Silver Supremo scolds Bordeaux bairns.Speaking after Newcastle United’s 2-0 capitulation to Bordeaux in their last Europa League Group D game, Alan Pardew blamed the fact that the side had already qualified for the next round, Bordeaux’s pitch and some disappointing performances for the younger players he fielded for the defeat.
Pardew wailed:
“Yeah, I was a bit disappointed really. We both played mixed teams, we both obviously qualified which made it psychologically a difficult game I think. The pitch was difficult, it was heavy. They play Rugby on that pitch and it was heavy on the legs. I thought they coped better with the pitch and they were the better side. They deserved to win.”
He then moved on, pouring scorn on the young players who he felt didn’t take their chance to impress him. He also suggested that they may have blown their only chance to put themselves in his thoughts for future games this season as more “Purple” first team regulars return, continuing: (more…)
A battle of the bairns in Bordeaux?Venue: Stade Chaban Delmas, Bordeaux. Date: 6th December 2012. Kick off: 6:00pm UK time (7pm local time). Referee: Menashe Masiah (Israel). UK TV: ESPN.
Hello, good evening and welcome to our “match banter” feature for this evening’s game, which sees the Magpies facing the Girondins of Bordeaux once again, this time at their place.
Both teams might already be through to the next stage, but this is more than a dead rubber as the teams will fighting to see who comes out as the winners of Group D, which will have consequences for the next round. Whilst it might not guaranteed that the group winners will avoid a difficult team in the next round for reasons which are horrendously complicated (as they usually are in the Europa League), what it will guarantee is that the winners will be able to play the second leg of their next knockout rounds at home.
Anyway, moving on to the game itself, you might know already that Alan Pardew and the lads were delayed by the weather in their trip over to France, but below is the squad he is taking, with an emphasis on youth, along with a few veterans (Captain Colo and Uncle Shola) to look after the bairns: (more…)
Demba Ba and Vurnon Anita v Wigan.Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a guest blog this time! Many thanks to “ToonBano” from the Toon blog www.toonbano.com for his thoughts – wt.
What a relief.
NUFC have stopped the rot of 4 straight defeats, got a clean sheet and scored three well worked goals in the 3-0 victory over Wigan. What is even more of a relief is the system and the strategy used for the Monday night win. The 4-3-3 has been begged and pleaded to come out of retirement by myself and others this season because it is the system that suits our players the best. Against Wigan we finally used it properly, passing the ball to each other and created space with movement and fluidity, as the players were completely comfortable playing in positions that suited them as well as the team overall. Hallelujah!
We were far from perfect but it was a damn sight better than kicking the ball long, bypassing midfield altogether into the two strikers. This way of playing is rigid, lazy and has no place with the type of players we have. I never want to see us play like that ever again. Hopefully the penny has finally dropped with Alan Pardew but we will only know over the next month. It wouldn’t surprise me if he decided to go back to hoofball. He’s done it before. (more…)
