merely a minimum target and that the whole club is focussed on finishing as high up the league as possible. Yet now Pardew turns around and says that they were only hoping to finish in the top 10? Garbage. Top 10 should have been the minimum target but the goal should have been to get into the top 6 or 7.
ToonDarnSarf
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:08 AM
Comment #19If we lose to Cardiff then we’ll almost certainly finish 11th. If we draw against Cardiff then we can still finish 11th if Palace get a point against Liverpool (possible) and then win their final game (I think it’s against Fulham so pretty likely).
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:09 AM
Comment #20Lilo
After the second half of this season any player in our squad who have aspirations of a World Cup are more deluded than Pardew
They’ve been a disgrace to the shirt this season, they shouldn’t be getting picked to play in the reserves let alone represent there country!
scout
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:10 AM
Comment #21Evs to beat a team bottom of the premiership, just about sums it up really
Laurent Robert 32
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:11 AM
Comment #22Lilo, when you are demoralised and de-motivated through a clueless manager for this length of time, they may well have had enough.
They cannot enjoy sitting back and containing game after game.
It is up to the manager to get the effort from the players. Even if that is motivated by simply the desire to score goals and enjoy their football.
ToonDarnSarf
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:12 AM
Comment #23Average_Contents
I missed your ironic comment there…I wonder if it’s because I’m surprised that Pardew knows the meaning of the word…
sholasupporter
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:12 AM
Comment #24If your boss was a dim witted, drivel spouting tool you would be unlikely to put in much effort just like our players. Surely it cant be a coincidence that none of our midfielders break into the box, neither of our wingers attempt to go beyond their man and not a single player on the park can cross a ball! This collapse has been on the cards even during the season when we finished 5th, it has been individual talent and luck that have kept back the tide
stuart no9
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:13 AM
Comment #25pardew cant see our problems . i really think he is blind to the fact we are so disjounted that jamie carragher and neville simply could not beleive how bad our defence was , bearing in mind they are 2 of the best defenders in modern day football.
Pardew said he ‘ coaches the defenders personally’ . ok.
In his interview after the game we all knew what to expect to a point where i just couldnt bear to listen to the man any longer. He somehow thought we were ‘OK in the 2nd half. Back in the studio , carragher and neville thought differently, they tore our defence to shreads. they highlighted positional play. the mistakes , they showed times when collo and simmo were going for the same ball , gaps they were leaving , they could have went on and on and on. tearing us to bits , surprised that a PROFESSIONAL DEFENDER could be so poor at this level. Pardew , thought we were ok . that is when you realise that if this man dosnt go soon, he cant put right something that he thinks is ok .
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:14 AM
Comment #26TDS
The club haven’t come out and defended anything, that statement is word for identical to the scripted response given in a fans forum meeting just after the transfer window
Season after season the club have customised the seasons targets to suit where we are and attempt to convince the fans the season was a success
It’s a disgrace, if we finish 12th we’ll be told we secured PL status for another season and that was the main priority
ToonDarnSarf
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:15 AM
Comment #27On another note…I’m currently 41st in our Fantasy Football League with 2,201 points but a massive 230 points behind the leader who is overall 34th out of around 3.2 million. Good work Paul Myers whoever you are!
mindshaft
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:16 AM
Comment #28Last 18 games
Most losses, Least goals scored, worst goal difference
P W D L F A GD Pt
Liverpool 18 14 2 2 53 25 28 44
Chelsea 18 13 2 3 36 8 28 41
Manchester City 16 11 3 2 39 14 25 36
Everton 18 11 2 5 28 19 9 35
Tottenham Hotspur 18 11 2 5 33 25 8 35
Arsenal 18 10 4 4 29 23 6 34
Manchester United 16 8 2 6 28 18 10 26
Crystal Palace 17 8 3 6 16 15 1 27
Southampton 18 7 4 7 27 27 0 25
West Ham United 17 7 1 9 20 21 -1 22
Stoke City 18 6 5 7 21 24 -3 23
Sunderland 16 5 3 8 22 25 -3 18
WBA 16 4 6 6 20 27 -7 18
Swansea City 17 5 3 9 27 27 0 18
Aston Villa 16 4 3 9 18 28 -10 15
Fulham 17 4 3 10 18 38 -20 15
Hull City 16 4 2 10 14 22 -8 14
Norwich City 17 3 4 10 12 28 -16 13
Newcastle United 18 4 1 13 10 34 -24 13
Cardiff City 17 3 3 11 16 39 -23 12
Laurent Robert 32
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:16 AM
Comment #29Lilo, it’s not just about effort though. That should be minimum. They need direction from the manager and coaches of how to successfully play well TOGETHER. This is the key.
You could have two sprinters in a three legged race but if there timing is off through lack of planning, cohesion and practice, they will just fall to the floor, no matter of their individual ability.
Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork. We contain and play off the cuff and that is even when they’re putting lots off effort it.
If they’re told to sit back and not press the ball, that is a Pardew tactic, not a desire to obtain possession. They were just sitting back like dummies following instruction to contain.
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:16 AM
Comment #30sholasupporter
What wingers?
Average_Contents
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:17 AM
Comment #31Tds
I agree the club says one thing then parsnip comes out and says it wasn’t set in stone it was just a goal not a requirement!
More to the point who actually believes anything that comes out of the club via charnley OR the puppet? If I had to hazard a guess it would be close to zero now with all the lies, backtracking, spin and just general bullshit that gets spouted!
Disgrace of a club!
Toon Tang
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:17 AM
Comment #32lilo, from recent performances, yeah a draw is probs best we can hope for, look what they’ve reduced us to though honestly, hoping for a draw againt shite chuffing Cardiff. Its one step beyond, it really is…
cyprus
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:18 AM
Comment #33So let’s see:
He thinks the fans are frustrated. How on earth did he think that?! The fans, frustrated? No 😉
He sets up the team without HBA to get a result? Spot on there. 3-0 at Arsenal, well that’s good ain’t it? (I’m getting educated here)
PS. Funny how some insist on blaming HBA when he has virtually been excommunicated. Fire AP NOW, don’t wait till summer, don’t give him the chance the build (ie. destroy) another set of players.
ToonDarnSarf
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:19 AM
Comment #34TADS
The Fans Forum is an opportunity for the mouthpiece of the owner of NUFC to put something out there in the public domain. One of those snippets was that top 10 was the minimum target and we all know that.
If a child is below the minimum height to go on a ride, they don’t go, if a person is below the minimum age to vote they can’t vote and if Pardew is below the minimum position then he shouldn’t keep his job.
There are no extenuating circumstances like last season beyond Cabaye leaving and I absolutely refute any suggestion that justifies the terrible slump we currently find ourselves in. Other clubs have done ok without a star player because they have found other ways to play.
Lilongwe Geordie
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:19 AM
Comment #35TDS,
I’ve always thought that targets for bonuses should be set at just above expectation levels. In that way you are trying to eek out everything from your players/staff, and incentivising them to achieve their maximum. For me, this season, that would have been 7th, 6th at a stretch. Even staggered bonuses so 7th as a starting point, and then increase for every place higher. Offering bonuses to a squad such as ours for finishing 10th or above i.e.. slightly below where their abilities should have them is ludicrous.
Scraping 9th or 10th isn’t an achievement, but it will be lauded as progression by Pardew down to such a dismal season last year. We will be told that next year we intend to improve on that, but honestly, unless there are big changes, in the coaching staff and recruitment policy then I don’t see us improving.
It is time for him to go. Does Ashley see it that way though? I guess that depends on whether you think Ashley is happy bobbing along, or whether he wants to make us a force in the league, capable of at least pushing the top teams and competing in the cups.
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:19 AM
Comment #36Mindshaft
Wow is it really as bad as that!
18 games, only 10 goals scored 34 conceded!
Only 4 wins and a draw
Any other manager would be out the door
ToonDarnSarf
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:21 AM
Comment #37Average_Contents
I believe it because they said it and there’s no going back on it. Top 10 MINIMUM target is just that. Failure to meet that should mean Pardew is immediately sacked, and as he may just scrape the top 10, that should still lead to a serious review of his management of NUFC and his ‘achievements’.
Lilongwe Geordie
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:22 AM
Comment #38Laurent,
I’m not disagreeing that there is no direction from above. But you say it yourself, effort and commitment is a minimum. They aren’t even giving us that. Pardew has to shoulder responsibility, but so do the players for this run of form.
I don’t care if they have lost faith in the manager, people are still paying hard earned cash to watch them, and the attitude of not giving 100% is just disgusting.
I’ve said it before, but there is no one person at the club to blame for all this, every single person from Ashley to the players has to take a portion of the blame.
catchy in norway
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:23 AM
Comment #39No Alan
we did not expect you to win
what we expect is
the team to TRY and win, the team to show fight and spirit, the team to be proud
we turn up a team expecting to lose, that’s your fault
this is not just about the last 6 games, this is more than that,
this is about the disastrous run last year where you narrowly avoided relegation
this is about 3 losses in a row to Sunderland 2 at our place
this is about your poor excuses, blaming everyone else rather than looking in the mirror and seeing the person to blame,
this is not just about 52000 that turn up every week to watch us get beat or watch us score the next wonder goal to buy you more time, this is about you letting down a whole region , hundreds of thousands of fans that have to put up with this slow torture that YOU and the fat man are putting us through,,
please do us all a favour
LEAVE US
ToonDarnSarf
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:23 AM
Comment #40Lilongwe
I would imagine that targets are levelled. So 8th would mean more than 9th etc. Simple setting bonuses to top 10 would be stupid.
It’s a bit like Ashley setting bonuses for SD to a certain level and not incentivising his staff to make even higher profits, I don’t get that.
But there’s one thing for players being motivated about earning enough money to buy another Porsche and another thing to see players motivated to get into Europe, stave of relegation, get their highest finish or even just playing for a manager they admire.