Pardew: Sticking with his old excuses.After Jonas Gutierrez publically criticised Newcastle United’s lack of intensity in their training sessions last season, Alan Pardew went away for a while, had a think, and has decided that both his staff and himself “need to be honest about it” and admit that mistakes were made.
He then goes on to suggest that Gutierrez saying training sessions are “a bit too easy” was a little misleading at least by once again pointing the finger of blame at the stresses of playing in the Europa League, injuries and a lack of quality players.
“You’ve got to be open and honest about it as a staff,” the Silver Supremo began, continuing:
“My staff – my immediate staff and myself as manager – need to be honest about it, mistakes were made. You need to be honest enough to admit them and look at when and why they were made.”
Pardew then went on to discount Gutierrez’s critique, falling back on his old chestnuts:(more…)
Pardew: Knock-on effect of French success.In the second installment of his exclusive interview with Sports Direct News (the first is here), Newcastle United’s manager, Alan Pardew, revealed that French players are attracted to Newcastle United because both they and their agents have seen how successful other French players have become after joining the club.
With players such as Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye, Mathieu Debuchy, Mapou Yanga Mbiwa and more abandoning French Championship winning sides such as Marseilles, Lille and Montpellier for a chance to come 16th in the Premiership, Pardew described the “knock-on effect” this has on other French players who want a taste of the same success.
He explained:“Sometimes there is a knock-on effect when you get good quality in a certain place.
“It might be Germany but for us it’s France and there has been this knock-on effect.
“When French players do well here other French players then assume it will be an easier course for them to come in to the Premier League.(more…)
Pardew – Fist pumping his way back to the top ten?Speaking exclusively to Sports Direct News, Alan Pardew saluted Mike Ashley’s “bravery” in saving Newcastle United from the Championship, but also suggested that he may not be able to do it a second time should the club be relegated again.
He also revealed that without the handicap of European football in the coming season, though his first aim will be to avoid relegation, he will be ambitious and go for a top ten finish or possibly even higher. Though how he could aim higher than the top ten, he didn’t explain.
“I think realistically we should look to finish in the top ten and hopefully get ourselves in a position where we can attack higher than that” said the Silver Supremo, adding:
“When it gets to February we’ll have a clearer indication of where we’re going to be.”
Pardew then spoke of how it is relief from the pressures of European football, along with good players which has enabled him to aim so high after last season’s disappointing 16th: (more…)
.“It’s a big statement by Wonga to say: ‘We want the naming rights and we’re going to give it back to the fans and the community’.”gushed Derek Llambias.
“Getting the St James’ name back is fantastic. It is a clever move in terms of getting fans in a good place.”
“For so long, Llambias and owner Mike Ashley were associated with taking unpopular decisions (“We started off poorly,” he admits) but the announcement of a controversial deal with Wonga yesterday was significantly sweetened by news about the stadium name.” purred the Journal’s Mark Douglas.
Yet the sums just do not seem to add up. It was trumpted by Llambias that the new sponsorship deal with Wonga would be the club’s “biggest-ever commercial deal.” and when asked if the total deal amounted to £8 million per season, he acknowledged that sum was “not far off.” £6 million of this is going into the main shirt sponsorship side of the deal. As I pointed out in this earlier piece, this is actually slightly below the mean figure of £7.36 million for Premier League shirt sponsorship. However both Wonga and Llambias have made much of the fact that a further £1.5 million will go into the club’s Benton Academy and the Newcastle United Foundation, where Wonga will be getting involved with future customers local youngsters from underprivileged families. (more…)
Pardew is a Geordie?In his recent interview on Radio Newcastle’s “Total Sport,” Alan Pardew informed listeners of the show that like figures such as Kevin Keegan before him, he is now “almost an adopted Geordie, trust me.”
In the same interview, he also reassured all the Geordies who have taken him to their hearts that he still has seven years left of his eight year contract which he intends to see out, and that he won’t let Joe Kinnear or anyone else “tread on his toes” or intefere with the club’s style of play.
When asked if Joe Kinnear’s appointment helped or hindered his cause (whatever that means), the Silver Supremo answered:
“I’m almost an adopted Geordie, trust me and on my travels I’ve seen many fans this summer and they’ve all relayed to me that they really want us to do better than last year and I do as well.(more…)
