Alan Pardew

[Dr Venkman]

In terms of squad strength mind I'm still shitting myself in anticipation of an injury to Saylor or less likely Colo,we'd be in for a very difficult few games. Any news on Williamson btw?

 

I know people complain about our lack of depth in central defence, but we've got 3 fairly competent players fighting for 2 spots in Colo, Taylor and Williamson. I would think most clubs bench strength will be pretty similar. Kadar would have been a good 4th option a year ago but I'm not sure what's happened to him since. Perch isn't ideal as a last resort but how many clubs have good 4th options in that area?

 

'Perch isnt ideal' is far too kind.

 

I said "isn't ideal as a last resort" and you didn't answer the question how many clubs have good 4th options in central defence? When you get past the top 4 I'll guess probably not many.

 

i didnt answer it because i agree with you fwiw, as it happens though Williamson in injured and we're reet in the shit if Perch has to start at centre back,no way can we function as a defence with Raylor and Perch, all i'm saying.

[Colocho]

This is what I like about Pardew...

 

On Ben Arfa:

 

"It is a horrible road to go down, with a long-term injury like that," he said. "He is in a good place right now.

 

"He has been helped by the other new French boys. He has five or six French speakers around him now.

 

"He likes the group and he trusts us. Now it is a matter of when he is ready. He shows flashes of brilliance in training, but I want him to do it more often in training before I bring him in.

 

"My view is that he can't play out wide. He has not got the relish for it and his best football comes through the middle.

 

"Realistically, he knows he has got more to do on the training ground. He smiles at me as if to say, 'OK, I will play next week.'

 

"He has character and there are times in the coming weeks when if he has not made a start he will be kicking my door down."

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Interesting HBA opts for kicking the door rather than banging it down. Must be his temperamental French attitude.

[Interpolic]

http://akbarganji.net/images/img10.jpg

[mosstef]

http://akbarganji.net/images/img10.jpg

 

There's quite a mess in Pardew's office tbh.

[Revolution Number 9]

http://akbarganji.net/images/img10.jpg

 

There's quite a mess in Pardew's office tbh.

Shola went in there for a bit and started fiddling with a pen, that's the resulting chaos.

[Interpolic]

[mattypnufc]

http://akbarganji.net/images/img10.jpg

 

There's quite a mess in Pardew's office tbh.

Shola went in there for a bit and started fiddling with a pen, that's the resulting chaos.

 

Shola thought his cheque book was missing after a he thought he'd been burgled...

[BottledDog]

Pardew is a natural No.1 and has put a good backroom staff in place.

Hughton, though highly admirable when thrust into the manager's job and a great fella too, is much more comfortable as a number 2.

Ashley thought Hughton had been found out and made a hard decision. That like it or not is the way successful business people operate.

 

 

Similar vein of thought in this article, though it might be edging towards a trollish bit of journalism for some.

 

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2011/09/23/2678888/leaner-meaner-and-proving-the-doubters-wrong-mike-ashleys

 

[Ketsbaia]

By Louise Taylor, http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/sep/23/alan-padrew-newcastle-french-influence

 

The loud, scouse intonations of Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan that once dominated discourse at Newcastle United no longer echo around the club's suddenly serene training ground. These days, Gallic voices hold sway with conversations switching seamlessly from French into Arabic on to English and back again. Throw in some Spanish chat along with odd discussions in Dutch and Italian, not to mention fewer practical jokes, and it becomes clear that Alan Pardew's squad are being rebuilt along cosmopolitan lines.

 

Last season a cabal of influential British players harbouring some "traditional" views monopolised dressing-room power, generating "old fashioned spirit" while proving the driving force behind some sporadically impressive performances. Now an Argentinian, Fabricio Coloccini, has replaced Nolan as captain and Yohan Cabaye's emergence as Newcastle's first creative central midfielder in what feels like aeons represent a principal source of inspiration underpinning an unbeaten opening to the season. There was no love lost between Barton and Cabaye with Barton, now at QPR, said to feel undermined by the former Lille playmaker's arrival.

 

Determined to redefine his team's ethos, Pardew's favoured 4-2-3-1 formation is designed to enable creators to play, fluidly, "between the lines" but the manager has, with Coloccini and the renascent Steven Taylor excelling defensively, also made Newcastle hard to beat.

 

If pulling off such a feat is not easy, neither is assimilating an influx of foreign imports intended to fulfil Mike Ashley's vision of creating an "Arsenal-upon-Tyne". Demanding high calibre entertainers at sustainable prices Newcastle's owner turned to a former Tottenham man to identify promising, frequently Francophone (often with North or West African heritage) talent for Pardew to coach. In certain respects Graham Carr, Newcastle's powerful chief scout, has replaced Dennis Wise, the club's little lamented former football director, and Ashley is already reaping the benefits.

 

After unearthing Cheik Tioté and Hatem Ben Arfa last season, Carr's reconnaissance missions prefaced the recruitment of, among others, Cabaye, Sylvain Marveaux and Mehdi Abeid this summer. The 66-year-old father of comedian Alan Carr had spent more than half a lifetime serving as a lower division player and manager – most notably with Northampton Town – before, during the mid-1990s, David Pleat spotted his true gift and turned him into a Spurs scout. Carr would later help source signings such as Elano for Sven-Goran Eriksson at Manchester City before returning to his native north-east and assuming Wise's talent identification duties.

 

The word in football circles is that, if Arsène Wenger boasts an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Gallic transfer market, Carr, who works closely with Pardew, is not too far behind. This probably explains why Newcastle possess seven senior French-speaking players. One advantage of recruiting from France is that player wages in Ligue 1 are comparatively modest, thereby enabling Ashley to continue his crusade against costs at once spendthrift St James' Park.

 

If the sports retail magnate has been motivated partly by the desire to avoid a repeat of a long running, recently resolved, row over bonuses between Newcastle's dressing room and board, quality does not, thus far, seem to have been compromised. Granted, Ashley's refusal to sign the extra striker and specialist left-back cover Pardew craves may yet return to bite him but Blackburn will face buoyant opponents on Tyneside on Saturday.

 

"The squad's better now all round than it was last year. We've got more belief," says Danny Simpson's Newcastle's much improved right-back. "We've got more attacking options; while we've been very good at not conceding goals we're also creating a lot of chances."

 

For once, everyone seems to be singing in harmony with even Steve Harper and Alan Smith, former members of the influential "players' committee" now relegated to the first-team fringes, apparently buying into a bold new philosophy.

 

Peter Beardsley, now in charge of the reserve or "development" side, is offering Pardew welcome selection dilemmas. Beardsley has had his critics, but the former England forward is producing technically accomplished, mentally tough, invariably pacy and exciting youngsters including Haris Vuckic and Sammy Ameobi.

 

It is perhaps no exaggeration to suggest that Nolan, if not Barton, may have struggled to get into this season's first XI. Valuable as his goals from midfield were, the West Ham captain did not always move the ball on swiftly, or incisively, enough. Newcastle's manager trusts the fresh faces will better fit his new tactical vision. Pardew has explained that, with Cabaye prompting and the almost fully fit again Ben Arfa earmarked for a classic trequartista role, he is endeavouring "to change our style a bit".

 

Doing so after spending a mere fraction of the £35m received from Liverpool for Andy Carroll in January represents quite a challenge but, for the moment at least, life at St James' appears magnifique.

 

 

[Stottie]

The mackem munter bouncing from knee jerk to knee jerk I see.

 

It's great to be fourth but I can't recall us "creating lots of chances". The first League Cup game aside, perhaps.

[TRon]

The mackem munter bouncing from knee jerk to knee jerk I see.

 

It's great to be fourth but I can't recall us "creating lots of chances". The first League Cup game aside, perhaps.

 

It's a good article nonetheless.

[WarrenBartonCentrePartin]

Good to see that Graham Carr 'unearthed' Hatem Ben Arfa.  I know for one Alan Shearer spoke on behalf of us to say no-one had ever heard of him.

[Colocho]

Newcastle's unbeaten start to the season has a lot do with the seven senior French-speaking players in the squad...

 

Abeid? Ba? Marveaux? Tiote? Ben Arfa? Obertan?

 

Have these guys really contributed to our unbeaten start this season?

[AlanSkÃrare]

Barton undermined by Cabaye? Seemed very fond of eachother and Cabaye said Barton helped him settle. What a load of crap.

[Benwell Lad]

Pardew is a natural No.1 and has put a good backroom staff in place.

Hughton, though highly admirable when thrust into the manager's job and a great fella too, is much more comfortable as a number 2.

Ashley thought Hughton had been found out and made a hard decision. That like it or not is the way successful business people operate.

 

 

Similar vein of thought in this article, though it might be edging towards a trollish bit of journalism for some.

 

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2011/09/23/2678888/leaner-meaner-and-proving-the-doubters-wrong-mike-ashleys

 

 

Interesting to read the bit about Carroll. It's been whispered in pubs etc but that's the first time I've seen it in print. Highly unlikely imo but you never know.

[Sifu]

The mackem munter bouncing from knee jerk to knee jerk I see.

 

It's great to be fourth but I can't recall us "creating lots of chances". The first League Cup game aside, perhaps.

 

It's a good article nonetheless.

 

Probably a first from her (in recent times anyway).

[Pixelphish]

Aye good read that, still of the opinion we won't see the big tit in black and white again any time soon.

[EthiGeordie]

I don't like Pardew, I think he's a c***. I also don't rate him as a manager, I think he's average. However, the one thing that stands out about him and makes me think he'll always do better than worse for example, is his attitude. He is a very optimistic person and those kind of people tend to do better over doing bad. That character trait of his is the main reason why he's overachieving for me and why we are doing better at the moment under him. I noted this last season when Man Utd came to SJP and he said "we should be looking to beat them and any side at home" which I rather liked despite how stupid it may have came across given their obvious ability, form etc. compared to us. Under him we look to win games, he sets us up to win games, home or away. He's quite an optimistic person which for me can paper over any deficiancies. KK used optimism to great effect and it was arguably his best skill. Pardew does the same to a much lesser extent but given where we are at and what we are at the moment, to the same kind of success, i.e picking up points and doing well. Compare Pardew to Souness, a negative manager. Negativity can kill even the best team spirit, best players etc. His negativity saw a top 5 side become a mid-table one. Dalglish was quite negative compared to KK too. Its no surprise the more optimistic a manager despite flaws they do better. Sir Bobby, KK, Hughton, Pardew. Again i don't like him or rate him but he's having a positive impact which is mostly down to his positive character or mind set. I remember listening pre Villa and the commentator said is this your toughest challenge and he said no, sunderland was, he said we should be looking to beat Villa. This away from home, against a side who sort of relegated us. I like that even if I don't like who is spouting it much less rate.

 

 

I usually agree with you HTT but you got it wrong here..... Not only positives Pardew is extremely able when it comes to tactics....

[TRon]

DANNY SIMPSON has hailed Alan Pardew’s “fail to prepare, prepare to fail” approach ahead of tomorrow’s meeting with Blackburn Rovers.

 

United have made sure their homework is done thoroughly this term, with Pardew, John Carver, Steve Stone and the rest of the Toon backroom team ensuring that no stone has been left unturned as they thrive to maintain their unbeaten start with a series of pre-game video analysis sessions at the club’s Benton base.

 

Victory against Rovers will see the Magpies stay in the top four of the Premier League, and Simpson – who faces the club who didn’t fancy taking him on a permanent deal after loan stint two years ago – is fired-up for another big clash.

 

Simpson told the Chronicle: “One thing we have done right this season so far is prepare correctly for games.

 

“We can go into the game and take advantage of that.

 

“We’re rested and recovered properly thanks to the staff and we’ve looked at the tapes to make sure we’ve prepared properly.”

 

 

 

Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/09/23/preparation-key-to-success-for-danny-simpson-72703-29472735/#ixzz1Ymm96szk

 

A view from inside the camp is always insightful. At least it seems there's some hard work going into studying the opposition. A different approach to Keegan's 5 a sides but they weren't without method either. I think it's fair to say Pardew has got the defensive side of it better but Keegan's forward play and team style was more fluid.

[David28]

DANNY SIMPSON has hailed Alan Pardew’s “fail to prepare, prepare to fail” approach ahead of tomorrow’s meeting with Blackburn Rovers.

 

United have made sure their homework is done thoroughly this term, with Pardew, John Carver, Steve Stone and the rest of the Toon backroom team ensuring that no stone has been left unturned as they thrive to maintain their unbeaten start with a series of pre-game video analysis sessions at the club’s Benton base.

 

Victory against Rovers will see the Magpies stay in the top four of the Premier League, and Simpson – who faces the club who didn’t fancy taking him on a permanent deal after loan stint two years ago – is fired-up for another big clash.

 

Simpson told the Chronicle: “One thing we have done right this season so far is prepare correctly for games.

 

“We can go into the game and take advantage of that.

 

“We’re rested and recovered properly thanks to the staff and we’ve looked at the tapes to make sure we’ve prepared properly.”

 

 

 

Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/09/23/preparation-key-to-success-for-danny-simpson-72703-29472735/#ixzz1Ymm96szk

 

A view from inside the camp is always insightful. At least it seems there's some hard work going into studying the opposition. A different approach to Keegan's 5 a sides but they weren't without method either. I think it's fair to say Pardew has got the defensive side of it better but Keegan's forward play and team style was more fluid.

 

Don't know which Keegan-team you're talking about but, even the poorer team he's had in 2008, had Owen, Martins and a world class Viduka up front. Pardew has to chose from Ba, Best, Shola, Lovekrands and probably Sammy.

 

I know which strikeforce I'd take.

[AliGupter]

Sorry, I loved Viduka, but he wasn't world class, certainly not when he was here.

[TRon]

I was talking more about style of play rather than individuals tbh.

[TheGuv]

ALAN PARDEW reckons any fans returning to St James’ Park tomorrow could be in for a treat when his foreign legion take on Blackburn.

 

The Toon boss is ecstatic about the form of Yohan Cabaye, and feels there is “much more” to come from Hatem Ben Arfa and Gabriel Obertan.

 

United’s gate was 10,000 down against Fulham compared to the season opener with Arsenal.

 

But Pardew told the Chronicle today: “All I can say to the Newcastle fans who are weary of paying that extra pound on Saturday, is that we have players in really good form.

 

“It is tough out there and we are all very much aware of that from the financial point of view – people are tightening their belts

 

“But we hope to take that on to the pitch on Saturday.

 

“Yohan, Ben Arfa and Obertan as well are starting to show quality.

 

“Obertan changed the game the other day at Forest when he came on.

 

“For a player that hasn’t had a lot of games to come on and change things is a real positive.”

 

The French stars are clearly beginning to gel for Pardew, and he added: “There is more to come. We have to make sure we don’t lose our resilience and make sure we are always still in the game.

 

“We don’t concede many goals. The goals we conceded on Tuesday against Forest were too many for us – we have to make sure we go back to zero or one.”

 

Pardew’s opposite number Steve Kean goes into the game still under pressure from campaigning Blackburn fans who want to see him sacked.

 

Pardew knows Kean from his time at Reading and, when asked if he felt sorry for Kean, he said: “I don’t know if sympathy is the right word.

 

“For Premier League managers it will come round.

 

“It will come round to me, you just have to be strong and cope with it the best you can and he did that. He did that and had a great result.”

 

Blackburn have won on their last five visits to Tyneside and Pardew wants to be the man who brings that record crashing to an end.

 

He said: “They have a fantastic record here – it’s bizarre actually and I am hoping we end it.”

 

 

 

Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/09/23/pardew-nufc-fans-in-for-a-treat-at-blackburn-game-72703-29472749/#ixzz1YmvyPEUj

[David28]

Sorry, I loved Viduka, but he wasn't world class, certainly not when he was here.

 

Obviously he wasn't. But in those few games under KK he was absolutley brilliant. Will never forget those games and Viduka played a very, very big part in it. World class obviously not, no.