Now the questions will be asked.

This is the start of a possible relegation scrap. I'm feeling like its 2009 again and it's very bad..we've got a manager who at the moment is not looking any better than Sam Allerdyce was/is. And past merits for me do not heal the current problems. We need to sort this out or I can see Pardew being sacked, us signing a worse manager and struggling for the remainder of the season. Hope to god Ashley isn't thinking to himself "I hear Hughes is free."

This January transfer market is going to be the making or the death of us, and I hope to god it isn't the latter.

 

On the same page my friend agree

 

The fact is we are ****ed one way or the other as we simply do not have the finances required to finish top half every year and the fact is we got lucky in the transfer window once and it wont happen every time. We will never will anyting and we have accept due to finances we as a club are no bigger than Southampton, Reading or any other newly promoted club.

 

The thing is, this is a team that is not too drastically different to the team that achieved fifth last year.

So is this really just about the need to bring new players in (which of course we do) or also questioning why 11 players can play as a team in one season but don't seem able to replicate that in the next?

I absolutely expect new players in January, and I blame the owners for some of the current situation for their failure to bring in new players over the summer having known since May we would also be playing in Europe.

But after last season I expect the players to at least be able to play at the same level and quality as back then, and this seems to be the biggest failure so far this season. Along with some of Pardew's tactics .

Regardless of the financial status of the Club and whether it can or can not afford to compete with top clubs this should not affect the same players' ability to play at the level they did last year.

 

Worst thing for me is that I firmly believe Pardew will be here for the full season regardless of performances, results and fan opinion.

 

Europe has been a nightmare for us. It still doesn't feel like the season has really started properly with us having games on thursdays and sundays and the team chopping and changing for the league cup and europe and injuries. It's just been so bitty and we haven't had a settled 11 and we've had a different back 4 in every game etc etc etc. If we can get a settled injury free team we'll be ok - but how long are we going to have to watch what's going on before someone does something stupid?

 

I assume Mike has a get out clause in Pards 8 year contract. Lets hope he doesn't exercise it!

 

I don't expect us to be relegated at all, but I think it would be a massive shame if we finish in the bottom half this season.

We have the players and resources available to finish in the top 5-8.

 

Based on that if we finish bottom half should Pardew not be dismissed?

 

It has to be a concern relegation, we have an awful run of games in December and are only 3 points above 18th.

 

This!

Not sure if anyone's seen it yet but in Pardew's post game interview he seemed hugely deflated and looked like he knows it's going to get worse before it will get better (if it gets better).

 

All I can hope for is that a possible lower finish for us this season doesn't mean our best players walk out the door.

 

Have to say if someone offered me 9th now and a good crack at the cup's I'd bite there hand off (in the hope this would be just enough to keep our best players).