While we would all hope it was not true, it seems the Newcastle performance last night was affected by the events earlier in the week.
Kevin Nolan – get the guts and glory back
Fulham away is a game we thought we could win, but Fulham deserved all 3 points last night, which just about tells you how poor Newcastle were.
And when we can score our next goal is a good question, because our strikers last night showed no penetration at all – none – zippo.
The events of the week have not been good, but that’s it – it’s time to get over it, Andy has gone and he will never come back, so the lads have just got to get on with it.
The side without Andy had taken 8 points from the last four games before last night, so they’ve shown they can play well.
Of course we now have another problem to deal with, because Pardew is now short of strikers, and that’s been caused by the atrocious way in which Newcastle is being run these days.
But moaning about it – as we’ve done all week, doesn’t help Pardew – as he needs to somehow get on with the job with what he’s got – and it isn’t much.
Maybe Newcastle can get a player in on loan?
And we look to our captain Kevin Nolan to be the first to step up to the plate – the players have a job to do and that’s to play with 100% passion every single game for Newcastle – this club is still a proud club, whatever nonsense happened earlier this week.
While we don’t think Kevin meant to do it – his video for Liverpool FC TV, when he waxed lyrical about Andy Carroll joining his home town team Liverpool – was uncalled for – and in the circumstances it has only fueled the fire of rage that exists on Tyneside.
In fact an apology to the Newcastle fans would probably be in order to help clear the air.
So to overcome that gaffe, and since he is captain of the side, we look to him for leadership before Saturday to get this group of players back together and to get over Carroll leaving.
Whether we like it or not – and this is really hard to say for me – Carroll left because he didn’t want to remain at Newcastle without a wage rise, and that being the case – so be it.
And we saw no guts or spirit or passion last night from our players, only from the wonderful fans.
Maybe the lads can put in a performance appropriate for the support they enjoy year after year, and which is hardly always appreciated.
It’s about time Newcastle had a team as good as their supporters, and if we ever get that – we’ll win the European Champions League.
To say we are a million miles away from that right now, is probably a huge huge understatement.
But we don’t care – we only care about staying in the Premier League this seaosn – that’s the only thing that matters – repeat the only thing that matters this season.
The message to Kevin and the players is to snap out of it – and produce a guts and glory display against Arsenal on Saturday.
If the lads can do that – and even if they are beaten – we’ll be happy enough.
Comments welcome
24 comments so far
Jan Stavik
Feb 3, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Comment #1We cannot loan players, we’re left with the ones we’ve got now. Loans after deadline is only for Football League teams, Premiership sides are not allowed to loan any players now.
Best, Lovenkrands and Ranger is the weakest attack in the Premiership. Thank God Tiote is back so we can stop playing Guthrie in midfield.
Markaccus
Feb 3, 2011 at 10:40 AM
Comment #2Don’t think we are allowed loans. Its only for chapionship downwards. We can get free transfers though, as long as the player was free BEFORE the window closed. We need something to wake us up
Stevo
Feb 3, 2011 at 10:42 AM
Comment #3‘The boyhood Red admits it is a major blow for the Magpies to lose their main hitman but feels playing in Kenny Dalglish’s side will help Carroll reach his full potential.’
Nolan pass the arm band to Joey! Can’t say I blame him really actually though. He’d jump at the chance and would cherish playing for his boyhood idols. Unlike some people.
elpaso_geordie
Feb 3, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Comment #4Nolans comments were unacceptable – if he was a neutral playing elsewhere then fair enough but captain of the the club that has just sold their talisman that has rocked the fans and the squad alike ????
Unbelievable lack of awareness in my eyes and the fact that Carroll is now at a “fantastic club” , what does that say about our players views of ours ( then again apart from the fans can u blame them )
Markaccus
Feb 3, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Comment #5Anyone have any ideas how pardew is going to solve this mess? There must be a way.
Maybe a whole new stlye of tactics, just something to freshen us up somehow
Mags
Feb 3, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Comment #6Those may be your thoughts Nolan and I understand they are the club you support, but please remember a) you are the captain of Newcastle and b) I can well do without hearing your delight at the departure of Andy.
I do not care what anyone else has to say, I am devastated that Andy has gone, and whilst not absolving him of some of the blame the major people for this fiasco is the usual gruesome twosome namely Ashley and Llambias.
Stevo
Feb 3, 2011 at 10:49 AM
Comment #7There has to be some decent strikers we can get on loan!
ganiyu
Feb 3, 2011 at 10:49 AM
Comment #8i think we should raise our ambitions higher and stop talking about relegation
Markaccus
Feb 3, 2011 at 10:50 AM
Comment #9A rare error in judgement from normally the excellent professional Nolan. Personally I’d let him off this once, but please, Kevin, get your lads sorted on the pitch please, we need you to lead by example, as you do best.
Markaccus
Feb 3, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Comment #10Stevo, the only one I found on the pfa site that is recogniseable, is jerremie alliadiere, but he might still have knee problems.
toonarmy1986
Feb 3, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Comment #11I think Nolan is probably happy on a personal level and should of kept them thoughts to himself and not broadcast it but lets not turn on Nolan as well. Anyone fear a mass walk out of our players going enough is enough and we can’t remain here while the club is been run this way.
Stevo
Feb 3, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Comment #12We really missed Tiote and Taylor last night. Tiote has become a real star for us. Our engine room. Plus we have Ben Arfa coming back to look forward to. So I’m not convinced were gonna be in a relegation battle just yet. We had a bad game last night with integral players missing that’s all.
Markaccus
Feb 3, 2011 at 11:01 AM
Comment #13We have to play our best players, and that isn’t our strikers, so it seems to me we only play 1 striker, and play our best midfielders. We’d have to find some pace there though.
jettson
Feb 3, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Comment #14Utter shambolic management !!
Blame lies entirely at Ashley, his bumchum, and AP!!
Xisco and Routledge are better than wat w have now!!
Im so pleased im not renewing my ticket! does anyone know a sniper???
Canuck
Feb 3, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Comment #15Just curious. Is it possble to recall the loans for Xisco and-or Routledge? If so, how? Although neither are great, they are better than what is left and they provide more depth if nothing else.
Newcastle Rock
Feb 3, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Comment #16the comments from Kevin
“I’m gutted we’ve lost him but delighted he’s gone to a fantastic club”
What does fantastic club means ??? get him out as well. i bet if he was offered the wages he wud have left us as well and go to a “Fantastic club “
liam85
Feb 3, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Comment #17I thought better of Kevin!!!!!!
that was not fair to say that. Big up the “fantastic club”.
Great, you’ve just given Liverpool a great review on our lost player. now we are going to struggle big time.. but hey, at least Liverpool are a fantastic club!!
alka
Feb 3, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Comment #18“Time for Kevin Nolan to show real leadership.” He can do that by asking AP to drop him for Saturday because he was none existant in last night’s match
Newcastle Rock
Feb 3, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Comment #19Newcastle Players dont get it , do they ?
Its really hard to support newcastle bcoz you are always lied about things and never really enjoy the moments unlike other big clubs.
I think we as FANS are the major problem here, if we deny to be lied and protest against players and club management then we will build new era in newcastle as a club. But nooooooo, we always gop to the stadiums and supports the toon army and we always get one thing which is ” NOTHING”.
WAKE UP YOU GUYS , WE DESERVE TO BE HAPPY PPL .
Ericles
Feb 3, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Comment #20It is time to give Joey Barton the armband. Game after game he shows his mettle for the team. I am non-plussed at times to see what sort of leadership Nolan is giving on the pitch. We must get behind Pardew and the team – but not behind Ashley’s fat arse cos none of us will be seen again. I reckon we do have some worthy youngsters who must be given extra chances to step up to the plate. A good opportunity for Ranger to get some games under his belt and for Lovenkands to start more often – surely he has the experience to give to the team now?
jimmymagpie
Feb 3, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Comment #21Ed – look to Nolan – you’re joking aren’t you? He wants out as well. He as good as said in his interview that Liverpool is a far better club than Newcastle. Kick the slow bugger out. Enrique had better wise up as well, or he won’t get his dream move to Man U in the summer, defending like he did last night. Far too casual and beginning to believe his own publicity. Up agains a better player than Duff, and we would have been been beaten by at least 3. Next seaso will be played out in front of a half empty SJP, as I don’t think too many are going to subsidise the FCB any longer now that the 3 year deal is finished.
MacToon
Feb 3, 2011 at 12:28 PM
Comment #22Disappointed in Nolan and beginning to seriously doubt my relationship with my hometown team for the first time in over 4 decades!
Can’t believe I’m thinking of missing the game on Saturday because I simply cannot care less, Ashley has finally driven the final nail in the coffin as far as I’m concerned.
Thankyou Ashley.
Toon XI
Feb 3, 2011 at 1:24 PM
Comment #23This club has been mismanaged for ages now. It is very frustrating because we seem to be our own worst enemy.
I still fear for our survival with 8 from the relegation team in our starting XI. That does not bode well for us. They quit once, they may just quit again.
It is so damn frustrating!!!!
Sav
Feb 4, 2011 at 2:28 AM
Comment #24All the platitudes we hear about the fantastic fans at Newcastle for Nolan to deliver this is tactless and ill-judged.
I hope Ireland finds form to put Nolan under pressure. He, more than anyone, benefitted from the considerable distraction of Andy Carroll to capitalise with tap-ins. Without Andy to set up goals, Nolan’s general contribution will be under scrutiny again as it was 18 months ago.
We have loaned Xisco and Routledge just to save their wage packets and now here we are with no right winger and 3 strikers light facing Arsenal.
The more I think of that and the way this club is run (a joke) the more I think Nolan was right in what he said. Carroll has gone to a better club with ambition. But that doesn’t give him the right to say it on Scouse TV.