The centre halfs not squeezing the game would not have changed by pressing. They were being urged to come out but were too fearful. I cut Mbiwa some slack, he is new, 23 etc. What is Saylors excuse? People say he is a leader, he simply is not in any way. He is 110% committed but he is not a captain. I thought he might be but sadly it does not look like he'll ever develop that way. I do agree bringing on Campbell would not have done much harm because Shola does so little. But dropping Anita into a midfield doing so much aerial work in their own box was risky when you have a point in touching distance. Sissoko for all he gave a disgraceful 2nd half showing (lacked effort) did at least jump for a few headers when they put us under. I disagree, we played a high line first half and it worked. Pardew will likely have asked for more of the same. It was not down to lack of pressure on ball we dropped deep, Saylor and Mbiwa did immediately from minute 1 2nd half regardless. It was a lack of minerals and a poor mentality for me. Then once it happened neither had the game knowledge to think "we are hurting the team here". It was pretty selfish. Cabaye also as captain has to take more responsibility when the chips are down, he disappeared.
But who made Cabaye captain? Pardew did. Who started a half fit Debuchy and Tiote last week when Simpson and & Perch had been performing admirably? Pardew did. Who played Jonas over Anita yesterday after Jonas' worst season to date and worst performance in a toon shirt ever last week? Pardew did. Who has brought on Ameobi as a sub game after game this season to no effect? Pardew has. Gouffran is actually a striker, he played up top for Bordeaux and the lad got goals, he has pace and a bit of presence. Why not play him up top with Cisse and bring Anita in to midfield for some games? We have absolutely no variety under Pardew. I could probably name our first 11 and formation for next weeks game already. It's no wonder we get figured out so easily by the opposition. Yes the players take some responsibility, but Pardew is the man at the helm, he's directing them. If Cabaye's not captain material he should take it off him, give to it Perch. He's been our best player all year for me, gives 100% for the cause and then gets dropped for a half fit, out of sorts Cheick Tiote for the biggest game of the season. What sort of message does that send out to the players? Pardew has far too many favourites, Jonas, Shola, Tiote and they've all massively under performed this season. I'm at least thankful that the penny seems to have finally dropped with Pardew when it comes to Obertan.
The most important thing is to get over the line by any ****ing means. I've calmed down some what after last week but honestly if we beat those Scouse bastards next week I will forgive the Pards. It will all but confirm our survival and its just nice to beat Liverpool who I hate as much as Sunderland quite frankly. In the summer though I would be willing to give Pardew a chance, IF some decent signings come in, two strikers at least and he just rids the squad of the useless/****e Obertan, Jonas, Tiote, Shola, etc Basically the jobs for the boys mentality must stop and he must show some tactical awareness. The disgusting use of the long ball must cease next season. Also if he somehow convinced Colo to stay (very unlikely) he should be given at least until Jan next year. If that doesn't happen he really needs to be shown the door. Also if he manages to get us relegated he can **** right off.
You have some very good players. Get them fit and in form and you are give most teams in the league a good game. Heck even in a bit of tactical nouse would see you shhot up the league. THats why plenty of teams with lesser players have done much better in the league thus far. Yewrope I don't think is an excuse due to the performances in the domestic cups. What is it with Brighton? I bumped into an old school mate shortly after they knocked us out of the league cup last season. They have since knocked you out of the FA Cup in two years on the trot (pun not intended, **** it, hahahaha). He was a knob, by the way.
As I say I fully agree Pardew has not covered himself in glory. If he continued to make those bad decisions for another year I'd begin to worry but an off season, a chance to evaluate and recharge following a chastening campaign is the least he has earnt overall. I also said the same about Perch, Tiote has not been in his league this season. I had doubts about Cabaye as captain (90% thought otherwise though). I think we are devoid of leaders. When we lost the likes of Nolan, Barton etc, (not Pards fault) no one seemed concerned. I was. I also agree about his favourites - though I do think he has treat one of his favourites Jonas shoddily and overseen him becoming a scapegoat by constantly swapping him around. I just think you give him the break to sort his squad out and come again next year or you just go back to square one. Then when the next boss has a bad season, the football suffers we do it all over again and never actually move forward. I've seen this time and time again at Newcastle (we're not alone or in a minority in the modern era) and it frustrates the **** out of me.
When the new guys came in we played some cracking attacking football for a number of games and picked up a lot of points. I also think we were unlucky against Spurs, Swansea and Wigan. Its only Man City and Sunderland that i thought we were poor. But because we're struggling at the bottom there's no confidence. I think Pardew had the team pumped for the first half and we played the kind of football we saw last year. However, because we are knocking about the bottom of the table the players lack any confidence when another team comes and attacks us because they are terrified of taking any risks and conceding because of that. When you're mid-table or higher you don't have that fear and you play the attacking football that creates chances but has risks. At the bottom you end up defending on the edge of the box and just trying to get rid of the ball. Everybody in the bar I was in shouted for the players to get rid everytime the ball got pumped into our box, not to calm it down and pass it around. If thats the fear the fans have everytime the other team attacks, how must the players be feeling?
I'm all for stability, just not with Pardew. I accept that, that in itself is a contradiction. I want someone in charge that is renowned for a high tempo, ball on the floor pressing game. If we had a philosophy that the whole club was working towards then I'd be more than happy to allow time for stability. Pardew is too old school for my liking and barely once this season have we had any real pattern or rhythm to our play. Our game plan is always along the lines of - Give the ball to Marveaux, Cabaye, HBA (when fit) as much as possible and hope they produce a moment of magic. Failing that then just hope Cisse hits a wonder goal. I also think certain players have lost confidence in him, namely Cabaye. He was brought to the club and told that we'd play a style of football which would see us dominate the ball. I think he accepted that last season that wasn't always going to be possible given it was Pardew's first full season, but the fact we've gone backwards this year in pretty much every aspect of our game has hit Cabaye hard in my opinion. I actually think that if Pardew is still in charge in the summer then Cabaye & HBA may well leave.
So true and I think that is where your on field leaders with game management skills come into it. That ability to remain calm in the heat of battle is often overlooked. Our spine looks a bit flimsy compared to last year. Krul, Colo, Nolan, Barton, Carroll, then Krul, Colo, quality fit Tiote, Cabaye, Ba, now Elliott, Saylor, Cabaye, half fit Tiote, Cisse. I'm nt convinced we have the same rock solid mentality.
But Wigan dispel this theory all on their own. Year after year they're at the bottom of the table and year after year they stay up playing an expansive passing game.
Not sure it matters who is in charge for those players. If certain clubs come calling it doesn't matter who is in charge. Just have to accept that. Look at Moyes at Everton. No one would knock him but he can't hold onto his top players. We just have to accept we are a feeder for the top guys. I can see Arsenal and Man U coming, if they do and pay the money Mike wants, forget managers they'll go. You can't really blame them, they're top clubs we can't compete with. I obviously disagree. We were very adaptable in his first season and played good football. To be honest Cabaye has only played half a season, same Ben Arfa. Marveaux has been in and out with injury. Anita took time to adapt. After that we don't have that many options technical wise.
Pardew makes players worse not better!!! each and everyone of them has got worse since they joined and even Shola is worse which I didn't think possible. He's a tosser and must go urgently.
He's not a tosser, in fact quite the opposite in my opinion. I happen to think that success would mean more to him than any other manager we've had in my time as a supporter other than KK and SBR. I'd love him to have the ability to bring that success but unfortunately I'm almost certain that he doesn't.
Aye but you did reference a post at the end of a discussion about other subjects. Also calling him a tosser has no real relevance to either
Pardew signed Mascherano and Tevez, which were the only reasons they stayed up (should have been relegated for cheating)! But, I'm not saying sack just any manager for poor results, that's a gross generalization by "Pardew innies"... I want a manager who has a progressive plan and takes every aspect of thee club onto another level, as well as the players on the pitch and the style they play. That has and never will describe Pardew. Ashley is doing a lot of work behind the scenes to change the culture, and Pardew's effectively been brought in because he won't kick up a fuss and can be made to do whatever they want. As a component, his sole focus is the football, and when that's failing he has nothing else going for him, unlike Moyes and Ferguson who you compare him with. I want Gourcuff and Van Basten because they not only implement good football, but also because they have pedigree in changing the philosophy of a team and club at several levels. What's more, I think despite the fact Pardew is brought in as a "puppet", the chaps I've mentioned would make an even better fit for Ashley (even if he still wanted the majority of control)... Why? Well we are becoming Arsenal-lite, youth is the key (check, if you will, Pardew's signings when he was allowed free-reign, to his his usefulness in this regard) and we're signing increasingly attacking players, and the chaps I like play attacking football. Under Pardew we've now signed Debuchy, Santon and Mbiwa... 3 of the most attacking "defenders" in the league... Do they fit into Pardew's rigid and direct systems? No. The manager is pulling in a different direction to the board and scouts clearly, so much so that Alan now clings to Jonas' inclusion desperately like a dog to fresh urine... He's outlived his usefulness for us.
WTF he had nothing to do with those signings and the idiot was playing Harewood and Rio Coker ahead of them until they sacked the hapless whelp. It was Brooking who came in and all of a sudden West Ham were wining every game and stayed up via a so called miracle. The truth is Pardew was the issue. The same thing is happening here he has little say in our signings at all and he favours talentless players for some reason week in week out. The man is simply ridiculous in his entirity and the sooner he goes the better!!! he's a weight around our ankles.
I think with Wigan they are used to being in this position every season, so in a way they sort of expect it. Because of that they've had years of knowing what to do in this situation and dealing with this pressure. Cisse and Cabaye came last season. Gouffran, Mbiwa, Haidara,Debuchy and Sisskoho have come from clubs that weren't struggling. The players who have dealt with this kind of pressure are the grafters of the team e.g Jonas, Tiote, Perch and Taylor. When the new boys came in they played with no pressure or fear and we did well. Now there playing with pressure they're not used to and this has made them more defensively minded. If our attacking players become more defensively minded and do't have the confidence to make those killer passes, who will?
