Telegraph reports: Pardew job hanging in the balance.

I agree. The fact Alan Pardew has very little power and commands very little respect because of his nature is key to him still having a job. If a powerful, headstrong figure who demands 100% and is a tactical genius was in charge than I'm sure the "managing director" Derek Llanbias would feel obligated to construct his dismissal.

 

1. Could we have compensated our poor form and position in the League by winning the Europa League, no not really, once we got towards the business end our inexperience and naivety at that level began to show.

2. As an aside I don't believe that everything was done to keep Demba Ba.



With respect to 1, I disagree. If HBA's shot had been just under the bar rather than just over we would have dumped a third good quality side out of the competition and been looking at Chelsea as the hardest opponents left. We were quite unlucky in Lisbon, had a little bit of luck in the first half at home, and then battered them the whole last 30 minutes. We weren't in the least outclassed or found out.

With respect to 2, we didn't agree to break the salary cap and pay Ba what he wanted. That's a decision I agree with. Short of that. I don't think there was anything more we culd have done.

 

To be fair on the author, I probably wouldn't have read the article had it been any longer.

 

The price on Ashley's whiteboard next to Ba's name would have been met or exceeded. So he was sold.

 

A win on Saturday and we can start just looking towards preparing for next season, probably.

I think we need to adhere to the wage structure and respect that we are looking to be sustainable. All players have a price and demand more than they are worth, you need strong leadership to make the calls and although i don't like them I think Ashley and Llambias provide that. Pardew is a bit of a yes man but he has people around him who i believe are doing their jobs well, Pardews main job is tactics, coaching, face of the club and match-day prep. Its the tactics that worry me...