Archive for category: Alan Pardew.

The return of Agent Bruce! Newcastle United vs Hull City match preview

September 20th, 2013 | 32 Comments |

Steve Bruce.
Steve “Dreamboat” Bruce returns to SJP.
Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle United.
Date: Sat 21st Sep, 2013.
Kick off: 3.00pm.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (Bradford).
UK TV: None.

This week, the Magpies welcome Steve Bruce back to St James’ Park, this time with his promoted Hull City side.

After a long, long run of poor form, somehow, Alan Pardew goes into this game looking for his third Premier League victory in a row after two one goal victories over toothless Fulham and Aston Villa sides. The last time Pardew and Newcastle managed this feat was almost a year and a half ago back in April 2012. It was actually SIX victories in a row, over Norwich City, West Brom, Liverpool, Swansea City, Bolton Wanderers and finally, Stoke City. That was towards the end of the season when we finished fifth and it’s been pretty much downhill ever since! Here’s hoping we can get the same result as the last time Bruce was at St James’ Park. Of course, that time “Agent” Bruce brought his his Blunderland side to St James’ Park for a comprehensive 5-1 stuffing at the hands of Chris Hughton. (more…)

Pardew claims his home form is always “brilliant:” Let’s check the facts!

September 18th, 2013 | 160 Comments |

Alan Pardnocchio.
Pardnocchio’s been at it again!
With two one goal victories under his belt against Fulham and Aston Villa, Alan Pardew has started getting very cocky again. Speaking in one of his post match interviews after the Villa game he said the following amongst other things:

“Our home form since I’ve been at the football club has been brilliant”

So, I thought I would look deeper at his bullish claim and put it to the test, as going from what I have seen at St James’ Park in Pardew’s time at the club, it certainly hasn’t seemed that way. It has seemed like more like one good season sandwiched by one and a half poor ones.

Before I begin though, it should be remembered (though I’m sure you know already) that a team’s home form is almost always better than it’s away form, and sometimes much better with even mediocre teams getting around a 50% win percentage, though if those teams had a 50% win percentage for ALL their games, they would stand a very good chance of getting into the European places, not at the very top, but like Tottenham, or Pardew’s Newcastle when we came fifth and competed in the Europa League the following season. In that 2011-12 season, Newcastle United won 50% of all it’s Premier League games (19 out of 38), and 51.16% of all games (22 out of 43). So, bearing all that in mind, I have looked at ALL of Pardew’s home games at St James’ Park, both in the Premier League and in cup competitions. (more…)

Aston Villa vs Newcastle United match preview and match banter!

September 14th, 2013 | 81 Comments |

Aston Villa v Newcastle United.
Hopefully, Benteke will stub his toe on the way to Villa Park!
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham.
Date: Sat 14th Sep, 2013.
Kick off: 3.00pm.
Referee: Mike Dean.
UK TV: None.

The resumption of Premier League action after the International break see Newcastle United travelling to Birmingham’s Villa Park for this afternoon’s game against Aston Villa.

Previous results.

Newcastle United and Aston Villa come into this game at 12th and 13th in the Premier League respctively with 4 points to Newcastle United, and 3 to Aston Villa. Looking at their Premier League form so far this season, Aston Villa got off to an excellent start, convincingly beating Arsenal 3-1. However, this was followed by two successive defeats, 2-1 to Chelsea and 0-1 to Liverpool. Meanwhile, as you probably know, Newcastle’s results have been getting steadily better. After a 4-0 mauling by Manchester City in their opening game, this managed a 0-0 draw with West Ham, finally scraping 1-0 win against a toothless Fulham in their last game. (more…)