Alan Pardew

[Mick]

It really does seem like Pardew doesn't get the lickings of a dog from some people here.

 

Half way into the season and if I'm not wrong we'll be 7th by Christmas. Supposedly all the good signings are Carr's idea, all the bad ones are Pardew's.

 

I think the transfer policy is a joint effort from all parties, because we've seen instances in which players (Cabaye was one) have said the manager has told them exactly how they are to be utilized within our squad.

 

If I'm honest, I don't think our squad and our team has fully evolved yet. There are still players in it that Pardew doesn't trust and doesn't want. Players like Perch, Lovenkrands, Smith. When those players leave, and we replace them I think we'll begin to see the finished product. For all the unity we've had we still do have players settling into this league. Cabaye has been great but he's still half a season into a new league, Obertan is finally playing consistent first team football, Ben Arfa has played less than a dozen games in English football, Santon less than half a dozen.

 

I don't know what it is about football these days but there is such a disposable nature with managers, and I don't understand why. The best managers are those that are allowed to imprint their ideology onto the players and the club with whom are employed by. I think we've got one of the best setups in the league right now, in terms of finding players and doing so within tight budgetary constraints.

 

On top of that we have a manager who in my opinion seems a solid motivator, a good organizer with potential to grow as a manager.

 

 

 

 

 

If we finish 7th at the end of the season I'm sure Pardew will be applauded for that, being 7th now gets you as much as being 3rd a few weeks ago, nothing.  Pardew doesn't have to play Perch, Lovenkrands or Smith but he does that by choice, nobody forces him into playing them as far as I'm aware.

 

Obertan finally playing consistent first team football is part of the problem, he's doing nothing to justify his place in the team.

 

Has anybody called for Pardew to be sacked?  They possibly have but I can't remember seeing anybody calling for his head.

[Dave]

I suggest people complaining about the criticism take a look at the poll on this thread. Virtually everyone feels Pardew has done a fine job overall so far. Doesn't make him immune from criticism, and to be frank I find the 'gawd what an overreaction' and 'omg sack him lol' pisstake posts every bit as annoying as anyone saying they felt he got things wrong. Nobody that I've seen has called for Pardew's head and of course not because that would be ridiculous.

 

There's regularly a load of 'wow you're so negative, stop whinging, we're not going to sell our best players, we're as good as Liverpool' type of reactions on here whenever anyone predicts anything bad for the club. Well if we're as good a team as that, and Pardew is as good a manager as that, then we would surely expect to beat Swansea at home, there's a problem if we don't and therefore criticism is to be expected. Make your mind up.

[Guest H09]

It really does seem like Pardew doesn't get the lickings of a dog from some people here.

 

Half way into the season and if I'm not wrong we'll be 7th by Christmas. Supposedly all the good signings are Carr's idea, all the bad ones are Pardew's.

 

I think the transfer policy is a joint effort from all parties, because we've seen instances in which players (Cabaye was one) have said the manager has told them exactly how they are to be utilized within our squad.

 

If I'm honest, I don't think our squad and our team has fully evolved yet. There are still players in it that Pardew doesn't trust and doesn't want. Players like Perch, Lovenkrands, Smith. When those players leave, and we replace them I think we'll begin to see the finished product. For all the unity we've had we still do have players settling into this league. Cabaye has been great but he's still half a season into a new league, Obertan is finally playing consistent first team football, Ben Arfa has played less than a dozen games in English football, Santon less than half a dozen.

 

I don't know what it is about football these days but there is such a disposable nature with managers, and I don't understand why. The best managers are those that are allowed to imprint their ideology onto the players and the club with whom are employed by. I think we've got one of the best setups in the league right now, in terms of finding players and doing so within tight budgetary constraints.

 

On top of that we have a manager who in my opinion seems a solid motivator, a good organizer with potential to grow as a manager.

 

 

 

Yes.

 

Imo the last 7 years have been full of whinging and complaining (at times rightfully so) that some fans have forgotten what is like to support a manager. I find the complaints at Pardew very small petty points, the bloke isn't going to be 100% right with everything he does and he isn't going to do everything each one of us wants to see.

 

Even when we play well, we play alright, still somewhere someone says "why didn't you bring such and such on you cunt" "why did he start you cockney cunt"

 

 

The ground seemed split at full time today.

 

25% booed. 25% clapped and showed respect. 25% did nothing. 25% fucked off for the first metro.

 

[Pilko]

As much as the decision to leave Ben Arfa out against two promoted sides looks like a fucking terrible one right now, we did enough to win today without him - just seemed like one of those days to me. We've been spoilt this year with us winning the games we 'should' win (Norwich excepted due to the CB problem) and there are going to be days when it just doesn't go in.

 

If we don't beat West Brom then I'll maybe start to worry a bit.

[Dave]

As much as the decision to leave Ben Arfa out against two promoted sides looks like a fucking terrible one right now, we did enough to win today without him - just seemed like one of those days to me. We've been spoilt this year with us winning the games we 'should' win (Norwich excepted due to the CB problem) and there are going to be days when it just doesn't go in.

 

If we don't beat West Brom then I'll maybe start to worry a bit.

 

I won't be worried at all, but it'll be a shite result and the manager will likely get some criticism from me. Feeling spoilt because we've won games against mediocre teams with mediocre players (like most of the league ) seems a bit weird to me. We've got a good nucleus of players here at present who all seem to want to work for Pardew and we've been getting the rewards. The better you do, the higher the expectations. Comes with the territory.

[Ikon]

As much as the decision to leave Ben Arfa out against two promoted sides looks like a f***ing terrible one right now, we did enough to win today without him - just seemed like one of those days to me. We've been spoilt this year with us winning the games we 'should' win (Norwich excepted due to the CB problem) and there are going to be days when it just doesn't go in.

 

If we don't beat West Brom then I'll maybe start to worry a bit.

 

No, we didn't do enough, fact.

[Skirge]

I think he has lost a little bit of bottle, was being brave whilst we were winning but our current form and suffering the injuries we have has made him rethink his tactics a little.

 

Ok today was difficult as they came looking for a point but that became obvious pretty quickly and he should have changed it sooner by introducing HBA for Obertan and pushing Cabaye further forward.

[Ikon]

Something needed to be done, he did it too late, and he got his subs wrong, and a big reason we lost two points imo. Hopefully he'll learn from it. First thing to do would be getting Obertan the fuck out of the team for now.

[Parky]

Pardew was extremely naive or stubborn today. Take you pick.

[Dave]

Something needed to be done, he did it too late, and he got his subs wrong, and a big reason we lost two points imo. Hopefully he'll learn from it. First thing to do would be getting Obertan the fuck out of the team for now.

 

Think he'll definitely persist with Obertan, especially given he wasn't completely useless yesterday. Similar to the Ryan Taylor situation, it might take his hand being forced before we see a definitive change.

[Pilko]

One of my mates summed it up nicely earlier when he said "Obertan has his best home game today by miles, and he was still shit."

[Mick]

 

 

Think he'll definitely persist with Obertan, especially given he wasn't completely useless yesterday. Similar to the Ryan Taylor situation, it might take his hand being forced before we see a definitive change.

 

If he carries on picking Obertan who is not producing then he's only got himself to blame if he's getting stick.  I haven't written Obertan off, I just think he's got a lot to do before he's worthy of his place.  My only hope for now is that Ryan Taylor doesn't walk back into the team as soon as he's fit.

[Ikon]

Something needed to be done, he did it too late, and he got his subs wrong, and a big reason we lost two points imo. Hopefully he'll learn from it. First thing to do would be getting Obertan the f*** out of the team for now.

 

Think he'll definitely persist with Obertan, especially given he wasn't completely useless yesterday. Similar to the Ryan Taylor situation, it might take his hand being forced before we see a definitive change.

 

Yeah i know, and it's so frustrating. We dont have even ONE player out wide who can deliver a quality ball in to our strikers, not even one, weather that is a low pass or a cross or a through ball, the quality just isn't there simply put.

 

People can argue whatever they want about my point, Jonas can't do it, Obertan can't do it, Simpson can't do it, Raylor can but he'd always have to get the ball to his right, and he shouldn't be anywhere near our first team.

That's 4/4 positions where we've had players who can't deliver a ball with quality (i dont mean a two yard simple pass)

Santon from what ive seen can do it.

 

Please dont mention that Jonas ball has improved, yes it might have, but to be brutally honest with ourselves it's still quite shit.

 

 

[Mick]

 

Yeah i know, and it's so frustrating. We dont have even ONE player out wide who can deliver a quality ball in to our strikers, not even one, weather that is a low pass or a cross or a through ball, the quality just isn't there simply put.

 

People can argue whatever they want about my point, Jonas can't do it, Obertan can't do it, Simpson can't do it, Raylor can but he'd always have to get the ball to his right, and he shouldn't be anywhere near our first team.

That's 4/4 positions where we've had players who can't deliver a ball with quality (i dont mean a two yard simple pass)

Santon from what ive seen can do it.

 

Please dont mention that Jonas ball has improved, yes it might have, but to be brutally honest with ourselves it's still quite s***.

 

 

 

Simpson put at least 2 quality balls into the box, the problem was that Swansea flooded the box.

[Ikon]

 

Yeah i know, and it's so frustrating. We dont have even ONE player out wide who can deliver a quality ball in to our strikers, not even one, weather that is a low pass or a cross or a through ball, the quality just isn't there simply put.

 

People can argue whatever they want about my point, Jonas can't do it, Obertan can't do it, Simpson can't do it, Raylor can but he'd always have to get the ball to his right, and he shouldn't be anywhere near our first team.

That's 4/4 positions where we've had players who can't deliver a ball with quality (i dont mean a two yard simple pass)

Santon from what ive seen can do it.

 

Please dont mention that Jonas ball has improved, yes it might have, but to be brutally honest with ourselves it's still quite s***.

 

 

 

Simpson put at least 2 quality balls into the box, the problem was that Swansea flooded the box.

 

That makes Simpson a quality deliverer of the ball?

[Mick]

 

 

That makes Simpson a quality crosser?

 

It does on those two occasions. 

[Ikon]

 

 

That makes Simpson a quality crosser?

 

It does on those two occasions. 

 

Didn't think you'd have to be bright as Sherlock to get my point about our delivery from wide

[Tachikoma]

If we don't buy a decent leftback in the upcoming transfer window we really need to give Ferguson more minutes on the pitch, for that exact reason.

[wormy]

If we don't buy a decent leftback in the upcoming transfer window we really need to give Ferguson more minutes on the pitch, for that exact reason.

 

Honestly don't think Simo's that bad that he needs to be replaced by Santon and another left back brough in tbh. How many full backs are that involved in delivering fantastic balls, game in, game out? Particularly for the standard of team that we currently are?

[Tachikoma]

If we don't buy a decent leftback in the upcoming transfer window we really need to give Ferguson more minutes on the pitch, for that exact reason.

 

Honestly don't think Simo's that bad that he needs to be replaced by Santon and another left back brough in tbh. How many full backs are that involved in delivering fantastic balls, game in, game out? Particularly for the standard of team that we currently are?

 

I miss Jose

 

Simpson's semi-competent defensively but its not wrong to hope for better is it? I haven't watched the other teams a lot as of late but I don't think Simpson would be starting for any of the other teams fighting for 7th.

 

maybe except Everton.

[TherealnorthernTOON]

Jonas was excellent in the beginning of the season. He's been running into trouble as of late and looks jadded all the time. It's time for some rest for the lad.

[Benwell Lad]

We are still playing well and dominated yesterday without scoring. Time to worry is when we stop playing and despite recent results that is not the case.

Yes he should have introduced HBA and with hindsight I reckon he'll know that. I think at the time he was still concerned about losing the game, which is a reasonable concern at 0-0, and didn't want to change the shape.

Disappointing points return of late, a bit unfortunate but still playing decent stuff.

Still doing a fine job overall, club going in the right direction but will really miss Cabaye on Wednesday and I will be very,very happy if we're still in top 7 at end of January.

[nufcjmc]

If you are going to start tailing off the best time to do it if there is such a one is near January knowing this club as unpredictable as they if we had of kept the same pace it would have been "no need to strengthen", "this group of players got us where we are now we have to keep faith in them" , "they need to be of better quality than what we had for us to rush out and buy". "if it isnt broke dont fix it, January is a bad time to buy" etc etc etc and while these excuses could still be used now I hope and pray seeing  a loss of form in the side and the impending exits of those involved in the cup in January will finally give enough weight to releasing some money on the side being going back for players we missed out on in the summer or going for new targets identified over the course of this part of the season.

[Hughesy]

I suggest people complaining about the criticism take a look at the poll on this thread. Virtually everyone feels Pardew has done a fine job overall so far. Doesn't make him immune from criticism, and to be frank I find the 'gawd what an overreaction' and 'omg sack him lol' pisstake posts every bit as annoying as anyone saying they felt he got things wrong. Nobody that I've seen has called for Pardew's head and of course not because that would be ridiculous.

 

There's regularly a load of 'wow you're so negative, stop whinging, we're not going to sell our best players, we're as good as Liverpool' type of reactions on here whenever anyone predicts anything bad for the club. Well if we're as good a team as that, and Pardew is as good a manager as that, then we would surely expect to beat Swansea at home, there's a problem if we don't and therefore criticism is to be expected. Make your mind up.

 

So, in brief:

 

You find the reactions of people who you don't agree with annoying, but you find the reactions of the people you agree with justifiable.

[Hughesy]

We are still playing well and dominated yesterday without scoring. Time to worry is when we stop playing and despite recent results that is not the case.

Yes he should have introduced HBA and with hindsight I reckon he'll know that. I think at the time he was still concerned about losing the game, which is a reasonable concern at 0-0, and didn't want to change the shape.

Disappointing points return of late, a bit unfortunate but still playing decent stuff.

Still doing a fine job overall, club going in the right direction but will really miss Cabaye on Wednesday and I will be very,very happy if we're still in top 7 at end of January.

 

Exactly - was just thinking about the reaction on here if we had gone all out for victory from 55 minutes into the match and then been hit on the counter (as Swansea were beginning to do in the second half) and lost.  Hindsight is a marvellous thing.  Especially if the ball had been lost from a Ben Arfa dribble...

 

We had done enough in the first half to persist with the team as it was set up.