Varadi

One small positive is that we can be reasonably sure another season like this one won't be tolerated. It seems the 5th place finish/Manager of the Year bought him enough credit to cover for this disastrous season, but that's surely been used up now so if it happens again he's off. Let's hope he reacts to the extra pressure a little better than we've seen recently.

Well the mackems certainly dealt with a problem but all the signs are they created an even bigger one in it's place! And we won't really know the wisdom of Stoke's move until after we see how the replacement does - suspect there might be a "Charlton post-Curbishley" scenario goes down there.

Guess we're left with hoping that he learns from this season's mistakes, and gets in some top quality, experienced coaching assistance to help him out. If he's somehow persuaded them that nothing much is wrong and it's only injuries and Europe to blame we're headed for another season of pain.

Chronicle reporting that he's staying: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-stick-alan-pardew-4004833?

We can but hope that the first part of that proves incorrect.

Interesting read: Rafa Casting Shadow Over Pardew? http://www.football365.com/f365-says/8728047/F365-Says

Much as I would love to laugh at their potential predicament I remain uncomfortably aware that they spanked us 3-0 on our own patch with half their team missing and this clown in charge.

Current favourites for next toon manager are: Clark - 2/1 Benitez - 3/1 Poyet - 4/1 McLaren - 4/1 http://www.oddschecker.com/football/football-specials/newcastle/next-permanent-manager Hmm - Clarkie or Rafa, which one to go for??

Not sure there'll be any official confirmation. Just the absence of a sacking. I reckon we'll see some statement from the club even if he's staying - kind of a reiteration of their support / determination to put things right type of thing.

The Mail article reckons we would only have to pay 11.25m thanks to a 25% sell-on clause: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2328889/Andy-Carroll-injury-keeps-months.html

Fat Sam

MON for Stoke? Would be a perfect fit!

That's a terrifying statistic

You've been drinking, haven't you? Yeah massively, I've been at a wedding. Not really very drunk though. It's all friend of a friend stuff but the 2 sources are an NUFC scout and now a reporter for a reputable paper. He's away man, the daft cunt. Why would a scout know if he is being sacked before Pardew knows? Why would a reporter who works for a reputable paper not just release the information as an exclusive?, again I would ask why he knows before Pardew does? I believe his theory was that Pardew does know, and that his utterings this week have been an attempt to portray himself as an innocent victim of circumstance, possibly help his chances of getting another job. It's pretty far fetched, but people are clinging to all sorts of straws right now!

Difference between 10th and 17th is over 5 miilion quid: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2326007/Premier-League-prize-money-table-final-game-2013-season.html

Not sure, but it's probably something to do with Pardew

I'm not sure if I agree with that, this is exactly the type of self promotion he'd go with if he was getting sacked. Makes it easier for him to blame his sacking on an eccentric owner and con some other daft club into hiring him. I know Dave, my imagination is vivid. I don't want it to, but that actually makes some kind of sense. At least we'll know one way or the other in the next few days.

I think it's a nice touch - hope it works a bit better than when he tried similar against West Brom a couple of years back.

3 years ago maybe - think he's probably slowed down too much to even be much use there now. I've always had plenty time for Shola but now is probably about time to move him on, if we can find any takers. We'll still have Sammy!

Do we know if Tiote is fit for this? Haven't heard anything since he limped off last week.

Went to bed with 5 minutes to go in this match last night, had an early start so couldn't face extra time. Gutted to see the result this morning - fucking Chelsea man, winning a tournament they didn't want to be in with a manager they hate, a racist captain lifting the trophy and a team bought with money they didn't earn. Basically everything that's wrong with the game today. Cunts.

So after all the stress looks like we were actually safe after the Fulham game, way back on the 7th April (assuming Wigan don't beat Villa) Bye Wigan.

This should give Wigan hope: http://justarsenal.com/arsenals-biggest-danger-tonight-mike-dean/22953 Arsenal have won only 1 of the last 17 Prem games refereed by Mike Dean....

I'm a stats geek so find this kind of thing really interesting - thanks for posting The shot conversion thing is especially revealing, adds extra credence to theory that last season's success was largely based on the purple patches of Ba and Cisse. Genuinely surprised how even most of the rest of the figures are.