littlelunchbox

Not trying to change anybody's mind, just Kluivert's a very poor example of what you're trying to convey about the FS era. Kluivert was a very good footballer and getting him was an astute piece of business given his pedigree and what we needed at the time - a replacement for Shearer. He could and should have been a success here. i know what you're trying to say Ron, he may not be the best example, but i class him as one of many trophy signings under fat fred. one to please the fans to cover his own ass. Trophy signings that clearly joined because we were offering the highest wage packet at the time.

the thing is nowhe's got nowhere near the financial clout to compete. Ashley does however, but long term he is doing the right thing. It's just not as immediately exciting as those days i remember transfer rumours back in them days were always very exciting to be fair. nowadays, its like ok he plays in france.

ah the good old days of PK you changed my mind ronnie. i do want fat fred back.

so was michael owen

I'd have it back now. Really? They were some good times to be fair, spunked a lot of money on fatties like kluivert and such but wasn't all bad. Aye. That free transfer Kluivert is the best example by far. i know all players come to play for free. dont have to pay their wages.

it was crazy, i know lots would say its not our money. But it was not sustainable. It was a matter of time before it hit the fan.

I'd have it back now. Really? They were some good times to be fair, spunked a lot of money on fatties like kluivert and such but wasn't all bad.

I still dread the days of under fat Fred though. Sure we had some success. But it was still madness.

Love that pic of the hooligan.

What are they doing with this guy, not good enough for the bench, yet not willing to loan him out. Or is he that shit that no one wants him?

ok own up, who wrote this for espn? clearly a member of this forum. In my opinion the problems began in the Boardroom when they failed to strengthen on a squad that everyone knew was weak. The club's 'purples' signing policy left Alan Pardew short on quality. The signing of Vurnon Anita was also a strange one -- quality footballers are always welcome additions, but anyone could see that other positions needed to be strengthened before another midfielder came in. It is widely assumed that Pardew has little say in who comes in with Chief Scout Graham Carr identifying signings. Anita may well have been a signing that Pardew did not want when you consider how little he has used him throughout the season. The board finally strengthened the squad in the January transfer window but by that point the league season was a battle for survival rather than something to build on after last year. Pardew's 'Manager of the Year' titles seem to have changed how the manager thinks and operates. Time and time again this season Pardew has tried to make himself look clever -- the season has been littered with bizarre team line-ups, mental tactical reshuffles at strange times in matches and players playing out of position. The most criminal of these is Pardew's use of Moussa Sissoko. Sissoko arrived in January and made an instant impact with a superb through ball for a Papiss Cisse goal at Aston Villa followed by an all-time great individual performance at St James' Park in the 3-2 win over Chelsea. Since then Pardew has opted to use the dominant French International midfielder as a Number 10 (someone to aim long balls at in Pardew's setup) or as a wide man. Unbelievable. Even French manager Didier Deschamps felt the need to scorn this. It's not just Moussa though -- Cisse played the opening months of the season as a wide man, Jonas Gutierrez has played all the way across midfield as well as at fullback, Cheick Tiote has played some games in a more advanced position than Yohan Cabaye which is totally baffling. Even if Pardew sees Cabaye as a 'Quarterback' with the ability to spray passes around, his tactics often totally miss out the midfield making this role redundant. There also look to be some other coaching deficiencies. We all now know that Newcastle haven't score a goal from a corner in 18 months and over 200 games. We all know that the next time Newcastle get a free kick anywhere between 35 and 70 yards from goal they will aim to Mike Williamson or Steven Taylor at the back post to no avail. Why? Do they not practice these things? Why so predictable and so unsuccessful? It's not good enough. Newcastle supporters have spent most of the season watching ugly football. Their 'long ball' count has consistently exceeded all other Premier League teams. Players like Cabaye, Sissoko and Hatem Ben Arfa cannot enjoy playing in such an ugly, underperforming side. Then again, the players have to take their share of responsibility too. Perhaps some Newcastle supporters overrate their players? The majority of Newcastle supporters rated Tiote as a £20million footballer only 18 months ago -- don't deny it! I was one. Did we overrate Tiote or is this another sign of coaching deficiency? How can a player who was so dominating and vital become such a liability? I can't speak for supporters of other clubs but at Newcastle there is a culture of footballers being regarded as either 'world class' or 'absolutely shocking' when in reality the majority of them are neither. Pardew has bemoaned bad luck or, to quote a Pardewism, "we just didn't have the rub of the green" a few times this season. Newcastle have also enjoyed a fair amount of good luck -- look at Demba Ba's unspotted handball goal at Reading or the late, deflected winner against West Brom. Tiredness has also been a regular excuse for the manager. While I am sure it has played it's part off the back of a Europa League campaign, Newcastle only played in two domestic cup games. Compare that to Chelsea -- Cabaye and Sissoko were said to be tired in the 3-0 capitulation to Sunderland but Chelsea's Juan Mata and Eden Hazard have played 114 games between them this season -- a lot more than our French duo, and they still look in great shape. Chelsea obviously have a superior player conditioning programme. Injuries have severely plagued Newcastle all season and far too many of them have been muscular. The spirit of the players is a strange one. How can you explain so many late, late winners while also considering the absolutely pitiful displays at Southampton, Manchester City, the second half at West Brom on Saturday or the capitulation to one of the poorest Sunderland sides in years? Some of this is down to a lack of leadership on the pitch. The appointment of Fabricio Coloccini as Captain was a strange one -- Everton demonstrated how players can influence the officials when they won at St James' Park in January with Leighton Baines and company constantly in the referee's ear – Coloccini, on the other hand, is far from fluent in English. This has to have an effect. Quite what Pardew has said in the dressing room at times is also a concern -- his 15 minutes with the players at halftime can completely ruin performances. This has been a long, unpleasant season. Newcastle will survive but a lot of things have to be addressed in the summer on and off the pitch.

cool story bro lol this is the same team we are talking about, Newcastle? how the f*** is he going to receive the ball and give it to the right player when there's no one ever available to receive it? if anything he would just be like Cabaye completely wasted. Sat deep spraying long balls all day long. for anyone who think someone like Pardew would play guthrie ahead of tiote, jonas , perch, sissoko in midfield this season would be badly misguided.

Bayern has been the better side regardless of the shit ref.

Ref has been amazing tonight

Offside

Bayern goal! Get in.

Barca are looking like the toon at the moment, can't get out of their half.

Fair play to bayern they didnt crowd the ref, that was handball all day long. Clear penalty.

They flooded the pitch lol

enough of that pardew t*** . good match on lads.

not at all

no you bring this guy in if you are partial to the odd relegation dogfight

what ive notice is that he's been consistent with his drilling of inferiority complex into the players and the fan base. his method to control expectation i guess, and mostly to cover his own arse and ineptitude when the inevitable s*** hitting the fan happens. That was cool when it was our first season back from the Championship. Now this mantra is getting old and unacceptable.

not anymore according to Pardew. Pardew said a few days ago we are only 2 signings away from a top ten side.

not if its been put in by Pardew. think the word cowboy springs to mind. square panes in round holes? who the fuck knows, but im telling you when he gets the phone call from the disgruntled customer, you know Pardew excuse would be he was tired and had to put in two windows in a week.