Pardew Targets.....

He's his own worst enemy. Pardew will likely still play the same systems, use the same tactics and make the same mistakes. He will then come out with a load of tripe before and after games. The Man City game in terms of fan sentiment is a non-starter since no-one is really expecting us to win. However, should we struggle against Villa and Palace I can see the resentment from last season quickly re-surfacing. If we start the season badly then Pardew can expect a lot of vitriol to be vented in his general direction. It would be great to be proven wrong though.

 

Pardew is target taking a lot of girls to his bedroom. I am joking. =^)

I think with players he is buying it should be normal for Newcastle to challenge for a Europa finish, even if it is not got that is our aim really.

 

I'm not convinced about this. It certainly has more depth on paper. Much will depend how our strikers go. Our defence is worse for me until Janmaat can show he is at Debuchy's level (which was pretty good). Given we already had a poor defence, its is mind boggling we haven't resolved the issue. Our central midfield is weaker. We have no one to control a game from there like Cabaye did (you could argue he played as a number 10 under Pardew last season though). Our attacking midfield is far stronger. Cabella and SDJ have added real quality, and young Aarons has emerged. Strikers we have far more depth, but will any of them prove as lethal as a Ba or Remy?

I think we have a better squad, but I wonder if we have just spread wages a little thinner and got a drop in quality as a result. I'm not confident of a great season. On paper, I think we look like a 9th-12th place side. Perhaps some of the likes of Riviere, Saylor, Mbiwa, Haidara, Santon, Willo can have a stellar season to raise our level but of those defenders, I'd only put faith in Willo. Which in itself is worrying.


The other stuff would be entertaining though.

 

Pardew seems to be taking a massive risk on MYM or Steven Taylor somehow becoming decent footballers. Willo's solid enough but obviously limited. Is he better for being a year wiser, or worse for being a year older? With Colo, I'd side towards the latter - I agree with Mark Douglas that Colo "shouldn't" be an automatic starter, but who should? Someone we don't presently own, I imagine.

They've all got more flaws than strengths. I always remember Little & Large (Neville/Carragher) ripping our defense to shreds in the ridiculously poor performance against Arsenal - there was no voice, no leadership, Colo was silent, Willo doesn't have the in-game intelligence to lead and the less said about Dummett the better. Yet with this awful defense Pardew seems content? I'm struggling to lay the blame at Ashley's feet here - we've brought 9 in so it's difficult to say that the board wouldn't sanction a 10th, if the management felt it was needed. Almost feels as though Pardew believes we will be fine with more creativity. Maybe he's right. There is a case that says if the ball sticks with your team more, further up the field, you'll defend less.

 

It could also be a case of needing to ship one out before we can bring one in. And it's not like the queueing around the block for any of our defenders.

 

Could be. Seemed fairly concrete interest from Bordeaux and QPR in MYM and Saylor respectively, though? You're right, we don't specifically know the parameters within which Pardew has to work, and we can account for every penny spent if not more from player sales over the years. Looks like the club is adamant about not spending a single penny of the TV revenue, which is a bit of a shame. A marquee defender would be a fantastic statement of intent - by marquee I mean Shawcross, Rudiger, Papadopolous, De Vrij, someone like that.

Still wonder if we'll pull a Benteke/Bony out of the hat.

 

I think both points are likely. We couldn't find takers for the likes of Mbiwa or Saylor, which quite frankly is not surprising. Also there is no doubt that having a stronger attack, and players with better ability to retain possession helps your defence. You can only take that argument so far thoug unless you are talking about the worlds best players in the attacking department. We have none of those! We needed to sign a centre back who was quality and preferably knew the league.

 

Still three weeks, you don't think we will? What a lift for the squad if we sign De Vrij and Benteke (for example).

 

I would be more than happy to swap Saylor though I think he is really only at best for the Championship these days.

 

Be a massive lift. Particularly as De Vrij has just signed for Lazio! I don't think we will, I think we are done until January.

 

Ha! Finger, meet pulse.

What I love the most is that the British Press are so fcking abysmal with some of this rumour qualification. Not that we were ever linked, but it was all ManU, ManU, ManU, then - oops - Lazio. Happens all the time, kinda hilarious.

For everything a reason. Pards is a fairly hopeless offensive manager. His best times at the club came when our defence was at its' peak and we were constantly hitting on the counter. Since bringing in players who are supposed to be on the front foot, we've really really struggled. Now we have a very offensive looking squad, I just don't think it works to whatever strengths Pards has. What could and should have been a good season will probably be mainly remembered for either Pards' finally going, or for another case of the owner mystifyingly sticking with him.

 

I hope to god that he gets sacked.

 

Pardew has shamed our club like no manager I've ever known at our club.
If it happened in a workplace would an employee be allowed to go running round butting people and insulting old folks?