Hughesy

Not really sure why there is now a Ben Arfa backlash - we've seen more than enough evidence over the last few years that he is a quality player and, if given a decent run in the team, will produce goals and assists and create chances.

I actually thought someone had edited that as a joke. The SAS stuff doesn't even make any sense.

http://www.teamtalk.com/news/2483/9185522/The-Secret-Footballer-Dodgy-deals-rife Thought this was worth posting as there is a section on Ashley and Pardew by the Secret Footballer. "Back at home, Newcastle United are really struggling - despite the 1-0 home win over Aston Villa on Sunday. The loss of Yohan Cabaye was a big blow - but the £19million price was reasonable - and there are rumours that 10 more players could leave the club in the summer, many of them first-teamers. That will understandably have many Newcastle fans worried given the lack of investment by Mike Ashley in recent times. Sports Direct International, Ashley's discount sporting goods outlet, made a profit of £280.7million in the last quarter alone, and there are very few chairmen in the Premier League bringing in that kind of cash right now. But the big question is whether or not Ashley still feels like using some of it to bankroll the club? After all, he has invested heavily in Newcastle over the years and has received an awful lot of abuse in the process. A few years ago, when he was really taking a lot of flak for Newcastle's performances and general state of affairs, I happened to bump into Derek Llambias, who at that time was Newcastle's managing director, in a bar in Soho. I have to say that he was a really decent fella, and one thing that he said to me has stuck in my head: "Mike has invested over £200 million of his own money in Newcastle. I keep telling him that he's very unlikely to get it back but he's a fan. So what can you do?" He probably won't get the money back, but you have to be lucky in business, especially the business of football. For example, when Andy Carroll was a 19-year-old, Derby County bid £1million for him. Ashley wanted to sell but Dennis Wise, who was then tasked with reducing the wage bill at St James' Park, said "no". Wise was adamant that Carroll 'had something about him' and that for £1million the club should keep the player and let him develop on Tyneside. When Liverpool bought Carroll to replace Chelsea-bound Fernando Torres, Ashley sent a text to Wise. It read: "35 big ones. Cheers, Den." As for the manager, Alan Pardew, he seems to take the praise with ease when Newcastle win and finds a lot of excuses that point blame as far away from himself as possible during the tougher times. Chris Hughton's sacking at Newcastle came as a surprise to many but I was told that Pardew had been working on Ashley for months by hanging around the Ritz casino and gambling with him until they'd formed some sort of friendship. Suddenly, he's the Newcastle manager. He is an interesting character but not my favourite person."

Which is a bit weird really because last season when we were hovering just above the drop zone all season, we were often told that the only league position that mattered was the 5th from the season before. I don't think anyone said that.

I wish someone would get Cisse on a weights programme. He is incredibly weak.

Dummett is so average.

Not that I'd want Bruce, but considering he's never led a big team his record is far better than Pardew's. Was interested to see how they compared so checked wiki - Bruce has a career win percentage of 37.39 from 666 games to Pardew's 42.73 from 674. That's why I included the bit about Bruce never having led a big team. Pardew's win percentage is boosted by his wins with us and leading high profile lower league teams. I am sorry - I want Pardew out as much as the next man, but what does this even mean? A manager's win ratio is boosted by winning games. Who would have thought it? Should we not count Pardew's wins with us?

I think Cristiano is probably the closest to Ronaldo there has been to be honest.

Might be a small point, but I don't think Monaco are richer than PSG.

Work rate doesn't matter at all for an attacking midfielder unless you are Jose Mourinho Alarmingly incorrect. And I'm not sure what's so funny SanToon, if an average player is going to pull on a Newcastle shirt the least we can hope for is a bit of effort. This lad has blatantly got attitude problems. Lost cause. Look at the best number tens in the world and tell me how often they track back I assume the best number tens in the world can be cut a little bit more slack than Sylvain Marveaux.

Can't agree with you there. Samuel is a good journalist - he does write some rubbish (show me a journalist who doesn't) and can seek to be controversial for the sake of it, but some of his writing is very good. Especially on Financial Fair Play for example.

Not read the full quotes, but people are having a go at Mourinho after Wenger first said to the media that Mourinho was afraid of failure? Not sure I see the problem with Mourinho 'insulting' him back.

I wouldn't say Ameobi deserves to be dropped on his last 3 performances to be fair.

That was strangely amusing.

Pressure Pressure is a soldier going off to Afghanistan, it was going down a pit for a 12 hour shift to put bread on the table. It's not pressure playing in front of 50,000 people who want you to win a game of football. If it is then they should find another way of earning a living. What a load of crap.

Well pardew manages it the other way round, so I guess its possible. - would disagree about access to the best coaches, but the rest is about right..

I had been discussing this with my dad and brother at the Chelsea game, but do you think it is possible to take a reasonably competent amateur footballer and allow them access to the best coaches, nutritionists, sports scientists etc etc, and make them into a professional at some level?

Don't get me wrong, I am a massive Ben Arfa fan and would start him every week regardless. I also think our coaching is awful. But - hasn't the inability to unlock his undoubted talent been a major stumbling block wherever HBA has been? The fact he hasn't reached his potential is the reason he is playing for us.

Can we say that for all our players then? No movement around each other therefore all our players are all s*** like hba. Well yes that would generally apply to all attacking players, lack of movement affect their performance. The difference is most of our attacking players just pass it backwards or sideways which is why we have little attacking threat. HBA tries to do something, sees no movement, goes on a dribble of 2-3 players, and gets blame when it doesn't work out. There was a lot of that at the match yesterday. I can't quite get my head round it - there's never any movement around him and no-one offers for the ball. What's he meant to do?

He's f***ing loads better than Amdy Faye, though. Honestly, where do you lot come from? Yep - bizarre statement.

Frustrating because he has all the physical attributes you might want in a box to box midfielder, but technically very inconsistent.

Needs to start shooting but holds the ball up really well. Had the beating of Cahill and Luiz in the air for the most of the match.

Best player for us today. That run...

We were decent in the first half. Awful in the second. Jealous of meeting Jose...

The Pardew quote anger has almost become a parody of itself now.