Alan Pardew will be hoping he can finish off what has been a very poor season in the Premier League with a win against the visiting Arsenal side.
Arsene Wenger– his Arsenal side are in form
Ever since Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996 he has had Arsenal in the top four and has always qualified for the Champions League.
Ar the moment Arsenal are on 70 points and are one point ahead of Tottenham and they also have a much better goal difference, so it seems if Tottenham are going to get into fourth place they have to beat Sunderland at White Hart Lane tomorrow, and Arsenal would need to lose or draw at Newcastle.
This s what Alan Pardew told the Evening Chronicle:
“It’s a huge game for Arsenal – it’s very important for them,” “They need to win, and they’ll have that mentality. They’ll carry a threat, and we’ve got to deal with that. Everyone knows how important Champions League football is to them.”
“One team is going to be under enormous pressure. We’re not under that pressure, but we want to put a performance in and upset the odds. That’s what we want to do.”
Newcastle will be able to field a very good side tomorrow, and Sylvain Marveaux is also available, and Alan Pardew has said the Frenchman will play some part in the game tomorrow.
Steve Harper will be playing his last game for Newcastle, and Danny Simpson has already played his last game at West Ham.
A win would be a very good way to end this season, and we’ll finish fairly high up the league table too with 3 points – but it will be difficult.
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169 comments so far
Puppet Pardew's Brainlessness
May 18, 2013 at 12:05 PM
Comment #81Okay I’m now going to make a point I may not truly believe but it represents a different viewpoint.
are our players really that good?
Krul is a Dutch international but isn’t he 2nd or third choice? Also his decision making and distribution are poor.
debuchy looked good in the euros for France but he isn’t all that good at the defensive side of things. Only slightly better than…..
santon who is often woeful in defence. The guy needs to either be a winger or work on his defensive game. A lot.
Taylor has looked solid in the past but often still looks as green as he was 5 years ago making poor decisions and defensive errors. He’s fine in our own box most of the time but when caught on the break he really struggles to make decisions on the fly or lead the line well.
Tiote is a guy who looked great for a while, some said world class, I disagreed and was slated, but this season he’s been in horrendous form. Left our defence exposed or given away free kicks in dangerous areas. Really hasn’t produced.
Anita seems like a bettervoption than perch in midfield but only if backed up by a player better at breaking up play as he looks lightweight still. Also while he was our best player in several matches that wasn’t saying much as our form was cack.
Also people talk about all our French internationals and how with international players we should be much better. I don’t know if anybody has noticed but France have been pretty poor for the last 6 years and nowhere near when they won the world cup and the euros.
now discuss
Novocastrian66
May 18, 2013 at 12:06 PM
Comment #82Pardew is still held in regard by the press and pundits. He has to change his ways. Ferguson’s longevity was mainly due to his success, however his ability to adapt was another important factor.
I enjoyed last season. Contrary to what a lot of people say on here, there were a lot of good performances. WBA away, Swansea away, Chelsea away, Liverpool home, Man Utd home.
This season has been a tedious grind, there is only one stand out game for me; Chelsea at home.
It appears Pardew has convinced the men who matter to keep his job. This is unfortunate, and I’m disappointed but this is where we are.
Transfer Sage
May 18, 2013 at 12:06 PM
Comment #83nufc leazers end
I am not a pardew fan. But at the end of the day i have never seen this club win anything in my lifetime and in all honesty I’m not too worried if we never do, it would be nice but I mainly just like to watch us play like a lot of fans do.
The only issue I have with getting rid of him if results are down in december is who would we get in. Most managers joining mid season are not very good or if they are good want a big transfer budget for january to buy themselves out of trouble.
So if he was to stay i’d just give him all year, unless we genuinely looked in serious trouble of staying up…but with the current squad i doubt that would happen.
saxonfenken
May 18, 2013 at 12:07 PM
Comment #84solano and others
I hope you are going to put £150 million of your money in to buy out MA,
I remember reading all the vitriol against Bobby Robson when we were a regular top 5 side.
Contrary to belief, I am not a great lover of Alan Pardew, but I am a realist, we are stuck with him, so for goodness sake letsstop throwing all our toys out of the pram, and get behind our beloved team.
All you people who know everything what is wrong, how many of you have been professional footballers, manged any team for that matter, other than Fifa Pc games and the like.
the other day I was quoted ” If I was a Billionaire I would spend” £100’s of millions on the team” what a stupid statement.
Here is mine If I was the Prime Minister I would ban UKIP” that is the sort of stupidity that is day out and day in quoted on here.
My plea is for God’s sake let us get behind what we have got, we have not got the money or the power to do anything about it.
toon22
May 18, 2013 at 12:07 PM
Comment #85Ok lets say we keep AP till chrimbo ,nothing changes and we continue our poor performances.
MA decides to get rid.
Who are we going to get that isnt already at a club?
Cant see MA wanting to pay compensation.
And imo the people you would want will be at a club already.
So it leaves the same as what we already have.
Either get rid in the summer or plan to keep the whole season,this act alone helps recruit a new boss.
Transfer Sage
May 18, 2013 at 12:09 PM
Comment #86ginger
“In a way, I don’t blame them for not really focusing on the cups. They don’t really bring much money in.”
I really can’ agree with this, a club is not there just to make money. Surely they have to break even or come as close as possible but in no way should a club ever turn a profit. All money should be reinvested into the club (at worst stored for a rainy day so to speak).
Therefore we should be making sure we attack the cups. We can’t win the league, i accept that, just not got the money to compete but we can win a cup.
If they worry about squad size, fine, but a the very least prioritize one of the cups.
fray bentos
May 18, 2013 at 12:10 PM
Comment #87Some of you seriously need to get out more
Some of you will use anything the guys say to have a pop at Pardew
Does he deserve it, yeah he’s been poor this season and there is no reason why you shouldn’t want him out
BUT you probably said the same thing in the last post you made 10 mins ago, then the same things in the post made 10 mins before that, seriously get off the blog and do something else for a few hours untill you have something more constructive to say
Munster Mag
May 18, 2013 at 12:12 PM
Comment #88Looks like he’ll be staying so not much point arguing about it. Personally I think its a bloody shame. Taken from some website…..
However, following the discussions, Pardew now feels confident in planning for next season at St. James’ Park.
He said: “There’s no uncertainty about my position. I expect to be manager 100 per cent. It was a good lunch.
“Mike just comes and generally has a chat, says hello to everyone and he thanked all the players for their efforts. We all know it has not been our greatest season but you cannot say we’ve not given 100 per cent.
“We have and therefore have a better scenario next year and we all have to pull together. That was basically his message. Like all clubs, we will be sitting down again, discussing plans for next year.”
solano
May 18, 2013 at 12:13 PM
Comment #89Ginger…you’re obviously a canny and amiable fan but typical of how many NUFC fans have become totally devoid of ambition and conviction. How can you write this..”In a way, I don’t blame them for not really focusing on the cups. They don’t really bring much money in.” – and not get angry about it??
Footballing giants, Birmingham, Wigan and Swansea have all put trophies in the cabinet when our club has been breeding quasi accountants to make excuses for not competing.
Transfer Sage
May 18, 2013 at 12:13 PM
Comment #90saxon
In the past fans have got managers sacked (rightly or wrongly) by voicing discontent and not going to games, hitting the owner where it hurts, in his pocket.
We do have the power if everyone is in the same boat, fans are split so that won’t happen now.
But to say we have no say/power is wrong….much more powerful people have been influenced by people in the past…look at revolutions in countries, protesting to get votes, equal rights protests…people do have a say if there is a united voice.
Now i’m not suggesting we can get ashley to spend 100’s of millions but we can get him to replace the manager and if there was enough discontent then we could push him towards selling up (if happened before, he just never found a buyer).
toon22
May 18, 2013 at 12:13 PM
Comment #91Personally think if we keep AP it might be a good idea to try and get a different assistant.
Such as Brian Kidd from city.
As it seems AP defensive training is all the team displays atm.
bills-son
May 18, 2013 at 12:15 PM
Comment #92Transfer – on HBA,
He might chase back (the odd time) but he doesn’t get blocks and tackles in. The problem is if he plays right he’s got Debuchy behind him who can’t tackle and on the left he’s got Santon who can’t. HBA is never going to ne a winger who tracks back and tackles so if we play him we HAVE to have full backs who can defend or we’ll be wide open down the flanks again next season.
There is a reason why we’ve conceded far too many goals this season and its pretty obvious – never mind having midfielders who can’t defend, 50% of our defence can’t.
Fans who accuse Pardew of being negative make me smile – a huge part of his problem is that he plays and encourages poor defenders (Debuchy and Santon) to get forward without having the right players to defend when they lose the ball. There is NO pace at all in our midfield which means we constantly get caught on the break.
We need full backs who can defend big style next year.
Transfer Sage
May 18, 2013 at 12:16 PM
Comment #93pupper pardew
I agree with you….in my eyes we have no top internationals….the only possible one is cabaye for me.
when comparing us to madrid, barca, man utd, city, chelsea…our international just don’t compare to theirs in all honesty.
But when you compare us to everton, west brom, swanse, villa, i think we better.
then teams like spurs, arsenal and liverpool are not much better in my eyes.
hugenufcfan
May 18, 2013 at 12:17 PM
Comment #94ffs for once in your life shut the f up pardew. the less you talk the better. how many flipping time have we seen him talk talk talk and then do tthe exact opposite.
i mean this guy is comical, mental and what else.
toon22
May 18, 2013 at 12:17 PM
Comment #95Teams know if they press us we will crack,we will eventually sit deeper and deeper.
Ginger
May 18, 2013 at 12:19 PM
Comment #96Puppet Pardew’s Brainlessness
I feel we often overrate our players, but they are pretty good.
Krul – One of the best keepers in the league aside from distribution.
Debuchy – Not too fond of him, haven’t seen much of him aside from Euro’s in which he seemed good. Hasn’t looked like anything special.
STaylor – Makes silly mistakes, isn’t the best of defenders but certainly isn’t the worst.
Collocini – In my opinion one of the best in the league. Wouldn’t trade him for anyone.
Santon – Santon is a strange one, he’s excellent going forward and before Newcastle was a great defender. Now, he is pretty good at defending gets scapegoated for a lot of things. He just needs to time his runs better and get back whilst someone covers him until he gets there.
Cabaye – Once again world class, arguably best player for France.
Tiote – Pardew has ruined him. Telling him to be careful has completely destroyed him as a player. He was originally world class, probably one of the best at breaking up play in the league. Not so sure now.
Guttierez – Absolutely abysmal. Does nothing. People praise him for his work rate but I’ll run up and down the pitch, giving away passes and falling over for free.
Sissoko – Excellent player but played completely out of position.
Ben-Arfa – Quality player, but needs to work on his final ball. Does too much quite a lot of the time. That’s why his goal and assist tally isn’t further up.
Cisse – Has scored many goals in a terrible team, has shown he’s quality and if he was in a better team would be one of the top goal scorers in the world.
So yeah, our team isn’t the best, especially under Pardew. However, looking at it that way even though they aren’t all world class… It’s a better then a hell of a lot of teams that have done better then us this season.
solano
May 18, 2013 at 12:20 PM
Comment #97Saxon… I don’t recall much vitriol against SBR actually – that seems to be a myth that has grown from other fans’ accusations.
As for running the club, I will quite happily put my proportion of my income in, as I did in 1991 when the first share issue failed.
I actually believe the club should be 51% owned by a fans trust…much like in those in Germany – where quite coincidentally, many more sensible Saxons than yourself came from!
Reactionary!
toon22
May 18, 2013 at 12:21 PM
Comment #98@bills-son
Totally agree AP seems to think our full backs are wing backs.After 10 mins or so of sprinting the full length of the field they are done.That and the fact neither can cross or even have anyone to cross to.
Transfer Sage
May 18, 2013 at 12:21 PM
Comment #99bills
I agree santon cannot defend but i think debuchy can. He has done for many years in france and internationally…i think he just needed these 4/5 months to see what the prem league is all about and he will improve nest year.
I do think pardew is defensive though, I think he struggles to link defense and attack and they are often two separate processes when they should be more linked, if that makes any sense.
We do lack pace in midfield, which is a massive problem because we play deep. It means we really struggle to get up the pitch on the counter, i’d like to see us player higher regularly, when we do it seems to work…but when we switch off and stop pressing our defense is then massively exposed against pace…so we need more focus to do that.
Ben arfa’s tracking back is pointless, rarely tackles as you say, so i find it annoying he has to spend so much time back.
Sometimes you have to accept a player doesn’t defend well and either play him with freedom or not play him…currently he is a square peg in a round hole…but his glimpses of individual brilliance keeps him in the time.
Novocastrian66
May 18, 2013 at 12:22 PM
Comment #100I honestly believe we will not be as poor again next season. My worry was that we would go down this season, football rarely gives you a second chance, mind you Wigan have had 7.
With any other owner in our club’s history Pardew would be gone. I think he should be for all the reasons that have been outlined for weeks on this blog. He has been given a rare opportunity in football and at this club. A second chance, hopefully he won’t blow it.
saxonfenken
May 18, 2013 at 12:22 PM
Comment #101Transfer Sage
I hear what you are saying, and agree, my point badly made was that I do not think Mike Ashley will be swayed by people on this blog
If Nobody turned up tomorrow that might make a difference, but that is not going to happen.
I know enough about history to know that people can make a difference, a lot of bloodshed as well, but I just can not see it happening at NUFC
fray bentos
May 18, 2013 at 12:22 PM
Comment #102Posters on here have defintely over-rated our players massively (this is not an excuse for Pardew)
If the players were as good as some of you thought the big boys would have bought them before us or got them from us during the summer
Transfer Sage
May 18, 2013 at 12:24 PM
Comment #103bills
I think santon was great under mourinho…he doesn’t pick players just for the sake of it, he likes a solid defence (well he did before madrid made him attack with everyone).
So he must be able to defend. He is either not suited to the league or is failing for some other reason.
Ginger
May 18, 2013 at 12:24 PM
Comment #104solano
I’m only 17 and haven’t been supporting the toon for that long. I try to catch up on the history I’ve missed but there’s a lot of it. I haven’t had the same experience as others who are far older then me and we haven’t won anything in there time. For me, it really hasn’t been that long. So no it doesn’t really annoy me, however I can understand why it’d annoy others who have been supporting the toon for a lot longer then me.
But to me, I’d rather stay up in the league then go down and win a trophy. Pardew has already proven that he cannot multitask, he can only focus on one thing. So, I doubt we’ll be seeing any trophy runs soon unless we get a better manager.
kww
May 18, 2013 at 12:25 PM
Comment #105the key reasons for pardew when defensively weak this season is mainly injuries resulting in often changed back 4 and europa league affecting his defensive preparations.
most of you spoke of how he trains the squad on defense 4 days a week. that’s mainly the reason the squad hasnt been defending well.
again pardew needs to learn to be tactically flexible IF he wants to progress and becomes a top manager, that’s using the squad more effectively including dropping off-form players, but then again before January options have been non-existent?
my take is that given a full squad without injuries, he has given results, that is a fact.
again i see posts like worst home result in how many years, this are largely knee-jerk posts. in the end it’s just 3 points lost. ferguson’s man u was thrashed at old trafford by man city last season but that does not mean anything. in the end they ran man city to the last day.
saxonfenken
May 18, 2013 at 12:25 PM
Comment #106solano
Wow I am a Saxon from Germany, another piece of utter crap from you, my ancestry if you really what to know is Northunbrian Danish.
Ginger
May 18, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Comment #107Transfer Sage
Someone said on here the other day that they thought Santon had got lazy due to Pardew always playing Guttierez to baby sit him. Seems a pretty valid reason why his defensive abilities don’t seem good.
Transfer Sage
May 18, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Comment #108saxon
Sorry if it sounded patronising, that was not my intention (didn’t mean to imply you knew of no history).
I agree moaning here does no good, or little good unless it is to rally the troops and get them to make a stand at a game.
For all the hared to pardew and ashley here i am yet to see a banner at a game like there was for benitez at chelsea, kean at blackburn, fat sam at west hame last year, etc……and i have not seen a protest to get the owner to sell like blackburn and everton did last year.
fray bentos
May 18, 2013 at 12:27 PM
Comment #109@105
Jesus christ, give it a break man
solano
May 18, 2013 at 12:28 PM
Comment #110Ginger..fair enough, but experience will wear you down and by the time you’re in your 40’s you’ll snap my hands off for a trophy rather than aim for treading water and not competing. Look at Wigan – a truly small, footballing backwater – but immensely proud with a trophy to remember for the rest of their history.
kww
May 18, 2013 at 12:30 PM
Comment #111given ashley’s blueprint, we should model the squad-building process after arsenal, tottenham and everton, that’s selling players for good prices at the right time.
arguably last season would have been a good time to sell tiote as he was probably worth at least 15 million with the way he owned rooney when we played man u. we could have invested that 15million into 3 – 4 players and have a bigger squad. but hindsight is always 20/20 isnt it
yo-yo
May 18, 2013 at 12:30 PM
Comment #112The biggest mistake made at SJP was sacking SBR.
The mutterings of ‘lost the dressing room’ etc., were pure spite.
Now Toon fans think they have a divine right to lay into any manger based mostly on their own experience on FM and a stash of misinterpreted statistics, unrealistic expectations as our squad is not world beating, and some dream of returungin tio the days of the entertainers when ….. we didn’t win anything but did lose a massive lead in the EPL.
Even worse we are now getting the ‘anybody who supports the manager is deluded and can’t be a “real” supporter’ brigade shouting everybody else down.
Well I just have the uncomfortable suspicion that some of these ‘neggers’ are the same as the guys who shouted down SBR – far too quick to turn on the best manager we have had in the last 25 years..
We all know Pardew is mediocre. So he ain’t going to perform like SAF or Mourinho. We still don’t know if he is capable of learning from this season. We hope he will or get replaced but we know the owner has a baragain basement mentality.
We have had a new manager every 18 months for 16 years and have won diddly squat – so maybe, just maybe we’ll do better with keeping the nucleus of the same management though we seriously need to upgrade the coaching and fitness regimes. Kidd would be great imo.
As it is I’d far prefer to be reading Ginger’s excellent wishlist of improvements we need to make than the other drivel. At least there is something we can base a discussion on instead of gettting into playground insults.
Repeating the same ‘opinion’ hundreds of times and then pretending it is fact is called the ‘Big Lie’ technique and was developed by Himmler in Nazi Germany.
terencelim
May 18, 2013 at 12:30 PM
Comment #113@82, “get behind our beloved team”.
Get the fact right, the fans always get behind the team, it’s the board that take it for granted.
Transfer Sage
May 18, 2013 at 12:30 PM
Comment #114ginger
possibly…i find it strange, seeing as our team does sit deep and play defensively, that santon seems to almost have a free role to get forward whenever he likes and never seems to get an earfull for just jogging back.
Maybe he is just complacent as with raylor injured, he has had no competition for his spot until haidara has joined.
solano
May 18, 2013 at 12:31 PM
Comment #115Saxon..if you re-read what I said, I didn’t actually say YOU were a Saxon from Germany.
For all I know, you may just be a fan of a late70’s/early 80’s heavy metal band.
Ginger
May 18, 2013 at 12:32 PM
Comment #116Fray bentos
Excuse me? Care to explain?
Solano
But at what risk mate? They’re down in the championship. Sure they’ve got this sparkling trophy in their cabinet, but what’s to say they’ll come back up? Not to mention they’ll be losing their best players.
solano
May 18, 2013 at 12:33 PM
Comment #117yo-yo…great point on the ‘big lie’ theory. Derek ‘Goebbels’ Llambias has been using the bankruptcy myth since he took over from Chris Mort in 2008.
Le Belfast 007
May 18, 2013 at 12:33 PM
Comment #118I f***** new he would blag his way into getting another season like. Oh Mike the injuries the Europa league blah blah blah. Really wish we had somebody in charge of the club who actually new a bit about football, he would defo be out on his ear then.
So we’ll probably continue with Pardew until Christmas, playing the same way & in the same rut as this season. Then they’ll sack him half way through the season & replace him with some average Joe.
Instead of just getting rid now, when you could replace him with a far better manager & give him a full pre season with the players.
Ah well I live in hope that one day they will learn…
Transfer Sage
May 18, 2013 at 12:34 PM
Comment #119ginger
but think in 50 years time our club and wigan could be anywhere in any league but them fans will not forget their trip to wembley to see their side lift the FA cup.
and also it doesn’t have to be one or the other, it could be staying in prem league and winning a cup.
Ginger
May 18, 2013 at 12:34 PM
Comment #120Transfer Sage
ginger
I agree, it’s really strange. There’s nothing that infuriates me more then seeing Santon jogging back. Especially when we’re getting hit on the counter and under a huge amount of pressure.
The competition thing could be right as well. He needs to learn from MBiwa, defensive duties come first. MBiwa has been quality at left back. Timed his runs perfectly.