Entertainers Mark 2?Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye and manager Alan Pardew give their view on our Champions League aspirations.
Alan Pardew’s switch to a 4-3-3 has certainly improved Newcastle in terms of entertainment value and with players like Ben Arfa on the pitch we’re recapturing a little of the classic, 90’s ‘Entertainers’ era. Yohan Cabaye gives a nod towards that era in his latest interview. Cabaye said:
“I was young but I remember David Ginola playing here.”
Thanks Yohan, you’ve made me feel quite old. He’d have been 8-10 during those years.
“They were fighting with Man United for the title and they beat them 5-0, and I remember Ginola’s goal. We are proud to share some records with them.,” Cabaye continued.
Then, talking about our Champions League aspirations, Cabaye said:
“Why not? We have four games and we’re in a good position.
“It was important to beat Stoke to help secure the Europa League. For the Champions League though, I think we must wait to see if we are still in the race when we play Man City here and Everton away. But we have a chance.” (more…)
Pardew has clarity on the budgetNewcastle United manager Alan Pardew has once again being talking about the club’s budget.
Alan Pardew has gone on record again to say that he understands the budget he’s operating under at Newcastle. In an interview which broadly echoes one he made earlier this weekPardew said:
“I do think that the clarity of the budget is important. Some fans may not be entirely happy with the amount we have to spend, but at least they know the whole picture.
“When you look at the world economy and where football is at the moment, we are seeing some really tough times. We have seen examples of Portsmouth and Rangers in Scotland that show if you over-stretch, you are going to find yourself in serious trouble and you are putting the club’s future at risk.
“At Newcastle, we have got a good foundation and a good financial model, and now the question is whether we can bring success within that model.
“That’s the challenge that I accepted when I joined the club, and so far we are doing well and can hopefully continue to grow as we go along.” (more…)
SJP Forever! Some United supporters it has to be said were fairly laid back about the attempt by the current “southern-based tenants” to consign the name St James’ Park to history. The geordies amongst us, who were brought up the correct way, refused to give up our history without a fight. The name means a lot to us. It did to our fathers and grandfathers. There’s too much of our lives, our memories, our passion and our families histories tied up in the cathedral on the hill. It will always be St James’ Park.
Some people wondered about Newcastle City Council’s support for the fans’ view – in refusing to change any of the signage in the city – all signs still point to St James’ Park. A publicity stunt? No – an acceptance of reality? yes. The southern tenants squatting in St James’ Park have even muttered about taking legal action against the City Council – now that would be a popular move Mr Ashley – NOT!
The point is that the naming of the ground after a T-shirt shop is transitory, temporary. Even the current tenants admit it, and claim to be actively seeking another sponsor, another name to plaster all over St James’ Park and point at the TV cameras, in return for a fast buck. So why should the city council spend ratepayers money changing the signs, just to have to spend even more ratepayers money changing them again when a new sponsor is found? And all of this when the country is allegedly skint, and the London Government is taking money away from our council (and the NHS, the schools etc) to pay for their 6-week Olympic extravaganza? (more…)
Happy? Reasonably so it seems.Newcastle United striker Demba Ba was allegedly ‘unhappy’ when he was taken off against Bolton but there was little hint of any unhappiness in Ba’s recent interview.
There has been a bit of speculation about whether or not Demba Ba is happy to play on the left of a front three but the man himself has come out and said that he his. Sort of.
Ba said:
“The coach told me he would put me on the left and, for the team, I thought, ‘Let’s do it’. I know the qualities of Papiss as a finisher.
“As a striker, you like to be in the striking position but now the coach has made the decision – he has decided Papiss will be there.
“I do what I have to do to balance the formation for the good of the team. If I can be in the finishing area, I do everything to be there. If I cannot be there, we do the work for Papiss.”
So it’s obvious he’d prefer to be playing right in front of goal but he seems to be prepared to do a job wherever he has to play, which is what I’d expect of a professional like Ba. (more…)
"Making Good Progress"Alan Pardew has been talking to The Sunday Mirror – and his comments confirm what most of us now accept is happening at United.
The “austerity” policy and supporting business model which Mike Ashley instigated when taking over the club, and which was highly criticised by many United fans, including myself, is achieving what it set out to do – to make the club financially sound and put it in a position to compete with the so-called “Big Clubs” at the top of the Premier League.
Pardew told The Sunday Mirror:
“From day one I’ve tried to be open and honest about the financial model we’re operating. I understood the fans’ initial resentment”
“Mike set out to make Newcastle self-financing and I knew exactly what that framework entailed when I took the job in December 2010. I’ve aimed to be transparent with the supporters and give them clarity about what we are trying to achieve and how we will operate in the transfer market.
“They know that in certain circumstances we will sell players.”(more…)
