Dave Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2011/08/11/carroll-departure-pardew-s-biggest-test-61634-29215839/ Carroll departure Pardew’s biggest test by Steve Brown, The Journal Aug 11 2011 While various issues such as Twitter rants and injuries have been vexing, the loss of Andy Carroll still ranks as the toughest test of Alan Pardew’s career, writes Steve Brown BETWEEN Twitter and transfers, insults and injury, Alan Pardew admits to having encountered “some disruption” this summer. But the biggest test of his managerial career? No, that came and went with Andy Carroll. So while he confesses Newcastle United remain “vulnerable” as they prepare to kick off the new Premier League season at home to Arsenal on Saturday, and predicts further “upset” in future transfer windows, the Magpies boss is content enough to take it all in his stride. Goodness, he’s even looking forward to it. Pre-season has been no more “abnormal” than any other, an “interesting” spell of the usual upheaval to be negotiated before things “settle down” for the action proper. And when it does? “I think we’ll do well,” Pardew says. Players and squad are, he believes, in good shape, with the half a dozen or so additions to personnel – many unseen but all well-scouted – set to make a positive contribution. And though he knows Newcastle must overcome the difficulty of “second-season syndrome”, achievement will be measured in any tangible improvement on last year. After all, following the controversial sale of Carroll, times can hardly come any trickier. Can they? “No,” he said, when asked if the summer had constituted his most challenging period in management. “Losing Andy Carroll mid-season, I think. I’d only just been at the club, and it was very, very damaging and difficult for me. “So this has been not too abnormal to any other pre-season as far as I’m concerned. “Pre-season’s always interesting, with the transfer market open and people manoeuvring. Now it’s all about to settle down. “Once we kick off, the serious business begins and all of the pre-season stuff has just been a preparation. That’s what it is. “We’re looking forward to it. We’ve got a huge game to start with. It’ll be a packed St James’ and I think we’ll do well. “Physically we’re in the right place. “By the time we get to Saturday hopefully we’ll be right mentally too. “We’ve had some disruption but Arsenal have had just as much, if not more, with squad players and Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas in particular. This is what happens, absolutely. “When you’re vulnerable to the big clubs, sovereign clubs run by sovereign states, then I’m afraid your players are going to be slightly unsettled. That’s where we are and until such time as being in the Champions League and having other revenue incomes from that, we’re going to be vulnerable to this upset. “And it’ll happen in the next window too. I wouldn’t be surprised, the next window opens and we’ll have an upsetting period again. “But I think we’re in a good position. We’ve now brought in five or six players who will add to the group and they’ll all contribute to the first team. Whenever you buy players from abroad, of course they’ve not been seen. When (Cristiano) Ronaldo came from abroad, and Nani, no one had heard of them. “We’re just hoping that the players that we bring in are a success, and sometimes you can cut out the chance of them not being a success by good scouting, which I think we’ve got in place. It’s about making sure you do your homework and I think we’ve done that.” Now, after the revision, comes the examination, and Pardew feels confident his pupils can pass their next test. “A good season would be to improve on last season, and that’s our immediate aim,” he said. “The second year’s always difficult and we’ve got a lot of new players. We’ll just have to see, and we’ll probably know more after 10 games what sort of season we’ll have. Mike (Ashley) has made it clear that he wants the club on a sound financial footing, with stability. I think we have that and now it’s about getting the best football team within that. “We have to understand that we can’t compete against Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea. We can’t until such time as we build ourselves, build our financial base, build ourselves as a team, start to get players coming through and threatening those top teams.” And speaking of “players coming through”... One bright spot amid this troubled summer has been the emergence of a number of the club’s younger players. So while fully aware of the importance Newcastle fans place on a connecting empathy with their heroes, and local prospects such as James Tavernier, Sammy Ameobi and Michael Richardson especially, the United boss has predicted a bright future on Tyneside for those mentioned, and others. “Sammy will feature in the first team and I think Haris will too,” he said. “I think Mehdi (Abeid), who we signed in the summer but really as a development player, has done very well. He could feature in the first team this year. James Tavernier as well. “So that bodes really well. From the off? I don’t know about that but it bodes really well for the future.” Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Shearer-tastic comments about Ronaldo and Nani there. What doesn't stack up is the stuff about building up with young players coming through. If they're any good, we will sell them. Back to square one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRC Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 He's a charmer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Shearer-tastic comments about Ronaldo and Nani there. What doesn't stack up is the stuff about building up with young players coming through. If they're any good, we will sell them. Back to square one. But the money will all be put back into the club? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 “Sammy will feature in the first team and I think Haris will too,” he said. “I think Mehdi (Abeid), who we signed in the summer but really as a development player, has done very well. He could feature in the first team this year. James Tavernier as well. Pleased to see that. Surely there must be a contract in the offing for Shola junior and the one that Dave knows his aunt? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRC Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Shearer-tastic comments about Ronaldo and Nani there. What doesn't stack up is the stuff about building up with young players coming through. If they're any good, we will sell them. Back to square one. That has happened once? It was a ridiculous figure, the same price as Fabregas, and nearly the same as Aguero. I suppose you can count N'Zogbia too, but at the time he was out of the team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I'm sure it'll be a ridiculous figure next time as well. Because they're good. That's the whole point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Shearer-tastic comments about Ronaldo and Nani there. Think it was more of a throw-away comment. Pardew seems reasonably clued up on continental football. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRC Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I'm sure it'll be a ridiculous figure next time as well. Because they're good. That's the whole point. I don't really see much of a problem with that approach, providing you replace them. We replaced Carroll with Ba so far, time will tell if it was a good move. I remember when Shepherd said Abramovic didn't have enough Roubles (sp?) to buy Jenas, I was happy with that, but in 12 months later I was well fucked off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I'm sure it'll be a ridiculous figure next time as well. Because they're good. That's the whole point. I don't really see much of a problem with that approach, providing you replace them. We replaced Carroll with Ba so far, time will tell if it was a good move. I remember when Shepherd said Abramovic didn't have enough Roubles (sp?) to buy Jenas, I was happy with that, but in 12 months later I was well f***ed off. That was Dyer, not Jenas. Why on earth would Chelsea want Jenas? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRC Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 This was in 2004? I thought it was JJ and we asked for 20 mill for Dyer? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/105707939.html Was Dyer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRC Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Yeah, my bad. I remember JJ being linked as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexf Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Don't like all this talk he's doing at the moment about being upset in the next window as well because we "can't compete" sounds very much like Tiote, Coloccini Ben Arfa, anyone decent could go in january if they play well and bids come in. Sad times Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 We’ve now brought in five or six players hate shit like this - what is it alan five or fucking six? oh wait it's 4 and a bairn isn't it...but then six sounds higher than five i suppose so alls well that's a load of bullshit fucking gobshite Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRC Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Is he including that kid that scored against a Boro XI? The french kid from Lens I think. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 yeah abeid, must be, the lads 18 so it's five with him...so that = five or six apparently gobshite Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRC Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Not him, the striker. Began with initials MD cant remember the name now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 even worse then if you can't name the cunt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRC Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Mamadou Doucouré was his name. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontownman Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Don't like all this talk he's doing at the moment about being upset in the next window as well because we "can't compete" sounds very much like Tiote, Coloccini Ben Arfa, anyone decent could go in january if they play well and bids come in. Sad times It is hardly what we want to hear, albeit the the truth. This regime has constantly aimed to throw a wet blanket on lofty hopes and delusions of grandeur amongst the fans. Like alot of things this regime have done, it is with the best intentions but miscommunication exacerbates the paranoia they themselves have created. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlacknWhiteArmy Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Don't like all this talk he's doing at the moment about being upset in the next window as well because we "can't compete" sounds very much like Tiote, Coloccini Ben Arfa, anyone decent could go in january if they play well and bids come in. Sad times Coloccini and Ben Arfa are quite safe for the time being. It's Tiote I wouldn't be too confident about. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallace Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Don't like all this talk he's doing at the moment about being upset in the next window as well because we "can't compete" sounds very much like Tiote, Coloccini Ben Arfa, anyone decent could go in january if they play well and bids come in. Sad times Coloccini and Ben Arfa are quite safe for the time being. It's Tiote I wouldn't be too confident about. If Tiote is here at the end of this transfer window, we may hold on to him for the season bearing in mind that he will be going to the ACN. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallace Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Don't like all this talk he's doing at the moment about being upset in the next window as well because we "can't compete" sounds very much like Tiote, Coloccini Ben Arfa, anyone decent could go in january if they play well and bids come in. Sad times It is hardly what we want to hear, albeit the the truth. This regime has constantly aimed to throw a wet blanket on lofty hopes and delusions of grandeur amongst the fans. Like alot of things this regime have done, it is with the best intentions but miscommunication exacerbates the paranoia they themselves have created. If they continue to remove any hope for supporters, then many more will start to think what is the point. I think they are being very short-sighted in that policy. Apathy is the worse thing that could happen to NUFC but that seems to the only logical outcome from the club's perceived actions, Pardew's regular attempts to dampen expectations and the lack of communication from the hierarchy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueStar Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 We replaced Carroll with Ba We went into the window where we sold Carroll all in agreement that we needed a striker, which is why I find it difficult to think of Ba as "Carroll's replacement" rather than the striker we were desperately in need of before we sold him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts