Wallace

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/may/02/alan-pardew-rift-newcastle-french-english "Nonetheless Pardew revealed that Hatem Ben Arfa – still struggling with a suspect hamstring – was "very angry" about a "completely fabricated, intelligence insulting" report that he was in talks with Tottenham."

Wasn't it proved that he never said any such thing and whatever they were referring to was taken completely out of context. I seem to recall that the original interview it was thought that they were referring to said something along the lines that Newcastle and Everton (both teams) were in a different league financially to the top 4. The Liverpool media have used it against us ever since. When those quotes first arose when we played Everton at the beginning of the season, our journalists tried to find the interviews that the Liverpool press were referring to (from the previous season) and could find nothing that confirmed Everton's interpretation.

They haven't even grown the club financially. They've cost cut and made savings but they haven't really taken the club forward at all other than the Sky money increasing, which is a collective agreement and not something we have done for ourselves. True - the fall in the commercial revenue is a damning example of that.

I thought it was interesting to see the achievements (or lack of) summed up like that because so many people (and not especially fans) seem to think Ashley is doing a really good job and apart from the finance side (which is a bit of a red herring because the debt is much higher albeit owed to him instead of the banks), on the playing side, we appear to be worse than we were before.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/newcastles-mike-ashley-era-can-hardly-be-deemed-a-success-8599983.html Comparison of 5 years under Ashley compared to the previous 6 years!!! "At some point, there is a need to address the achievements of the team. In pure footballing terms, in Ashley's near six years in charge, Newcastle have finished in the top 10 of the Premier League only once, last year's fifth-place finish. Their average Premier League finish (including their current position of 17th) is 13th, they have been relegated once and are in the middle of another fight to stay out of the Championship. They have not gone beyond the fourth round of either domestic cup competition in that period and in those six years there has been one European campaign, in this season's Europa League, in which they reached the quarter-finals. There have been six different managers during these six years, including Allardyce. For the previous six years prior to Ashley's arrival, Newcastle finished in the top 10 of the Premier League on four occasions, their average finish was eighth and they were never relegated. They reached two FA Cup quarter-finals, one FA Cup semi-final, two League Cup quarter-finals, one Uefa Cup semi-final and one Uefa Cup quarter-final. They qualified for the Champions League twice and reached the second group stage in the competition's old format. They used four managers during that period. It is some contrast."

On Sky's Sunday Supplement this morning, one of the journalists said that he had been asked to come back to QPR to lead them in the Championship next season. So he may have the choice of the Championship v Champions League!! Apparently Marseilles are keen to loan him again next season as they cannot afford to buy him or pay his wages in full.

Don't want to hear any hollow apologies from the players. There is nothing they can say and we've heard it all before anyway. Rather they responded on the pitch in the next few games.

Are there any of our players that could be judged to be POTY? A few have had a few decent games in a row over a month or so. Ben Arfa was in good form before he got injured in the first part of the season and Santon did quite well up until Christmas. Debuchy and Haidara have done OK when played but haven't played that many games. Taylor's mostly done OK but has spent more time injured. There just doesn't seem to have been any player who has been consistently good over the whole season. Similarly with the young players. I suppose Bigi started off quite well but has also had a fair few indifferent games. Maybe I am overlooking someone but I just can't think of one player who could justifiably be called POTY or Young POTY. This is in contrast to the previous few seasons where there has been several to choose from.

No doubt this will send the Scousers into full victim mode.

Good one, mainly the first part I guess. The local journos all say this is a temporary measure to get us through this season so I guess that is what Pardew has told them.

It will be down to the Liverpool owners whether he is sold or not. Apparently, they are very aware of their image and were very unhappy with how the club dealt with the Suarez affair last season. They will surely have learnt their lesson from the Carroll situation and not devalue the player by saying they want rid but they may well be tempted if a big offer comes in for him in the Summer.

Why say that - it just leads to speculation. Now I want to know why they were frustrated and why it needs to be kept in-house. It makes it sound like there has been some disharmony and that not everything is as great as they like to make out behind the scenes.

I'm sick of PDC already as he doesn't seem to have stopped talking since he arrived in the NE. However, I wish our manager had said the following: Di Canio is yet to respond to Pardew’s mocking comments, but he is making his presence felt in the North East. The Italian has banned all days off midweek at Sunderland and does not care if his pampered stars moan about it. “Don’t say that it puts you under pressure and you feel more heavy and can’t run on a Saturday,” said Di Canio. “It gives you more opportunity to improve tactically, technically and physically. The psychologists and the sports science people say, ‘we need Wednesday off because too much pressure.’ Pressure? What pressure? "Why not work harder to have more days smiling? Because if you work more it doesn’t mean more physically, it can be a simple tactical or technical session to improve things on the field.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/10006568/Newcastle-manager-Alan-Pardew-hits-back-at-his-critics.html

I would have thought that the clubs that Simpson has been linked with such as Wigan and West Brom are likely to offer less wages than he was offered here and turned down.

I wonder how Carroll has settled in London. Is he happy there or still hankering after a move back home? There doesn't seem to be so many reported sightings of him in town these days compared to when he was at Liverpool.

Looks like the transfer news does indeed relate to Carroll. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-transfers-newcastle-interested-andy-1835947

George Caulkin ‏@CaulkinTheTimes 8m Free until 2pm, blog on where #Nufc stand after derby loss to #Safc http://bit.ly/17DwtjA

Ryder saying that Elliott is struggling with an ankle injury. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-could-face-keeper-2596558

Don't think he'd come here anyway. He would also want a big salary, a big transfer budget and complete control - none of which he would get here. He also has a history of falling out with those above him and lets the media know when there are internal issues preventing him from doing his job so definitely not one to toe the party line.

Someone said he signalled to come off which if he did would mean he is carrying an injury. He went straight down the tunnel with one of the backroom staff - if that means anything.

They've got that pre-season optimism back where they think they are superior to most teams in the league.

He was in very good humour in that warm up. Jumped on Woodman's back as they were walking towards the tunnel.

Steven Taylor on Total Sport last night - "Make as much noise as possible and if the person next to you tells you to be quiet, make more noise"

Anyone remember the title of that song they did about Steven Taylor when we were relegated?

Never in the world is he worth more than £10m West Ham have been saying they are unlikely to buy him permanently but I wouldn't be surprised if they are talking dowm their interest in order to lower the fee. I wouldn't even go that high tbh but West Ham apparently agreed the £18m fee at the end of the loan. Bargepole time, no thanks. That was before he went there and ruined the Andy Carroll myth though