Happy Face

It is to me mate. I don't post on here for your benefit. I'm bored at work. Likewise, no one posts specifically for your benefit, which is what you're looking for. I think everyone's just fascinated by you because you're a walking contradiction. Why is it a contradiction to prefer the status quo of a mediocre manager at my mediocre club being run by a complete fucktard and his simpleton pisshead of a mate? There is no contradiction in being absolutely certain that the chairman who appointed Kinnear, Wise, Vetere, Llambias, Pardew and Kinnear again; the man who could not work with Keegan or Hughton or Shearer or Redknapp; there's no contradiction in being certain he couldn't appoint and work with a talented manager if his life depended on it. Giving him the opportunity to fuck up again while we aren't in any danger, while we're starting to play some decent football, while there's remarkably little animosity between players, manager, DOF and board considering, that seems suicidal to me.

It is to me mate. I don't post on here for your benefit. I'm bored at work.

Why do you keep posting on the subject? Why does anyone? The lines have been drawn for about 2 years. I'm enjoying challenging what seems to be the sacred cow around here. I think the perception of a matchgoer is generally far superior to what any numbers might tell you. But then, the likes of Christmas Tree have been to games and seem to have little to no knowledge of football whatsoever. Also, perceptions of a viewer can become entrenched so their mind can be made up ahead of time. They can become tuned in to recognising the bad and ignoring the good. So even while Pardew changes the way we approach games to a large degree, there are people that insist he's sticking with the same plan A as last year. Challenging that perception is difficult when I can only offer opinions of my own. I say potato, you say potato. That doesn't work written down. We end up calling the whole thing off (See Hanskissedhispantz's post). But some numbers can illuminate my view, or challenge it. That's what I'm looking for, a post that makes me reconsider my view.

Why do you keep posting on the subject?

If the average Newcastle fan was as embittered towards Pardew (as opposed to Ashley) as this forum is then he would have been booed out of town long ago. Proper Rat King of loathing has built up on here I think, and more people join with a loss than escape with a win/draw. Dissenting voices seem to get sarcasm or stick more than consideration of points made....until you ask them to put their money where their mouth is I'll bet you every penny that I own that Pardew is a shit manager. FWIW, I did find that the hatred for him was mainly on here until after the 0-3 and 0-6. Since then I haven't met anyone except you and a couple of others on here that pointlessly defend him. Think someone on here mentioned their utter disbelief that the Straberry corner would sing "Pardew is our King" during the Hull game. So a vocal contingent in the stadium are still supportive.

If the average Newcastle fan was as embittered towards Pardew (as opposed to Ashley) as this forum is then he would have been booed out of town long ago. Proper Rat King of loathing has built up on here I think, and more people join with a loss than escape with a win/draw. Dissenting voices seem to get sarcasm or stick more than consideration of points made....until you ask them to put their money where their mouth is

The funny thing is I've barely used any stats to defend Pardew apart from the fact his team aren't as reliant on the long ball...which no-one disagrees with and is blatant to anyone that's watched us over a period of time in 2013. People just go apeshit at the sight of a number.

Speak for yourself. Mine's massive.

It is a problem that many people mistrust facts these days. It's a direct result of zombie stats getting widely spread in the media by journalists that don't understand or care about the specific details, just the sensational story. So (completely making up a stat here) 10 deaths in 5 million from meningitis growing to 19 deaths in 5 million is reported as "Kids 90% more likely to die".

I'm sure the nation's actuaries will die a little when they find out.

aaah yes, i did say that, and you're right to pull me up on it tbf...i don't think we'll finish above them but yeah we might not be a million miles away from them, it's not beyond the realms of possibility anyway as stated you can have your bet if you factor the points swing for europe against swansea Aye, ok then. Tenner says we'll finish 5 points or more ahead of Swansea @ 4/1. make it 3 or more, 1 win agreed FBM, I had already given you 5, so good of you to cut your nose off there I'll claim the moral (if not financial) victory anyway if we get close to them

aaah yes, i did say that, and you're right to pull me up on it tbf...i don't think we'll finish above them but yeah we might not be a million miles away from them, it's not beyond the realms of possibility anyway as stated you can have your bet if you factor the points swing for europe against swansea 'You can have your bets as long as I make the odds heavily weighted in my favour, rather than use the bookmakers'.' i'm factoring in alan pardew my friend, playing in europe has nothing but a crippling effect on teams and reduces them to a shadow of their former selves ergo swansea will soon fall to pieces only fair no? How about we give you those 5 points if Swansea reach the QF? they won't be as impacted otherwise

aaah yes, i did say that, and you're right to pull me up on it tbf...i don't think we'll finish above them but yeah we might not be a million miles away from them, it's not beyond the realms of possibility anyway as stated you can have your bet if you factor the points swing for europe against swansea Aye, ok then. Tenner says we'll finish 5 points or more ahead of Swansea @ 4/1.

I know. You're the one conflating 2 distinct discussions there.

Which proverb is referenced in Newcastle finishing higher than Swansea?

Think we're getting a general idea of how ridiculous a notion it actually is now. Swansea obviously favourites, but no reason to think Newcastle are unable to outperform them this year. what's a ridiculous notion? i don't know what you're on about Are you asking for the definition of a ridiculous notion or asking which notion is ridiculous? You were saying you never thought we'd get close to Swansea. I don't think it's a ridiculous notion that we might.

http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/index.php/topic,93975.msg4648206.html#msg4648206

Think we're getting a general idea of how ridiculous a notion it actually is now. Swansea obviously favourites, but no reason to think Newcastle are unable to outperform them this year.

on what stake? Just a tenner. Mentioned it on the last page. so you're gonna give me a tenner and if we finish above swansea i give you 50 back then, that's the bet? Just PM each other once it's done and get paypal/bank details then. Non payment gets a thread of derision for being a welcher. You're pretty much guaranteed to win though, tbf. Even the odds that you want suggest that you think it's highly unlikely. I never said it was particularly likely. I said it's not beyond the realms of possibility. I like a punt. Took arsenal for the title at 16s. Don't think it's likely but it was a bloody good price back in June. There should be a load of takers biting my hand off considering the scoffing at such an outrageous suggestion.

I'm asking for them odds.

on what stake? Just a tenner. Mentioned it on the last page. so you're gonna give me a tenner and if we finish above swansea i give you 50 back then, that's the bet? Just PM each other once it's done and get paypal/bank details then. Non payment gets a thread of derision for being a welcher. You're pretty much guaranteed to win though, tbf.

on what stake? Just a tenner. Mentioned it on the last page.

just thought it pertinent to point out that that 5 point gap is less relevant because in terms of our squad depth, which according to the manager was a major failing of ours last year, we have stood still while swansea have gone ahead and invested in making the squad that finished 5 points ahead of us much better (in principle) no stats for that though i suppose Let's go then. Will you give me 4/1?

Not to mention that a 5 point slip was enough for him to conclude that Laudrop's season with Getafe was a massive failure. Not quite what I said was it? I said i would be ambivalent about Laudrup getting Pardew's job right now. The reason for that is he hasn't finished 2 seasons with any of his last 4 clubs and whatever obstacles/excuses he and Pardew may have had, their ultimate league performances can be compared. He shouldn't really slate a manager for not having any excuses, when he himself had a valid excuse for his teams drop into the lower end of the league. If Laudrup maintains his performances/league position at Swansea consistently then he will go up in my estimation.

Banned for the politely stated opinion that making up 5 points on Swansea wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility. They're 9/4 for a top 8 finish, we're 4/1. If anyone wants to give me 4/1 I'll have a tenner bet for fun that we finish above Swansea.