Alan Pardew

[Guest Howaythetoon]

HTT, that list of players. Who manages, organises and has been responsible for getting the best out of them? It's really not as easy as saying "right you fine collection of footballers, go and play". They still need to be coached and motivated and Pardew has done a good job of that. Look at our side under Souness, on paper it was a cracking XI but we floundered due to his appallingly abrasive approach and negativity. What I like about Pardew is he's a positive manager, even after defeats he doesnt get downbeat which is vitally important in management.

 

I've already stated he has them working hard and has helped to instill a great team spirit and thus deserves credit and praise for that which I have never denied but from an attacking perspective I see little in the way of good coaching. Defensively we are very organised and are set up very well at times, but offensively its all about the long ball in the main.

 

As for positivity, this is the confidence trickster aspect of Pardew, i.e. he talks a good game. In reality he set us up to contain Brighton, to play for a draw. This is odd because come the Champions at SJP and he goes out for a win.

 

I do think he's quite positive and confident in terms of speaking but tactically its almosy always negative.

[54]

What was Souness' best XI?

 

Given

Carr Boumsong Bramble Babayaro

Solano Emre Parker NZogbia

Owen Shearer

 

13th ffs.

Dear god that front six is amazing how we only finished 13th is beyond me.

[Jayson]

For all those saying we should be grateful for being sixth blah blah blah, just take a look at some of our players for a moment and then take a look at those around us or below us.

 

Krul - arguably the best up and coming keeper in the country and easily the top perfoming keeper this season.

 

Colo - arguably the best performing centre-half in the country. He'd walk into any of the top 5 sides in this country for me.

 

Santon -  he looks a naturally gifted footballer going forward.

 

S. Taylor - he's been playing like an international centre-back and of all the English centre-backs I'd say he was playing better than any of them before his injury.

 

Jonas - is there a better outlet player in the league? I remember against Stoke away and Blackburn at home in the FA Cup, he ran them raggid so much the opposition simply gave up because they couldn't keep up with his work-rate and drives forward. Yes he's frustrating but he causes so many problems and helps this team a lot as an outlet.

 

Cabaye - his passing, his energy, his tackling, his running... he just keeps going. He has been brilliant for us, easily one of the best midfielders outside of the top 5.

 

Tiote - on his day there is no one better at breaking up play and then driving forward. He's a beast and potentially world-class.

 

Ben Arfa - how many players in our league could score the goal he score against Blackburn? He has the potential to be a huge star of this league.

 

Ba - he has scored 15 goals and is the best striker I've seen at Newcastle since Shearer and I include Sir Les in that. he's on course to score 20 league goals. Masn Utd don't have that kind of striker nor do Liverpool or Chelsea.

 

In short we have the nucleaus of a really good side and squad wise it isn't that bad either. Guthrie is playing well and looking a good player for example. Best is a decent all-rounder and a cool finisher on his day. Williamson is an adequate PL defender.

 

We have a good starting 11 and a decent enough squad. And I haven't even mentioned Cisse yet (I haven't seen him play basically).

 

Again, starting XI vs starting XI I'd say we are on a par with Liverpool and that to me suggests we are indeed a top 6 side at least.

 

A couple of the players there in Santon/Ben Arfa havent really played that large a role in our current position compared to others you havent mentioned.

You do mention Saylor, Best, Guthrie, Williamson, Krul. Yet acknowledge no improvement in any of them under Pardew? You think this is a balanced argument ?

[Interpolic]

I don't think many fans would advocate getting rid of Pardew any time soon fwiw, maybe 1 out of 100.

[Guest BooBoo]

Shock horror: team loses best player and is weakened resulting in poorer performances.

 

[Guest Dontooner]

HTT, that list of players. Who manages, organises and has been responsible for getting the best out of them? It's really not as easy as saying "right you fine collection of footballers, go and play". They still need to be coached and motivated and Pardew has done a good job of that. Look at our side under Souness, on paper it was a cracking XI but we floundered due to his appallingly abrasive approach and negativity. What I like about Pardew is he's a positive manager, even after defeats he doesnt get downbeat which is vitally important in management.

 

i agree

 

sourmess had an incredible team at his disposal , well he did at least on paper.  and to be fair he did f*** all with it, and couldnt have done worst.

 

Exactly the reason why the debate of the caliber of the manager....i rate Pardew miles ahead of the Souness and Fat Sam...least he play positive football.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

What was Souness' best XI?

 

Given

Carr Boumsong Bramble Babayaro

Solano Emre Parker NZogbia

Owen Shearer

 

13th ffs.

 

Not one of those outside of Shay would get into this current NUFC side in my opinion. Shay onlyu gets in on experience too.

 

Souness did massively underachieve though. That side should have finished higher than 13th easily.

[Dave]

I don't get it, we have had a couple o fbad results and people are calling for Pardew's head.

 

One person. That's never rated him.

[Interpolic]

What was Souness' best XI?

 

Given

Carr Boumsong Bramble Babayaro

Solano Emre Parker NZogbia

Owen Shearer

 

13th ffs.

Dear god that front six is amazing how we only finished 13th is beyond me.

 

We were actually 14th that year I believe.  Still have our league finishes memorised like a total fucking loser.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

 

I'm not calling for his head, not now at least anyway. Long-term I just think we need to look at other options in the same way that we have to look at replacing Simpson at RB one day.

[Dave]

I don't get it, we have had a couple o fbad results and people are calling for Pardew's head.

 

Update: nobody is.

[Sifu]

I don't get it, we have had a couple o fbad results and people are calling for Pardew's head.

 

Update: nobody is.

 

[eliassenfredrik]

I am split on Pardew. He seems like a nice guy, good with the media, man management etc., and imo he's been successful rather than the opposite with his approach to games and tactics. Let's be honest, he must have been for us to sit in 6th. Use the Man Utd game as an example. Then there's his other side, his persistence with mediocre (useless) players, and the fact he's not willing to change obvious faults he MAY have done during games. For me, his downsides simply seems unnecessary and could easily be corrected. To say the whole thing rests on stubbornness/pride seems a bit daft though. I want to see this team with the new Senegalese duo on top, which causes a chain reaction -> pushing Best to 3rd choice (on the bench) and Shola to 4th choice (off the bench). One worry remains though. His persistence with Ryan Taylor (versatileness not making it better). Pardew's best 11 seems to not match the fans average best 11, which is what I find most annoying. You could well be a good tactician, but to not play your best players in a competition like this is a small crime imho. So.f***ing.Unnecessary. I repeat though; I am split on him and I appreciate what he's done.

[Mick]

I don't get it, we have had a couple o fbad results and people are calling for Pardew's head.

 

We have 2/3 players that are the spine of his side in the African Nations, with our striker situation what do you expect?

 

I like the team we have and what Pardew is building and I want to see him given a chance on a long term. We have got nowhere chopping and changing managers at th edrop of a hat, is it not time to stick by one?

 

We've probably had 6 decent games this season in the league out of 22, we were playing a Championship side yesterday with 8 players who could be classed as first team players and we lost.

 

It's also arguable about who is building the team, I'm not sure stability is that important as we're not seeing stability with one manager as we're changing our system during the season anyway.  We started the season playing 4-4-2 and playing the long ball, we've now gone to a system which is 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 and I wouldn't be surprised if we see 4-4-2 on Wednesday. 

 

Why do we need stability?  What does stability bring when the scouts find the players and we change formations during the season anyway?  I can understand that the players get to like a manager and it’s unsettling for them to see him go but I don’t think anybody is suggesting that we change things now, I know I wouldn’t.

 

We’re just over half way through the season and things might get better, we could find a settled side, playing good football and winning games.  If that happens then nobody would want the manager replaced.  I still think he has a lot to do to convince me that he’s anything other than average and lucky.

 

[Guest Dontooner]

I am split on Pardew. He seems like a nice guy, good with the media, man management etc., and imo he's been successful rather than the opposite with his approach to games and tactics. Let's be honest, he must have been for us to sit in 6th. Use the Man Utd game as an example. Then there's his other side, his persistence with mediocre (useless) players, and the fact he's not willing to change obvious faults he MAY have done during games. For me, his downsides simply seems unnecessary and could easily be corrected. To say the whole thing rests on stubbornness/pride seems a bit daft though. I want to see this team with the new Senegalese duo on top, which causes a chain reaction -> pushing Best to 3rd choice (on the bench) and Shola to 4th choice (off the bench). One worry remains though. His persistence with Ryan Taylor (versatileness not making it better). Pardew's best 11 seems to not match the fans average best 11, which is what I find most annoying. You could well be a good tactician, but to not play your best players in a competition like this is a small crime imho. So.f***ing.Unnecessary

It not a myth his starting 11 which he quoted a few weeks a couple of months ago were quite different from ours. I do think Pardew best 11 is more efficient overall on the pitch though hence his preference...He is really more of an average or old school manager when it comes to attacking...having said that he pretty good at setting up his team defending or pressing though.

[Guest VaVaVoom]

I don't think many fans would advocate getting rid of Pardew any time soon fwiw, maybe 1 out of 100.

 

520 all sat together at St James could make some noise like and thats not what we want.

 

They are a fuckin joke the lot of them.

 

He is the best manager we have had since SBR and is doing a fine job so far imo.

[Interpolic]

I don't get it, we have had a couple o fbad results and people are calling for Pardew's head.

 

We have 2/3 players that are the spine of his side in the African Nations, with our striker situation what do you expect?

 

I like the team we have and what Pardew is building and I want to see him given a chance on a long term. We have got nowhere chopping and changing managers at th edrop of a hat, is it not time to stick by one?

 

We've probably had 6 decent games this season in the league out of 22, we were playing a Championship side yesterday with 8 players who could be classed as first team players and we lost.

 

It's also arguable about who is building the team, I'm not sure stability is that important as we're not seeing stability with one manager as we're changing our system during the season anyway.  We started the season playing 4-4-2 and playing the long ball, we've now gone to a system which is 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 and I wouldn't be surprised if we see 4-4-2 on Wednesday. 

 

Why do we need stability?  What does stability bring when the scouts find the players and we change formations during the season anyway?  I can understand that the players get to like a manager and it’s unsettling for them to see him go but I don’t think anybody is suggesting that we change things now, I know I wouldn’t.

 

We’re just over half way through the season and things might get better, we could find a settled side, playing good football and winning games.  If that happens then nobody would want the manager replaced.  I still think he has a lot to do to convince me that he’s anything other than average and lucky.

 

 

I don't think anyone defines stability as being tactically inflexible.

[Interpolic]

I don't think many fans would advocate getting rid of Pardew any time soon fwiw, maybe 1 out of 100.

 

520 all sat together at St James could make some noise like and thats not what we want.

 

They are a fuckin joke the lot of them.

 

He is the best manager we have had since SBR and is doing a fine job so far imo.

 

My statistic was made up and is not official btw.

[Thorpinho]

For all those saying we should be grateful for being sixth blah blah blah, just take a look at some of our players for a moment and then take a look at those around us or below us.

 

Krul - arguably the best up and coming keeper in the country and easily the top perfoming keeper this season.

 

Colo - arguably the best performing centre-half in the country. He'd walk into any of the top 5 sides in this country for me.

 

Santon -  he looks a naturally gifted footballer going forward.

 

S. Taylor - he's been playing like an international centre-back and of all the English centre-backs I'd say he was playing better than any of them before his injury.

 

Jonas - is there a better outlet player in the league? I remember against Stoke away and Blackburn at home in the FA Cup, he ran them raggid so much the opposition simply gave up because they couldn't keep up with his work-rate and drives forward. Yes he's frustrating but he causes so many problems and helps this team a lot as an outlet.

 

Cabaye - his passing, his energy, his tackling, his running... he just keeps going. He has been brilliant for us, easily one of the best midfielders outside of the top 5.

 

Tiote - on his day there is no one better at breaking up play and then driving forward. He's a beast and potentially world-class.

 

Ben Arfa - how many players in our league could score the goal he score against Blackburn? He has the potential to be a huge star of this league.

 

Ba - he has scored 15 goals and is the best striker I've seen at Newcastle since Shearer and I include Sir Les in that. he's on course to score 20 league goals. Masn Utd don't have that kind of striker nor do Liverpool or Chelsea.

 

In short we have the nucleaus of a really good side and squad wise it isn't that bad either. Guthrie is playing well and looking a good player for example. Best is a decent all-rounder and a cool finisher on his day. Williamson is an adequate PL defender.

 

We have a good starting 11 and a decent enough squad. And I haven't even mentioned Cisse yet (I haven't seen him play basically).

 

Again, starting XI vs starting XI I'd say we are on a par with Liverpool and that to me suggests we are indeed a top 6 side at least.

 

What a ridiculous point that is. Pardew made Krul the number one, Pardew turned a defence consisting of the Taylors (both massively criticised by fans in the past) and Danny Simpson into one of the tightest defences in the league. The other member of that back 5 he made captain, and Colo has subsequently revelled in a leadership role. You say "look at those players he has got to work with" yet most people's expectations of him as a manager and the squad at the start of the season was bottom half at best. He has done fantastically well and would do a hell of a lot better if certain fans stopped being so bloody pessimistic.

 

He is not the best in game manager and frequently gets things wrong but so does everybody else. Get off his back and just enjoy one of the better teams we have seen walk out at SJP before Ashley wanders in with his sledgehammer again to ruin it.

[Dave]

Barring injuries and suspensions (and unless we buy someone in the next few days which I think looks increasingly unlikely, or sell someone...), once Tiote is back I believe our side for the rest of the season will be:

 

Krul

Simpson Williamson Coloccini Santon

Tiote

Ben Arfa Cabaye Gutierrez

Ba

Cissé

 

Guthrie will play in place of Tiote for the time being, but aside from Steven Taylor I think that is Pardew's ideal XI and we'll see the benefits.

[Cajun]

Barring injuries and suspensions (and unless we buy someone in the next few days which I think looks increasingly unlikely, or sell someone...), once Tiote is back I believe our side for the rest of the season will be:

 

Krul

Simpson Williamson Coloccini Santon

Tiote

Ben Arfa Cabaye Gutierrez

Ba

Cissé

 

Guthrie will play in place of Tiote for the time being, but aside from Steven Taylor I think that is Pardew's ideal XI and we'll see the benefits.

 

 

 

If Cisse settles quickly and looks like the player he was in Germany our front two is ridiculous

[Guest VaVaVoom]

I don't think many fans would advocate getting rid of Pardew any time soon fwiw, maybe 1 out of 100.

 

520 all sat together at St James could make some noise like and thats not what we want.

 

They are a fuckin joke the lot of them.

 

He is the best manager we have had since SBR and is doing a fine job so far imo.

 

My statistic was made up and is not official btw.

 

Obviously.

[eliassenfredrik]

Basically, removing Shola Ameobi and/or Leon Best

and Ryan Taylor from the starting 11, leaves Pardew with no other choice but to unleash one hell of a team when everyone's fit. Nice.

[Mick]

 

 

I don't think anyone defines stability as being tactically inflexible.

 

What does stability bring?  I ask the question because I don't think it matters as much when a club has a scouting system which identifies the transfers.  I agree stability doesn't mean being tactically inflexible but the tactics we've seen this season haven't been anything out of the ordinary anyway and we've had as many tactics that have back-fired as those that have worked well.  The tactics worked well against Stoke, they failed against Brighton.  I can't to this day work out what our tactics were against Norwich and I doubt many people can either yet they worked against Man U.

[Mick]

 

 

What a ridiculous point that is. Pardew made Krul the number one, Pardew turned a defence consisting of the Taylors (both massively criticised by fans in the past) and Danny Simpson into one of the tightest defences in the league. The other member of that back 5 he made captain, and Colo has subsequently revelled in a leadership role. You say "look at those players he has got to work with" yet most people's expectations of him as a manager and the squad at the start of the season was bottom half at best. He has done fantastically well and would do a hell of a lot better if certain fans stopped being so bloody pessimistic.

 

He is not the best in game manager and frequently gets things wrong but so does everybody else. Get off his back and just enjoy one of the better teams we have seen walk out at SJP before Ashley wanders in with his sledgehammer again to ruin it.

 

8 teams in the league have as good or better home record for goals against and 11 have as good or better away record for goals against as we have. 

 

We're actually 9th overall in the goals against league.