Perhaps one of the most common criticisms to come from the game at Anfield last weekend was the lack of application from Newcastle.
You can jostle that with our lack of cutting edge if you like, but to be honest I always kind of half-expected that we’d struggle in an attacking sense. What I don’t, and never will, accept is a lack of effort on our part. Nothing less than 100% will do for me, which is why I was so annoyed last weekend. It wasn’t the defeat, it was the manner of the defeat which did me.
Which is why it’s rather alarming to read Alan Pardew’s comments today. He says that he is also alarmed by a lack of application and has picked up on a lack of focus on the training ground this week.
“The hunger and character of the team is what’s driven us and if we let that fall away then we won’t win. Our points tally doesn’t allow us to relax, but you can sometimes sense on the training ground that our focus has dipped a little bit. We need to make sure we’re on top of that as a staff, that we’re doing our best and the players need to focus quickly because this is an important game,” Pardew told The Journal.
Hmm. A dip in focus? I can see why as we have very little to play for in reality, but these are professional players who should be up for every game. They are paid handsomely to go out there and play to their maximum each time they take to the field so if they aren’t doing that then they aren’t doing their job. I will be watching that very closely.
Pardew continued: “Making sure we don’t coast for the rest of the season is something I’ve got to focus on. We have a professional respect that we handle ourselves very well in these remaining games.”
“Speaking to other managers it’s a difficult period when you get past that 40-point mark, and we’re experiencing that.”
Personally I won’t accept another performance lacking in effort and application although realistically there is very little I could do about apart from write some harsh words and allow everyone a chance to grumble about it.
The most disappointing thing for me is that I know they can do better. Sure the team needs improving, but they got this far on hard work and team spirit and if they let that slip they will have nothing much to offer at all.
Still, let’s see how the game pans out first.
About toonsy
A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.
Only three games left, we can then enjoy weeks of ????? 😥 .
Toonale(Quote)
Weeks of nothing but pure speculation 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Must be hard for the players though knowing were safe and theres nothing left to play for, going into tackles etc not wanting to get injured at this moment in the season.
Like you said though toonsy they get paid to still do a job, today they will have 50k fans relying on a peformance so theres no excuse not to put in a peformance.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Its Pardew that’s the problem not the squad – Chris Hughtons squad didn’t lose focus once we were promoted – they pushed and pushed.
I don’t like ‘managers’ who push blame towards others. He needs to accept responsibility – he was the one who came out and announced we are safe – when were aren’t mathematically.
He should be saying I took their eye off the ball by saying we were safe and we weren’t. The players are shattered its been a tough season and I took my foot off the gas and they responded.
This type of bloke always loses the loyalty and faith of players in time – they get sick of the ‘blamecaster’
Stardust(Quote)
I remember Jonas giving an interview a couple of weeks back and was talking about the need to finish in the highest place possible. He pointed out that while there might only be a handful of points difference, the psychological difference between finishing 13th/14th or 9th/10th is pretty sizeable. He also pointed out how important that difference could be to foreign players we’re trying to attract who might know a bit less about us.
So at least one of the squad has their head screwed on!
Also, big Shefki said yesterday he was desperate for a goal… get him on!
Pete(Quote)
Stardust…spot on mate. It’s been a tough season aye, but the wasters are paid well to perform. It’s Pardew’s job to keep them on their toes..
I’ve had a hard season at work too….and it’s still going on… 😆 the poor souls..
Munich Mag(Quote)
Pete…there’s still a shed load of cash to play for mate, 800K per place/point or summat like that I believe… 😯
Munich Mag(Quote)
Pete @ 5 – I think that showed at Anfield aswell as Jonas was about the only player to come away with any credit from that game.
toonsy(Quote)
Stardust@4
Aye I agree. He himself admitted he couldn’t take any credit for the Arsenal draw either, he laid it solely at the players feet.
What are we actually paying him for? 😉
Moreno(Quote)
toonsy,
Your post on previous thread has been noted. 😯
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Aye, these guys get paid to perform, or at least give a toss about the club. These guys have just spent a season telling us how they stayed when we went down because they were behind the cause and the ones who left were tossers.
Win today, or else I’ll start thinking along the lines of Stuart and Starbob.
Brisvegas(Quote)
TGS – Saddled up! Not for long though!
Stardust(Quote)
QPR not deducted points, they;re very lucky.
Jobey07(Quote)
Dont know if anyone has seen this
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3567437/Nile-Ranger-is-the-****-of-jokes-at-Newcastle.html
but it made me chuckle a bit 🙂
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
On the lash 🙂
jay jay(Quote)
APP – Aye I seen that. Thick as mince 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Bloody hell early goal for QPR!
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
I hope neither Leeds or Forest get in the play-offs 👿
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy
I hope Forest come up simply because its a decent away game – not too far to travel, the rest are all london teams or Wales.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Forest away last season was my worst away game 👿
Leeds isn’t much better 👿
Shytehouses the pair of them 👿 👿 👿
toonsy(Quote)
Our centre backs were Zurab and Simpson 😐 😆
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
I had no trouble at forest last season, worst I had was Barnsley.
Cant wait for game today 🙂
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Faurlin looks like a canny player
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Andrew – Zurab
toonsy(Quote)
I remember Forest scored because Simpson ran out of postion then Smith tried to get back and cover but with his great pace he never made it 😆
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
I loved last season, so many close teams to me 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Really pleased the brummie twats have put loads of UB40 on the jukebox 😡
jay jay(Quote)
Andrew – It can’t be true mate. Under Whoton last year we never got injuries……… They’ve only become a problem since Pardew came along 🙄 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Arr aye toonsy, forgot all about that, I remember Jose being forced to play against Stoke even though he declared himself fit…
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Andrew – I believe Pardew whipped him into submission and threatened to kneecap if he didn’t play….
toonsy(Quote)
Nice to hear the QPR fans creating an atmosphere 🙄
That’s a great party 😛 😛 😛
toonsy(Quote)
Thats Leeds not in the play offs now Forest are winning.
Be interesting to see who QPR and Norwich go for in the summer, Taarabt will be leaving them no doubt if a decent offer comes in – he only has a year left on his deal.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
They can have Ryan Taylor, Xisco and Perch for a combined £5 million of they like?
toonsy(Quote)
5 pound.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Right im off for the metro, hopefully we get three points!
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Reet peasant’s,
Off to the match, will give you all a wave from the Platinum Club where I will enjoy the pleasure of drinking a few pints from a glass and walking on carpet. 😆 😆 😆 😆
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
toonsy , i was wondering if you could do me a massive favour and for next week (11th may ) you could do an article on jackie milburn as it is his birthday , its my girlfriends grandad and it would be great 4 us all to remember the the great geordie number 9. i spoke 2 moreno and jobey last nyt about it and they said you would be the best man 4 the job??
Army69(Quote)
enjoy tony
Army69(Quote)
I think Taarabt will stay Andrew, it’s the same situation as Charlie Adam, any transfer money he could bring wouldnt make up for if they get relegated. And with one year left on his contract he wouldnt command a high fee, along with the problem of replacing him.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Army – I did read your comments and I’ll try and sort something out for you 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
That article on Ranger is hilarious. I would love him to get off the mark today. Love it!
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
SolanosTrumpet – Did you get my e mail?
toonsy(Quote)
Andrew- that makes me so jelous 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
toonsy your a star mate!! me lass would be ever so grateful for it as shes in hospital !!
Army69(Quote)
Pardew will NEVER win with some of our “fans” . he critizes the players , hes putting the blame on them , He says nowt , hes too soft and not doing his job ,
Some folk havent got a foking clue about how a manager should react ,
I see he got slaughtered for telling Taylor to go and get a place in the England squad ,
Jesus the man was only trying to encourage the player FFS ,
hello(Quote)
hello – we all have our different views bud
Army69(Quote)
And that’s what makes football soooo good mate 😀 😀
hello(Quote)
Ah yeah just seen it toonsy, i’ll give it a read now, looks a bit of an essay haha!
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Toonsy@40….BSNr9 probably watched wor Jackie, ask him to help out with the write up ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
it sure does hello lol !! lads , lasses and people with glasses , predictions for 2day then??? im so worried bout 2day , 3 pts defo means safety ,can we do it? …………
Army69(Quote)
Army – I can’t see many goals for either side like. No doubt we can beat them, it just depends if the lads have their holiday sandals or footy boots on today.
A point would do as long as Wigan lose.
toonsy(Quote)
MM – I’m sure I’ll be fine mate 😉
toonsy(Quote)
I fancy 1-0 to us…Shola penalty…
Munich Mag(Quote)
I fancy us stonking them like against wolves
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Toonsy did you get my email 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Toonsy….ok bud, you normally get it spot on anyway…Army69’ll be eternally grateful, good on ya…
Munich Mag(Quote)
2-0 Shola and Nolan
CC(Quote)
im gonna go for 2-1 , nolan and barton !! divnt give 2 flying ostriches who scores 4 them
Army69(Quote)
Dave 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Blimey. No relegated clubs even make the Championship play-offs 😯
toonsy(Quote)
cheers munich mag!!
Army69(Quote)
who do u rekn is up then toonsy ?? ive gota sneaky feeling swansea
Army69(Quote)
Cardiff have lost the plot a bit. I reckon Reading could be in with a shout.
toonsy(Quote)
Army69…no probs mate…. 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
Cardiff so I can where my sheep costume 😛
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Spencer – You could do that for Swansea aswell you spanner 🙄
toonsy(Quote)
Any team news yet ??
CC(Quote)
Nyet.
toonsy(Quote)
Ye, but Cardiff would be more fun
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Spencer I was told you wear your sheep costume all the time
Big Dave(Quote)
Although I dare say it won’t include anything overly interesting or surprising
toonsy(Quote)
It more or less picks its self.
Krul
Simmo
Saylor
Colo
Jose
Barton
Tiote
Nolan
Jonas
Lovo
Shole
Thats what i think.
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
In fact it’s up now on next thread 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Spencer is correct 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Its not hard 😆
Pardew darnt change, thats the only thing I dislike about him.
SpencerTheToon(Quote)