Before you all start

Well yes, I assume he doesn't literally say things without thinking at all, what I mean is he doesn't ask upstairs first and issues statements without first checking what the party line is first.

 

I would say in some ways that's good. It puts a bit of pressure on Ashley, not that it'd make too much difference to club policy!

 

Pardew has had to come out and try and defuse the situation with Joey.

Watching him on the touchline against Gateshead he looked pissed off and got Carver to come out and say morale is good at the club.

It's up to yourself wether you believe what the guy say's, my self I have alway's believed from day one we was Ashley puppet and nothing'schanged.

 

Pretty much my point exactly, really it's just that the puppet tag is pretty inaccurate, he's almost the opposite, more like Ashley's doormat or something.

 

Barton on twitter:

This Brunel guy was a famous civil engineer. He built railways, dockyards and bridges.

Another bit of cryptic nonsense from Mr Barton, but thought I'd put it out there...

 

Very clever

 

Sly reference to Wayne Bridges arrival?

 

He was talking about how he liked train journeys south yesterday... He wants a private railway built!

 

I found this a very amusing little twat from Joey. Much funnier than the other stuff! I like him, he's a bit eccentric but he's not your run of the mill footballer. I think him and Paul Scharner would get on very well. He's a bizarre ****er too.

 

Spot on

 

Pardew reminds me of the abused wife. She knows that she doesn't deserve the abuse, but doesn't feel that there is any alternative. I personally think that Pardew would really like to see the club have success, but is under the thumb of someone who doesn't realize that a football club can't be run in strict business terms. It is people who accomplish the mission, and the bottom line isn't the only line that needs to be looked after.

 

Pardew is not a puppet. He simply is placed in a position that he has responsibility without authority.

Traditionally, managers have been in charge of trasnfers within the financial limits of the club. This is not the only way to manage but it is the traditional English model.

The club holds Pardew out as having this authority so the press talks to him asif he is the decision maker. He isn't the decision maker on transfers. There's nothing wrong per se with someone othere than the manager being in charge of transfers. The club should just clarify the position so that Pardew stops looking like a fool.

If you want to say Pardew is a puppet for taking the job without having authority over transfers, well then you are right, but you are also using the word in a very funny way. If you mean anything else, then I think you're wrong

 

Pardew reminds me of an employee ..he knows that he doesn't deserve the abuse, but doesn't feel that there is any alternative ..

 

I'm certain that I've read the boards used to pick the players and the squad for match days back in the 50's. This was at every club.

The manager was essentially the coach ensuring the players were fit and knew set pieces and tactics.

 

May well have been the case in the 50's. The Keegan aribtration held, on the basis of expert evidence, that the English role of manager includes authority over transfers unless the contrary is specifically stated in the contract of employment. I am assuming that this is correct.

 

The problem is Pardew won the lottery with this job and got an outrageous contract in the best shop window for a manager. Why would he go against the guy who gave him that chance? He'll go with whatever the policy is because you dont look a gift horse in the mouth.

 

Principles?

 

Unfortunately, Alain de Pardew is shopping at Sports Direct, not Principles!

 

If he repeatedly stood up to Ashley though, he'd get sacked. He needs to pick his battles, and unfortunately they have to be few and far between.

 

And his nose is getting LONGER and LONGER and LONGER !!