dustynrg

Perhaps we could stimulate retail income by freshening up the club strip. Some primary colours perhaps? I predict our next away strip will be red and blue stripes.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2049920/Alan-Pardew-continues-inspire-Newcastle--Martin-Samuel.html#ixzz1b2MjbccD Martin Samuel in Daily Mail today being positive for a change The noisy 50,000 urge Pardew to go fourth and believe as Newcastle continue to surprise By Martin Samuel Last updated at 11:38 PM on 16th October 2011 Several clubs ago, when he was last a Premier League manager, Alan Pardew had a colour chart with the names of the 19 other clubs on the changing room wall. He divided them into three categories. There were the ones that had to be beaten, home and away, to ensure survival. He set a minimum target of four points from six for those in the middle. Then there was the elite: any point from those matches would be considered a job well done. Perhaps he has moved on in the intervening six seasons. Maybe that old sheet of paper has been consigned to the bin. If it hasn’t, maybe it will have to be. The targets and expectations with which Pardew began the season may have to be reconfigured. Tottenham Hotspur have come and gone and Newcastle United remain intact, in fourth place. There was no come-uppance, no unfortunate day of reckoning. Tottenham took the lead, twice, and Newcastle returned fire. They could have won the game near the end. Few believe it can last, probably not even Pardew deep down, yet this is no time for self-doubt. If Newcastle were aiming for the top three, that would be different. They are as far removed from the might of Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea as Mike Ashley is from a lead role in Geordie Shore. Yet, fourth place is not like that. Not this season, anyway. Fourth place is for the wannabes, for the nearly men, for the not quites, for the over-achievers. Fourth place is up for grabs, with everyone from Liverpool to Stoke in the mix. Newcastle have arguably the weakest squad of any team in the top seven, but they have home gates of more than 50,000, a good manager and a team who know how to scrap for a point, as Sunday proved. Pardew has changed the mood and narrative of the club from one of rolling crisis to positive forward motion. That is no mean feat; and after eight unbeaten games it is more than a decent platform for improvement. It may prove the worst mistake Pardew could make. There is no greater millstone than the curse of high expectation, as he has discovered more than once in his career. The moment Newcastle’s board and supporters feel settled in fourth place, the pressure on the manager will be intense. Pardew does not have a group of players with Champions League pedigree; he is getting exceptional performances from unexceptional footballers and with limited funds. Investment is needed. Each weekend could bring the pop of a bubble bursting and a slide every bit as accelerated as Newcastle’s rise. Yet, until he hears that sound, Pardew has to run with what he has got. And that is an unbeaten team, with a superior goal difference to all bar the top three, and two points more than Liverpool who, never forget, took the man perceived to be Newcastle’s best player midway through last season. It is testament to Pardew’s wit as a coach that Andy Carroll has not been missed and that he has somehow fashioned as many goals — 11 — from his motley collection of strikers as Liverpool have from a front-line that includes Carroll, Luis Suarez and Dirk Kuyt. Newcastle have been tighter defensively than Liverpool, too, although few would back them to replicate Saturday’s result at Anfield when they finally come up against Manchester United on November 26. The period between November 19 and December 3 is when Newcastle must hold their nerve. The fixtures fairy, which seems to have a particularly wicked sense of humour this year — ask Bolton Wanderers — sends Newcastle on back-to-back away trips to Manchester, first City then United, before bringing Chelsea to St James’ Park. It could bring Newcastle’s hopes and aspirations crashing to earth. Yet as long as the margins do not get away from them, shattering confidence, what is there to lose? As Pardew privately admitted with his wall charts at Upton Park, there are some games in which any point is a bonus. Fourth place, or a creditable finish with perhaps a return to Europe next season, will not depend on meetings with the Manchester clubs and Chelsea. Getting a point against Tottenham at home, a point against Aston Villa away, a win at Sunderland, a home victory over Fulham, these are the results that have made Newcastle an unlikely force this season. They would all have scored high on Pardew’s wish-list of returns; and the longer this goes on, the more the locals will believe, and 50,000 believers make a formidable noise. As momentum builds so trips to Tyneside will grow increasingly daunting. Certainly, there was fervour around the late exchanges in Sunday’s game, which made up for a pretty dismal first half. It was like one of those boxing matches in which both fighters realise in about the ninth round that they have to do something, or risk losing on points. Late on, they went toe to toe, first Tottenham on top and looking good for a third goal, then Newcastle rallying. Neither team looked capable of laying a glove on this season’s elite three, but that is fourth place for you. Any club in the top 10 might fancy their chances of finding clear water and a fair wind. ‘I think English football is crying out for a different club to win one of the blue riband events, or break the monopoly of the big four,’ said Pardew. ‘I think people are willing us to do it. They know the game cannot go on like this.’ That was five years ago and he was talking about West Ham and their new Icelandic owners. Not all stories have happy endings. We are not on the last page of the one about Newcastle, though; so for the time being, keep an open mind. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2049920/Alan-Pardew-continues-inspire-Newcastle--Martin-Samuel.html#ixzz1b2MjbccD

I'd imagine so yes. Why would it have to be removed? More publicity for SD surely.

How long before we change from black & white to blue & red stripes?

This just confirms my view that he's in with all the tricks, lies and bull. It also fits in with Golfmag's assertion about keeping down the wage bill. Lots of lovely jubbly bonus money which can be used to pay off a few debts. Allegedly.

So you're saying football fans shouldn't drink before they go to a match then? That would be novel.

from what i've read the police made the situation a hell of a lot worse, i'm not just talking about not stopping people coming in, but about refusing ambulances to enter the ground and doing nothing to help while people were being killed. Not only did nothing, but stood en masse at the halfway line because they thought it was a pitch invasion. Some police even pushed people back in to stop a pitch invasion. They realised too late that it wasn't but by then it was too late.

No chance he'll walk. He sold his soul ages ago. The cynic in me says he and Llambias probably had a meeting to thrash out the PR. "How we gonna get around the fans then Dekka when we buy no-one?" "ooh Al just pretend you're REALLY mad with me and Mike, - they'll fall for that - Christ, they might even feel sorry for ya!!!".

That photo is so kierandyeresque.

The way he writes that article it's as if Nolan turned into Messi overnight. And the big club argument, yawn yawn. Who cares, we support Newcastle and would support Newcastle whatever. Just wait until they're playing Big Sam football and Nolan's huffin and puffin up and down the pitch. I'm looking forward to it.

Tweets from Piers Morgan to Michael Owen @themichaelowen Did your horse actually run? Or did it get a winner's medal just by turning up in the paddock like its owner? 43 minutes ago And by the way @themichaelowen - which was the supposedly 'poor team'? Newcastle, Liverpool or Real Madrid? 45 minutes ago @themichaelowen Oops. Hit that late night raw nerve again, Benchwarmer? Calm down, you've got that angelic halo to protect.... 50 minutes ago

Thank feck for that, no longer will we have to listen to how "Scholesy" can't tackle, chuckle chuckle, how fab he is, how even his gingerness is a thing of wonder.

Working toward a sale and "sell if someone came in with the right price " is a bit different though. If he is planning to sell (which a businessman like him would do, not just hang around hoping a buyer turns up) he won't trash the club - why trash something you want to sell - but he won't be arsed about selling our favourite players like Tiote, Enrique etc as long as we have competent enough, young, cheap players to replace them. It all depends on the time frame he's given Pardew but if decent bids come in for any of our players in the summer don't think for a minute they won't be sold. The quicker the money can be raised the quicker he can be off. Let's face it, he can't be enjoying it anymore, it'll be time for a new toy for him once he sells us.

Isn't this what Golfmag said when Pardew was appointed? That Pardew was given the job because he owes Llambias casino debts with a remit to maximise sales, keep wages down and get the club in a better financial state so Ashley can sell it? Seeing that Golfmag has been proved right on a few occasions it makes sense to me.

"A left winger, wonder if that means Jonas is going on the right?"

http://www.skysports.com/opinion/story/0,25212,15205_6883191,00.html From Sky Sports Red Devils can bounce back from FA Cup disappointment Paul Merson Posted 18th April 2011 If Manchester United win this game I think they are nailed on to win the Premier League. Though after Arsenal's meltdown against Liverpool, they've probably got one hand on the trophy already. Victory at St James' Park would put them nine points ahead of Arsenal before the Gunners play Tottenham on Wednesday - and I just don't see Arsene Wenger's side winning at White Hart Lane. United could wrap up the league pretty quickly and win it by a big margin. I know they lost that big semi-final against Manchester City on Saturday, but I don't think there will be any kind of negative reaction against Newcastle. They are so professional and are packed with players who know how to respond. I think they'll be very, very good on Tuesday night. Of course, they've also got the massive luxury of having Wayne Rooney back after his two-game ban for swearing and if I was a Newcastle defender I'd be very worried. I know they lost that big semi-final against Manchester City on Saturday, but I don't think there will be any kind of negative reaction against Newcastle. They are so professional and are packed with players who know how to respond. I think they'll be very, very good on Tuesday night. It will be very difficult for Newcastle to get a result because I don't think they can follow Man City's defensive game plan. At Wembley, City sat 10 men behind the ball and challenged United to break them down. It's alright doing that at a neutral ground, but it's hard for Newcastle to do that at home. They'll have 50,000 Geordies wanting them to attack, and if you start attacking Man United they can rip you apart. If they are to get something, then Cheik Tiote will have to have a blinder. Like Rooney, he's back from a ban and should play in midfield. He has been outstanding for Newcastle this season; he's definitely been their best player. He signed a new long-term deal in February but I still think Alan Pardew will struggle to hold onto him in the summer. There aren't many top-drawer holding midfield players out there and the fact he has a lengthy contract won't make a jot of difference if a bigger club comes in. Going forward, Newcastle could be boosted by the inclusion of Stephen Ireland. He hasn't yet made his debut since joining on loan from Aston Villa because of injury but could be a real asset if he plays on Tuesday night. When he broke through at Man City, I thought he quickly became their best player. He was an outstanding talent and I really thought he would end up at Arsenal in the long term. He has lost his way since and didn't make any impact at Villa after signing as part of the James Milner deal, but Newcastle could be the platform he needs to fulfil his promise. If Newcastle finish in mid-table or higher they would have had a blinding season; staying up would have been their main target. They've also made a lorry load of money on Andy Carroll. It's just a shame that Pardew probably won't get to spend it much of it in the summer. If he gets more than £10million, I'd be shocked.

Let's apply the Joey Barton rule here, if JB had angrily stared into the camera and screamed "Fuck off what? Fuck off?" not only would he have he been banned for about 24 games he would have been hung drawn and quartered by all the Man U glory hunting wanker fans who are now complaining on Twitter etc

Actually it doesn't say anything different to the multiple threads on here discussing Barton, Jonas & Jose leaving in the summer.

1 hour ago jonas gutierrez Buenos dias recien llegados a roma, fin de semana en roma. Good morning we arrived to rome. Weekend in rome. Mmm

Good, you can boo at Owen, this kind of game will be his level now.

Or this gem. Alan Brazil: "I was sad to hear yesterday about the death of Inspector Morse, TV's John Shaw." Mike Parry: "John Thaw, Alan." Alan Brazil: "Do you know, I've been doing that all morning. John, if you're listening, sorry mate."

When we get to "safety" and he doesn't sign then it's him away. Or of course he could do a Carroll, sign a contract and be away anyway. Can't see him staying if he thinks there's more ambition (and of course more money) at Liverpool, or Man U or Spurs even.

I was going to but my radio has a quality control feature on it If the tuning ever goes near Talksport it self distructs This adds to the danger of driving in the morning with the alcohol fumes and idiot vibes coming through the radio from Brazil & Irani.

A clue to his superman performance on Sat? http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Liverpool-plotting-a-second-raid-on-Newcastle-for-Jose-Enrique-article697139.html Liverpool are plotting a second major transfer swoop on Newcastle United - for super Spanish left back Jose Enrique. Kop talent-spotter Damien Comolli watched the highly-rated defender in action at the weekend as he looks for a solution to Kenny Dalglish’s problem position. Enrique was in outstanding form against Blackburn Rovers, adding to his reputation as one of the best players in his role in the Premier League - and the Anfield club may trouble the Toon again in the summer. Dalglish shattered Liverpool’s signing record by landing striker Andy Carroll from Newcastle and the Geordies would look for a hefty fee for Enrique too. However Liverpool need a recognised player in that position as Paul Konchesky is exiled at Nottingham Forest on loan and Glen Johnson is filling in for the rest of the campaign - but clearly not suited as a long-term answer. Enrique, 25, was a big-money capture by Sam Allardyce during his time at Newcastle and has also been linked with Manchester United as a possible replacement for Patrice Evra if he leaves. However Liverpool are now heading the queue and could make an offer in the summer - with cash to spend on improvements in that area.

I read somewhere they're not taking any calls from the public. Probably scared of someone telling them the sad truth about the 70s sexist, racist throwbacks.