One reason Alan Pardew took the lads out to Portugal last week, was to ensure they were fully fit and had enough stamina to play all-out for the full 90 minutes, and injury time too.
Mike Williamson – tough training all last week
And it seems that Pardew worked on the players’ fitness big time last week, and both circuit training and hard running were on the agenda, during a punishing schedule.
Good.
And it appears new Assistant Manager John Carver was seeing to the shuttle runs and hard graft even on Friday back on Tyneside, so we expect to see a very fit Newcastle side on Wednesday night at Craven Cottage, and hopefully we can all 3 points.
Newcastle center-back Mike Williamson talked about the Portugal trip:
“The gaffer wanted to get some work done out there. We’ve been struggling with the pitches and the cold weather over here so it was great to get out there,”
“It was hard work but we spent a decent amount of time as a team too.” “There was golf tournaments, table football, table tennis . . . always staff against the players, so I don’t think I need to tell you who won!” 😀
“Our aim is to not let our performance levels drop from now until the end of the season and hopefully that will be the case.” “We had some seriously dodgy results earlier in the season but recently we’ve taken points – and beaten – some of the biggest teams in the league so people know what we can do.”
“The lads know that the mindset has to be that we go into every game as if we’re playing a Manchester United, a Chelsea or an Arsenal. They are the top teams, they are the teams that we’ve generally done well against so we have to replicate that attitude that we’ve had in those games.”
And there have been good performances by many of Newcastle’s players over the last month or so, and of course Mike himself, has been in great form – apart from the FA Cup game at Stevenage, where he maybe had his worst game in a black and white shirt. Apologies for bringing Stevenage up again.
One thing Alan Pardew seems to have been successful at is tightening up the back four, and of course the lads have conceded only 2 goals in the last four league games, and both in injury time , of course.
But Mike’s a good sensible guy, and he will learn things about himself from that poor display, and hopefully will continue to improve and become a better player for Newcastle United.
That’s just exactly what we want to see.
Comments welcome.
Follow us on Twitter with our brand new account @TheNufcBlog
152 comments so far
IceIceGeordie
Jan 30, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Comment #1Pardew must have a bird in Portugal.
Herbies Bonnet
Jan 30, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Comment #2Speakin of birds, there is something about Andy Murrays mam…I know Im about to get a load of abuse but you know you’ve all thought about it!
😉
Brutooon
Jan 30, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Comment #3And scouting the next c.ronaldo or nani
Herbies Bonnet
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Comment #4You know Pards seems to be doing OK but there is something about him that doesnt sit right with me. Im being positive for now but I cant help think hes Mike’s puppet…and guess what…I DONT TRUST MIKE!!
Having said that, squads looking ok, top clubs after our players is a good sign. Waiting for it to all go wrong!
ochytoon
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Comment #5Y does everyone assume Pardew sleeps around. That rumour about southampton was absolute rubbish. He just never got on with the board
Herbies Bonnet
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:06 PM
Comment #6Obvious disaster would be if mike cashes in on Carroll, Tiote and Jose then sells the club. Hope he sticks to his 5 year plan…if he does then I truley thing the good time will be back…europe anyway.
cheikmate
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:07 PM
Comment #7Any news yet coozy?
coolcatcarter89
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:09 PM
Comment #8You don’t gain stamina through a 4 day boot camp. Continuity and gradually upping the ante is the key to fitness levels.
cheikmate
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Comment #9The sunday sun is also reporting that we are interested in a loan move for jamie ohara, but how many cerntre mids do we need. we need a winger and a full back (either side) imo.
lou9brasil
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Comment #10Little of topic but just got told by a scouser that Torres is a much better striker than Shearer was… If the statement wasn’t so ridiculously funny I think I would have floored the daft tw@t…. Still trying to get my head around what the freak just said!!!
BiffBaffBoff
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:14 PM
Comment #11cwarr07 Colin Warris
Not just Ireland coming into #nufc Good to see Ashley backing AP
toonfan76
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Comment #12Coozy, we need your info mate, Looks like Ireland, but who else?
Cockney Magpie
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Comment #13can any1 fill me in iv seen the news about ireland but why do people think there is somebody else?
Cockney Magpie
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:26 PM
Comment #14@ lou9brasil some people are just born stupid i once had an arguement with Man U fan who was trying to tell me solskjaer was better than shearer… so ridiculous even another Man U fan stepped in and told matey to shut up lol
burnsie
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Comment #15wheres gorskino1o at today????
the lad thinks that ireland is ”utter garbage”.
if you are reading this mate just have a look at the previous article and its thread of positive posts! everybody on this blog knows that ireland is a class player regardless of form and is happy that weve signed him.
….not you though eh? cos hes ”crap” as you said yday. go and design some computer games lol. maybe you can invent the next footy manager or something.
HOWAY THE LADS!
sephir0
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:28 PM
Comment #16whats this shout of 3 players coming in? Cmon pleaaaaseeeee. 30 days of this has drove me crazy, so ireland and who? id love to know today, but at least all this will be over with by tommorow, and we can get back to enjoying the football with our awesome team! HWTL /
Toon1978
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Comment #17On twitter some kid saying this….”Mate on Facebook knows someone who works at Jesmond Dene Hotel and reckons #NUFC have booked 3 players in today? Ireland and ??? @nufcfans”
Probably bollox tbh!!
Cockney Magpie
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Comment #18———————–HARPER————————–
SIMPSON–COLOCCINI–TAYLOR–ENRIQUE
————————TIOTE—————————
——BARTON—–NOLAN——-IRELAND——–
———————-BEN ARFA————————
———————-CARROLL————————-
WHAT A TEAM!!
sephir0
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Comment #19Burnsie
you two still playing that record? Lol 🙂
sephir0
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:33 PM
Comment #20Im done with twitter rumours man…. im more likely to coincidentley fart the names of players coming in than most of them sh!t talkers.
Sinner
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Comment #21Any good news? 🙁
mashearer
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Comment #22well if there really are 3players coming thats mean craigcoozy really legit because he is the first ithink to broke that news
sephir0
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Comment #23Sinner
Apparentley word out is their is 3 players coming into the Jesmond, Ireland and two others…. we are waiting on confimation of the other two.
Herbies Bonnet
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Comment #24@sephir0 // Jan 30, 2011 at 12:33 PM
Im done with twitter rumours man…. im more likely to coincidentley fart the names of players coming in than most of them sh!t talkers.
HA HA HA!
Would normally agree but there has to be some substance to this Jessy Dene hotel thing.
Herbies Bonnet
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:38 PM
Comment #25Does anyone live near Jesmond? Im 10 minutes away but I simply can’t be arsed…;-)
lewman
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:38 PM
Comment #26lou9brazil, i reckon the 3 best strikers ever to play in england are shearer, b.charlton and his uncle jackie, and all 3 have one thing in common.
ochytoon
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:40 PM
Comment #27http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_6706897,00.html
Are we getting this guy, perhaps the second player in toon today
geordiedownsouth
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:40 PM
Comment #28wheres coozy when u need him!
Herbies Bonnet
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Comment #29@ Lewman
they are all bald?
sephir0
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Comment #30Herbies Bonnet
Lol thats my thoughts on it neway 😀 especially after somebody announced last night that their mate has DEFINETLEY seen Podolski in newcastle. Out on the lash was he? with a medical the next day? yeah righto! The 3 players coming in has come from coozy, i dont know the guy but from what ive read on here he is quite a reliable source.
Thump
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:44 PM
Comment #31We should have an NUFCblog meet up at the hotel and find out for ourselves 😀
GeordieToon89
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Comment #32i rekon.. Ireland, Puncheon and a supriseee
john_cena163
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Comment #33http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/11/01/30/SOCCER_Newcastle.html&TEAMHD=soccer&BID=165.
Stephen Ireland is undergoing a medical at Newcastle
lewman
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Comment #34i thought milburn had a full head of hair, i know im not old enough to remember properly but his statue has hair
Herbies Bonnet
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Comment #35@ sephiro
I reckon its that guy from Southend (Bilal Mohsni ), centre half/centre forward and SWP. SWP is inconsistent but better than rouledge. Would love Mcgeedy but doubt than will happen…you know what its like though, expect the unexpected! Where you from?
Toon1978
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Comment #36sephiro
It was me who said Podoski was seen in Newcastle and i said it was off Twitter mate and i also said that it was more than likely utter bollox.
sephir0
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Comment #37Personally if i lived in Newcastle i would have gone to the Jesmond to find out, but i live in Cambridge….. which is some trek. Lol
sephir0
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Comment #38Toon1978
yes u did mate and when i read it that was the last straw for me on twitter rumours, how many names have bin mentioned since the transfer window opened? Bring on tommorow! this month has bin crazy, all ive thought about is who’s coming in nearly every minute of the day, drove me nuts! lol sure the feeling is mutual for many, many fans.
ochytoon
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Comment #39Geordietoon86
You might be right as puncheon wasnt in saints squad last nite. was he in newcastle?
Herbies Bonnet
Jan 30, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Comment #40I think there are a lot of wind up merchants on twitter etc. We need to recruit a true insider!