Vote: Playing the blame game!

toonsy

Who is to blame?
Who is to blame?
Many many things have contributed to what has been an awful season so far for us.

And the most amazing thing is that it could yet still get worse! But let’s not think about that too much yet.

Somewhere, someone, something is to blame for it.

In truth it’s probably a combination of factors although there is always one which is the deciding factor in all of it. We’ve had injuries, continental competition, lack of investment, rifts within the squad (allegedly) and many more reasons presented to us, but what, for you, is the main one?

I’m going to outline some of the more common reasons I’ve read for our spectacular demise from Champions League contenders last term to teetering on the brink of the Championship this term. I’d like you to read about, think about it, then vote at the very bottom of this article. If you don’t think I’ve covered your particular base just vote “other” and make some time to explain what you think is to blame.

The manager

In one year Alan Pardew has gone from Manager of the Year to a guy who looks and sounds resigned to losing his job. I might be wrong on that of course, but his recent interviews just seem to have a hint of resignation about them.

There have been serious questions asked of him in terms of tactics and motivation of a team which, on paper at least, has the potential to be one of the best teams we’ve had in years but for whatever reason is under-performing to the point of needing four points from our last two games of the season to ensure mathematical safety.

The owner

Every man and his dog knew that the team needed bolstering in the summer yet we failed miserably to do so. Common sense should dictate that more games would mean we needed a deeper squad yet we failed to strengthen during the summer transfer window and, rather predictably, it came back to haunt us.

The idea was that players from the “development squad” would start to make the step up to the first-team but they proved that they just weren’t ready for it. I have little doubt that the ideal scenario was not to use them as much as they were used, but injuries to first-team players left us with little choice in that regard.

However, kudos to Ashley, he did actually do something about it in January as a whole clutch of Frenchmen arrived in the January transfer window. It should have been done sooner but we had a problem which was addressed at the next available opportunity. Which then brings me to my next point…

Team cohesion

It’s been said at times that we look like a bunch of strangers as a team, which is actually true in fairness, mainly because half of our team are a bunch of strangers! Trying to bed in so many new faces, all at one time when things aren’t going so well will be difficult, and so it has proved.

I’ve little doubt that our January signings will come good, but not all foreign imports hit the ground running and some need more time to adjust than others. It’s a new country, a new type of football, a new culture, and having to get all that right and maintain performance at a new club must be tough.

The players

Let me get this straight, the players SHOULD NOT be completely blame free in all of this. We all know they are better than what they’ve shown this season, both collectively and individually, yet not enough of them have shown it this term. Perhaps it’s a confidence thing? I mean those little flicks and passes come off when things are going well, but when the going gets tough things like that don’t work out. Is it the players who are to blame for this?

Injuries

I don’t like blaming injuries personally as all teams suffer from them at one point or another, but we have felt them this season more than most. Perhaps we felt it more because of a lack of investment in the summer, as mentioned previously? Maybe it’s our facilities, even though they have had a lot of money spent on them over the years and have come a long way since training on public pitches in the early days of Kevin Keegan. Maybe it’s the coaching?

You see there are many reasons you can pick for what has been a dismal season, and there is no doubt more than I have mentioned. So which one has had the most influence in your opinion? Take a vote and add your comment in at the bottom of the article.

[poll id=”77″]

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.

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194 thoughts on “Vote: Playing the blame game!”

  1. Even if we win today we still arn’t safe though ,if Wigan win their next two games they are on 41 ,now assuming we win today but not get owt from Arsenal then it’s goal difference isn’t it. We are only safe for sure if we Win and Wigan lose or draw on tuesday so we still have a wait.

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  2. Oblong @68

    I hope so fella 😀

    I win today and we are safe no matter what happens at Wigan.

    I really think if we can’t beat QPR today we really do deserve to go down they are worse than that famous Derby team 😀 Oh wait their only win of the season came against us didn’t it 😀 Oh no 😥 😥

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  3. @Kim

    We are we go above Villa and Wigan play Villa on the ast day of the season so one will lose and a point won’t be enough for both of them

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  4. Kim – if we win today, we’re on 41 points, Villa on 40 and Wigan (assuming they beat Arsenal) on 38.

    Villa play Wigan last day, so…
    Wigan win relegates Villa
    Villa win relegates Wigan
    Draw relegates Wigan

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  6. Santii….”if we can’t beat QPR today we really do deserve to go down”

    I’ll second that mate.

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  7. …injuries or not, we still have a squad that should be finishing in the top half.

    Taxi for Pardew………

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  14. AMF knew you were aboot,some were saying that you took the huff,they dont know aussies 😉

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  17. Yeah, I spat it with all the anti Pardz posts mate… after the 2397th post describing how bad he is, I thought enough is enough.. game day has me back on board..

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  18. Aussie your back pal, someone here suggested you went off in a huff like, think it was Dave. Good to have you back anyway 😀

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  19. Dave, I think I bounced a few times mate. Either that or I fell off more than once. Left arm, right ribs, left shin, right knee, you do the hokey-cokey and you turn around…

    …and that’s what it’s all ab out
    OI!

    ….ohhhhhhhhh hokey-cokey-cokey. 😆

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  22. Wouldn’t surprise me if it were Dave, Newkie!! At least I know you have my back 🙂 🙂

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  24. Santii 😆
    …I’d wheelie all the way home on that though. Probably a lot safer. 😆

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  25. CHOON 😎
    …shame we ain’t got the weather to accompany it here in sunny Blighty FSOTC.

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  28. Aussie I knew you didn’t take the huff my wee fair weather Wombat 😀

    Rod I bet you felt it when you woke up 😉 maybe get baking today help ease the pain

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  31. Blip
    What about Norwich, Soton and Sunderland? They’re in between us and Villa so surely they would be relegated instead of villa?

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  32. Ain’t a lot of fair weather to be had being a Toon fan Dave 🙂 🙂

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  33. Rodz…I put a load of monkeys in a room with typewriters, a few years later and bingo! they came up with that 😉

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  34. Here it is in black and white…. Pardew’s take on strengthening the side, yes or no…. A resounding NO. Or can this be otherwise misconstrued ?

    Now ….if the players agreed with this policy is something else. Obviously the fringe players pushing for a first team spot thought it was brilliant, though perhaps the seasoned pros thought otherwise.

    http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2012/09/14/alan-pardew-has-no-regrets-over-lack-of-transfers-61634-31831644/

    Maybe Ashley simply doesn’t trust Pardew with his money ?

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  35. Dave, certainly did mate. Just had a couple of ibuprofen. Just hope I haven’t broken anything. Reckon I’ll know tomorrow.

    FSOTC 😎

    …fits well with my sore limbs.

    Hopefully they’ll not be playing such blissfully chilled-oot choons in the dressing room before we run out at 3pm. If I was Pardew I’d put DragonForce on, full knacker! 😯

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  37. Richie 😆 😆

    FSOTC, I once saw Steel Pulse at Washington DC Bowl. They supported Santana! It rocked. 😎

    …reet, I’m off to put a Beef Bourginion in the slow cooker. Might have to check if the red wine is suitable first. 😎

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  38. Aussie @ 182 😉 your right there mate.

    MM that IMO was nowt more than PR spin to try to give his players a boost and show a bit of faith in them because he knew he would have to count on them. As there was numerous interview where he and a couple of players stressed the need to strengthen the team.

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  40. Big D @188, that’s not the way I read it mate. If he wanted to motivate the fringe squad he could have done it behind the scenes, why did he have to go public if he didn’t mean it ?

    I read this article for what it was, he doesn’t think he needs to strengthen the squad.

    It took him 4 months of horrendous performances up until Christmas before the light went on. Don’t you recall how lethargic we were the first 4 months of the season, we discussed it between ourselves at the time..

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