Big Geordie

I believe that the fan base has been ground down since Ashley took over - expectations have been lowered, plenty of flim-flam coming from Llambias/Pardew and total toilet performance on the field for the most part of this season. Even after the defeats to the unwashed and scousers, there was more of a feel of resignation than anger, although we all know what the knuckle draggers did in town afterwards. I think in the main, most folk realize that Ashley will do what he wants and be damned to everyone else. Some of us made the choice some years ago (myself included) to turn in our s/t's. I was fed up and to be honest I had better things to spend my hard earned on, with a bairn on the way. Times are now harder and I reckon for most, being able to afford to go to the match is a struggle - especially with the rubbish that is served up and the never-ending excuses. As it is, I believe Pardew will be in charge next season, come what may. He doesn't look like a man who is fearful of his job. Relegation will be paid for, by our 'top players' being moved on, and a promotion charge will be attempted on the cheap (should be go down, which I believe we will)

Shows how bad things are when you have folk who are seriously considering turning in their season tickets. This will not be going un-noticed, regardless of what happens. Respect to those that do decide to do it.

From Football365 - a fair assessment? Reckon so; http://www.football365.com/faves/869...ref_map=%5B%5D After recent heavy defeats against Sunderland and Liverpool, Newcastle's hard-fought 0-0 draw with West Ham will have come as a relief to Alan Pardew. That relief may only last until Tuesday, however, when the Magpies could drop into the bottom three for the first time this season if Wigan beat Swansea and Sunderland pick up at least a point at home to Stoke on Monday. It's an embarrassing predicament for Pardew and, despite Newcastle's improved defensive performance at Upton Park, the manager should be worried by his team's lack of invention ahead of three crucial matches to secure survival. The Magpies have now scored only one goal in their last four Premier League fixtures - and three in the last seven - with Papiss Cisse again cutting a lonely figure in attack on Saturday. The loss of Demba Ba to Chelsea has obviously had a detrimental impact on Newcastle's form in front of goal, but Pardew must also take responsibility for failing to address the Magpies' barren run. While Roberto Martinez has encouraged Wigan to repeat last year's incredible survival feat by adopting an open, attacking style of play, Pardew seems fearful of allowing Newcastle's players to express their quality in a cautious, uninspiring system. It's one thing to play dull football and grind out results - as West Ham have done for much of the season - but Pardew's perennially negative tactics have continued to bring poor performances throughout a disappointing campaign. The manager showed that he is capable of making necessary changes to his team's system by switching to a 4-3-3 formation in the second half of last season, but this year he has failed to act to prevent Newcastle's slide, persisting with the same players and approach week after week. Pardew has struggled in similar circumstances before, with Saturday's trip to West Ham offering a timely reminder. The manager's rudimentary tactics gained promotion, a top-ten Premier League finish and an FA Cup runners-up medal in two full seasons with the Hammers, but when performances started to slip he had no answers. A dreadful start to the 2006/07 season, in which West Ham lost 11 of their first 17 games and scored only ten goals, resulted in Pardew's dismissal, and many Newcastle fans are now hoping that the same fate befalls the manager at St James' Park. It is too late for Ashley to act on the manager's future at this stage, of course, but the fans' shocking reaction to the Sunderland and Liverpool defeats revealed that they have finally run out of patience. Newcastle have enough quality to comfortably finish in the top ten and yet they have remained in the bottom half since mid-November with Pardew seemingly bereft of ideas on how to change his team's fortunes. It seems that last season's achievements may have left a negative legacy in terms of Pardew's loyalty to his underperforming players. Jonas Gutierrez and Cheick Tiote have been in terrible form for most of the current campaign, yet both can expect to be in the starting line-up when fit. This complacency underlines Newcastle's significant backwards step this year and, even if they survive, Pardew's past record suggests he will struggle to learn from his mistakes.

No. Good. Hopefully, the lad has a future with us. We may well need him, next season.

Nice one - well done to him. Is it true he's being allowed to leave us at the end of the season?

BBC Newcastle having problems getting Pardew's interview on air. Rob Elliott saying that there's a good spirit in the camp - wasn't sure about the Cisse 'goal; as he was too far away. Players were determined - defence worked well.

It looks a goal to me. However, when you are struggling, things like this go against you. If we do go down, it's entirely self-inflicted - from the owner, to MD, manager and players.

Bemused as to why he took off Ben Arfa (a potential match winner on his own) and also Gosling on ahead of Anita? We bossed the first half, but again sat back too much in the 2nd. Fed up of negative tactics. Whatever happens, he should be out of a job in the summer.

Good point, but I hope that non-decision by the bloody linesman in the first half, isn't going to end up costing us big time. Worried about the lack of chances we created 2nd half, and why take off Ben Arfa? (our best player) Also, surely Anita should have been on ahead of Gosling?

Happy enough with that, though I would have Anita in for Jonas.

Yup - nervous times now. I imagine I will be 'watching'. Can't do nout else - too important a game.

This. We all know what Pardew will do though - set us up for a point, and we will lose.

JH

I've gone with 'Yes'. Sadly though if a change comes, it will be in the summer regardless of where we will be.

I concur with what was said earlier about our support being 'broken' and apathy reigning supreme. I guess this is what it has come to though.

Agreed, but if we do go down it will end up costing Ashley money again, even if the so called bigger players are jettisoned in the summer.

If we do go down, bums on seats next season will be a factor. I can see many deciding they have better things to do, especially when cash is so tight- particularly for those of us that have young families. I made that choice some years ago and I bet I won't be the last.

If we do end up going down, there will be a huge fire-sale in the summer. It'll basically be a brand-new NUFC team next season, with possibly the likes of Jonas, Perch, Elliott, Shola and Williamson being left. The rest will feck off as quickly as they can.

Another one who didn't look at all bothered today. I had thought he would take over from Colo as club captain, but that's a no-go after today. Shameful.

2nd half was so bad, it was laughable. First off, starting off with 2 DMC's for a home game who offered no protection to the back 4 all game, which allowed Liverpool to waltz through at will. All bar Elliott today were shocking (keeper can't really be blamed) I really do fear for our Premiership safety now - so many echoes of when we went down 4 years ago. If Pardew has an ounce of humility, he should resign - but he won't.

Cowardice all round at St James today - tactics, manager and players. 4 years ago all over again. Gonna nail my colours to the mast now, and say that we are going down.

Dortmund. The difference between watching them and then watching us is light years. That's what Newcastle should be aspiring to be.

It's unbelievable the amount of scousers defending him.