The Grey Gaffer: Could he learn a lesson from Jol?Speaking after Newcastle United’s abject second half capitulation to Fulham in yesterday’s game at Craven Cottage, our Silver Supremo, Alan Pardew, looked for reasons for the collapse.
“I can’t really explain what happened to our back four,” he said continuing:
“It wasn’t a case of us not trying second half, we just lacked mental discipline in that second half and it cost us. Hopefully it won’t happen again.
“The strength of our team (the defence) became a problem and that unit didn’t play well in the second half. They were nowhere near good enough in terms of the standards they’ve set themselves.
“They’re probably more disappointed than me.”
Well it’s true that that both Captain Colo and “Iron” Mike Williamson did indeed have stinkers in that half, Colo especially pulled about all over the place by a rejigged Fulham. But anyway, Pardew continued: (more…)
Ashley, Llambias and Pardew - Did they deceive us over Carroll?A few days after Newcastle United’s already despised Managing Director, Derek Llambias, announced the club’s corporate renaming of the club’s traditional home as “The Sports Direct Arena”, it would be hard to imagine his or Mike Ashley’s reputation sinking any lower.
However all that has changed now after one simple drunken rant in a bar which was recorded by fans and passed on to the Mirror newspaper. My erstwhile collegue, Hugh, has dealt with his jealous and contemptible potty mouthed rants about former managers, Alan Shearer, Kevin Keegan and Chris Hughton in this piece. Here I will concentrate on how his words about Andy Carroll’s move to Liverpool seem to suggest that both he and manager, Alan Pardew, deceived the fans about the circumstances leading up to the controvarsial transfer, leading fans to brand Carroll a “Judas” for deserting the club he had supported since boyhood.
If you recall, after a completely bogus story was put around the media about a very large Tottenham bid for the Bensham Bomber, Liverpool’s first bid for Andy Carroll was a lowly £30 million (what on earth were they smoking that day???). When one fan asked Llambias if he thought that Andy Carroll was worth that amount, Llambias replied:
Maybe it's because I'm a Lahndoner...In the wake of Jimbob’s thoroughly excellent and extensive Tottenham Hotspur match preview and tactical musings the other day, I thought As a kind of addendum to that, I would add a piece about what the manager’s were saying on the eve this important game.
Bearing in mind the undoubted quality of the oppostion, this could be a watershed in Newcastle United’s Premiership campaign. After what has been a very good start, a victory would certainly greatly enhance our credentials and be a huge boost in confidence which would take us forward. On the other hand, a right old pasting would be a real reality check for the lads and could make it look like we have been somewhat “lucky” so far. (more…)
Ben Arfa: "Very buoyant" says Pardew.In a rare interview, Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew, has been speaking at length about Hatem Ben Arfa, at times making him sound like a kind of Gallic Joey Barton when he got on to the subject of the players character and temperament.
He also likened him to a brand of well known lager which allegedly reaches the parts other beers cannot reach as he swooned over the “creative”, “elusive” French-Tunisian playmaker.
Starting with the beer analogy, Pardew purred:
“He’s a player that can reach heights that other players can’t reach – that Heineken player if you like.
“He brings a creative force to the team that is different to what we have and he’s different to a lot of players in the Premier League. He’s elusive.”
Of course though, the player has had scant chance to prove this where it counts, on the pitch, since Pardew’s predecessor, Chris Hughton, brought him to the club on loan in August 2010. Speaking on the injuries Ben Arfa has had to endure since he came to Tyneside, Pardew continued: (more…)
Santon: Confusion over knacked knee.Newcastle United have issued a statement on their website in an attempt to get things straight on Davide Santon’s recent training ground injury to his right knee.
As I pointed out in this story yesterday, the ex Internazionale wing back has a history of right knee problems stemming from an lateral meniscus tear picked up in an Italy Under-21s game against Luxembourg in November, 2009. After Santon had surgery and returned to playing, the injury returned and more surgery was required, resulting in another period out of the game, and a drop in form on his second return.
When speaking in the injury yesterday, Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew may have caused some confusion when he said of the injury:
“Unfortunately Davide has hurt his knee in training and been sent for a scan.
“It is an injury he has had before, we think it is a cartilage problem. We thought it was best to send him for a scan.(more…)
