With Newcastle simply looking hopeless over the last three games, there have been calls from Newcastle fans to give youngster Adam Armstrong some sub appearances, because after all – he is the future of Newcastle – and some of the players at the club right now will be gone in the summer.
Adam Armstrong – in England U17 colors
And in his interviews yesterday, the Newcastle manager was asked why he was not giving younger players like Adam Armstrong an opportunity in the first team.
This is what Alan Pardew said:
“I think it’s a little bit unfair,” “I gave Oxlade-Chamberlain his debut at Southampton when he was 16 or 17. Mark Noble was definitely 16. Jonjo Shelvey was 16 or 17. I don’t shy away from young players, in fact, nothing gives me more pleasure.”
“But I have to protect the welfare of the player. Now this player is coming into a team at the moment that is not functioning very well. I’m not sure he is quite ready to start at this level in his own confidence, so I don’t want to damage him in any way.”
“If the team was performing better, if we were looking like we were bossing games, I think that would be an environment where he could come on. So we’ve got to earn the right for him.”
“With fans calling for him, I think I would probably get a lot of plaudits if I put him in the team. But actually that’s not the right decision for him or the team, so I am resisting that at the moment for the player, more than anything.”
Shola Ameobi was brought on last Saturday after 85 minutes, and of course Shola will be leaving Newcastle in the summer, and we were already a beaten team – at 3-0 down – so why not give Adam Armstrong a short run-out?
There seems to be a good case there, and even short appearances do introduce the youngsters to how it’s like in the Premier League.
That substitution was one reason fans wanted to see Adam coming on, rather than a player whose Newcastle career is over in the summer – even though Shola is a local player.
Comments welcome.
70 comments so far
jazzyp
Apr 11, 2014 at 9:52 AM
Comment #1What a load of crap……….I didn’t see anyone protecting a certain Rooney or Owen when they busrt on to the football stage.We have jack to play for now apart from a top 10 status.So let him loose and give him that experience he needs.Then again you could always bring on shola again for the last 5 minutes and prove to us all what an inept manager you really are.
jazzyp
Apr 11, 2014 at 9:54 AM
Comment #2On the Remy debate as in him wanting champions league football. Who can blame him for wanting to better himself as did Cabaye.
mindshaft
Apr 11, 2014 at 9:55 AM
Comment #3He’s protecting his job and is scared to take a chance – given that we are pretty much going to finish where we are in the league and the fact that we’ll lose a few players come the summer it’s a perfect opportunity to give players on the fringes a chance – certainly can’t do much worse than the current first team
jazzyp
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:01 AM
Comment #4Mindshaft
Play Benny and Marvs and the likes of Armstrong for a full 90 mins for every game that is left. That will give the management all the info they need to see if they are good enough to stay or be moved on,Not inc Adam of course.
70TWO
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:06 AM
Comment #5jazzyp
It does seem to be a ridiculous situation where there is nothing to play for, we know it , the players know it and yet the manager harks on about being embarrassed with defeats. If he played those that have something to play for then the motivation would be greater to put in a performance, no matter the result. If he wants to protect Armstrong he would not let him anywhere near the first team squad at the moment, as there is no real inspiration.
jazzyp
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:23 AM
Comment #670Two
What more motivation does a player need if he’s playing for his career mate.Unless the decision has already been made on certain players to be shipped out come the summer months
JP...from The Rock
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:28 AM
Comment #7This just doesn’t make sense. What a stupid comment about protecting Armstrong. As we all know we have jack shite to play for so why not play him? Okay perhaps not the whole match okay I agree but at least 20-30 min so he can get that valuable experience in the prem.
Pardew is clueless and defies logic most of the time like our owner. They really make me sick now and these stupid decisions really get on my nerves.
If he’s waiting for us to be cruising in a game to put him on we’ll never see Armstrong play.
When was the last time we we’re cruising in a match? Even with Remy playing!??
Pardew Out! Or else we’ll even see him attempt to give Strolla another bloody extension to his contract!!
70TWO
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:30 AM
Comment #8jazzyp
There should be no need for motivation other than to play, but a few of the team are being run into the ground. An experimental side that would give players the opportunity to shine would be:
————— Cisse
——–HBA ———- Marveuax
Haidarra – Anita – Gosling – Santon
—— Collo — Willo — Mbiwa
—————– Elliot
jazzyp
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:39 AM
Comment #970Two
Agree with the team mate apart from Gosling.He’s gone come the summer months so let a player who will be on our books next year step up to the plate.
What I cant work out is Percy saying we are definitely going to sign only 2 players when we are going to lose at least Strolla-Gosling-Remy-Ldj-Newton who’s contracts finish on the 1st of june.Never mind Gutti-Marvs and Obershocker
cyprus
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:46 AM
Comment #10Cabaye on the bench is bettering himself?
70TWO
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:46 AM
Comment #11To expand on that team:
Haidara / Collo – covering Odemwingy
Mbiwa / Santon – covering that Austrian
Willo – covering Crouch
Anita / Gosling – breaking up their play and playing out passes beyond the half way line.
HBA / Haidara – work the left wing to the base line (two left footers)
Marveaux / Santon – work the right wing supplying in / out ward crosses.
Cisse – score!
cyprus
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:46 AM
Comment #12But I get what you mean
martoon
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:48 AM
Comment #13Ed’s called it right. There would be no pressure coming on when we are losing 3 – 0 anyway so what was the point of bringing on Shola? It would have been a perfect opportunity to give young Armstrong a runout for 10 minutes.
I’m not as anti-Pardew as some on here but his substitutions are completely baffling.
cyprus
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:49 AM
Comment #14Bayern fans complain that he doesn’t pass enough, he loses the ball too much, but then say ‘respect’ when he gets them goals. HBA should be thought of in a similar way. Just play to his strengths, not weaknesses.
70TWO
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:50 AM
Comment #15jazzyp
I have never known Gosling have a bad game, just not particularly outstanding and has been a long time in coming. However, I think he makes a good squad player who is actually hungry to succeed. It depends on the offers he gets in the summer but I would not rule him out of offering him an extension, unlike Strolla (please, no)
cyprus
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:51 AM
Comment #16Martoon,
AP must go mate, now, before the end of the season. He’s done his thing, it’s over. Not saying he’s a bad chap, but he is very limited as a coach.
jazzyp
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:52 AM
Comment #17Cyprus
It depends how you define bettering yourself mate.If you want to win medals and play for one of the top teams in Europe and double your salary.Then I would class as bettering ones self !!
cyprus
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:52 AM
Comment #18Was talking of Roben, btw
cyprus
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:54 AM
Comment #19Jazzyp,
Can’t disagree with that. Big fish in small pond, that kind of thing. Just not sure if he’ll ever be a star now, much like poor Ba, who did pull off a miracle for his ungrateful employers
70TWO
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:54 AM
Comment #20martoon
The 10 minutes Armstrong played (can’t remember where) he reported back that it is all a lot quicker and working out frailties is heightened. Now imagine what a consistent 10 minutes every game would do for the lad, with the added bonus of not relying on a result.
Rotonda heights
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:55 AM
Comment #21“There’s absolutely no conflict in terms of where we’re going. The owner’s set out the criteria and we’ve got to bring in players to take us forward.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
We’ve got to bring in a MANAGER to take us forward. Messi and Ronaldo couldn’t save pardew. Pardew is the most cautious, dull and frankly cowardly manager on the planet.
danuneek
Apr 11, 2014 at 10:56 AM
Comment #22If Pardew is not going to play him now when we have nothing to play for, when is he going to play him? When we do have something to play for but are still loosing…
jazzyp
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:01 AM
Comment #23Cyprus
I agree bud that the grass is not always greener on the other side.If Psg go after there intended targets in Hazard and Pogba then where will that leave poor Cabs if he is struggling to get into the squad now
Rotonda heights
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:01 AM
Comment #24Cyprus
I’d say Cabaye has bettered himself massively.
PSG title winners
US: Top 10 – wow!!
PSG European cup quarter finalists
US – Zilch
PSG: Top manager and coach
US: Pardew
PSG: probably triple is wages
US: Far less earning power
mindcompressor
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:03 AM
Comment #25so, in other words pardass is saying that he agrees that situation is bad but he is not going to change anything 🙂 shola is always a solution, because what? he is at the same level as pathetic tactic of pardew? did he he admit that we are not fantastic? who fault is this? probably ben arfa’s and marv’s…
i got another idea for alan – say to fans to not come to stadium (or sit in front of tv) to protect us from watching that shit. kids can watch this anti-football. soon sky sports will be giving information before our games like for adult movies. “only for people with strong nervous system. contains awful and horrible scenes”.
Rotonda heights
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:04 AM
Comment #26danuneek
if pardew is waiting for us to play attacking attractive and winning football where we actually score goals, Armstrong will be waiting a hell of a long time.
pardew is so so wrong for developing our players
Ancientcoptic
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:05 AM
Comment #27Reading between the lines, Pardew is admitting we are feeble at the moment, so feeble that he would not put a 17 year old in the team, in fear of ruining the player. (This is your team Pardew)
This does not explain why he was giving Adam Campbell a paltry 5 minutes here and there last season. I recall at least 3 times last season when we scored late in a game after Campbell came on. For some unknown reason Campbell was forgotten about, and Ameobi was the super-sub again.
I guess it is okay to play senior players in a mediocre set up, but not younger players.
So is Armstrong going to get his chance next season? I thought we were buying strikers in the summer.
Are we going to wait until Armstrong is even further down the pecking order, and other players are in form, until we give him a chance? That makes a whole lot of sense.
Genius idea – build a team that does not have any space or time to develop a younger player, then think about playing him?
Giving a player game time can damage a player, that is a new one.
A good player will shine in any team they play in.
Pardew’s big story book is on the Goldilocks page – Little Adam will have to wait until the porridge (team) is just right.
I have to say, this is maybe the first time I have heard a manager use his team as an excuse for not playing a player.
70TWO
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:06 AM
Comment #28No doubt we will get the same side that played Man U tomorrow, with poor half chances created and defensive frailties a go-go. I wonder if they would consider starting with 9 men to even things up a bit.
jayphoto
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:06 AM
Comment #29What’s most annoying is if Pardew leaves us and either Campbell or Armstrong go onto be good players he’ll be saying he gave them their debuts and take credit too.
Pretty sure he gave Noble and Ox debuts in lower leagues when at both southampton and west ham they had the best squad in the league and where cruising in games.
At southampton he had no choice but use young players as their squad was so young. When he did buy players they were 28-32.
I think he has an awful record for developing youth
Rotonda heights
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:08 AM
Comment #3070TWO
I love the look of that team in a classic Brazilian 343
Pardew would wet himself playing Ben Arfa and Marveaux either side of Cisse, but god knows why they didn’t try that just once when Ba left
Rotonda heights
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:09 AM
Comment #31jayphoto
tragically he convinced ash otherwise
70TWO
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:13 AM
Comment #32Rotonda heights
Give the Newbrazil kit another outing (although the winning streak has faded).
Lilongwe Geordie
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:14 AM
Comment #33I get Pardew’s point about not playing them given the teams form, but as everyone else has said we have nothing to play for, are getting hammered anyway so at least give the kids some game time. personally I would’t want Arma starting at Stoke, but I’d give Aarons and Arma both a run out at home against the 2 welsh sides. Maybe start Arma, and give Aarons 30 mins in each. Let them cut their teeth a bit. I’d be tempted with some of the others as well.
Seriously, how much worse can it all get?
The next Mike Williamson
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:14 AM
Comment #34I bet he gave Oxlade, Noble, & Shelvey 5 minutes in the carling cup once then dropped them for someone terrible.
Also it’s easy to play a premier league quality youth when you have a league 1 team. he’s too afraid to play young players in premier because he doesn’t have the stats to show him how much they run about. best play the experienced rubbish guys.
Rotonda heights
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:14 AM
Comment #35Losing at home to reading last season when we were winning and playing well but genius pardew decided to hook marveaux was the massive wake up call that has just never been heeded.
beefman13
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:14 AM
Comment #36I’m cynical, AP is full of horseshit, he has not ever dropped a fit “purple” for a young upcoming player, not ever, Shola will no doubt yet again get more playing time against Stoke no doubts, young Armstrong would be buzzing at the thought of getting on, AP why include Armstrong in the squad and then leave him dangling!!!
Oh and mysterious injuries to Remy, Sissoko,and Debuchy????? world cup around the corner for these lads and they know it, little niggles that are lasting 5 weeks, they have not got the balls to play incase of injury, hope we do sell them even if MA pockets more lowee, deflated completely with everything going on at the toon, everyone is i suspect, this is from someone who was just below the manic state of Billson 18 month ago, we are just Baghdad to MA`S Exocet missiles, just drained by it all.
jayphoto
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:14 AM
Comment #37Might be wrong here and doing some a diservice, but we have NOTHING to play for! The players that aren’t going to be here next season shouldn’t be anywhere near the team! (I include remy in that) its pretty obvious HBA, Marveaux, Shola, Gosling, Remy won’t be nufc players, so what are we getting from using them in nothing games?
I agree with De jong playing, as we have the option to sign and it takes a while for foreigners (even henry) to adapt to EPL.
Personally would have recalled Tavernier as debuchys injured, Vuckic as we have no creativity and Campbell. It would have made sense to see Armstrong, Campbell, vuckic and maybe Sammy get 30 mins or so off the bench to give them league experience!
The chance to blood youngsters in the premier league with no fear of being relegated and no chance of getting into europe is so rare, it could have been a positive for the long term benefit of the team but its being wasted
70TWO
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:17 AM
Comment #38Ok, will have to leave the classic late 80s house tunage and dissin’ Pardew until after the match, plus reasonable amount of time to calm down. Be around again next Friday then!
Toon Tang
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:18 AM
Comment #39just chuck him in pards for chuffs sake man. We all know your keeping him back because its what everyone’s calling fur and you want to show us you’re in charge.
Ancientcoptic
Apr 11, 2014 at 11:18 AM
Comment #40Pardew not playing Armstrong, or giving him a pathetic 5 minutes at the end of a game is showing his cowardice.
And like all cowards, he is attempting to imply he is the bigger man for walking away from the fight.
“I think I would probably get a lot of plaudits if I put him in the team. But actually that’s not the right decision for him or the team”
It is football for goodness sake, not the Thunderdome in Mad Max 2. I am pretty sure he will survive 30 minutes with all his limbs and sanity in tact.