We didn't deserve it, but who cares? - My thoughts on the Liverpool game

I really think we'll struggle the see off West Ham next week...certainly without Ba, and Colo

 

I agree I think we will lose and lose and lose

no Cabaye or Tiote either !!!!

The other young lads or not proven at all regardless of what we hope.

 

yea but the bin dippers were pissed on

 

Any news on Cabaye?

 

hes ****ed I've heard he's possible ****ed all season

 

Of course, he's handsome and rich... But how's his injury, that's the question!

 

Despite the crazy 8 year contract thing, which frankly took Pardew by surprise, I believe Alan has been left feeling disappointed by the tangible lack of ambition shown in the summer. All the awards and achievements last season are great, but he will have thought that this would have bought him some financial backing during the window to really try and kick on.
I think the summer was a period of realisation for him of really what NUFC's ambitions are. He'll never say anything publicly and I don't think he feels betrayed enough to walk, because its now a safe position and at least he knows now where he stands. Your hands might be tied, but there's a good excuse!

However with that I get the sense that he's become very comfortable with not striving for the heights of last term, its almost taken the wind out of his sails. Get the best out of the small group you have, in league and Europe, but don't sweat it. He's already told us that the only way the club will grow is the Champions League and with this squad you couldn't ask Mourinho to achieve that.

In his post-match interview today however I did see something I haven't seen this year. He made it look publicly like the penny had dropped with him, that the disappointment over our general approach and play this season is a concern. After previous games he's glossed over this, but there was an angry acknowledgement.

I'm not convinced it's anything he's doing to set them up that way but it may be that the general disappointment regarding a lack of club ambition after last year has gotten into the players. They just don't seem up for it this year, there's no belief to kick on and go one better...

 

I think the concept of 'winnable games' is lost on most Newcastle fans mate I have to say!

Love your optimism and I hope they can freshen things up and give a more convincing account of themselves – win, lose or draw. However I think we now have to be very wary of West Ham next weekend without Coloccini and Tiote, who really are the spine of our team.

Mandy Carroll and Kev Nolan will enjoy the prospect of bullying Saylor and Willo, while fat Sam will be itching for revenge. Given our recent reversion to the kick and rush when things get tough, let's just say it won't be a game to get the SJP lawnmowers out for!

Who will come out on top!! – Shola Ameobi vs. Carlton Cole... Says it all really

 

I hear what you're saying and maybe I'm being a bit harsh on Pardew. But, he must have known what he was getting himself in for with Del Boy and Fat Mike at the helm?! It's not unreasonable to think that he may have been backed more in the summer, based on his and the teams performance last season. At the same time, being the face of the club was what he signed up for - essentially to placate us, when things aren't going to turn out as we may have wished. The acceptable face of our current regime, if you like.

Either way. Something is definitely amiss at our club at the moment. Not anywhere near the scale of our recent troubles, but there's something not quite right going on which is resulting in lackluster performances. Now, I'm not for one minute saying I'm unhappy with our current position in the league and by the fact that we've quite seamlessly gone from relegation battles to dreaming of something more. Far from it. I'm grateful that we can now consider fighting for the top 5-7 a realistic objective. It's just based on how we performed last season to reach the heady heights of 5th, is what's getting me (and a few of us) down at our lethargic meanderings so far.

Hey ho. At least we're not Sunderland!

 

Cabaye will be at least 4-6 weeks out I've heard and Ba 4

were ****ed

 

I think by and large he did know, but I also think that he will have naturally believed that exceeding expectations in such a big way last year might change the attitude and inspire the owner. I also think it's entirely likely that he is frequently led to believe certain things that don't materialise, often explained away by pretty flimsy excuses. I can imagine the latter is particularly galling when he has no choice but to relay those excuses to us, as the mouth piece or fall guy (delete as appropriate) for the regime. But I also think Pardew is largely comfortable with that, it just takes a readjustment of what the goalposts are.

Like I say, I don't think it's a terminal thing but it would explain a general feeling of deflation around the whole setup. This is where I think the Demba Ba situation leaked out of and that stuff about being dropped and his clause being still active. It doesn't all feel as positive and harmonious as last season.

I'd stress though that I personally don't blame Pardew and neither would I offer any hint of him going. He is the very best manager we could hope for under this regime (better in fact) and while an 8 year contract is nonsense, the sentiment of continuity and stability is one this club has been crying out for.

Professional footballers earning great money (not the best maybe, but still great) and playing for a top club should take very little effort in the inspiration stakes. The group need to buck up and question the situation themselves, because they can't be enjoying the way the games are going so it needs to come from them...

 

I completely agree with you on this. I don't want Pardew out or anything like that. I just feel like he may have been buying into a bit of his own hype, which has resulted in him and in turn the team, taking their eye of the ball somewhat.

He's done a tremendous job, and the amount of work behind the scenes working with those two donuts can't be underestimated. That alone deserves the awarding of a long contract.

Like you've said, he has acknowledged that the team hasn't been playing with the fluidity that it has and should be. Hopefully the fact that he felt we could and maybe should have won at Anfield (a feat in itself), will help give the kick that we need to get back to putting in the type of displays we did last season.

 

Yeah and he isn't helped by having injuries and suspensions, so you never get a settled vision of what his favourite team and style of play is.

There has been a bit of necessary tinkering this year which has thrown off the rhythm of the team, especially in Europe where I think some players have been annoyed to miss out.

I've said before that perhaps there is some merit in using these European games to gain some continuity and get the team gelling more, but its tough to get that balance right and keep players fresh. Hasn't really helped the Sunday performances though eh?

I'd rather still have the services of Ba and Coloccini to call on though for the games coming up – these are the two that have carried the rest and papered the cracks so far...

 

That's strange because Mark Douglas said Cabaye is doubtful for next week, which means he could be fit. No mention of Ba's injury. If your going to keep being negative you will be getting banned again.

 

I'm more frustrated at the moment that with two more points our start (in terms of points) could be described as good, where as at the moment I'd describe it as satisfactory.

If we had 2/3 more points we'd be sitting pretty, by the same token if we had 2/3 less then I think there'd be a lot more people expressing some form of discontent. We've had tough fixtures to be fair. We now have two home games on the trot and two wins is a must for me if we are to challenge the top four (something Pardew clearly believes we can do).

We've got one of the best (if not the best) midfield play makers in the league, it baffles me that our game plan is to quite often bypass this player (Cabaye) with our long ball stuff.

On a positive note it's easy to forget our encouraging start in Europe too, although I'd trade one of our European wins for three points in the prem.

 

Yeah, I've felt this as well. I think he's managed admirably with the tinkering for the Europa games. As you've said, it could have been a great chance to get some real fluidity to our overall play. Even if it's a half for most of the first team players, then bringing on three more youngsters/reserves for the second half. At least that may get a bit more cohesion to the way we play. The Sunday performances have been pretty dire. As much as I enjoyed being able to watch the game on TV today. I would have almost preferred a Saturday 3 O'clock kick-off, as we wont be having one for a while now.

At least Colo and Cheick can play on Thursday...

 

Just heard Pardew on TalkSport say with some certainty that Cabaye and Ba should both be fit for Sunday, definitely out for Thursday though as expected.

His big worry is for James Perch who could be 'serious' – whatever that means...

 

Good result, if you gave us a point at the start of the day the majority of us would have taken it. 4-6 weeks for Cabaye????? sauce?

 

relief now I can celebrate wo hooo

 

It's nonsense! You couldn't make that kind of injury assessment until at least the day after the match. I'll stick my neck out and say both back on Sunday... We'll need them!