We have to improvePardew says something or other about Barton’s contract and Newcastle United transfers in general.
Top of the morning Geordies. After all the excitement of transfer rumours to keep us amused over the last week or so, absolutely nothing is happening on the news front today.
In fact, so bereft of Newcastle news are we today that The Express decided to make some up. Well, sort of. They say that Mike Ashley ‘stormed out’ of St James’ Park in disgust after our 3-3 draw with West Brom and add that he did so ‘minutes after the final whistle’, apparently in anger at losing a few million by dropping to 12th place and in embarrassment at ending up below the Mackems.
I suppose it depends upon your definition of ‘storming out’ and I expect they’re covered by not saying exactly how many ‘minutes after the final whistle’ he did this alleged storming.
Personally I need to be wearing a long coat to storm out of anywhere. I firmly believe that coat-tails need to be flapping in ones wake to do a decent storming out. A hat helps too, to emphasise the dipping of the head in a meaningful way as you burst through the exit. Anything less than that is merely ‘leaving in disgust’, which is quite a few levels below a genuine storming out. (more…)
Enrique: Showdown talks next week.In a rare interview, Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew, has claimed that Jose Enrique is about to be offered a “fantastic contract” to stay at Newcastle United. He also added that he was “still hopeful” that the player could be persuaded to remain at the club.
Speaking to Tyneside newspaper, the Evening Chronic, Pardew revealed that the latest bid to persuade the Spaniard to stay at the club will happen in the early part of next week, when the player’s representatives will meet with Newcastle United’s Lee Charnley, the man who usually deaals with player contracts and such at the club, in an attempt to thrash out a new deal. Enrique’s current contract will terminate at the end of next season, with much speculation that Liverpool have a strong interest in signing the left back. Pardew said of the upcoming showdown talks:
“We have been waiting to see his representatives, they are due here in the early part of next week.
“We are going to make Jose a very, very good offer and we are hoping he is going to accept it.
Adding a note of caution though, he then continued: (more…)
Reasons to be cheerful (part 3)Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has been rating the team’s overall performance for the 2010/2011 season.
Alan Pardew thinks we’ve had a good season, as do most fans. We’re a newly promoted side and it looks like we’re heading for a mid-table finish and may even sneak into the top 10, which is not to be sniffed at.
Pardew said:
“Including Chris’ time as manager here, you would have to give it an eight.”
I presume he means out of ten, although he doesn’t actually say. If he means eight out of a hundred then that’s not so good! Personally, I always score things out of 11 so that you have a mid-point rating at 6/11, but then again I’ll be the first to admit I’m weird.
Anyway, Pardew continues:
“In terms of the expectations and the amount of finance that was spent in the summer, the fact that we lost Hatem to a broken leg, that we sold Andy Carroll, yes, I would give it as high as that.
“Possibly. If you looked at our squad, you would have to say on paper, it didn’t look the strongest for the results we have had, and that’s a great thing.
“But we need to carry that over into next year and hopefully be stronger.” (more…)
Preparing the totem pole for Man UnitedNewcastle United manager Alan Pardew has said that fringe players won’t be played just to get a look at them and insists that he’ll be putting out his strongest squad until the end of the season.
On Tuesday we’re hosting some little team of no-hopers from Manchester. I think they call themselves ‘United’, although I’m not sure.
The Alan Pardew Project has been talking about how he thinks the Manchester United manager might approach the game:
“Alex will be looking at it and thinking it’s a really big game on their agenda.
“He’s got us and Arsenal away, and he probably thinks they’re two tough games which will have a massive bearing on their season.
“I think he will target it. He won’t come here resting players because it’s the Premier League, not the FA Cup semi-final, and that’s their priority.
“He will police today’s semi-final and if he can save players for Tuesday, or take someone off to protect them, he will.
“They will be a really tough team to beat, but we’re really looking forward to it. We hope this is a difficult place for them to come. We’ve beaten Liverpool here in my first game, and we want another scalp.” (more…)
Foot, gas, etc.Tough talking from Alan Pardew at Newcastle United.
Alan Pardew has been reiterating that players need to fight for their places, thusly:
“Every player is under scrutiny.”
And so they should be in my opinion. I’m not a huge fan of these ‘automatic starting places’ that squads often develop. I think everyone should be kept on their toes.
“It’s well documented we’ve got finances to improve the squad.”
Well, yes, I’ll gloss over that as I’m not in a controversial mood today. We’ll just have to wait and see what gets spent and on who. Or should that be ‘whom’? I do have a who/whom deficiency I will admit.
“So if I was a player here, I’d be making sure I was playing well to do my best to stay in the team next season.
“You can’t afford to take your foot off the pedal in this division because you’ll get embarrassed.
“Manchester United went to Wolves, took their foot off the gas and got beat. We can’t afford to do that. We’re aware we’ve still got a job to do until the very end.”
