A young Newcastle side again looked very good yesterday, when our younger less experienced players like Paul Dummett, Massadio Haidara, Mehdi Abeid, Sammy Ameobi and Ayoze Perez all looked very good, and Newcastle again showed that every player is willing to put in a good shift for the side in every game.
Alan Pardew – at West Brom yesterday
When we were struggling, and there was pressure for Alan Pardew to be fired, there were some claims by some national journalists that Alan had lost the dressing room, something that seems to be made up when a manager is having a bad run at any club.
But it seems nothing could be further from the truth, and if anything the pressure on Newcastle and the manager have seen our players stick together and over the last five or six games the lads have pulled Newcastle clear of the relegation zone, and reached the quarter finals of the Capital One Cup.
And although we play Spurs away in the League Cup quarter finals, such is the confidence in the squad at the moment, that we must have a decent chance of reaching the last four of that competition – and that would be something.
We like the way the manager is not over-reacting to what has been an amazing turnaround in form by the Newcastle side, and with a five game winning streak going, we can still move up in the league table from the 8th position we are in at the moment.
But any talk about Europe and all that stuff is very premature at best – what we should be thinking about is winning the next game, and the next one after that …… and so on.
It’s not clear exactly what Alan did to turn things around, if anything, but he says when he looked at the stats from the games we had lost they were still pretty good, so we weren’t playing as bad as the results suggested.
And certainly at home to Crystal Palace and at Aston Villa we could have won both those matches.
What seems to have done the trick is the players stuck right behind Pardew, when he was under extreme pressure, and we also had a few local lads like Paul Dummett, Jack Colback, Sammy Ameobi in the side – who knew what it means to play for the Newcastle club – and they seem to have led the way in their determination to turn things around.
But players like Ayoze Perez and Mehdi Abeid have been brought in and have played really well for the team, and they may not have been given the chance if we didn’t have so many injuries.
What we want Alan Pardew to do now, is to lay the players in form, and if it means that Mehdi Abeid keeps his place when Cheick Tiote is fit again – so be it.
Notice we didn’t say we can now sell Cheick, because we need to have a much deeper squad than we’ve had over the last four years.
Both Papiss Cisse and Cheick Tiote are good players for Newcastle, and both can do a good job for us this season, when they are both fully fit again.
So it’s a combination of the more experienced players and the good youngsters we now have at the club, all doing their jobs, and that could even make this season a shock season for us – and on the upside too.
Four weeks ago we were talking about having a tough season fighting relegation again, but just as long as our players play with the passion and skill they have shown in the last several weeks, we should be fine.
And we could even be the shock team in the Premier League – as we were three seasons ago.
That’s what we are hoping for. 😀
But that’s not to say Pardew isn’t still getting criticized by the die-hard Pardew haters – but it’s kind of a hard argument to make at the moment – given how well the Newcastle team has looked, and some of the great results we have had over the last four weeks.
We are just loving how Newcastle United are playing right now and the great results we are getting – if we cannot enjoy this – we cannot enjoy anything.
Howay The Lads!!
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48 comments so far
croftus5678
Nov 10, 2014 at 2:45 PM
Comment #1he’s playing attacking/counter attacking footy and not trying to defend for 90mins i.e. playing to our strength’s and not our weaknesses.
BrightonMag
Nov 10, 2014 at 2:47 PM
Comment #2Not to mention the fact that he’s actually playing players in their correct positions! Tends to help…
mag92
Nov 10, 2014 at 2:48 PM
Comment #3Pardews discovered youth are the way ahead!
optimistic prime
Nov 10, 2014 at 2:52 PM
Comment #4As long as we keep playing players in correct positions and picking on form in a style that suits we’ll have a decent season.
No one deserves to be dropped from WBA win for next game, Cisse Tiote Saylor even Aaron’s have to fight for a place not walk in side.
The players in the side will only gain confidence through knowing their in the team on merrit and the ones not in side will only progress by knowing they have to perform to get in team, win win.
Long may it continue.
mag92
Nov 10, 2014 at 2:56 PM
Comment #5Colback, Abied and Sissoko, completely terrify the opposition!
mecannylad
Nov 10, 2014 at 3:01 PM
Comment #6I am enjoying basking in the warm glow of our winning streak, but I frankly remain bruised and still wonder how can we possibly get through till the end of this calendar year without hostilities probably once again breaking out.
I am particularly nervous about the Sunderland game following quickly on from our League Cup outing against Spurs.
Pardew remains on a hiding to nothing with these two consecutive fixtures I am afraid; but if he can get us to the semis and put Poyet to the sword ….well.
Funny old game.
mag92
Nov 10, 2014 at 3:05 PM
Comment #7All the blog moaners were saying that WBA, would be a hard game, let’s hope the rest are as hard!
Go toon gooooo
Nov 10, 2014 at 3:11 PM
Comment #8The key reasons for success were moving Sissoko away from the winger position and benching Vurnon Anita who was poor at DM position(although we have one win with him in the past games but Obertan did the job for him).Game against Wests will be answer to many unanswered questions.Now I’m sure that Pardew will never play Sissoko and Anita on their previous positions.We are still near to the relegation zone.
croftus5678
Nov 10, 2014 at 3:13 PM
Comment #9tbf with the players we have injured and the players we have playing who would have guessed they would perform like they have been ?
obertan/rolando/abied/perez/armstrong/raylor/dummett/saylor before this season i wouldnt have dreamed they would be first team and i’d have said tiote/cisse/siem/williamson/goofy ect ect so fair play and well done to the guys.
toonincheek
Nov 10, 2014 at 3:24 PM
Comment #10First 5 games – relegation form
Second 5 games – PL Champions form
What next?
Jail for Ashley
Nov 10, 2014 at 3:33 PM
Comment #11Toon in cheek,
Quite a remarkable turn around as I thought he’d lost the dressing room as well as the crowd. I’d like to see STaylor replaced with a quality CB in January.
mag92
Nov 10, 2014 at 3:35 PM
Comment #12Pardew doesn’t need to change anything else, unless injuries dictate. Riviere, Cisse and Tiote will come into the reckoning after their injury layoffs.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Nov 10, 2014 at 3:44 PM
Comment #13Mag92
Don’t thgink many of the squad are away on international duty that played yesterday – Krul, Janmaat, off the top of my head – not sure about Dummett and Abeid and with two weeks to get Riviere, Cisse Tiote and Williamson, Taylor who came on yesterday and hopefully S Taylor Aarons fit – then we should go into the QPR game with just about a full squad
mag92
Nov 10, 2014 at 4:01 PM
Comment #14Dummett and Saylor are far better than Williamson, who is a liability!
wolfshead@toon
Nov 10, 2014 at 4:01 PM
Comment #15maybe his head being on the chopping block for so long has made him throw caution to the wind hopefully the next loss wont see a return to the old pardew
mag92
Nov 10, 2014 at 4:02 PM
Comment #16In January, Pardew should offload, Williamson and Anita!
optimistic prime
Nov 10, 2014 at 4:35 PM
Comment #17We shouldn’t be looking to offload anyone in January, we have two spare places in the squad from Ben Arfa and M’biwa.
Fill those spaces before leaving ourselves even shorter. A CB and a foward should be our priority.
Can’t see us signing anyone in jan really, De Jong will be back who knows where Santon is but I’d expect him to be around. Obertan and Goode also long terms will be back, without anymore injuries I doubt we’ll spend.
We’ll wait until summer offload Tiote M’biwa permanent maybe another 1 or 2 others and spend what we sell.
Wayayman
Nov 10, 2014 at 4:39 PM
Comment #18Listening and reading Pardew’s interviews recently, it looks like he’s eaten a big slice of humble pie. I think the Sack Pardew boys did a fantastic job making him and everyone else aware of what many of us see as being the problem; His record until this run speaks for itself but the brass neck o the bloke really got on my nerves. He always seemed to have this unlikeable arrogance about him, the rubber-lipped smirk was grating as was his constant insistence that we are ‘a team who likes to play on the front foot’ when we were clearly anything but.
Recently though, him being a game away from the rocket plus the ‘it’s never your fault’ chants, the banners, the website, the boos all might have just tipped him the nod that we’d had enough and we wouldn’t stand for his BS any longer. Since the Sack pardew campaign started to get headline, the man himself has shown some humility and might, just might have turned a corner. He’s listened to what the fans all knew, he’s dropped the previously undroppable players and got luck a few times too with the form of Sissoko, Janmaat and Colback as well as having Abeid and Perez come in and look like quality players.
Us Geordies LOVE a team that tries, and a manager that gives it a go. Maybe after 5 years he’s finally cottoned on and stopped trying to act like a wide boy.
Still want him gone though.
sweendog
Nov 10, 2014 at 4:46 PM
Comment #19Wayayman, well said
croftus5678
Nov 10, 2014 at 4:47 PM
Comment #20@17 op
i agree to some extent arfa is bye bye for certain for me and good ridence and mbiwa isnt good enough for the prem and hasnt been too complementary about us so again goodbye.
marvaux however has really improved and still young so he may be given another chance hence a squad number and if i’m correct wont lescalles/darlow need a number ?
toonicle
Nov 10, 2014 at 4:54 PM
Comment #21The problem is a player like Tiote won’t be happy to sit on the bench and wait for his turn behind a youngster who was on loan last year, even if Abeid is playing as well as he is. I’m for letting Tiote move on for anything over 10mil, use the money for a CB and a strong CF that can hold the ball up for Perez/Riviere.
optimistic prime
Nov 10, 2014 at 4:59 PM
Comment #22Croftus
They will need numbers but I see players leaving in the summer and they won’t need them until then.
Colo will be in his last year so I’d be surprised if he didn’t move on, Tiote I think is nailed on to leave in the summer.
Willo possibly another to go along with other two due to age and contract plus anyone we get good money for.
Not sure on Marveux haven’t watched him but I don’t think Pardew rates him like Benny or M’biwa so I’d be surprised if he got another chance.
Bigi? Vukic? Sammy? There a few in squad or development squad that have this year to prove it or move on.
cyprus
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:03 PM
Comment #23Trying to pinpoint the main reason behind this change of fortune. Sissoko, although in form, was battling it out previously as well. Colback, too, was running all over, covering every blade of grass.
I could look up front I guess at those unexpected goals from people like Ayoze and Sammy; or at the new very solid defense, with battling Williamson a possible deciding factor, as he hasn’t been part of the revival.
That last one is a real possibility for an answer, but I think it’s probably more in the middle, that’s where games are really won. It’s maybe that Abeid character. He has protected the back four, along with his partners there and even offered a license to Sissoko to be menacing…
mag92
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:06 PM
Comment #24Most of the supporters realise that Williamson and Anita aren’t premier league quality and need replacing with some premier league quality.
cyprus
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:07 PM
Comment #25Guys you are quick to offload players… You paying them? If we ‘offloaded’ all our periodically out of form players we’d have a squad of like four people and of course… no manager 😉
mag92
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:08 PM
Comment #26Its no small coincidence that since Williamson and Anita have been missing, the team is flourishing!
mag92
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:11 PM
Comment #27Cyprus, are you happy watching the hoof ball that happens when Williamson is playing?
Wayayman
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:14 PM
Comment #28mag92, you can add Gouffran to that list too mate. Shame, he was played out of position so long he forgot his attacking instincts. I still think he’d do a job for us up top.
mag92
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:19 PM
Comment #29Four seasons of set pieces pumped up to Williamson and now Pardews discovered proper football without Williamson the leap!
1949BH PROUDTOBEAGEORDIE
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:21 PM
Comment #30croftus5678 dont think marveux or anonymous as he was refered too in the match i watched v monaco has improved apart for fitness. has won 2 mom against poor quality opponents but invisible man also in another .couple. french football is poor quality .he is playing for a team who dont pay higher rate of tax, we must be paying most of his wages just to be shot of him.
mag92
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:23 PM
Comment #31Anita and Marveaux, both out of their depths in the premier league!
brklyngeordie
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:23 PM
Comment #32Let me say I was one who had lost faith in Pardew and was very disappointed with some of our top players early performances but never wanted to see the run continue just to get Pardew sacked… I am a Newcastle SUPPORTER and although may not see eye to eye with all the regime has done I don’t listen to what all the papers say either because they too have their own agenda.. I really am impressed with Pardew and think the run of last season that continued into this season really got him the critique he deserved but has come through the fire a better man and manager he should just stay humble and not let this run get to his our players heads…HWTL
croftus5678
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:23 PM
Comment #33we must have one of the best midfields we have ever had !
all 3 of them sissoko/colback/abied are great all rounders and are solid on the ball ! even tiote has got a lot better with his forward play (even though his shot is dismal) so they would be my pick for the future in that order tbh.
i now struggle to see where siem fits in unless its in a front 3 just behind the 2 main strikers and if thats so where does rolando and cabella and sammy and obertan >,< argh so many to choose from.
no but seriously can you imagine siem up front with perez and cisse !!!
mag92
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:25 PM
Comment #34Sissoko is the best box to box midfield powerhouse in the premier league and Abied and Colback support him tremendously!
RAM
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:28 PM
Comment #35I AM NOT IMPRESSED WITH HAIDARA, I THINK HE WAS ONE OF THE WEAK LINKS IN YESTERDAY’S SQUAD. HIS POSITIONING SENSE IS NOT AS GOOD AS THE OTHER DEFENDERS OF THIS SQUAD.
CABELLA NEEDS TO LEARN QUICKLY. HE NEEDS TO BUILD HIS PHYSIQUE FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE.
cyprus
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:29 PM
Comment #36Mag92,
Respect for your opinion, as if i recall you were positive when most of us were staring at relegation!
Still, think about the waste of a number a player like Obertan have been for ages. Or Ameobi senior. Or (fill this space with your favourite pet hate.) That’s what I meant… Anita ain’t as bad as you making him I think.
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:29 PM
Comment #37Croftus
Are you talking about the right Marveaux?
Young? He’s 28…..as for much improved 14 League games, 2 assists….how is that much improved?
He’s an absolute knacker
BandB
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:33 PM
Comment #38I’m not sure we will see a centre back or a striker in January.
In terms of a centre back, we have three match squad centre backs already, and Dummett can play there. We have another, who will also be a match day squad member coming in the summer. If anything, one of our current CB’s is going to be surplus to requirements.
We have Cisse, Riviere, Perez and that other bloke as strikers, and a lot of store is being put on De Jong (who can play a support role) coming back in the new year. And Armstrong. The club told the fans’ forum not necessarily to expect one.
We also have a match squad goalkeeper coming in the summer. I imagine he will be a replacement rather than a reinforcement.
With Janmaat, Dummett, Haidara plus players like Colback, Ryan Taylor and Anita who can fill in at fullback, Santon might be striking some at the club as an expensive spare. It might similarly strike them that the midfield is overstaffed, even without those already due to drop off the books in June.
With Colback, Sissoko, Obertan, Gouffran, Abeid, Ameobi, Ryan Taylor, Cabella and Aaarons to pick from, where is the place for a well-paid Tiote? And Anita looks to be third choice in every position.
If we can finish 8th to 12th with the players who are making the squad now, with others to come back from injury and two more booked to come in during the summer, and the hope of more kids coming through, it might not look like buying time to Mike Ashley.
croftus5678
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:35 PM
Comment #39@37 tads
just going by the report last week about him from the gamp manager who was saying he has great character and is too good for them “nufc will get one hell of a player back” or something like that he said.
mag92
Nov 10, 2014 at 5:36 PM
Comment #40Cyprus I think you’ll find Anita is that bad, as his 65 appearances of which non were particularly impressive. Anita is in the Perch, Gosling and Guthrie, mould and those three are all playing lower league football!