Alan Pardew

[Zero]

We could win every single game this season and I'd still have the same opinion of him.

 

Think he's unnecessarily negative in both his words and team setup. We're on target to qualify for that Europe that he was glad we weren't in this year though

 

Me too. Hopefully he does the right thing and resigns if we qualify.

 

Yep

 

Never happen though.

[Guest firetotheworks]

I fucking hate Pardew, but that's ridiculous tbh.

[madras]

We could win every single game this season and I'd still have the same opinion of him.

 

Think he's unnecessarily negative in both his words and team setup. We're on target to qualify for that Europe that he was glad we weren't in this year though

dear me. theres some shite posted on here but that just about tops everything.

[Cajun]

We could win every single game this season and I'd still have the same opinion of him.

 

Think he's unnecessarily negative in both his words and team setup. We're on target to qualify for that Europe that he was glad we weren't in this year though

dear me. theres some shite posted on here but that just about tops everything.

 

Basically we qualify for the champions league and win the premier league

[Dave]

I fucking hate Pardew, but that's ridiculous tbh.

[Guest bimpy474]

We could win every single game this season and I'd still have the same opinion of him.

 

Think he's unnecessarily negative in both his words and team setup. We're on target to qualify for that Europe that he was glad we weren't in this year though

 

<a href="http://reactiongifs.com/?p=7062"><img src="http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/firefly.gif"></a>

[Guest]

[Parky]

Deserves credit for being above Spurs & Man U who'd have been in most peoples top 4s in the summer after 1/3 of the season.

[Tiresias]

Blimey 

 

He deserves credit for improving how we've played since last season, even if a lot of that season has to be laid at his door. You can't credit him for us being shit then suddenly absolve him of credit when we're good.

 

Thing is the one thing he's always been decent at is man management, and after and even during last season it would be very easy for the team spirit to completely fragment, but the players still seem to be playing for each other a lot barring a few exceptions, and that I think has allowed him to claw back some form, that and talented players playing their way out of bad form.

 

Tactically I still think he's a coward who will always go with the most cautious option and with him our ambition will always be limited, but we're doing alright at the moment and he's picked us up after what could have been a serious wobble with the sunderland result.

[Mick]

I f***ing hate Pardew, but that's ridiculous tbh.

 

That depends, Pardew could be "unnecessarily negative in both his words and team setup" and win every game.  Winning every game wouldn't change the fact that he was negative, hypothetically.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Completely agree with him not playing Ben Arfa, we are a much better team without him.

 

Yet we could be such a much better team with him in it, so much better. Only the idiot in the dugout knows nowt better than 4-4-2. Actually, to his credit, he has tried to change things, fit in Ben Arfa etc. so to say he knows nowt but 4-4-2 is wrong. He just doesn't know how to get anything other than 4-4-2 to work and although its not doing us any harm at the moment, because we are winning, long-term we need more variation, we need to be able to play another way and we need Ben Arfa in our side because quite frankly, he is our best player.

 

For Pardew to have him on the bench says everything about him as a manager and his limitations. He has tried and tried to fit him in and tried different styles and systems, again all to his credit, but because he doesn't trust him fully he reverts back to type which is a hard working wide man which Ben Arfa has tried to be but by being that player you're wasting a shirt almost.

 

So he's out of the team and probably never going to ammount to anything here. For fans of his which I am one of, its time to accept that under Pardew he and players like him, i.e. Marveux and maybe even your Anitas, will never really blossom because they are not 4-4-2 material which is Pardew's stamp.

 

What we are now seeing is the right players being used in the right formation for Pardew. Given our quality we are going to win games. We have one of the Premier League's top goalscorers in Remy. Cabaye and Tiote are back to their best and can be a formidable pair. Goufran and Sissoko are willing hard working wide man who can narrow the pitch if need be or stretch it with their pace and power. They also provide a goal threat. Shola is a capable target man and we play to him, he has become our focal point in attack. In defence we have two full-backs who are well protected and in the centre we have a good combo whether its Williamson or Colo, Williamson or Mapou or Colo and Mapou. In Krul we have someone when the defence is breached, can keep the ball out of the net.

 

Good players for 4-4-2, the right players for the way we play. All basic stuff and its working. But will it last and even if it doesn't, it needs to work well enough enough times to succeed long-term. And I don't think it will. It relies on the current lot being fit, up for it and in the mood and for other factors to go our way as well.

 

The minute Goufran gets injured or Shola for example and we will struggle because Pardew has shown he is not capable of playing any other way to any great degree of success.

 

That's why he's a limited manager and why we will never reach the heights we really can with these players. Ben Arfa could tear this league apart. A confident Cisse with the right service will get you a boat load of goals. Anita is a clever player who can do Tiote's job but better. But Pardew would never put him in there because he's not mean enough, he doesn't kick enough players and he isn't tough enough.

 

Anita is a very good and clever passer, he can sit and protect the back four but also contribute in the final 3rd. A manager with vision would look at Tiote and Anita and would see that the latter would bring so much more to the team than Tiote who I actually rate by the way. But in a 4-4-2, Tiote is your man.

 

Ben Arfa can't be trusted in Pardew's system full stop, despite the numerous attempts. He's too free thinking, too much of a free spirit. Pardew doesn't like that, he needs his wide men to work tirelessly for 90 minutes up and down. He doesn't want his wide man drifting infield to go on some mazy run leaving the full-back exposed or the midfield too crowded.

 

Up front Cisse is too much hard work for Pardew, you can't lump it long to him like you can Shola. You can't ask him to go toe to toe with a defender or to come deep into midfield to help out. Well you can and Pardew has tried but he isn't that kind of payer. Cisse needs movement and through balls, he needs time and space. When he first signed we played some wonderful free flowing little triangles in and around the final 3rd. We were a joy to watch at times. We worked the ball so well.

 

That was akin to the defender getting a nose bleed going forwards to Pardew though. Back to kick and rush or 4-4-2.

 

Remy has been huge for us, he's perfect. He's similar to what Bellamy was under Sir Bobby, only he's a much better finisher. Mind he lacks Bellamy's none stop work-rate and searing pace. Remy offers us a threat over the top with his pace, clever movement and running. He can also drift wide of the centre-forward.

 

Shola has also been huge for us as the centre-forward because without him we would have to play Cisse who as we all know isn't and never will thrive for us in such a role/system and that is why we often struggle when he is in the side. Ba thrived because he has the attributes Shola does, and then sum.

 

So 4-4-2 it is and we are winning games and doing well so credit to Pardew, but only just mind. There is nothing magical about the way we play or anything remotely great. We are a hard working side, with a team of players who have great spirit, players who are not f***ing bad you know. So we are going to win games, especially if said players are played in the right place and with the right role in the right system. Sissoko is never a number 10. Goufran isn't a CF. Remy isn't either.

 

This is our limit though as a team under Pardew, 4-4-2 and the likes of Ben Arfa on the sidelines.

 

Finish top 6 and I'd settle for that but we could really go places as a team, with the players we have. We shouldn't have to sit back against the likes of Norwich to protect a 1-0 lead or be incapable of some possession football. We have players who should be trusted to play their stuff in a way which is worth watching, worth getting excited about and worth dreaming of a better future with.

 

Getting back to Pardew he deserves massive credit for this turnaround following the mackem debacle and he deserves credit for the lack of hoof-ball this season. We still play direct and long football at times but its not aimless guff and its only ever a last resort or option these days. He also deserves credit for going back to basics, sticking with the 4-4-2 and the players he is using.

 

It its not broke and all that RE Shola/Ben Arfa/Anita...

 

It does make me wonder just how much of last season and the start of this one we have wasted by trying this or that formation, using players here there and everywhere (Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Cisse etc.). I really do believe following our 5th place finish and his manager of the year award he went all f***ing crazy RE systems, tactics and player roles and didn't he look f***ing stupid and way out of his depth doing so.

 

Stick to what you know best eh?!

[Guest]

But if we won the league, why would it matter if he played negative football? (which we're not at the moment)

[Zero]

wow

[Tiresias]

I for one would accept negative footy if it meant winning every game, I don't think you could be that negative and get 3 points every game mind, sure it'd be miserable at times, and would be nice if we got more positive the next season, but imagine winning the league! Call me a pragmatist...

[Ikon]

Good post HTT.

[Tiresias]

Good post HTT.

 

Curse of the new page after you post a giant post strikes

[Gallowgate Toon]

We played our best football under Pardew in a 4-3-3, I think it's pretty unfair to say he only knows 4-4-2. Not that playing 4-4-2 is in any way, shape or form a bad thing considering we've had some really exciting spells of football, of late. To be honest, I think we are a better team without Ben Arfa (at the minute). He's obviously massively talented but he currently doesn't offer as much defensive protection, work rate, consistency of decision-making or off-the-ball movement as Sissoko. I'm not too bothered about the former two attributes, but the latter two have been really useful over the last few games.

 

At the end of the day, it's a team game and it's all about having the players that complement one another in a shape that works, we've found that and it's produced some really good results. Ben Arfa's time will come but he has to change his game a bit, not for the worse either.

[Tiresias]

I like this 4-4-2 but I do prefer having a fast CB like Mapou involved allows for there to be more cover with the undernumbered midfield.

 

I do like having 2 upfront and I do like how strong our team is now and full of running, I know slight english stereotype but with the added bite of a creative midfield hub in Cabaye and wingers who cut in it's working very well and I don't agree that we are currently poor to watch, but we do flirt with being really scrappy and I do yearn for HBA lighting things up with his runs.

[Gallowgate Toon]

I like this 4-4-2 but I do prefer having a fast CB like Mapou involved allows for there to be more cover with the undernumbered midfield.

 

I do like having 2 upfront and I do like how strong our team is now and full of running, I know slight english stereotype but with the added bite of a creative midfield hub in Cabaye and wingers who cut in it's working very well and I don't agree that we are currently poor to watch, but we do flirt with being really scrappy and I do yearn for HBA lighting things up with his runs.

 

Mapou should definitely be starting, no question.

 

The best thing about Sissoko and Gouffran on the flanks is that they have a lot of good movement. Compare that to earlier in the year with Marveaux and HBA out wide, they just wanted the ball to feet all the time and never really got the full back on the turn.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

We played our best football under Pardew in a 4-3-3, I think it's pretty unfair to say he only knows 4-4-2. Not that playing 4-4-2 is in any way, shape or form a bad thing considering we've had some really exciting spells of football, of late. To be honest, I think we are a better team without Ben Arfa (at the minute). He's obviously massively talented but he currently doesn't offer as much defensive protection, work rate, consistency of decision-making or off-the-ball movement as Sissoko. I'm not too bothered about the former two attributes, but the latter two have been really useful over the last few games.

 

At the end of the day, it's a team game and it's all about having the players that complement one another in a shape that works, we've found that and it's produced some really good results. Ben Arfa's time will come but he has to change his game a bit, not for the worse either.

 

We did but it was kind of by default, due to the arrival of Cisse in the main. After his debut, the fee we paid and the hype, he had to start. He couldn't drop his top goalscore in BA ether and by that time Ben Arfa's wonder goals and skill was too tempting. When it didn't produce the reults though he dropped the whole system.

 

Pardew simply doesn't trust the players enough or any other system other than 4-4-2, that's why he relies so heavily on his own tactics or rather that's why his own tactics dominate our play so much. He's a stats man, prozone etc., he is all about meticulous detail and percentages. He's a silver haired slim southern Big Sam basically. Ironically, one of the reason's Allardyce failed here was because he tried to be something he wasn't, he tried to be too varied and too mixed with his tactics, set-ups, systems and with the players. Had he just kept to what he knew best he might have done much better.

 

I agree with your latter sentiments and points. It is a team game and we seem to have a good team at the moment even if it doesn't necessarily contain the best players. Shola starting for us in 2013? I know a lot of that is dictated by our lack of spending in the striker department since the arrival of Cisse/departure of Ba but still... Pardew uses him because he needs him, our whole way of playing needs Shola. He doesn't have the creative vision or the confidence and wherewithal to for example, build a team around the obvious talents of Cisse and Ben Arfa.

 

Sissoko is working wide-right for now but I look at his game, his attributes and when I see him wide I just think we are never ever going to see just what he can be or do. Same with Ben Arfa.

 

Thankfully Cabaye seems to be playing much further forward this season, I think that's more in part down to Tiote being fit and back to his old self rather than a conscious decision or tactic of Pardew's mind.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Mapou is like Cisse to Pardew. He is too much hard work. He likes to bring the ball out, he likes to pass it about, he likes to get involved and he likes to even go on a mazy run. He's a footballing defender and that's not what Pardew wants really. If he cut all that from his game and played like Williamson, he'd be one of the first names on the sheet but why work on him cutting it out when he can simply not play him and use him only when he needs to, ala Cisse?

 

Perhaps all that hard work he obviously has put into Ben Arfa but with no real success has made him think fuck that, its not worth it. It fits in with his percentages and back to basics type mindset really.

 

That's why I think he's been dropped and not Williamson. Obviously on paper Colo and Mapou should be starting. They are better players and better defenders but its about what Pardew wants back there and what he sees is better for the team I suppose. In that sense, Pardew is for once, being rationale and doing what is best for the team.

[Tiresias]

I think to assume Pardew has a massive anti Mapou bias is slightly harsh, he considers Colo his captain on the pitch and thinks we need him in the team, and Willo is playing fantastic so in his head made sense to replace our ball playing CB with Colo, does not mean he considers Mapou a liability or anything. I agree would prefer Colo had to fight harder for his place back but it's not amoung his most crazy choices.

[Elliottman]

Mapou is like Cisse to Pardew. He is too much hard work. He likes to bring the ball out, he likes to pass it about, he likes to get involved and he likes to even go on a mazy run. He's a footballing defender and that's not what Pardew wants really. If he cut all that from his game and played like Williamson, he'd be one of the first names on the sheet but why work on him cutting it out when he can simply not play him and use him only when he needs to, ala Cisse?

 

Perhaps all that hard work he obviously has put into Ben Arfa but with no real success has made him think f*** that, its not worth it. It fits in with his percentages and back to basics type mindset really.

 

That's why I think he's been dropped and not Williamson. Obviously on paper Colo and Mapou should be starting. They are better players and better defenders but its about what Pardew wants back there and what he sees is better for the team I suppose. In that sense, Pardew is for once, being rationale and doing what is best for the team.

 

Take it for what it's worth but mark Douglas reckons pardew doesn't full trust mym in he air enough yet.

[Yorkie]

4-4-2 is all Pardew knows how to employ to any effect, I agree with that. The 4-3-3 worked great but was obviously just a flash in the pan, where the momentum was with us. Last season, every variation of the 4-2-3-1 was more tragic than the last. He knows how to grind out results with a 4-4-2, which is why it was so stupid that we didn't get a winger in the summer. Fortunately he's struck lucky in having two players in Gouffran and Sissoko who both have ridiculous stamina levels, and have made the wings their own. Something else we've got away with.

[Gallowgate Toon]

We played our best football under Pardew in a 4-3-3, I think it's pretty unfair to say he only knows 4-4-2. Not that playing 4-4-2 is in any way, shape or form a bad thing considering we've had some really exciting spells of football, of late. To be honest, I think we are a better team without Ben Arfa (at the minute). He's obviously massively talented but he currently doesn't offer as much defensive protection, work rate, consistency of decision-making or off-the-ball movement as Sissoko. I'm not too bothered about the former two attributes, but the latter two have been really useful over the last few games.

 

At the end of the day, it's a team game and it's all about having the players that complement one another in a shape that works, we've found that and it's produced some really good results. Ben Arfa's time will come but he has to change his game a bit, not for the worse either.

 

We did but it was kind of by default, due to the arrival of Cisse in the main. After his debut, the fee we paid and the hype, he had to start. He couldn't drop his top goalscore in BA ether and by that time Ben Arfa's wonder goals and skill was too tempting. When it didn't produce the reults though he dropped the whole system.

 

Well, we played 4-4-2 a lot when Cisse arrived, we only switched to 4-3-3 against West Brom, IIRC. He has a habit of ripping things up when they fail, he'll do it with this current set up when it goes tits up. One of his biggest and most annoying flaws.

 

Pardew simply doesn't trust the players enough or any other system other than 4-4-2, that's why he relies so heavily on his own tactics or rather that's why his own tactics dominate our play so much. He's a stats man, prozone etc., he is all about meticulous detail and percentages. He's a silver haired slim southern Big Sam basically. Ironically, one of the reason's Allardyce failed here was because he tried to be something he wasn't, he tried to be too varied and too mixed with his tactics, set-ups, systems and with the players. Had he just kept to what he knew best he might have done much better.

 

I think that's simply untrue. I'd wager that over the last 18 months, we've played a 4-3-3 variant more than 2 up top, he obviously has trusted them with it but we've largely not delivered. I think he's got a bit more 'flair' to him than Fat Sam, same ilk though, I generally agree with that.

 

I agree with your latter sentiments and points. It is a team game and we seem to have a good team at the moment even if it doesn't necessarily contain the best players. Shola starting for us in 2013? I know a lot of that is dictated by our lack of spending in the striker department since the arrival of Cisse/departure of Ba but still... Pardew uses him because he needs him, our whole way of playing needs Shola. He doesn't have the creative vision or the confidence and wherewithal to for example, build a team around the obvious talents of Cisse and Ben Arfa.

 

There's really nothing wrong with Shola's role. Take Giroud away from Arsenal, Lewandowski from Dortmund, Mandzukic from Bayern and that will change how they play, they are integral to that style, for teams that are known for playing exciting attacking football. Having a player that can play in the air and on the deck has become pretty important over the last few years, it shouldn't be seen as a negative. I actually think Remy can play as the second striker, like he showed against Fulham, it just makes sense to have Remy-Shola in their current form.

 

Sissoko is working wide-right for now but I look at his game, his attributes and when I see him wide I just think we are never ever going to see just what he can be or do. Same with Ben Arfa.

 

I'm not too fussed if we don't see the complete best from him in the middle, if it's better for the team where he is now. Not that I think he's seen as a long-term option there, I think he will certainly get his shot in the centre in the future. I actually think we'll get the most out of him playing as a CM in a 4-4-2, rather than in a midfield 3

 

Thankfully Cabaye seems to be playing much further forward this season, I think that's more in part down to Tiote being fit and back to his old self rather than a conscious decision or tactic of Pardew's mind.

 

I think that's doing Pardew a disservice. This is as good as Cabaye has been playing for us, even when Tiote was performing to a similar level in 11/12, Cabaye wasn't as advanced as he is now. Credit to Pardew, in my opinion. Surely if Cabaye was going against his orders, we'd have seen a recent change in his game? If it wasn't initially a Pardew decision, then he deserves credit for having the positivity to continue with it.