This is a critical season for Newcastle United and certainly a critical one for Alan Pardew, and at the very least Newcastle will need to finish in the top ten if Alan is to remain the Newcastle manager next summer.
Critical season for Alan Pardew and Newcastle
Alan’s job is in danger not only because of the poor results of the last two seasons, but also because of his antics on the touchline which culminated in a long stadium ban after he head-butted Hull City player David Meyler
Unfortunately, whatever he does in his future career, that’s what a lot of people will remember Alan Pardew for – whether that’s fair or not.
And Pardew has not been shy in telling everybody he has been delighted with this summer’s transfer window, when we have brought in nine players so far:
[table “27” not found /]But when you think we got around £32M for Yohan Cabaye and Mathieu Debuchy this year that means it’s still only a net outlay so far of about £3M, although there may still be a couple of signings before September 2nd, and on the other hand if we sell Cheick Tiote this summer, we could actually make money this year on our transfers.
Newcastle now have some good players in the squad and Remy Cabella, Daryl Janmaat, Manu Riviere and Jack Colback all made their competitive debuts on Sunday against Manchester City, and debuts were also given to 18 year-old Rolando Aarons and 21 year-old Ayoze Perez, and all six played well.
Pardew talked about his new players today:
“They were solid – and they will get better too. It’s difficult to settle in the Premier League.” “They had to come in at champions level against Man City.”
“I think they did very well.” “The 2-0 scoreline somewhat clouded it but the fans had enough to see.”
2-0 was never reflective of the game, and if we could have equalized in those last few minutes with a couple of great chances we had – who knows – we could maybe have even won the game.
But that’s all woulda coulda shoulda – it didn’t happen and we lost 2-0, but the display was good – especially in that second half, and now we have to go all out for a win at Villa Park on Saturday.
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230 comments so far
Whumpie
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:37 PM
Comment #81Our Toon – I agree with your points in post 46, but not the weight of them; it’s a bit one-sided. We did have some very good movement but it was patchy and rarely continued long enough to get a chance.
Very nervy at times, and definitely too much space between Rivvy and the 3 behind him.
That BBC report was absolute crap, but it usually is. Basically the top 6 can do no wrong and the others are just there to fill tv screen space as far as their reports are concerned.
We lacked composure at the sharp end. That was pretty much the only major difference between the two teams. I really don’t see any more to it, and overall I thought it looked promising.
But man, do we need SDJ and Tiote…
Munster Mag
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:38 PM
Comment #82Catchy, I cant respond now due to time hassles, but will try to do so later tonight. In the meantime, try to cance the record, you are boring the sheet out of me and many more of us.
Munster Mag
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:38 PM
Comment #83make that , change the record Catchy.
kevymartins
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:39 PM
Comment #84@Ourtoon
Of course we look stronger now plus our 2 big players where out.
Also don’t forget that was a team that suppostly hasn’t even gel’d yet but I tell you what they looked like a team to me. And you will see against Villa then you can make the call if it’s a better team or not.
You say you put the stats there but you simply cannot judge us and say we had a better team last season going by the first game of the season against the Champions you just can’t do it.
GeordieTwo
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:40 PM
Comment #85Some good points there Whumpie mate @81. Yes to all of that. But don’t forget, controlled ferocity mate. We must crush Villa’s spirit early on. Trample them. Reduce them to tears. Send them home to their mams. Beautiful.
Tsunki
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:41 PM
Comment #86“Defencefest” is actually the title of Alans 4 page game tactics brochure. I’ve seen it written in big letters in bright red crayon on the front with a frownie underneath it and a drawing of a stick man lying face down with a number 10 on his back with a sword stuck through the zero.
Our Toon
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:42 PM
Comment #87Tequila
I was merely pointing out that the team on Sunday was stronger than the team last season. Although some on here would have you believe the signings have made us better.
kevymartins
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:44 PM
Comment #88That is just ridiculous like omg haha.
If the ”signings” arn’t here to make us better then wtf where they signed for in the first place?
tequilamag
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:46 PM
Comment #89OT it is far too early to make any kind of judgement as to whether we are stronger or not, Some decent performances in pre season count for nothing. We have 7 new players to bed in. When we bought 5 in the Jan window everyone got carried away with how good they were but they struggled to gel. Some of the players we bought will go on to be good players others will almost certainly fail. Look at Spurs last year. On Paper they bought a lot of quality with the Bale money but it never worked out that way.
Our Toon
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:46 PM
Comment #90Whumpie, Tequila
If anything can happen tomorrow when if we played them then she’ll it doesn’t matter that they are defending champions
Whumpie you may think it’s overly critical but to me we gave a better account last season when our team wasn’t as good as it is now. Time will tell but zero shots on target is a shocking star for a home team.
tequilamag
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:47 PM
Comment #91RH I hope there were no big words in post 89 that you find offensive
Tsunki
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:50 PM
Comment #92Well I think it’s too early to say if this is a stronger team or not. I would say that Citeh fielded a largely familiar side with a good run of PL Champions experience, while ours was largely experimental. I saw a lot of good in what we did, but it was evident that many of the key playmakers have yet to cultivate an understanding of each ones positioning and running into spaces. But I am sure it will come. Thinking about Pards 10 game probationary period, I would grant him that to see how this side and it’s lack of PL experience gels. That’s IF Pards can resist mucking about with players out of position and bringing Dummet on when we’re chasing a goal or two. ;). The worst he should do though is deliver a half dozen boring draws, he has largely the same back line players do there’s no excuse for not drilling them to stop leaking goals. If he loses 6 out of ten then we really need a new guy at the wheel.
Our Toon
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:50 PM
Comment #93Kevy
I think you are struggling to grasp anything in this debate mate. Just take some time to read through what I’ve put.
Summarise for kevy:
The team that we put out on Sunday was better than the 11 that started last season’s game with citeh at home….yet we caused more problems last season than we did this time round against a weaker man city team. Hopefully that makes sense to you mate
GeordieTwo
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:51 PM
Comment #94Right then, are you lot serious about winning something? Then we’ve got to get to the next match and growl and claw like honey badgers. Bring torn up chunks of meat and hurl them at the Villa supporters. Say rude things about their mams. Scratch ourselves in unflattering places. Come on lads let’s help our club win this big one! Harrumph!
Markaccus
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:51 PM
Comment #95Just a small but obvious point. We had about the same number of shots as citeh, but none were on target. Ok. Fine. Isnt that just the players being off target. Surely even pardews biggest detractor cant claim he is training the strikers to miss???
kevymartins
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:53 PM
Comment #96@Ourtoon are you on cloud 9?
How the hell could you possibly compare? When we played city at Sjp last season midway through the season and this season it was the first game with a group of players that need to Gel.
Our Toon
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:53 PM
Comment #97Tequila
I’m not making judgements of players just looking at facts, check out both teams on paper from home games played this year and tell me I’m wrong….If I am wrong that Sundays team looked stronger on paper than the team put out last yr yet they were weaker on sunday compare to last season’s game
Markaccus
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:54 PM
Comment #98G2
How about one of those giant flags that you pass over the crowd, but this time instead of the club crest, it just has the word ‘Harrumph’ on it?
kevymartins
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:55 PM
Comment #99If you are going to compare then it would be more logical to compare to the first game of the season last season home or away then come back and tell us if you think we looked stronger.
GeordieTwo
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:55 PM
Comment #100You’re doing some excellent blogging there Tsunki. We’re clearly on the right track mate! More controlled ferocity, fewer scrambly bits. Hard tackling in the midfield, Find Riviere in space. A lot of pace in the lineup up now. But more players involved in the attack please! More players in the box. An isolated striker up front by himself is hopeless Pards.
GeordieTwo
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:55 PM
Comment #101Harrumph and a picture of a honey badger Markaccus mate.
Our Toon
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:57 PM
Comment #102Kevy
This is obviously to much for you to comprehend mate so it’s best I just leave the debate with you.
Markaccus – I’m not blaming the manager for the missed chances, heck we had more possession last year. I do think he could have instructed better where Clichy is concerned. A LB playing his 3rd game as a RB and we hardly tested him.
Tsunki
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:57 PM
Comment #103It’s another stat hole to fall into. Zero shots on target. Given that our team has been knocked back to trial status by reason of the new boys having to settle in together, the lack of clear cut shots on goal wasn’t a worry. What I DID See was a lot more creativity from attacking mid, players switching wings and roving about outside the D, good crosses ( yes I actually said it at last) and some good ideas from various players who looked like they meant to get into danger areas at long last. So what if Perez’ shot was off, he lit up the game and maybe could have made a lot of difference if brought on earlier. I saw more creative threat in us than a handful of lame speculative digs from outside the area.
I think there are goals in there, please Pards don’t mess these ones up.
Our Toon
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:58 PM
Comment #104Kevy
Not sure if you were aware but playing at home is very different to playing away.
tequilamag
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:59 PM
Comment #105OT you are confusing a subjective opinion with a fact.
You may believe what you say is correct and events may even confirm your opinion to be correct but you can`t call it a fact at this stage.
Sorry RH “subjective” is obviously going to be a bit contentious for you
. Damn it it did it again saying contentious
Our Toon
Aug 20, 2014 at 5:59 PM
Comment #106Tsunki
I agree more crosses came in mate and that was good to see but we always had 1 person in the box. Can’t score if we don’t have men in he box
GeordieTwo
Aug 20, 2014 at 6:01 PM
Comment #107Would like to see 4-3-1-2 against Villa.
—————————Krul
Janmaat——-Willo———–Colo———Haidara
———–Sissy——Tiote————Colback
———————–de Jong
————-Riviere————–Goofy
Markaccus
Aug 20, 2014 at 6:02 PM
Comment #108Our toon
ok thats fair enough. Sometimes people on here make stuff up to blast pardew when there is plenty real reasons. I appologise 🙂
Our Toon
Aug 20, 2014 at 6:02 PM
Comment #109Tequila
If that’s continuous but is a fact then please tell me if we caused them more problems in the home game last season and did we put in a better performance?
kevymartins
Aug 20, 2014 at 6:03 PM
Comment #110@Ourtoon I understand it perfectly fine.
Your are trying to compare are team team based on our first home game against the champions. Against a game we played mid way last season and say uh we were better?
Why not just compare to the Arsenal 4-4 draw aw we where better then with barton/best an all.
The fact is why would you compare us to the game mid way last season and not when they tanked us 5-0 ???
Are you on crack?
GeordieTwo
Aug 20, 2014 at 6:03 PM
Comment #111Let’s have some attack from the start of the game this time Pards. We need to score goals to win matches. Have that embroidered on your underpants Alan.
Tsunki
Aug 20, 2014 at 6:04 PM
Comment #112Out Toon, agreed on players in the box thing but we have the opportunity to rectify that with the raft of strikers we now have. What will mess it up is if Pards insists on the lone striker and no over-commit to attack in order to be available to defend. His style has been convert strikers into attacking mids (and not very good ones) by doing this.
GeordieTwo
Aug 20, 2014 at 6:05 PM
Comment #113One thing that really bothers me is that Obertan has no honey badger qualities. He is more of a squid as we all know. Do we want a squid in the squad so to speak? Let me know what you think lads. 😯
Tsunki
Aug 20, 2014 at 6:06 PM
Comment #114Oh and if by the one person in the box thing you meant Willo. I definitely agree. He should not be the lone striker.
Markaccus
Aug 20, 2014 at 6:06 PM
Comment #115G2
I like that formation. Tiote and colback can cover when the FBs go forward (to give us width) and with sdj pulling strings and getting into the box we should be dangerous.
Missing cabella from the line up. Can we fit him in somewhere.
Tsunki
Aug 20, 2014 at 6:08 PM
Comment #116I think Alan brought Obertan in because he thought he was a colour-changing Humboldt Squid. He must be gutted. Actually both of them should be. 🙂
Tsunki
Aug 20, 2014 at 6:09 PM
Comment #117Yes, Tiote could try a long range shot from Moscow. Might not be disallowed this time.
tequilamag
Aug 20, 2014 at 6:09 PM
Comment #118OT it`s all about opinions, it`s pointless comparing a game from last season to this season. One was half way through the season when we were riding high at the time this season was first game with a lot of new players.
What point are you actually tying to make? Are you saying that we fill finish lower at the end of this season than last on the basis of comparing relative performances against one team after the first game of the season.
It was one game nobody can possibly know how the season will pan out yet..
Markaccus
Aug 20, 2014 at 6:10 PM
Comment #119We could go 4321
Have the same 4 and 3 but then have SDJ and Cabella behind a striker.
GeordieTwo
Aug 20, 2014 at 6:10 PM
Comment #120Doh!!! You’re right with that one Markaccus mate! We’re so deep I can’t get all the top players in the lineup. Let me think…..
—————————-Krul
Jan————Willo———–Coolo——Hairdryer
———-Sissy———-Cabs————Colback
——————–de Jong
———–Riviere————–Goofy