alexf

Maybe they're all going to protest?

Yeah mockery of that rule. It used to be, as far as I'm aware, to be used when you have 2 keepers injured at the same time or no defenders fit or something. That article has been floating round for a while now, but I haven't really heard any comment on it in the press or Tv. Seems quite a serious accusation?

We probably have more chance of Pardew leaving to become England manager than we do of him being sacked Sad times.

How could Pardew sell him if he doesn't play ? Who'll buy him (and at what price) if he's not playing until the end of the season ? Good to see the return of the thread title. You know what I mean. One way or another he'll leave (loan/end of contract/sold) and we'll be left with Pardew

That is scarily how I imagine Pardew is sometimes. For example when he said we'd be getting a replacement for Cabaye. He probably thought we were, then discovers we're not and has to go into the press conference and say things like "I didn't necessarily mean this window"

Title change So is he not a c*** anymore?

Seems like Pardew finally, FINALLY realised this guy is done. The last few games he's opted to play a clearly still unfit De Jong from the start and Cisse who was in the cold as we apparently tried to flog him to anyone. He hasn't brought him on as sub like he normally does in the last few games either. Now that I've said that, he will probably be back starting in a 442 next to Remy vs Villa, leading to a new 3 year contract.

I really hope this story that came out isn't true. The rest of the season is going to absolutely suck but it's going to be infinitely worse if Ben Arfa doesn't play again and is then sold off and replaced by a workman-like winger. If he's even replaced at all. I think I always knew there was a slight possibility this could happen with Pardew but hoped it never would.

Did seem a strange article to put out there without some kind of high up, tip off. Shame even though deep down I knew it wasn't true, I still had a small part that believed "what if?" Now there is nothing but misery

The cunt will use this now as his new excuse. Media putting "impossible and unfair pressure" on him because we are "9th and beat Man United, Spurs and Chelsea don't you know!"

I guess now we know why there has been no media pressure on Pardew. They're all worried they will get banned

I'm back to believing that he's going nowhere, win, lose or draw as well I imagine we will possible grind out a win anyway if Colo and Tiote are all back along with Remy's return.

I imagine he layed into them and they both, rightly, gave it back in defending themselves. Which has now lead to a Bellamy-Souness type deal, where to the detriment of the team, Pardew's ego won't allow him to back down and admit he's in the wrong.

He's a total twat. I've never seen him criticise the likes of Shola etc and even on Ben Arfa and Marveaux's worst games, they never look anywhere near as bad as Shola on a average/good day. He seems to have deflected the blame entirely on to two players who were brought on in a game we were already well beaten in. He put them on to try and save his bacon despite the fact he had deemed them not good enough to start the game. Yet they are expected to turn it all around late in the game. They weren't even that bad. We visibly improved after they both came on and it was only after the third went in that every player, and it was pretty much every player, seemed to give up. These are two players who are probably the most likely to want the manager out, so they get some playing time. So for him to expect them to give blood and guts for him after coming on in a game we're losing two-nil is idiotic.

Thought Marveaux looked ok when he came on. Asked for the ball all the time and looked far more comfortable and technical than anyone that had been on for the rest of the game. He probably didn't track back enough for the 4th goal like Hatem so is getting all the flack. What Pardew forgets is that we were already well beaten long before he brought both of them on. Not to mention the nerve of the guy to slag them off for not coming on and saving his ass after he had left both on the bench. Ben Arfa in particular has come on and had some excellent cameos this season and yet every single time he is back on the bench for the next game. How much motivation and desire can you expect from a player in that scenario? I expect both players to probably not even be in the squad for the Villa game.

Save to assume Ben Arfa won't be in the squad for Villa then if all this is true?

I see it more of a last chance to turn it round. Pardew kept talking about this game and how we would be close to full strength again. So if he still can't win, even with Remy, Colo, Tiote all back then he gets the bullet. I dunno I tend to believe he's not going anywhere and all this is too good to be true but I just hope there's a chance it might be. Even without the newpaper reports, if he lost to Villa anyway there would enormous pressure on him.

Almost wish Remy wasn't back for this as he could win it on his own. No chance we'd win without him.

There will never be a better time for a new manager to take over and try out some ideas, safe in the knowledge unless we lose every single remaining game we're not going down.

It's reached a point where almost anybody would be better. We just need a change.

It's terrible to think that a lot of us would actually welcome defeat if it meant he was going. Shows how bad it's gotten. For our long term sake I hope it's true.

It's very Souness all this. I was desperate for Souness to be sacked before Bellamy got sold. Now I'm desperate for Pardew to get sacked before we sell Ben Arfa. Unfortunately like Souness it will probably be too late

Llambias is coming back sooner than later isn't he.