CaliMag

From the moment Pardew was hired there were quite a few quotes going around from "unnamed Newcastle sources" and even Llambias talking about how his contract would be based largely on incentives - (Keeping a positive balance sheet and winning). Here are a couple from the Torygraph back in Spetember http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/8187624/Mike-Ashley-insists-he-will-pay-new-Newcastle-manager-by-results-as-Alan-Pardew-declares-interest.html : "There will be no £1.5 million signing-on fee and no compensation clauses in their contract. The bottom line is Mike wants value for money and, just as in his businesses, he expects to get it. "The new manager will not be handed a treasure trove of cash to spend and nor will he be handed a contract which means he can be rewarded for failure. He will be handsomely rewarded if he brings success to Newcastle United and will not be rewarded if he fails. "Mike wants an experienced manager at one of the biggest clubs in the land. But he wants a manager on his terms and those terms are simple: every penny has to be spent wisely and the club must continue to head in the right direction towards the top end of the Premier League." Ashley's stance reflects his determination to stop the club haemorrhaging money with centre-half Fabricio Coloccini's £85,000-per-week salary a constant reminder of the need to bring spending under control. The Newcastle hierarchy have no intention of throwing money around to attract a managerial big-hitter and the frugal nature of Ashley's regime who have been involved in a prolonged and unresolved dispute with his players over bonuses. Ashley strategy risks alienating would-be managerial candidates with his unconventional approach but he is sticking to his guns. "I think they have offered it to two or three people and said those are the terms and conditions and are you brave enough to take it on," the source added. "It will be run along the same lines Mike pays top executives at Sports Direct – a very good basic wage but big bonuses for results. It might be a lengthy contract but it would be a three or four-year deal buying into the vision. "I don't think any club in England would be run like this but this is a businessman running a football club as a business. Whether that is right or wrong only time will tell."

We know that Pardew's contract is largely based on the financial performance of the club. What we don't know for certain are the exact details of his contract. He is clearly willing to shield Ashley of blame from not spending money in the transfer window because he benefits from this financially. Did Pardew do the math in his head regarding Carroll's sale? Something along the lines of "I really don't want to sell him but since I get X% of any transfer positive balance at the end of the fiscal year I would earn X million." This is one of the things that worries me about the current set up. Buying cheap, selling high and making money has worked for Arsenal, but we're not Arsenal (no matter how many french players we sign) and Pardew is definately not Wenger. Also I doubt Wenger has the same type of contract that Pardew has. With Ashley and Llambias involved I would hazard a guess that Pardew's contract is a bit more cynical (naked greed). We just have to wait and see if this works.

Hey Mike has England ever actually beat the US (men or women's team) in a World Cup?

10m for CNZ would be my guess.

Quite. Get thee to Lewando's thread!

I don't see any obvious captain in any of those line-ups. I hope Pardew is grooming his first choice for thsi job. Colo?

It's nuts, isn't it? Every single goal looks like a match fix. In general, womens' sense of spatial surroundings are much inferior to men, and they generally would have a harder time knowing where they are in relation to the goal when coming off the line or trying to narrow the angle for strikers. It's hard for us men to comprehend such a thing, but it's also why, again in general, women tend to have bigger problems parking cars than men. Not knowing 100% where you are in relation to the goal at all times will of course not help the confidence of keepers to do necessary 'brave actions' where they need to challenge for the ball, eg. aerially. This is not a sexist comment as much as a factual comment and I hoped I outlined that by saying 'in general', many times. Of course there are women out there who defy the rule as do men with the various other things women are 'proven better' at. But it goes some way to explaining why goalkeeping is so off-the-pace compared to the outfield players. I was waiting for the punchline when HawK tells us that women are constantly told that a 4" penis is in fact 12" and that it has a cumulative affect on their spacial reasoning skills.

Black, white and red is the key! Yeah Hitler thought so too...

Simple and very smart. That in black and white would've been lush. Damn right. That kit is like a faaacking fairy tale, innit.

Please to check the pronunciation thread. I think that is a fantastic effort elbee.

Dempsey also showed a lot of loyalty to Fulham after the 09-10 season when he had a few offers to leave for more money.

I can't deny that... as I said in my post above, the US has a lack of good defenders and finishers.

Adu and Dos Santos are similar in that both looked like world beaters at this tournament, but have been failures in every way at club level. Was that the US' strongest team? The lack of anything upfront will hold them back if so. You only need to look at Uruguay to see how imperative top class strikers are in international tournament format. The US has always had a problem developing proper strikers. The only player in recent memory that comes close would be Brian McBride. The typical American striker is usually an attacking midfielder or winger playing out of position and isolated. It is a nation of midfielders and 'keepers... apparently.

Carlos Bocanegra is the US equivilent of Stephen Carr... How is he still playing let alone captain? Not good enough for Fulham, defo not good anough for a national team with aspirations like the US - I'd rather have De Merritt back in the side than Bocanegra and Jay's ancient. Mike - Bornstein WAS terrible, good call. The old guard must go.... and the US somehow have to uncover three or four really good young players to be able to beat Mexico. I can't see it personally.

Expected result. Still lame. Similar feeling to 99 but I am over it already, unlike 99.

I love the french themed stuff everyone has been using. One criticism though: Optimistic Nut's Avatar. Shouldn't the Lion on top of the castle tower be holding a white flag? Joke of the day: Why did the French plant trees along the Champs-Élysées ? Answer: so the Germans can march in the shade.

Its also something that is said quite a lot on football pitches in Mexico (and Southern California). Its akin to saying "slow the pace down" or "settle the ball."

Chris Hughton: great at raising team morale. Well Pardew is going to have to become as good if not better than Chris next year at this skill. None of "this group of lads" will be in the first team. We are shedding the large weekly earners and older players at a fast pace and continue to get more money in than we spend in the transfer market. This is Alan Pardew's team and he will have no excuses at the start of the year. Like many on here I think team morale and team spirit is a difficult thing to create let alone maintain. I can't see Alan having much success in this with the changes that are coming through. He underestimated what it meant to be our manager (had no idea what the NE Football culture was like especially Newcastle) and I am afraid he will not understand or be able field a team that can play at SJP. Not to mention the fact that everytime Pardew talks about transfer he talks about bring only a couple of players in... that kind of talk really bothers me. Why would he say this? Does he really believe our squad is big enough and good enough to make it through next season? Hopefully he's just being coy, but he is making major changes to the team (whether it is his fault of Ashley/Lambias) he should own up to this that this is a major overhaul. Saying it isn't is disingenuous and annoying. The team relied heavily upon Shearer for years to provide inspiration and leadership on and off the pitch. By many reports, it took a combination of Nolan, Barton, Smith and Harper to be able to bring that level of leadership back and now they are all most likely gone (probably with Harper benched rather than sold). I am not hopeful for next season.

I am sure Chopra has quite a few regrets, but his personal life is probably tops of that list. It would not mattered if he stayed here he would still be a wreck.

Next you're going to start accusing the US of taking your hockey franchises...

I really hope Canada improves their footie... everyone loves Canada. That said, they gonna get hurt tonight.

The Final is in Pasedena (just north of LA) at the Rose Bowl. It will have the same atmosphere as a home game for Mexico when they get to the final. I would imagine 80-90% Mexico supporters will be there. Now that we (NUFC) are back in the Premier League I can't imagine there will be many (if any) players on show during the Gold Cup that we would want.

Without a doubt they are crap supporters. Flashback to last year: one team was playing (for nowt) against Doncaster the other in a make or break Champions League Quarterfinal 2nd leg against a team managed by a respected and loved former manager... which game had higher attendance? Exactly.

I took no joy in their loss last night. I would much rather they make fifth then Liverpool. If they did sack Redknapp (which would be silly) they could always go for CH.

You jinxed us again Parky...