In his weekly Sky Sports predication today, Paul Merson does not think Newcastle can get their first win of the season at home to Leicester City tomorrow.
Paul Merson – predicts a 2-2 draw
Here is how the 46 year-old former Aston Villa and England midfielder summed up the game for Sky Sports:
“This is one of those games where the Newcastle fans will turn up expecting to win. They drew their last game with Swansea, which was a bit of a bonus because a lot of people didn’t expect them to get anything there, but the expectations will be different here because they’re at home to a promoted side.”
“I know Leicester are doing great, but the pressure will be on the home players. I think it’s a hard game because Leicester will fancy their chances. Newcastle will bomb forward and they could get caught on the break by the pace of Jamie Vardy – so this could be a wide-open and gung-ho game. A draw is no good for Newcastle, but I see that happening.”
“PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2”
And the Newcastle fans are not too confident we can get the win either, with only 38% thinking we can get all 3 points tomorrow, and get our first win of the season.
If we cannot win tomorrow, it’s going to continue to be gloom and doom on Tyneside, and as Paul says, a draw is no good for Newcastle. 🙁
What do you think?
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72 comments so far
catchy in norway
Oct 17, 2014 at 12:32 PM
Comment #41the ledge
so good it should be in here
In the modern world that we now live in, it seems that more and more new words are being created to suit our hectic, on-line lives and are gradually seeping into our subconscious.
These days, ridiculous as it may seem, but words like onesie, gastropub, selfie and chillax can now not only be heard on the street, but also found in the Collin’s English Dictionary.
On the streets of Newcastle however, another new word has been created; one that you won’t find in the dictionary – not yet anyway. Over the last couple of years, as the fortunes of the city’s one and only football club have slowly started to unravel under the stewardship of Alan Pardew, a new verb has fallen into the Geordie public’s psyche.
#455782714 / gettyimages.com
A verb used to describe a footballer who was once decent – but is inexplicably now rubbish. Or perhaps someone with bags of potential who has mysteriously failed to develop into the player he was seemingly destined to become. That verb: To be “Pardewed”.
Describing a player as being “Pardewed” is now commonplace in Newcastle. The word itself is used almost as frequently as “goal” or “shambles” on Tyneside.
So just what does being “Pardewed” entail exactly? How does it happen and what poor souls have been stricken this terrible new affliction?! Well as far as I can tell, there are four main ways that our beloved Alan can condemn a footballer to the awful perils of being “Pardewed”.
Turning good players bad
The man once hilariously dubbed Pardiola seems to possess the uncanny knack of zapping the talent from some of his best players. Alan Pardew has the incredible ability of taking a talented Premier League player at the top of his game, and turning him to utter crap.
Whatever the hell Alan says to them when he gets his hands on them on the training ground, it sure works. Before long even the most supremely talented players are soon reduced to sub-standard benchwarmers once Alan’s through with them.
Examples: Papiss Cisse, Hatem Ben Arfa, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Sylvain Marveaux, Tim Krul (harsh but I feel he’s going backwards).
Failure to develop young talent
If you are currently a young footballer on the cusp of the first team at Newcastle United, be afraid, be very afraid. Over the last few years Newcastle’s youth and reserve teams have apparently been filled with some of the most exciting young talent in the Premier League.
Yet rather strangely, very few are making that final leap into the first team. Youngsters who we are told have the world at their feet, burst through the Newcastle ranks like a steam train before slamming into a developmental brick wall once Pardew gets his hands on them. Of course some will be down to their own failings, but there just seem far too many failures for it to be coincidence these days.
Examples: Haris Vuckic, Sammy Ameobi, Adam Campbell, Mehdi Abeid, Gael Bigirimana, Shane Ferguson.
Benching world class talent in favour of journeymen
One of Alan’s real specialities is his supreme in ability to mismanage genuinely world class players if they have the misfortune to fall under his stewardship. Most notoriously of all, during his West Ham days, Pardew struggled to find places in his team for Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
Staggeringly both were seemingly deemed not good enough to displace Marlon Harewood and Hayden Mullins in Pard’s line-up. It’s a trend he has maintained to the current day. This season Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa has been playing regular Champions League football on-loan at Roma, but was apparently not good enough to oust Mike Williamson from the Newcastle team.
And of course after failing to manage Newcastle’s most talented player, Hatem Ben Arfa, Alan decide to offload him to Hull in favour of sticking with Yoan Gouffran and Gabriel Obertan.
Examples: Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano, Hatem Ben Arfa, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.
Consistently playing players out of position
I’m not quite sure what goes through Alan’s head on this one, but for some reason Pardew just loves playing players out of position – particularly left backs! The crux of Pardew’s problem comes from the fact that he has his favourites, and come hell or high water he will fit them into his team somewhere or other.
Over the last couple of years it has not been unusual to see striker Papiss Cisse hung out to dry on the left wing, centre-midfielder Moussa Sissoko on the right-wing, central defender Yanga-Mbiwa at left-back, or even left-back Davide Santon in centre midfield. I literally could go on and on.
Examples: Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Moussa Sissoko, Davide Santon, Papiss Cisse, Vurnon Anita.
As Alan seems hell bent on not resigning and getting his juicy pay-off from Mike Ashley, tragically it now seems that it is only a matter of time before the next batch of poor souls are condemned to playing under Pardew’s stewardship.
Some, like Yohan Cabaye or Demba Ba, may prove too powerful and may be able to resist his appalling management. Sadly others, like Ben Arfa or Yanga-Mbiwa will not be so lucky.
As a Newcastle fan I genuinely worry about the Newcastle careers of Remy Cabella, Adam Armstrong, Rolando Aarons and Jack Colback amongst others.
So next time you see Alan gesticulating, grinning (or head-butting someone) on the touchline, spare a thought for those poor souls under his command on the pitch, anyone of them could unwittingly be the next one to be “Pardewed”.
magscar
Oct 17, 2014 at 12:36 PM
Comment #42Average_Contents@39
Ah now your spoiling what was becoming a long term hope 🙂
Toon-Prodigy
Oct 17, 2014 at 12:46 PM
Comment #43The problem wrong with this blog is people have been wanting Pardew out since he has been here with some folk. It’s been going on 4 years, i’v been here.
Ragardless of results. He was never seen as an NUFC manager. Which is understandable at the time. Its been dwelled upon.
But our plans and league finish was always going to be the same, Under these constaints. It has to be the manager? Internationals at his disposal? It must be these people within the club.
The squad is poor. Fact.
What really happened is we have been underhanded for the past four years. The job has been made more difficult to achieve. Aye, we could of did better in hindsight and tweaked things, but the squad has always been a mid-table one. It was never going to be much better than that.
All this sack Pardew has been made far too personal. Ashley sets the level of ambition. Pardew would love a blow out of English Premier League Players coming in. He dosn’t get what he wants.
That said, there is an argument he could get better out of the players available. But how much under these constraints and newcomers all at once? They need time.
But i have no doubt this is a difficult task. This squad is not the best and multiple players who cant speak a word of english when they do decide to spend is more crap put on his shoulders. We look at other clubs and compare but hold on? They don’t do this season after season? Like we do? Aye, he is a mid-table manager, but where is he helped to acheive under this structure?
My point is more damage is being caused behind the scenes that affects our season than one man that controls the limited squad he has.
We are only ever going to finish top ten under Ashley.
mindshaft
Oct 17, 2014 at 12:51 PM
Comment #44@Toon – you will always get people wanting the manager out based on nothing particular … however Pards results speak for themselves and he should be sacked purely on the basis that performances and points and points gained have been woeful
Laurent Robert 32
Oct 17, 2014 at 12:51 PM
Comment #45It’s great that Pardewed article.
mecannylad
Oct 17, 2014 at 12:56 PM
Comment #46Have SackPardew.com run out of steam … or are there covert operations planned for tomorrow I wonder ?
optimistic prime
Oct 17, 2014 at 1:13 PM
Comment #47I said 2-2 a couple days ago, that’s if we’re lucky enough only to concede 2 and Obertan has a blinder whipping two in for Cisse to bury.
Toon-Prodigy
Oct 17, 2014 at 1:15 PM
Comment #48Mindshaft,
But the axis has always pointed towards Ashley and his decisions. All too personal blaming Pardew it’s wrong and 90% of st james realises this, not who ventures online. We are not a normal club here. He is not a normal manager being giving 10s of millions to spend each summer. We are being held back to play catch up. He dosn’t get what he wants, it’s chosen for him to manage.
He is no miracle worker just a bloke trying to manage a club the best he can under poor structures. Very witheld.
Yes he should go and leave under these constraints i agree any manager should with these results. But it is all else his best job and i repect that. A man who wants to achieve and succeed should give it everything regardless of his surroundings.
Show me all Pards stats and I’ll give anyone a good enough reason why it ain’t down to one man. The one person blame is not justified to the extent it is.
mag92
Oct 17, 2014 at 1:26 PM
Comment #49Leicester are no mugs that Ulloa is a decent striker and he’s up against the two cart horses plus a goalkeeper whose got an injury, so it should be full of goals tomorrow.
mindshaft
Oct 17, 2014 at 1:45 PM
Comment #50Toon – You’re correct that’s its now down to any one man and that coaches, owner and players themselves are all at fault however the manager is the man accountable for results and therefore is the first person to be sacked, the coaching staff should go with him – I’ve nothing against Pardew as a person and met him once, seemed a nice enough bloke and posed for a photo
magscar
Oct 17, 2014 at 2:01 PM
Comment #51Mindshaft
I think Toon Prodigy’s main thrust is that whilst he would be sacked at any other club, at any other club he wouldn’t have found himself in the position he has because he would have had more room for maneouvre. The fact he is often boxed in is due to others and not always him. Yes he did sign up for it but that is why I think Ashley puts up with him.
Hard hearted as Ashley is perhaps he looks at the way the wheels have come off again (after a good start in the transfer window but with Pardew left without a squad he wanted) and knows he has failed him not the other way round. That is why he gives him time but that is not everlasting.
Toon-Prodigy
Oct 17, 2014 at 2:11 PM
Comment #52Mindshaft,
Well lets sack him.
If we are relegated though with a new manager this season:
I only hope then everybody who has played a part in his sacking over the past 4 yrs and especially this season holds there hands up in being a part of our club going down. Because of the want for prettier football. Take your share of the blame. Because i’ll notice it and many many more will also.
There is so much more going on behind the scenes that affects our results than a manager.
We are playing to Mike Ashleys fiddle not Paredew’s. That’s the be all end all really.
Bedtime for me. G’nite mate.
sweendog
Oct 17, 2014 at 2:26 PM
Comment #53Surprising forecast .. That would have been for casting a win, sooner we get a good attacking manager the better
sweendog
Oct 17, 2014 at 2:29 PM
Comment #54Toon-prodigy the only person who caused pardews downfall is himself as it is a results game and as shown by Ashley’s stubborness , it doesn’t matter what the fans think, clued in or not
sweendog
Oct 17, 2014 at 2:31 PM
Comment #55We all know the root cause is Ashley, a major symptom is pardew and no investment, but there’s much better managers that can handle little investment yet take a club forward, de Boer for example
Toon-Prodigy
Oct 17, 2014 at 2:36 PM
Comment #56Sweendog,
Not if the structure and limits are set-up to fail to start with. Injuries taken into account aswell.
Only so much a man can do.
Course the results could be better, but the task is alot greater also with this. There is a balance of blame to be had.
G’nite.
Lilongwe Geordie
Oct 17, 2014 at 2:42 PM
Comment #57TP,
Likewise, if we climb the table under a new manager I hope you admit your folly of absolving Pardew from a lot of blame mate. If Pardew could turn it around and make us relatively successful, I’d be fine with him staying. How long do we wait for it to occur??
Shorthanded, yes, but we still have a far better side then we are showing. It wasn’t Ashley who misused his squad post Cabaye last season, it was Pardew.
I’ve said it a million times, just because Ashley is a poor owner for the football side of things, doesn’t mean that Pardew should be absolved of the blame for dire results and performances.
magscar
Oct 17, 2014 at 2:53 PM
Comment #58Mecannylad
As things have gone quiet before a home match I suspect there could be some SD action. Cue extra security at certain shop on Northumberland Street?
As I have said before though it takes a different sort of approach than our protest groups have previously been interested in. Their approach is to widely publicise their actions beforehand as the more the better the outcome.
Have they re-grouped? Can Sackpardew.com change given their name and stated intent? What about Time4change are they better set up for some stealth copy cat action or even co-ordinated with Rangers fans as they kick off at home at same time as us tomorrow.
spaghetti bandit
Oct 17, 2014 at 2:57 PM
Comment #59How is it tht surprising,, we drew 3 all with palace and have only been ahead in 2 minutes of all our premier league campaign so far (tht stats off tsport btw)
Toon-Prodigy
Oct 17, 2014 at 3:13 PM
Comment #60Lilongwe,
And that’s where it all is sorted out..
I’v much more confidence in Alan Pardew if Ashley switched on his ambitions to greater things other than him bringing in another puppet under these SAME constraints the way things stand and not changing.
If he is ever going to back anyone fully it is going to be Pardew. Pardew has shown him his loyalty.
I don’t think we will be relegated under Pardew you see, but finish mid-table- especially once he spends in January. To save off his latest gambles.
Sorry mate I have to get some sleep for work tonight, I ‘ll leave you lot to discuss.
P.S
For me it’s too easy to say he should be doing better, under these circumstances, but honestly, no one can really ever fully decide until this man has been fully backed under this regime and that falls under Ashley’s structures. He hasn’t been backed ever.
It’s easy going from results, and I agree he should go, but he is still in a job because of Ashley’s gambles and penny pinching and Ashley and Pardew knows this.
To be frank, Pardew is in a job because everyone knows he is running under a shocking structure, hence all the pro’s and pundits backing.
We look at results, no harm in that, but it is more Ashley’s fault for never backing a man he brought in and setting up a shocking Premier League transfer structure to make money for his own benefit and advertise his own firm.
G’nite lad.
leeb1982
Oct 17, 2014 at 3:13 PM
Comment #61How are mersons predictions a shock. Crystal palace ring any bells. We relied on a player who was slated from pillow to post last season. N the only reason that striker lost his form was because our tactical genius of a manager tried to turn him into a right midfielder who tracks back. Just to accommodate a player he knew was going. So if we have to answer to you if we go down after sacking pardwho then hopefully you will do the same when we go down by not sacking him. D!CK
Jail for Ashley
Oct 17, 2014 at 3:33 PM
Comment #62TP,
Out of all the posters on here you are probably closest to my thoughts on Mashley but I can’t agree with your sympathy for Pardew, we all know he has constraints and any manager that came in would only be given the tools to finish top ten, but Pardew has made his bed, he has publicly stated that he has the best squad he’s ever had, he’s thanked Mikey for backing him that summer we only brought in Remy ??? He is thoroughly complicit in Mikes tawdry affair and deserves all the stick he’s getting. He has called the regions youngsters thick, he patronises us and tells us bare faced lies, his football is shite and he’s an arrogant slimy barsteward !!!
Barton
Oct 17, 2014 at 3:42 PM
Comment #63Car’nt wait to see what excuses the Percy lovers come out with once the useless cnut takes us down,will they still excuse him then ? ,and while i’m winging-on,all this talk of Mr Tubbs sorting it in january.jesus h shiste at this rate come january it will be to late,does anyone think him of all people will throw good money after bad so to speak if we well and truelly rooted to the bottom of the prem ? will he hell as like,he be cashing in on what we have left of any value,Krul,Tiote ect,getting ready to cut cost’s for the championship.
mag92
Oct 17, 2014 at 3:50 PM
Comment #64Pardew is a completely useless manager his current situation and his past all show you how much of a liability he is and Ashley just keeps him to agitate the supporters, but Pardew is a certainty for the chop.
The Fyten
Oct 17, 2014 at 3:59 PM
Comment #65any other news regarding virgil van dijk? read that arsenal are now in on him.
optimistic prime
Oct 17, 2014 at 4:01 PM
Comment #66Pardew will still relegate us this year even if Ashley buys him a quality striker and defender.
Average_Contents
Oct 17, 2014 at 4:02 PM
Comment #67Tp
Jfa said it best but I’d like to add that with the king still here the chances of us staying up are currently slim to none. He’s just not up to the task and imo never has been.
stuart no9
Oct 17, 2014 at 4:03 PM
Comment #68i think mersons being a bit kind to us really . , however , 116 year old record to be broken tomorrow , wow , hahahh pardew was onl;y a nipper then .
scottoon
Oct 17, 2014 at 4:31 PM
Comment #69Sadly, I don’t see us getting anything out of this one. Leicester will harry our back four aggressively throughout, causing them no end of difficulties. We might lead the possession stats, but simply haven’t enough going forward (I blame Pardew and 4-2-3-1 for that not the players) and are too slow and weak at the back to contend with Ulloa and Vardy. Leicester to score 2 for sure, and I just don’t think we have it in us to match that tomorrow.
Graeme
Oct 17, 2014 at 4:32 PM
Comment #70Jail @ 62 – but apart from all that, he’s ok lol
He should have been removed after the “head butt” but FCB decided not to act, which was a glorious chance wasted. I can see both sides of the argument and agree that P45DUE should be plying his trade in pastures new – but who the hell are we going to end up with once he does leave??
scottoon
Oct 17, 2014 at 4:34 PM
Comment #71Think the record will be broken tomorrow, and that record broken again next week vs Spurs. And again the week after that against the Bindippers. First win November 22 against QPR,
Oh how I hope I am wrong, but have serious doubts.
Rotonda heights
Oct 17, 2014 at 8:57 PM
Comment #72Prodigy
Sorry it has to be said you are a monumental t–l.
Yes god forbid we’d like to see something looking remotely like good football and heaven forfend a team actually trying to win a game!!!
Jeez you’re like Pardew – blames the fans, in fact anyone but himself for his team selections, tactics, subs, behaviour etc.
AP ”thanked” himself for making the summer signings and for now having in his own words the best squad he’s ever worked with, while at the same time sanctioning loans for HBA, MYM and SM.
No one else is to blame. AP would have been sacked anywhere else an awful long time ago.
You can’t dine out on one fluked good season forever.