merlin

Watched the whole game ; a better side than WHU would have turned us over, they had more chances than we did but their passing from m/f was as bad as ours, if not worse...they could have caught us on the break a few times had their final ball been better and a better side than them will certainly do so. The team were as toothless as ever, only real chance being Gouffran's snatched effort near the end from Sameobi's attempted cross which rebounded from the post after wrong-footing Jaskelaainen and even that was ballooned over - HBA kept battering away from a range which was unlikely to succeed but we failed to stretch them where it mattered. West Ham's football was almost as bad as ours, which you would expect from an Allardyce team away from home, but Jarvis was always keeping Debuchy busy and gave him very little opportunity to support the attack until late in the game. The whole team, with one or two exceptions(Colo, Anita & poss Mapou) are lacking in confidence, awareness of a plan and obviously de-motivated by the whole messy set-up at the club. The report from the guy at ESPN was spot-on - nothing has changed and Pardew is out of his depth. Unless there are 3 points gained v Fulham we are in for a season of struggle.

Are the people around you wearing sunglasses and carrying white sticks..? No wonder Ashley rubs his hands with glee.....the football knowledge of NUFC fans was legendary once - its becoming so again, but for a completely different reason..!

There isn't a big enough alarm clock in the entire world capable of that.......

I never predict the results of games we are involved in - nobody in football has been less predictable than NUFC over the years but Monday's result was one anybody could have seen coming. Even if we were to win this by 3 clear goals, it wouldn't alter my view as to Pardew's capabilities (or lack of them) as a manager.

This is my view too. He will show what he can do, esp if he goes to Arsenal and we see him regularly....

Nobody - least of all me - is under the impression that all the squad are good enough and we do have some significant weaknesses ...in that case, questions should be asked about Carr's judgment because he is the one recommending these players and most on here are happy to trumpet his signings 'in Carr we trust'...etc etc. However, this cannot disguise the fact that Pardew's use of the players is not working and they look shadows of the players they can be and should be. They are either unhappy at the club or unhappy with the manager's methods - look at Cisse, Cabaye, Tiote, Debuchy etc etc...every one now a worse player than when they arrived at SJP and I am willing to bet that some of these players will look different class if they join other clubs with better managers - AND a more professional set-up.

This - I cannot believe how many people are prepared to overlook his record at other clubs which is similar to the one he has here...starts OK, peaks, then everything collapses. Also, this stuff about 'a manager that is a fit with our players' is tripe in my HO....a decent manager looks at the squad he has and determines each player's strengths and weaknesses ; he then incorporates these skills into a team plan which is going to be most productive with the players available. He does NOT keep trying to put square pegs into round holes, or make racehorses do Carthorse work - Pardew keeps doing this all the time. Look how teams can look totally different under a new manager...KK put confidence and fire back into our players when he arrived at SJP in Feb 92 when we were in freefall under Ardiles. Keegan DID buy a few players when we were safe at the end of that season, Beresford and Venison among them , but there weren't really wholesale changes at first but results and performances were a world apart. Look how Lambert has transformed Villa..... We need a new and BETTER manager and we would be at least confident in being Top 10.

For a person who accused ME of talking bollocks, you really do live in a very large Glass house, don't you ? You should be aware what people in glass houses should avoid.....

f***ing hell man. Saying judge us against West Ham Saturday evening, not Man City away? What's the f***ing hell man for? I would say that's a sensible thing to do? No? just me? The f***ing hell man is for you saying 'more appropriate opposition levels'. The bit I bolded. It speaks for itself, it's just more pathetic snivelling s****. Lie all you want about judging us on 1 game this weekend, we both know that won't be the case if we don't get a result. I can well understand why you bolded the bit about 'more appropriate opposition levels'. To be honest, the amount of apathy and cringing to both the clubs policies and Pardew is beginning to do my head in. As a fan for more than 50 years and who has taken an active part in changing the club by being part of the movement to oust McKeag in the late 80s, I am beginning to feel it just wasn't worth the time and effort many of us put in because it seems that many fans today are quite prepared - and happy with - being cannon fodder for at least a quarter of the PL as well as believing that we are permanently a second rate club and lack any more potential than clubs like Leeds and Sheffield United. If we had all believed that, we would never have had the SJH and KK years, never had the signing of Alan Shearer or the CL years under SBR, but if people want to support a club that takes their money and tells them to be grateful for being in the PL as well as deliberately fielding weakened sides in the FA Cup so they can be kicked out by the likes of Brighton 2 seasons' running, good luck to them...they'll need it. I often wonder if some people ever look at the gate figures we had during the 70s, when we didn't win anything but had some great players and played some great football too - we always have been one of the best supported clubs in Britain and had SJH got his wish about Leazes Park, would have had the second largest ground after Man U...you can blame that idiot Prescott for that, but I reckon many on here won't want to admit THAT. Small-time thinking leads to small-time status in football - I just wonder what those who are content with the status quo will say if and when the club is bought out, hopefully by someone with more ambition as well as more money.

How is being part of what we achieved in the 90s going to make you have lowered expectations now? If you can remember those days - which I can, vividly - you just know we are a shadow of the club we were now, and we should be expecting far better, which we certainly would under a more ambitious and committed owner. I can remember the 90s very well and yes 93-98 was a purple patch for us but now we are just mediocre....other clubs have had purple patches recently far better than ours....Leeds, Forest even Ipswich these clubs all won major honours. The 90s as you describe we won f*** all yes the football was amazing and exciting to watch but ultimately we won nothing. It doesn't give us the divine right because we are NUFC to think we are any more deserving than their fans I've been watching us for 36 years merlin to answer your question previously so yes I've seen s**** Don't expect me to give you a medal for long service, because I can beat that by almost 20 years. I have seen us win the Fairs Cup AND be relegated, each time due to lousy directors/management. I have seen our fans out-sing the much-lauded Kop after a Wembley thrashing and I KNOW that this club is better and bigger than you and others on here are prepared to accept, because you have low expectations. I, and many others on this board do NOT share your opinion - lets leave it at that because you and I will never agree.

How is being part of what we achieved in the 90s going to make you have lowered expectations now? If you can remember those days - which I can, vividly - you just know we are a shadow of the club we were now, and we should be expecting far better, which we certainly would under a more ambitious and committed owner. I mean, the 90s wasn't very long ago. What about all the stuff before then? I know we've tasted relatively recent success, and that raises expectations of course. But the bigger picture is not so rosy. The 90s - 20 years ago - was when the PL started and we were one of the top clubs in it for half that period. The club lost its way under Shepherd but we still had CL football with SBR as manager and with a better Chairman we would not have been in this position now because we wouldn't be Mike Ashley's plaything. The club's reputation has fallen to rock bottom under this regime and yet you still try to find excuses and defend it. As usual, you are prepared to ignore the facts in order to justify your stance and the facts are that NUFC is a much better and bigger club than this regime are allowing it to be. If you - and those who think like you do - can't or won't accept that, you shouldn't be following the club. Try Blyth Spartans or Gateshead if you want clubs with limited potential or low ambitions, even they probably wouldn't have Pardew as manager......

Very similar...

This - all of it on the button.

If he had asked to be left out then it would be clearly unacceptable and unprofessional of him. We have seen clubs using excuses to prevent player injuries in the event of a sale though. How much truth is there to Bale being injured atm, or Rooney being out during pre-season? Even Speed was the victim of a convenient excuse when Everton sold him. Those ignorant and making fun of depression should be hit by a bout of the disease fwiw. This - the most likely explanation...amazing how many people want to blame Cabaye instead of those running the club - even after all they've done in the past.

I agree - Poyet would probably be a vast improvement on Pardew but I doubt whether he would stay at SJP very long under Ashley. Ideally, we need new owners and quickly.

How is being part of what we achieved in the 90s going to make you have lowered expectations now? If you can remember those days - which I can, vividly - you just know we are a shadow of the club we were now, and we should be expecting far better, which we certainly would under a more ambitious and committed owner.

Best the utter weaklings can do either side of singing about Shola and Pardew. Cretins. Ron, man. Really think this fan rage is somewhat misplaced. I was looking at the screen tonight thinking "daft c***s" at those that paid money to go and watch that in the flesh, then I took a look in the mirror at someone who was sitting at home like a mug doing exactly the same. Only difference is Sky got my money instead of NUFC, which is just as bad if not worse. I don't think it is at all. The fans are refusing to fight for the club in supporting this nonsense. I can see where you're coming from but I think it's pity more than anger that I feel towards them. However, I've been where they are so I can appreciate why they still turn up. There are times when it's all you have, and for some people it's all they'll ever have, they live for it. I can't be mad with people for supporting the team, which is what most of them are doing at the end of the day. Fair point. I just wish people would see the big picture. Surely virtually nobody enjoys the rubbish we serve up at SJP and on the road these days. but what is the big picture? everyone stay's away? won't change anything not with the tv deal it would just mean further cost cuts and bring us no closer to anyone actually buying the club which is the big issue, no one wants to. Disagree - if Ashley is put into a position where he runs the risk of having to put money into the club because attendances were poor and nobody was buying merchandise, he would be out like a shot. In any case, his lack of investment in players will eventually lead to relegation and that will kill off his Sky golden goose. Last night's result is the first step along the way to possibly being relegated. Also don't agree that nobody wants to buy the club - they do, but they know what Ashley is like and they will wait until he is in a position where he cannot mess them about or hold them to ransom...Ashley isn't the only billionaire who thinks he is street-wise....as with everything else, there is always someone smarter/richer and they will come along eventually but it may take a while. Disagree, he'll hold out until the bitter end until he gets the price he wants. And frankly if you were rich why buy an expensive club like newcastle when you can buy a biggish championship club (eg Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday or go to League one Sheffield United or Wolves) for far far less put in some small amount of investment (compared to prem) get them up and boom prem tv package. Are you serious ? Leeds ? Sheff Utd? Wolves ? Since when did ANY of these clubs have the support potential - and actual - around the world that NUFC has ? Lets hope potential buyers know more about club potential than you seem to - don't argue by the way, because you'll start to look silly with that theory. We also have the infrastructure in place. Those clubs might be a lot cheaper to buy but then a lot of money would have to be spent on other things. what makes people think that we are a bigger club than Leeds are just because we are a division higher Leeds have had considerable more success than we have in the last 50-60 years Talking about Leeds former successes is almost as stupid as harking back to our 50s cup wins. Leeds have NEVER been a bigger club than NUFC and if you are using trophies as a yardstick on the size of the club, you have to say that the Mackems, Boro, Leicester, Watford, Luton etc etc are ALL bigger than NUFC because they have ALL won domestic trophies in more recent history than we have. Since when did Leeds have a WAITING LIST of 20,000 for Season Tickets as we did in the 90s ? Any potential buyer is going to look at how big the club could BECOME, not what it did 50 years ago, and on that yardstick, we knock all these clubs into a cocked hat. You haven't been supporting us very long, have you ? Either that, or you are part of the group that has swallowed Ashley and Pardew's lowering of expectations.

Best the utter weaklings can do either side of singing about Shola and Pardew. Cretins. Ron, man. Really think this fan rage is somewhat misplaced. I was looking at the screen tonight thinking "daft c***s" at those that paid money to go and watch that in the flesh, then I took a look in the mirror at someone who was sitting at home like a mug doing exactly the same. Only difference is Sky got my money instead of NUFC, which is just as bad if not worse. I don't think it is at all. The fans are refusing to fight for the club in supporting this nonsense. I can see where you're coming from but I think it's pity more than anger that I feel towards them. However, I've been where they are so I can appreciate why they still turn up. There are times when it's all you have, and for some people it's all they'll ever have, they live for it. I can't be mad with people for supporting the team, which is what most of them are doing at the end of the day. Fair point. I just wish people would see the big picture. Surely virtually nobody enjoys the rubbish we serve up at SJP and on the road these days. but what is the big picture? everyone stay's away? won't change anything not with the tv deal it would just mean further cost cuts and bring us no closer to anyone actually buying the club which is the big issue, no one wants to. Disagree - if Ashley is put into a position where he runs the risk of having to put money into the club because attendances were poor and nobody was buying merchandise, he would be out like a shot. In any case, his lack of investment in players will eventually lead to relegation and that will kill off his Sky golden goose. Last night's result is the first step along the way to possibly being relegated. Also don't agree that nobody wants to buy the club - they do, but they know what Ashley is like and they will wait until he is in a position where he cannot mess them about or hold them to ransom...Ashley isn't the only billionaire who thinks he is street-wise....as with everything else, there is always someone smarter/richer and they will come along eventually but it may take a while. Disagree, he'll hold out until the bitter end until he gets the price he wants. And frankly if you were rich why buy an expensive club like newcastle when you can buy a biggish championship club (eg Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday or go to League one Sheffield United or Wolves) for far far less put in some small amount of investment (compared to prem) get them up and boom prem tv package. Are you serious ? Leeds ? Sheff Utd? Wolves ? Since when did ANY of these clubs have the support potential - and actual - around the world that NUFC has ? Lets hope potential buyers know more about club potential than you seem to - don't argue by the way, because you'll start to look silly with that theory.

You are probably close to the truth with this - club is rotten to the core.

It will be forgotten about alright - Newcastle fans have short memories...

You have easily enough good players to not be anywhere near the relegation places. Watching the match last night it was pretty gobsmacking to see largely the same bunch of players turn out such a half-arsed, not bothered, unmotivated performance, much as they did last season. When you were making signings last year, you were the envy of a good chunk of the league for having identified so many decent French players, and then the same last January when you brought in Sissoko. I specifically remember, for example, on numerous occasions as the January window closed and you and us were both struggling, hearing Villa fans reflect that you had successfully bought yourselves out of trouble. You need new faces in now, that's obvious, but there is a long way from that state of affairs to what you have now, which is somehow managing to fashion out of a decent squad of players, a side which looks like considerably less than the sum of its parts. Baffling. If you are baffled, we'll swap you managers... I think you'll soon get your head around it then....

Aye, we didn't threaten but I thought the performance started to improve and we were learning to live with the pace. Never expected anything other than a heavy defeat, I wouldn't put it down as a 'disgrace' or an 'embarrassment'. Fact is that teams like Man City are almost playing a different sport to us now. The quality they have assembled throughout the squad is ridiculous. Hopefully Mapou will start at CB and Anita in midfield after what happened, and we'll give most other teams a decent game. sorry Ian, but you can't defend the indefensible. The more you try, the more you come out looking like you have not got a clue what football is about. Not all teams will bend over in front of Man City. They will not go through the season without losing either. and no, they are not playing a different sport to us at all, they just play the same sport but a lot better than we can. You are right - you can't defend the indefensible but he will try. In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed man is king....

Do we just expect players to not f*** us off when we have zero ambition? I cannot blame him, I don't necessarily respect him for it but I cannot blame him. On the flip side we've just been anal filsted by a bunch of over-payed divas. This - if the club had any ambition and wasn't a laughing stock, run by a mendacious fool, players wouldn't want to leave. There wasn't a rush for the door when SJH and KK were in charge.....

It might improve your life expectancy....and his !

Except that they are - heavily and often, esp with Dickhead in charge....