El Hozzo

genuine question (might have been referenced earlier in the thread, have not read every page) - I have been living overseas for 15 years so maybe this is obvious for a local but ... why was the attendance so poor? why does the FA cup knock 20K people off the crowd figures? Its not just us ... but is there so little interest in the cup? it cannot be due to the opposition (such a big reduction) is it that its not included in the season ticket? Do people pay a lot of 19 home games, but not the 30 quid for a cup home game? is it something else?

He hasn't lost 0-6 at home to Liverpool either ... ;-)

so whats the score?

I think if you brought in another striker of the quality we are looking at, You could put JFK or John Carver in the manager's chair and they could achieve the same thing. The players are good enough, the only reason you would fail is gross mis-management. I don't disagree with this

good debate

if you think I'm off my rocker, fine ... I don't think Pardew is the complete disaster most of here seem to think. I don't think he'll get us relegated. On the other hand, I don't think due to the previous excellent season that he's a fantastic manager who will get us consistently in the top 6/europe. I don't think he's the biggest problem. Fans and Ashley have different criteria for success. If according to Ashley, the aim is top 10, I think Pardew can get us there next season (if we bring in at least another striker, and have a bit more luck on injuries) - we used all our luck the season we got fifth, and had lots of bad luck last year. Look, I would love to replace Pardew (not personally... well, actually...) but with someone more likely to succeed - and that will cost more. Ashley isn't going to fund it (concretely, I would have loved it if we took Benitez when Chelsea discarded him ... ), so lets get behind Pardew as the best option available. I was gutted, when Pardew replaced Houghton (was convinced we would go down that season) but so far, its been ...average. So good (some fantastic, the season we finished fifth was one of the most enjoyable for what, a decade?) some mediocre (or worse) - especially the 0-10 of the last three home games - but I would honestly give him a couple of months this season to see if he can turn it around.

thats your opinion but ... Pardew got a clean sweep of the 'Manager of the Year' awards 12 months before ... and Ashley probably realises he didn't fund (aside from Anita) transfers last summer, so, since we weren't relegated, is willing to give him another chance to prove himself. Pardew had a disappointing season and didn't meet his targets. He overachieved on his targets the previous year, giving himself a little extra breathing space. If he had got us relegated he deserved to be sacked. Since he didn't (just...) he deserves another shot, but if Oct/Nov we really look like its another season of battling relegation, I'm expect Ashley will sack him There has to be a little loyalty, a little long-term thinking and continuity ... Or, we are like Chelsea (the most successful Premiership club in the last 10 years) changing manager every season. Ok by me, if we invest in bringing in managers that are probably in the top 5 (or at least 10) in the world, as Chelsea tend to (not always with Grant and Di Matteo, I admit)

Cheers ItalianMagpie, good luck for next year... for tickets to Italian Serie A matches, I can only discuss my Milan experiences ... their (Inter, AC) websites have English versions, you can book tickets there, and go along to the stadium and pick them up (showing your passport at the time) Pretty straightforward, not too expensive ... In Milan at least, they expect tourists... (I always play 'spot the Italian' in the section I get put in... not easy amongst the Japanese, German etc)

I wish I'd known about this, as I am based in Milan, might have gone along to give some support.... where can I find more info ?

timeEd32, thanks ... either, at least to watch it ... middle of the day, so not live then ? Fox Soccer - let me check if thats on my hotel room tv ... thanks again

anyone know where I can watch it on tv, I'm currently in Palo Alto, CA ...

so, I'm not watching it, just relying on internet info but ... 'shocking half from us' and comments like that ... its 1-1 at Anfield ... Ok, we might be fortunate that we are still in it, but, I'm happy at the moment, would be happy if this was the end result, and we can change with our subs - I'm sure after the Bolton game, Pardew will give Ben Arfa 30 mins at least - and sounds like Santon's on soon bit more optimism justified ??

ah, I wasn't aware of that ... then I can fully understand I hope all goes well for him and his family

Is Simpson a muslim, would maybe explain his August performances ....

To be fair, I expect we are picking up the cost of travel to discuss terms etc. so check the flight from Bergamo to Stansted, Ryanair....

Cajun, thats my son ... english dad (i.e. me), Italian mother ... but, he's known as 'Big Geordie Dave' (he's only two...)

cool, my son's name is Davide ... so I hope we sign him, for that random reason at least ...

My dad played professionally ...

'Ashley 3.5 Took an unnecessary risk in swapping managers mid season. Poor January transfer window' see, this is an example where Ashley can't win anymore ... the relationship damage is done. We stayed up .. so was it an unnecessary risk or a necessary step to ensure survival ? Teams that didn't change their mgr mid-season : West Ham, Blackpool, Birmingham (you see where I am going with this?) teams that did : Us, Liverpool, West Brom, Blackburn etc ok, so there are teams that survived and didn't change, like Wolves and Wigan ... We have to judge the action by the result. We changed mgr, and stayed up ... if we didn't manage, MAYBE we would have stayed up anyway ... I don't know, I felt shocked, numb and embarassed when Chris was sacked ... but it could be, it was a cold hard business decision that actually worked ...

so, Dave, was Perch sent off? or do you mean, committed a foul worthy of a red card but got away with it ?

I don't know, I think my feelings are on Mike Ashley are 'Last Season Bad, This Season Good' ... I mean, he's not done too much wrong SINCE we got relegated (which definitely he needs to take a large part of the responsbility for ) Whether its been luck, or judgement, I don't know .. but we sit at the top, on course (fingers crossed) for an immediate return, we thankfully lost some of the big salary players in the summer, but kept a reasonable core, I was happy with the Jan transfer window ... I think Mikey wants some love back ... that might never happen, but if we do go straight back up, I'll raise a glass to him and Chris ...

DG on his forearm - he's just a big fan of The Wedding Present/Cinerama ...

I'm at the game, in the Villa end (my brother-in-law is a Villa fan, when we saw the fixtures, we decided I would come over from Italy to attend)... My first live Newcastle Premiership game (seen them 10 times in the second tier, and twice in Champions League), and very probably my last ....

oh, and Hull 2-0 down, Boro losing 1-0 ... some relief...

just wondering, with Barton and Owen off, if we did get a pen, who would take it ... ?