Alan Pardew

[Tiotes Witch Doctor]

Warning: Turbo post, don't read if easily bored.

 

Over the past few days, I've seen Pardew getting the blame for everything. Some of it justified, some of it no more than speculation as means to meet the agenda. I get it, Pardew is public enemy number 1. And rightly so - last week was a sour one for us all, it's going to take some getting over. But beyond last week, we haven't been up to it all season. We've barely won games by more than 1 goal, and some of them have been last minute goals. Without being bothered to do the maths, I think we've probably spent the least minutes in front in games this season. It's been turgid to watch pretty much all of the time, we've gone out of cups at the first round and other than a couple of 1-0 wins in the KO rounds of the Europa, there's been nothing good to say. So why are we so much shitter than last season?

 

Firstly, let's not kid ourselves. Last season we didn't play well in a lot of games but we found a way to win. There's a lot to be said for momentum - the pre-season plans were disrupted, but the majority of the squad still got away. Those that didn't played for the reserves, which wasn't a disaster. This meant players were, for the most part, fit, with the exception of Ben Arfa who got destroyed in the USA. The new lads were incorporated and everything was rosey. This season, there were no new lads to incorporate bar a few kids, and Anita signed shortly before the Spurs game. Cabaye & Ben Arfa were away at the Euros and got minimal pre-season action, as a result both have had fragmented seasons. Beating the mackems early on last year gave us a big boost and we managed to muddle our way past Fulham & Scunthorpe. Without going through the whole fixture list, great peformances at home to Blackburn and away at Stoke were our only wins by more than 1 goal as we relied on a great defensive resistance, particularly Steven Taylor. The back 4 was pretty much unchanged - something we haven't been able to replicate this season. Once Taylor got his injury we started to ship goals left right and centre leading to a very lean December.

 

In the games at Wolves, home to Everton, home to Fulham, home to QPR..I could go on, we held on for 3 points after withstanding heavy pressure as we sat back after getting the goal(s). This is not a new thing, and as we found out away to Fulham, the opposition making a big change left Pardew flat footed and we got f***ed over, conceding 5 second half goals to average opposition. Once we reached 40 points, we finally started to relax and play a bit, which came in March and lasted a month. In this spell, Cabaye was played pretty much behind Cisse with devestating results, which can be best summed up by the goals against Swansea and Stoke. When Ba was sold this season, Pardew spoke of his will to play Cabaye in the "number 10" role, but we have yet to see it. As a result there is nobody feeding Cisse, and we're relying on lumps into the box. Cabaye is playing in front of the back 4, but from there is he doing anything that Anita cannot do? I doubt it.

 

There's also no doubt we had players in a real purple patch last season who played well above themselves. Perch & Williamson kept a couple of cleansheets, somehow, whereas this year Williamson has looked every inch a total waste of space. Players like Ryan Taylor came in and played multiple positions to good effect. This season, players have been badly out of form, Tiote, Cisse for the most part, Cabaye to an extent, the usual candidates like Obertan & Shola, Colo's obvious problems. We've also missed a Leon Best type character, scoring a handful of goals and occupying defences - although who knows if his injury would have happened had he stayed. We have had a lot of injuries, especially compared to last season. Whilst we should be able to deal with standard injuries, you can't deny we've had more than the average. This is a failing of the club though - why is the conditioning so poor? Especially when it was pretty good last season. It's definitely something the club needs to look at as we can't go on like this.

 

Even in Pardew's first season, when he took over from Hughton, we were better at everything then than we are now. Set pieces? Easily one of our biggest threats, Steven Taylor got 3 in 3 ffs. Winning well? We f***ed Wolves 4-1, beat Liverpool 3-1, Birmingham 2-0..there was plenty to be optimistic about although there were horror shows like Stoke & Fulham away, but with the loss of Carroll it could be forgiven a little. That is without mentioning the 4-4.

 

So, so far we've got a poor pre-season, bad "luck" with injuries and out of form players. There's reasons for all of them but the next thing to consider is the Europa league. The first thing is that being away for another game during the week obviously gives you less time to prepare for a game, you can't deny that. But how do other clubs manage? How have we managed previously? Typically, clubs competing in the Europa league will come close to getting back into it - or better - the next season. Liverpool, Spurs and latterly Chelsea are pretty close. We're nowhere near. So whilst our squad isn't as strong as those teams, you'd have to question why that is. The lack of investment in the summer really left us under prepared, but many of the first teamers didn't play in the EL group games, so I don't buy tiredness as an excuse. Hopefully without the Europa League Pardew can do some proper preparation, and we'll see some well executed game plans, such as Stoke & WBA last season.

 

The quality of football has been heavily criticised too - it wasn't brilliant for most of last season until the spell I touched upon earlier, but it was effective. We scored a lot of "ridiculous" goals, something we've rarely seen this season. Ryan Taylor against Everton and Jonas down at Wolves being decent examples before even going to Cisse territory. We have generally tried to play from the back at home since January, the only problem is it gets to the final third and a hopeless cross is fired in. This is where we'd benefit from Cabaye being 20 yards further forward. I'm not sure Pardew knows how to get the best out of what he's got - the problem is we don't know if Sissoko can play deeper, but he certainly isn't a number 10 and his ball carrying skills could be pretty useful still from a bit deeper. I'm fairly sure Coloccini will leave and I wouldn't be surprised to see Jonas follow him as we move to an even more French line up.

 

The more you consider it, the more you have to say last season was  the fluke rather than this season being a one-off. You can't fluke your way to 5th place though, there were some very well thought out game plans and the shape of the team in "that" run of games was great. I hope Pardew has plans to replicate it but it's going to rely on players being fit and on form. Looking back on these 2 and a half seasons under Pardew there are some things that he has only done this season, but also some worrying traits. It seems to me that his main aim is to get us "safe" and then expand a bit, but until then we'll see more of what we've seen this season. Nervous football where we sit back on 1 goal advantages. It's no surprise we've come back from behind so much at home recently, as we have to attack more and show some flair, which otherwise we wouldn't see I bet.

 

I'm not in the Pardew out crew just yet, for some reason the players seem to quite like him and the structure of the club is based around him. I think we need some more staff, as we seem light on those numbers compared to a lot of clubs, and the conditioning needs a serious overhaul. But the recruitment structure we have is decent, we've got good calibre players and the optimist in me hopes that we can get a settled team over the summer and build a team that can finish where it deserves, which is about 8 places higher than where we are now. If you look at how we played in the first half yesterday - that's more like it, we need to do it for a whole game though. What I do fear is that we'll get off to a bad start and he'll be canned in October, and we're thrown into another transition season. I hope Pardew turns it round - I have no hope of us being brilliant in these remaining 4 games, but we must stay up by any means necessary and get back to "normal" next season. I just hope normal is last season rather than this.

 

I read all of that and it turned out to be a complete waste of time. Pointless waffle for the most part.

 

I secretly thought this too but I'm not a heartless bastard, the time and effort of the post could have been said in 4 words "I'm on the fence"

[Jack Flash]

Pardew claimed we played 4-3-3 against Swansea at home this season btw.

[Mole_Toonfan]

exactly why he doesnt use the 4-3-3.

 

If that is the reason then its really pathetic on his part, Wigan did what any team could do on any given day.

 

They were clinical and took their chances and we didn't.... seriously does nobody remember the abundance of chances we created that day? we could have scored 4 or 5 ourselves easily if we were clinical like Wigan were.

 

If that is the reason he gave up on it then i don't know what to say, obviously wouldn't have saved our season or anything but would have nice to see a style of football and a system which suited the players we have on a regular basis at least.

[littlelunchbox]

exactly why he doesnt use the 4-3-3.

 

If that is the reason then its really pathetic on his part, Wigan did what any team could do on any given day.

 

They were clinical and took their chances and we didn't.... seriously does nobody remember the abundance of chances we created that day? we could have scored 4 or 5 ourselves easily if we were clinical like Wigan were.

 

If that is the reason he gave up on it then i don't know what to say, obviously wouldn't have saved our season or anything but would have nice to see a style of football and a system which suited the players we have on a regular basis at least.

 

well to be fair i was actually asking the question, maybe a rhetorical one

 

Exactly why he doesnt use the 4-3-3?

 

the facts are there are no logical reasons behind what he does.

[Gallowgate Toon]

I used to think the Wigan match was what changed his mind but that doesn't make sense. We were absolutely hammered by Fulham playing it but he went back to it 8 weeks later. He also switched to it against Spurs at home and had Papiss famously playing out wide at times. He just hasn't even bothered to attempt it since the new lads came in.

 

I don't think that we're suddenly going to turn into a top side because of a formation change but I think simply putting players in positions that bring out their abilities would make a big difference. For all the talk of footballing philosophies and whatnot nowadays, I think it's over-complicated, if you have competent players, complementing each other playing in a balanced side, they'll do damage.

[Dave]

I used to think the Wigan match was what changed his mind but that doesn't make sense. We were absolutely hammered by Fulham playing it but he went back to it 8 weeks later. He also switched to it against Spurs at home and had Papiss famously playing out wide at times. He just hasn't even bothered to attempt it since the new lads came in.

 

I don't think that we're suddenly going to turn into a top side because of a formation change but I think simply putting players in positions that bring out their abilities would make a big difference. For all the talk of footballing philosophies and whatnot nowadays, I think it's over-complicated, if you have competent players, complementing each other playing in a balanced side, they'll do damage.

 

He's probably at the stage now where he doesn't want to disrupt the 4-2-3-1 thing.

[Mole_Toonfan]

I used to think the Wigan match was what changed his mind but that doesn't make sense. We were absolutely hammered by Fulham playing it but he went back to it 8 weeks later. He also switched to it against Spurs at home and had Papiss famously playing out wide at times. He just hasn't even bothered to attempt it since the new lads came in.

 

I don't think that we're suddenly going to turn into a top side because of a formation change but I think simply putting players in positions that bring out their abilities would make a big difference. For all the talk of footballing philosophies and whatnot nowadays, I think it's over-complicated, if you have competent players, complementing each other playing in a balanced side, they'll do damage.

 

He's probably at the stage now where he doesn't want to disrupt the 4-2-3-1 thing.

 

I wouldn't mind if it actually was but with Jonas and Gouffran running back towards their own goal more often than not, Cabaye basically next to Steven Taylor and Sissoko basically next to Cisse its just a whole load of f*cked up mess

[Gallowgate Toon]

Aye, I gave up on the return to 4-3-3 a good while ago despite all the good points you raise GT. We're more equipped for it now than we were then and Cabaye in particular thrived in that system.

 

Such a shame really. Amazing watching those games today, I actually felt entertained You'd have thought we were playing under a completely different manager.

 

Cabaye was class, he only ever got major plaudits for that Stoke game IIRC but he was great in the others too. I just have no idea why Pardew's not returned to it properly.

 

The pass Cabaye played for Cisse on Saturday in the build-up to our goal shows what we're lacking with him playing so deep, it was another one of those passes that nobody else bar him and the recipient anticipated. Absolute beauty.

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

I think Sissoko has vision and can execute difficult passes but his decision-making is what ultimately separates him from Cabaye, who makes the right pass a lot of the time. It really makes a big difference when trying to build an attack and keeping pressure off.

[littlelunchbox]

I used to think the Wigan match was what changed his mind but that doesn't make sense. We were absolutely hammered by Fulham playing it but he went back to it 8 weeks later. He also switched to it against Spurs at home and had Papiss famously playing out wide at times. He just hasn't even bothered to attempt it since the new lads came in.

 

I don't think that we're suddenly going to turn into a top side because of a formation change but I think simply putting players in positions that bring out their abilities would make a big difference. For all the talk of footballing philosophies and whatnot nowadays, I think it's over-complicated, if you have competent players, complementing each other playing in a balanced side, they'll do damage.

 

nevermind doing damage, if pardew has the players in the right spirit with belief, in any formation that squad of players actually has the capacity to look like a team of footballers.

 

people say that our players seem to like Pardew?, im starting to believe that now because when you like someone and admire them, you tend to start to imitate them.  like being a complete turd.

[Yorkie]

God, ridiculously frustrating thinking about that 4-3-3. Everyone fit so fucking perfectly, and we've got the same (and better) cogs to do it all again. I'm just repeating what Gallowgate Toon's said (couple of great posts btw), but it's a bit astonishing that the fans' uproar about not playing that formation has settled down. Absolutely tragic how he's totally abandoned a formation that saw us have the best run of form since I've started supporting us. Think you could be onto something with that Wigan game, Dave. He must've shit himself big-time.

[Pilko]

Amazing to think that a one-off admittedly shit 4-0 defeat like that caused him to change tack so quickly after an amazing run of form, but even that run of 12 defeats in 16 games has seen him persevere with the same unbalanced garbage tactics and formation all season long.

[Ronaldo]

Amazing to think that a one-off admittedly shit 4-0 defeat like that caused him to change tack so quickly after an amazing run of form, but even that run of 12 defeats in 16 games has seen him persevere with the same unbalanced garbage tactics and formation all season long.

 

Think it also had a lot to do with Ba wanting to play centrally.

[Mole_Toonfan]

God, ridiculously frustrating thinking about that 4-3-3. Everyone fit so f***ing perfectly, and we've got the same (and better) cogs to do it all again. I'm just repeating what Gallowgate Toon's said (couple of great posts btw), but it's a bit astonishing that the fans' uproar about not playing that formation has settled down. Absolutely tragic how he's totally abandoned a formation that saw us have the best run of form since I've started supporting us. Think you could be onto something with that Wigan game, Dave. He must've s*** himself big-time.

 

Tbf i think that is because everyone realises that our problems far out weigh any formation but it is sad.

 

I was just watching some goals from that period and bloody hell its light years away, the 3rd against West Brom which included that Ba flick into Ben Arfa and cut back to Cisse is just something that is on another planet footballing wise from us at the moment.

[Pilko]

Amazing to think that a one-off admittedly shit 4-0 defeat like that caused him to change tack so quickly after an amazing run of form, but even that run of 12 defeats in 16 games has seen him persevere with the same unbalanced garbage tactics and formation all season long.

 

Think it also had a lot to do with Ba wanting to play centrally.

 

A manager worth his salt would have found a way to accommodate both Ba and Cisse centrally without resorting to the tripe that Pardew did. Alright, the wide options were poor so a conventional 4-4-2 was always going to be tough, but hey, why not try it for 7 or 8 games on the bounce (and completely kill Shane Ferguson's confidence by subbing him at half time every week?).

[Yorkie]

God, ridiculously frustrating thinking about that 4-3-3. Everyone fit so f***ing perfectly, and we've got the same (and better) cogs to do it all again. I'm just repeating what Gallowgate Toon's said (couple of great posts btw), but it's a bit astonishing that the fans' uproar about not playing that formation has settled down. Absolutely tragic how he's totally abandoned a formation that saw us have the best run of form since I've started supporting us. Think you could be onto something with that Wigan game, Dave. He must've s*** himself big-time.

 

Tbf i think that is because everyone realises that our problems far out weigh any formation but it is sad.

 

I was just watching some goals from that period and bloody hell its light years away, the 3rd against West Brom which included that Ba flick into Ben Arfa and cut back to Cisse is just something that is on another planet footballing wise from us at the moment.

 

We scored a ridiculous amount of brilliant goals last season. I know it's obvious to say "the goals were the best bit" - but the sheer amount of really great goals was one thing that made last season so special. That one against WBA was an exceptional team goal, but wasn't even in the top 5. You can look at others too, which are a bit forgotten - Cisse against Villa, Raylor against Everton, Ba's against WBA, Jonas Wolves x2, Sammy! I thought Cisse's second against Liverpool was brilliant too - so composed. Just so many class goals.

 

There's been the occasional really good one, but generally fuck all on that scale this season. I can only think of Cisse's against Southampton or Anita's against Brugges where I was really .

[Mole_Toonfan]

Amazing to think that a one-off admittedly s*** 4-0 defeat like that caused him to change tack so quickly after an amazing run of form, but even that run of 12 defeats in 16 games has seen him persevere with the same unbalanced garbage tactics and formation all season long.

 

Think it also had a lot to do with Ba wanting to play centrally.

 

A manager worth his salt would have found a way to accommodate both Ba and Cisse centrally without resorting to the tripe that Pardew did. Alright, the wide options were poor so a conventional 4-4-2 was always going to be tough, but hey, why not try it for 7 or 8 games on the bounce (and completely kill Shane Ferguson's confidence by subbing him at half time every week?).

 

He could have tried a diamond with Ben Arfa in behind the front 2 as well, we did have options but nah

[Ronaldo]

Amazing to think that a one-off admittedly shit 4-0 defeat like that caused him to change tack so quickly after an amazing run of form, but even that run of 12 defeats in 16 games has seen him persevere with the same unbalanced garbage tactics and formation all season long.

 

Think it also had a lot to do with Ba wanting to play centrally.

 

A manager worth his salt would have found a way to accommodate both Ba and Cisse centrally without resorting to the tripe that Pardew did. Alright, the wide options were poor so a conventional 4-4-2 was always going to be tough, but hey, why not try it for 7 or 8 games on the bounce (and completely kill Shane Ferguson's confidence by subbing him at half time every week?).

 

I know. Just saying, the Wigan game probably wasn't his only reason.

[Gallowgate Toon]

God, ridiculously frustrating thinking about that 4-3-3. Everyone fit so f***ing perfectly, and we've got the same (and better) cogs to do it all again. I'm just repeating what Gallowgate Toon's said (couple of great posts btw), but it's a bit astonishing that the fans' uproar about not playing that formation has settled down. Absolutely tragic how he's totally abandoned a formation that saw us have the best run of form since I've started supporting us. Think you could be onto something with that Wigan game, Dave. He must've s*** himself big-time.

 

I remember him mentioning a 5 of Cabaye, Sissoko, Gouffran, HBA and Cisse could be 'mouth-watering' for us, or something like that, that's the only thing that's stupidly keeping me hopeful in any way. We won't see it this season mind, by which time I imagine some players could conceivably be gone, whether we're playing in this league or not.

[Gallowgate Toon]

Amazing to think that a one-off admittedly s*** 4-0 defeat like that caused him to change tack so quickly after an amazing run of form, but even that run of 12 defeats in 16 games has seen him persevere with the same unbalanced garbage tactics and formation all season long.

 

Think it also had a lot to do with Ba wanting to play centrally.

 

This .

[littlelunchbox]

God, ridiculously frustrating thinking about that 4-3-3. Everyone fit so f***ing perfectly, and we've got the same (and better) cogs to do it all again. I'm just repeating what Gallowgate Toon's said (couple of great posts btw), but it's a bit astonishing that the fans' uproar about not playing that formation has settled down. Absolutely tragic how he's totally abandoned a formation that saw us have the best run of form since I've started supporting us. Think you could be onto something with that Wigan game, Dave. He must've s*** himself big-time.

 

I remember him mentioning a 5 of Cabaye, Sissoko, Gouffran, HBA and Cisse could be 'mouth-watering' for us, or something like that, that's the only thing that's stupidly keeping me hopeful in any way. We won't see it this season mind, by which time I imagine some players could conceivably be gone, whether we're playing in this league or not.

 

you put your slightest hope on that?  you know that means its only one injury away from being 'mouthwatering' (which is bollocks) to 'complete shower of s****' in pardew's world?

[merlin]

Dunno if these quotes from Llambias have been referred to recently, but to those who still think there's a chance he's going to get sacked at the end of the season:

 

"The eight years gives us that stability. It's very important to us to bring that to Newcastle. It hasn't had it. Ever. So the idea of an eight-year contract is that it ties us and it ties them into the way forward.

 

"Alan basically is very happy with what we do and how we do it. He's very ambitious and he's got that drive in him, so what do we lack? We lack a trophy of some sort. And we'd love to get something in there."

 

"Football wastes so much money changing their management. Look at some of the main clubs, like Arsenal and Manchester United, there's no coincidence that their success comes with their stability. Sir Alex Ferguson has done a quarter of a century plus.

 

"You can have a bad run. Sir Alex, when he first went to Man United, the first four years was tough for them as a club, but they stuck by him and now look where they are. We have to stick by our manager - and we want to.

 

"What we're trying to say is, 'Listen guys, this is our manager, this is our backroom staff and they're tied in long-term.'

 

"If we, for instance, go through a bad period, then okay, we have to take it on the chin. We have to move with that period. You can't have roses all the way through eight years.

 

"But we need that confidence that we've got the right manager, and we have.

 

"I have a very good working relationship with Alan. We can discuss any subject. We have an honest relationship, which is nice and necessary.

 

"Alan has got vision and he absolutely, absolutely wants success. That's just part of Alan. Wherever he's been, he's always been driven for that success and that's what we want. It's a good combination."

 

In other words, Ashley is going to have to sack them both, which would be a great idea in my opinion ; Llambias as a football club CEO makes an outstanding croupier.

 

I wish Mort had never left - he was streets better than this Dracula clone....

[merlin]

Will have to see the full quotes, but that from Gouffran is pretty f***ing worrying. You could argue that it's a good thing that they're seemingly still in harmony with the manager at this point, but it feels like there's a culture of negativity and excuses that is in danger of spiralling out of control. Or perhaps he's simply having a go at the coaching, which is bad in a different way.

 

I've said before - the players go along with Pardew because he probably gives them an easy time and doesn't let them take any flack ...look at how he gave them Monday off after the Mackem debacle last week ; they should have been called in at 7 a.m. Monday for a 10 mile run etc....

[merlin]

Super Macs omments

 

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/malcolm-macdonald-newcastle-uniteds-season-2947976?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

Macdonald's comments were spot on, regardless of what some think of him. People forget that he also did a decent job at Fulham as manager until his personal life intervened.

Everything he pinpointed as being wrong with the team in the Derby last week was correct ; I've seen people writing off Tiote and as Macdonald says, he used to be excellent. Likewise, the way Cabaye is playing far too deep is on the button and as for Gutierrez, well we all knew that.

 

As he says, top players will be disillusioned after this season and I can see at least one and maybe 2, departures unless there is a change of manager - I am also convinced that the players that leave will go on to show that they are much better than they look under Pardew's managment.

[Ronaldo]

Yeah, fair play to him for that.

[Stu]

Dunno if these quotes from Llambias have been referred to recently, but to those who still think there's a chance he's going to get sacked at the end of the season:

 

"The eight years gives us that stability. It's very important to us to bring that to Newcastle. It hasn't had it. Ever. So the idea of an eight-year contract is that it ties us and it ties them into the way forward.

 

"Alan basically is very happy with what we do and how we do it. He's very ambitious and he's got that drive in him, so what do we lack? We lack a trophy of some sort. And we'd love to get something in there."

 

"Football wastes so much money changing their management. Look at some of the main clubs, like Arsenal and Manchester United, there's no coincidence that their success comes with their stability. Sir Alex Ferguson has done a quarter of a century plus.

 

"You can have a bad run. Sir Alex, when he first went to Man United, the first four years was tough for them as a club, but they stuck by him and now look where they are. We have to stick by our manager - and we want to.

 

"What we're trying to say is, 'Listen guys, this is our manager, this is our backroom staff and they're tied in long-term.'

 

"If we, for instance, go through a bad period, then okay, we have to take it on the chin. We have to move with that period. You can't have roses all the way through eight years.

 

"But we need that confidence that we've got the right manager, and we have.

 

"I have a very good working relationship with Alan. We can discuss any subject. We have an honest relationship, which is nice and necessary.

 

"Alan has got vision and he absolutely, absolutely wants success. That's just part of Alan. Wherever he's been, he's always been driven for that success and that's what we want. It's a good combination."

 

In other words, Ashley is going to have to sack them both, which would be a great idea in my opinion ; Llambias as a football club CEO makes an outstanding croupier.

 

I wish Mort had never left - he was streets better than this Dracula clone....

 

Interesting point for someone who is at pains to point out Pardew's "sales talk" - wasn't that exactly what Mort did during the Keegan saga?