It all started so well for the Magpies with a goal after only three minutes from Yohan Cabaye. However it all went a bit “Pete Tong” when Tiote was given a straight red card after 25 minutes for an unnecessary studs up challenge when referee Martin Atkinson was already giving us a free kick, though it should also be said that the sending off was a little harsh. Not the biggest miscarriage of justice in human history perhaps, though a little harsh nonetheless. Sadly, it also curtailed Shola Ameobi’s Mackem slaying for the today as Alan Pardew sacrificed him to shore up the defensive side with the introduction of James Perch after around 40 minutes. (more…)
Pardew: More hot air.Alan Pardew has revealed to the Shields Gazette that though he feels that Mike Ashley has found the manager of his dreams at last, he’s going to need players who can pass the ball better to improve the team.
Although some of us might say that the teams problems in possession might have something to do with Pardew’s direct style with lots of very long passes to go astray, Pardew has chosen to blame the quality of the players in his current squad. Newcastle currently make the third highest amount of passes over both 25 and 35 yards in the Premiership, behind his Reading protege Brian McDermott, and of course, Stoke City.
Speaking on the recent eight year contracts handed to himself and his assistants recently, and how he feels Mike has found his dream manager at last after being let down by predecessors such as Chris Hughton and Kevin Keegan, Pardew reflected: (more…)
Vampires.“And how the poverty of these unfortunates, among whom even thieves find nothing to steal, is exploited by the property-holding class in lawful ways.” – Frederick Engels, The Condition of the Working Class in England.
It is no longer news that Internet loan shark “Wonga” will be the club’s sponsors from next season for a period of four years.
I was going to write this piece a few days ago, but on reflection, I decided to leave it for a short while to see what emerged in terms of further details about the deal itself, and also the level of opprobrium which was inevitably going to follow the announcement. The exact amount is still shrouded in secrecy, though a figure of £24 million for the four years (£6 million per year) was bandied around in the media after the announcement was made, then the Telegraph claimed that the figure is more like £8 million per year (£32 million over four years). When this was put to the Managing Director, Derek Llambias, he suggested that the £8 million figure was “not far off.” As it’s Llambias though, this may not be true, but it is all we have to go on. As well as this, it is also been claimed that Wonga will be investing a further £1.5 million in the club’s Academy.
Llambias had the following to say on the new deal: (more…)
Highlights of this afternoon’s game between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James’ Park (more highlights below).
Someone did say once (not Einstein as is commonly thought) that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but each time expecting a different result. However, Alan Pardew doesn’t seem to be familiar with this particular expression. Hence the same old story played itself out once again at St James’ Park this afternoon, ie Alan Pardew persisting with setting up the team in a shape which was all wrong from the kick off, realising he’s made the same mistake some way into the game when the Magpies were two goals down thanks to set piece goals from Jonny Evans and Patrice Evra. With the usual inevitability, he then changed it around to the way it should have been in the first place and watched the team improve immeasurably. (more…)
Them again.Venue: The Wonga Loan Shark Arena? Date: Sunday, 7th Oct. Kick off: 4:00pm Referee: Howard Webb (Manchester United). UK TV: Sky Sports 1.
Once again, Manchester United will, very helpfully, be bringing their own referee along for this game. Of course, I am referring to Howard Webb, who they also kindly brought along for the corresponding fixture at SJP back in January 2012, and who was also in charge of our most recent Premier League home loss, against Manchester City last May.
This will also be the second live televised game between the sides in two weeks, the last one of course being our League Cup exit against the Red Devils on the 26th of last month. Both teams were also in midweek European action, with the Mancs narrowly winning 2-1 against Cluj on Tuesday while Newcastle beat Bordeaux a little more emphatically on Thursday.
So, after a successful Europa League outing in which we managed 29 minutes of 4-3-3, will Pardew revert to the same old cautious 4-4-2 or risk giving his players another chance for a “breath of fresh air” by going for a positive attacking line up against the Red Devils? Interestingly, the last time we played the Reds at SJP was just after they’d suffered a 2-3 defeat at home (to Blackburn). So maybe the omens are looking good for us tomorrow?
