Call me fickle & hide from the facts if you please, but...

Where were the "new set piece" routines we'd been promised? If the new routine was to chip every corner to the middle of the six yard box so their keeper could come and claim the ball then we won't score from a corner this year.

We scored, should have kicked on, but didn't...instead we invited pressure (as always) and caved to two goals in the last ten minutes.

Yes our effort and application increased tenfold, but given that every player ran themselves in to the ground for the cause why didn't Pardew freshen things up around the 60/70 minute mark when players were clearly tiring? I'll tell you why, it's because Pardew is a reactive manager and not a pro-active manager, he waits for things to go wrong and then makes changes instead of reading the pattern of the game, anticipating how the game will pan out and making subs based on that.

Yes we improved, we improved in effort by 100% but in quality by about 10%. Sorry but it's not good enough.

I'm aware Cabaye and Ben Arfa were missing, but we still created very little. Cisse & Ba's 1 on 1's came from a Tiote block tackle and a Simpson clearance (not a pass).

It's really poor lads, and to boot so were Pardew's after match comments. He needs to wake up and smell the coffee instead of trying to paint the game in a different light to the supporters.

Anita worked extremely hard, can't fault that, but what did he create from a wide right position? Nothing, absolutely squat. It's so obvious that the lad isn't a wide midfielder and our manager still chose to stick him out there.

What does Jonas have to do to be dropped? Again he created zip, he barely even ran with the ball and not once did he over lap Santon when Santon was dribbling down the wing.

Yes the onus is on the players to perform, but Pardew has to give them the correct platform to perform and 4-4-2 with plenty of long ball isn't that platform. We're now 14 games in and for those of you not aware, we are in a RELEGATION fight.

 

That basically means, 'He can't read the game well, he only panic subs when things go wrong and they almost constantly fail.' If they can't read the game from the touch line they have no place being a manager. I'm sick at the moment because of our performances, it's getting more and more depressing.

 

Pretty much fella

 

Fickle

 

To be expected

 

To be fair, I could have told you we'd create sweet f-all when the team-sheet was announced. 0 Assists between the lot of them this year, 1 goal, Anita in Europa

We were hard-working because he essentially had 4 DM playing...

To me, Pardew doesn't need to come out and lie about how good we've been, he needs to say why some of his squad aren't getting games, because right now every Toon fan on earth is questioning why the midfield had no attacking players in it.

Jonas has and always will be a **** winger. Can't cross, pass or shoot. He just dribbles it away from defensive situations usefully. Tiote has improved the passing, but he's not an attacking player, Anita has pace and works hard but has no end product because he isn't an AMC, and Perch is like a wandering CB...

Wish he'd put Perch at CB and put Marveaux, Amouthful or someone on... If they aren't good enough to get a game, they have to be sold ASAP.

Back to square 1 with wor Alan now when he stepped through the door. Anger and great disappointment will meet him at the touchline against Wigan... Hopefully not at the start or throughout the game, but definitely when things don't go to plan. There's no ifs about it, 1 bad pass and he'll know all about it, and that worries me. If we're at the team's throat like Sunderland were, there is no chance of inspiring any sort of performance out of them.

An interesting dynamic is emerging now too. O'Neill and Pardew are very close to the sack. Very close. The problem is, and it's immediately obvious if you compare threads, we'd be after the same type of manager... If one goes, the other might go soon after as the clubs try and get their man...

 

Whilst i want to get away from the word fickle and im not calling for pardews head, its hard to disagree with much of whats said here.

Many people agreeing, tactics are poor, fresh out of ideas, when in doubt (90% of the time) hoof it out - it does all need to change!

Be nice if Pardew could change it, but he seems quite stubborn in his ways, and if hes not prepared to change things...

 

In fairness, you have to admit we were promised a new set piece routine, where was it? He's basically told a bare faced lie to the fans.

I know he did a great job last season, but a good job last season doesn't put points on the board for this season. I'm currently worried about a home game with Wigan, surely that can't be right?

 

Very interesting point you made at the end there mate...and do I sense you're slowly drifting towards the NRM camp?

 

The hilarious thing is we did actually try it twice. We went short and both times it resulted in us going from well inside their half back to our ****ing keeper!!! One of them between Anita and Tiote was nothing short of pathetic. Not only does Pardew not have them well drilled attacking set piece wise, our players judgement of when to take the quick short option is appalling.

 

They are good enough to get games, as we have seen. It's just Pardew signing players, then having no faith in them performing on the pitch, he rarely plays them in Europe either. What was he thinking? What kind of manager, can get a team to 5th, then the following season be so utterly useless in every department! From losing the squads support, to now losing the fans. He signs players then thinks they're not good enough to get into the starting 11. He goes out into the press and speaks rubbish about set piece training and the fact that Ben Arfa "isn't all that!" the guy is turning into a right fool. Even the leader of the "Pardew Faithful" will have had enough soon!

 

To be fair, I don't expect to look at fixtures and say "I expect 3 points there". I do expect to go to games and see the shirt done proud, with some decent football played. Whether we win, draw or lose is for the statisticians and the money-men, because I expect the same if we play Man Utd or Rochdale. Tonight, the team worked hard, but were not allowed to play any form of football because of Pardew's tactics and his choice of personnel. If it works, great, if it doesn't, as it hasn't pretty much all season, the manager leaves himself open to criticism.

Still not going to go to the Wigan match with aggressive intention. The team need support, the manager has lost mine but doesn't deserve abuse

 

Had enough of our set pieces long ago. Long long way of wanting him sacked though. Looked like he had the squad right behind to me, they worked their socks off. I've never felt he has lost the squad bar maybe Ba taking the huff at playing wide for the team.

 

If they are good enough, I can only think he has set plans about bringing in players to his team ala Ben Arfa last year... When it's screwing us over, he looks like a tosser. Last year we chanted "Hatem Ben Arfa" numerous times til he came on, and inevitably put in a good performance. Why should the crowd have to do that? Does Alan think this is some sort of tease?

 

Completely agree. Booing and getting on the players back during the game will achieve nothing constructive whatsoever. Although I do feel fans have a right to vent their frustration at the final whistle.

 

Yeah I fully agree with that. They are happy enough to milk getting clapped when they're winning, they deserve to know when a performance is unacceptable. To be honest, too many people jump on that as saying "whenever we lose or draw a game we think we should win"... No, because you can play well and still lose.

 

Another point I must mention is. What exactly is the point of back room staff? Hear me out.

They must clearly see where he is making mistakes (Unless they're incompetent of course) and when he makes these mistakes surely they should speak up? I once worked under a boss, who wanted everything his way. Led to disaster in the company. I cannot imagine it being much different at a football club. When Alan decides the team, the formation how he wants us to play, does Carver not stand up and say "Alan that wont work mate." If the Assistant manager, and the experienced coaches are not allowed to speak up, what is the point.

They're nothing more than glorified trainers with uniforms. I find it hard to believe that not a single member of the coaching staff, can tell where it's going wrong. But are they simply not allowed to speak up? In that case, there is absolutely no point in hiring them and giving them titles like "Assistant Manager"

 

Each to their own.
That is all.

 

In spite of all the gaffs and poor play, the loudest boo of the night came when Kenwyne Jones came on for Stoke.

Just as well the poison dwarf didn't enter the frame.

 

We actually did almost pull off a great set piece. A low ball that was back heeled towards the far post, but unfortunately Cisse just couldn't get a shot off.