Pardew eyes cups....

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,13866_7122337,00.html

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew believes he has the squad depth required to win the Carling Cup and end the club's infamous 42 year trophy drought.

Although the St James' Park outfit lifted the Championship title last year they have not lifted a major trophy since the Fairs Cup in 1969.

They travel to Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup second round on Thursday as they bid to build on a solid start to the season that has seen them draw with Arsenal and beat near rivals Sunderland.
Pardew admits his primary aim remains survival in the Premier League but believes he has now has a squad capable of going all the way to Wembley too.

"You only had to look at our bench on Saturday and the players who didn't make the bench - like Alan Smith, for example - to know that I feel we are much stronger squad-wise this year to attack this competition, and also attack the FA Cup," said the 50-year-old.

"I guess what happened to Birmingham last year isn't going to fill us all with great enthusiasm in terms of winning the cup and being relegated.

"But if you feel you are strong enough to attack the cup and attack the Premier League with the squad you have then of course it's a target.

"You want to be in the game to win things, that's what we are in it for, so the two cup competitions are very big for us this year."



Why the **** does he still rate Smith? They should be doing their level best to get this leech out of the club instead of using him as a reason to why we can win a cup.

On another note its nice to see that hes taking the cups seriously and Smith aside we do decent squad depth this season IMO.

Still in a very bad mood about Barton so hard for me to say anything positive, a miracle infact.

 

Reminds me of Steve Bruce's comments, we're ****ed

 

The man is totally deluded. He lives in a wonderland.

 

Buying some more mugs for the executive boxes are we?

On topic: Pardew is a ****ing moron if he seriously still rates Smith. It's plain to see that when he's brought in he's essentially -1 player, so we're basically playing with 9 men.

Honestly though, if we steer clear of playing Smith and underestimating teams we can probably get a decent run in the Carling Cup (which nobody really cares about)

 

I would bet my bottom dollar that Smith starts tomorrow, hampering the progress of the youngsters who actually deserve a shot, Vuckic, Abeid, Gosling etc....

 

If he rated Smith he surely would be playing or on the bench. He's neither.

 

To be fair, Smith is a good player against poorer quality opposition. He's ****e in the EPL, but against a team like Scunthorpe, he SHOULD be one of the better players on the pitch.

 

Did you actually watch any of the games in America? He lost the ball every single time he received it, and I wouldn't say any of those clubs are anywhere near PL grade.

At times it looks like he should be playing conference. League two on a good day, thats how badly I rate him.

 

I doubt Smith will play. Gosling and Vuckic/Abeid will play at CM, with Obertan RM and Marveaux LM. No room for Smith in there.

 

Pardew will make room, trust me.

 

he might just be bigging smith up hoping the septic tanks hear his quotes and buy him ...i know i know i can live in hope though

 

To be fair to Smith, he's fairly good at the greko roman side of the game

 

I really think the only way to get rid of Smith is to NOT play him, otherwise everyone will see him and realise how far he has fallen.

 

****ing loon

 

Smith is more interested in his ****ing make up and hair styles and has been since he left man unitred

 

nah, he's checking out the players' wives. likes a nice rack does Pards.

 

Said we'd play a strong team v Scunthorpe. Said 3 or 4 changes I think. Shame as we dont really need to put a really strong team out and it means we lose our advantage over Fulham playing in Europe.

 

If he really rated Smith he would be at least on the bench. He's probably just trying to keep his confidence high, I wouldn't look into it too much.

Besides Alan Smith isn't bad for a 6th choice centre-mid.

 

He is, but I see what you mean. If Smith was unhappy he's still a key dressing room figure and could lower morale.

 

So true. It's always stupid putting out big names against smaller clubs.

1. Stupid injuries and suspensions can happen (Tiote)
2. Stops fringe players keeping up fitness, happiness etc
3. The other team's players raise their game massively if they're against Cabaye rather than Abeid
4. The big name players aren't used to crappy pitches whereas youngsters are
5. Fringe and youngsters have an incentive to play well, the big players don't
6. Stops first teamers getting some R&R

I hate it when I see important players in this situation. It makes me not want to watch