Rather than reprint it I thought I would summarise it here. Not in a told you so, sort of way, but more of a next time, just listen, more modest kind of way. Here goes.
“From 1955 when we last won the cup through to 1992 when KK took us to the top six. we had 14 years in the second tier, 17 years outside the top 10, six top ten finishes and one top six finish – 5th when Gordon Lee had Supermac and John Tudor banging in the goals. So not much expectation there.
Of course come the Premiership and KK flew into town backed by John Hall’s money, good assistants and charisma. It worked we had four great years (3rd, 6th, 2nd and 2nd) and then with Sir Bobby another three years (4th, 3rd & 5th). Even Glen Roeder got us a top ten finish. Unfortunately the other nine seasons were outside the top ten including one in the second tier again.
So do we treat the two great recent golden eras as the norm or as massive over-achievements? Well one we had loads of money and one we had one of the great all time managers. So no they are not the norm. However, the real question is can they be repeated? I’ve no evidence, based on historical performance, to support that “We are a big club, we should be in the top six year in year out. We show no ambition.” All this reminds me of my 10-year-old drawing up his Christmas list. We are financially the best of the rest. In my opinion we have the best team outside the top six and so top ten is realistic, if very rarely achieved.
I tend to be a bit pessimistic in the hope that I can be pleasantly surprised. Let’s assume for the moment that we lost every game against the top six home and away. Then lets assume that we win all our other home games. That’s 13 wins at St James’ Park. Then on the road we ought to beat the three teams that get relegated and a point away from home in the derby game is always nice. Now lets assume that that is it. That’s W16, D1, L21. 49 points. That should get you 10th or 11th. Right on our historical achievement It also gives me 21 games where I can expect nowt and be presently surprised.
So my minimum expectation is 49 points, I’m OK with top ten as it happens rarely enough and qualifying for Europe is wonderful.”
I was going to write a review of the season. But I don’t really need to, do I? 49 points, 10th place, just as expected. Just as we’ve always done.
Sharpy17 that’s so funny mate. Sod going to India, Mike can’t even afford my plane ticket over there and I’m asking for 4 grand a week in english pounds not rupees so I have been sacked. He said I would be just another **** member of staff on the wage bill.
terry(Quote)
@paulbreenturner: BREAKING;Tenerife star youngster Ayoze Perez joins Newcastle United 2 million euros, its a poke in the eye 4 Real madrid who were in chase!
3hourswasted(Quote)
3Hourswasted That’s excellent news mate. For a minute I thought he was to expensive for us but a descent signing nevertheless.
terry(Quote)
3HW – aye, I heard Real had struck a deal with with PSG – they bought Ronaldo for £100m which would in turn fund Real buying Perez … They would have pulled it off as well had it not been for that pesky Charnley!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Just posting what Paul Breen Turner said Sharpy. No doubt if Real Madrid wanted him badly they would have signed him unless of course he thinks he stands a better chance of first team football at the Toon.
3hourswasted(Quote)
3HW – I’m just yanking ya chain mate. But I think you’re right, if Real rated him highly enough, we wouldn’t have got a sniff. That said, I did read the other day that he turned Porto down to join us and he’d have likely challenged for the league and played European footy there – so we have still done well to bag him.
http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/A/714082097?-11058:809:t
Is this not just the best looking scout you’ve ever seen?!. Hardly blends in does he 😆 😆
Plus, I think he’s went to the home ground on an away fixture day 🙄
Sharpy17(Quote)
Gomis has turned down 85K per week from us? He wants 100K per week? 😯 Has he heard about wor thrify owner Big Mike?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Toondarnsarf @36 You’ve come to the wrong place if you don’t want to read that stuff. The level of comment here is as bad as anywhere else, I’m afraid.
However, it’s good to have a place where independent thinkers go to give alternative views to the usual catechism, cliche and caricature. Who knows, one day somebody might even listen.
brisvegas(Quote)
G2,@ Sorry for late reply to @112, just got back from A&E with Lew 🙄 . The two I meant was OBA and Amilfitano.
G2, where did you read that about Gomis?, if that’s true, he needs to look elsewhere as no way fatty will pay him that much.
kIMTOON(Quote)
Morning Bris 😉
kIMTOON(Quote)
lets start the day with a smile 😀 😎
http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20140521/woodman-and-armstrong-are-european-champs_2281670_3848587
kIMTOON(Quote)
G2 Gomis is a slow paced player. His not worth that much money. Mike should tell him to get lost. Please we have enough french players as it is! He sounds greedy
terry(Quote)
Kim I think Pardew got some talented players for the future in Woodman and Armstrong. I just hope they make it into the first team one day. I’d rather have Armstrong than Gomis next season
terry(Quote)
Oh well I guess if The Mirror says we offered Gomis £85k it must be true then 🙄
richietoon(Quote)
Richie your right mate and even if it was true no one needs to worry as Jabba won’t get took on
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave very true, though he’d be right in the case of Gomis, he just isn’t worth the kind of money you earn 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Richie if only mate 😆
But In any case I just don’t think he is all that anyway.
Big Dave(Quote)
BRISVEGA @158
I certainly don’t expect all comments to be that everything is rosy, because that just isn’t true. But I didn’t fall in love with this club because of fans who like to slag of everything to do with the club. That’s the job of mackems isn’t it?!
I’m quite happy reading a range of views but I don’t want to read the comments regarding a potential signing and every comment is a version of:
“He’s only coming because he’s cheap”
“Pardew will ruin him anyway”
“Bet that’s our only signing”
I really hope none of our potential signings read those blog pages…why would they bother coming if they take that to be the general view of our fans?
I don’t live up in Newcastle any more so I come on this blog to get a feel for the mood of the fans. I sincerely hope that isn’t the mood of the majority…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Certainly ain’t worth anywhere near that amount of money imo.
The problem with not adding one or two players each window and then facing a big rebuilding job like we face now is players, agents and the selling clubs try and screw you for even more money knowing that you are that little bit more desperate…You reap what you sow! 😕
richietoon(Quote)
TDS…We used to be great fans but apparently we’ve all been “pardewed” 😉 😆
Tbf It would take a coach of immense talent to coach the basic passing ability and skill out of seasoned professional footballers.
richietoon(Quote)
RICHIETOON
Pardew and Ashley the mackem secret agents? 😉
The argument is rubbish anyway as several players have improved significantly since they first arrived and why would any player join us if fellow players told them that they hadn’t learned anything from our coaches…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Even half the posters on here have been Pardewed! Take Richies comments for example, barely legible they are! 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
TDS…Surely they have all gotten worse? that’s why they keep picking up caps for their national sides…oh wait, hang on!
richietoon(Quote)
Aussie…and I’m the half that hasn’t been Pardewed 😉
richietoon(Quote)
RICHIETOON
Cabaye got worse too, that’s why we sold him to Barnsley in January…
At least there’s no concern that our rubbish players will be poached by someone else. Who would want to pay their high wages when they’ve actually got worse over the last few years?
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
😆 kk and g2 have definitely been Pardewed! 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
In fact…as all of our players have got worse…I suggest:
Sell Krul for £1M to Doncaster
Sell Tiote for £2.5M to Leyton Orient
Give away Colo for free because he’s obviously past it
Sell Sissoko to some French 3rd division team for £500k
Sell Debuchy to Gateshead for a portion of fish and chips
Then let’s play all of our kids and we’ll get in the Champions League! Easy!
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
I think G2 is trying to ‘Pardew’ us fans…
He was posting exactly the same things on another blog too…just copying and pasting between them…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
😆
I think Pardew must have officiated my first wedding, there was defo a downward spiral from the ceremony onwards 😆
richietoon(Quote)
yes we underacheived ,fatty out get out of our fcking club 👿
batty(Quote)
😆 actually,I think my sex life has been Pardewed! 😆 **** YOU PARDEW! 😥
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
TDS – look at you!. Yesterday you came on all fresh faced and the new boy – I come on today and ya sleeves are rolled up and you’re tearing into um!!! 😆 😆 You’re not here to make the numbers up lad are ya?! 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Aussie- I thought interfering in other’s sex lives was Pardew’s speciality? Ok so maybe yours has gotten worse recently, but it might be worth asking your missus how she’s been feeling.. 😉
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie, sage advice mate but my feelings are more important than the missus’
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
SHARPY17
I love this club mate and I’ll defend it against anyone who I think is coming up with unreasonable attacks. Normally it’s mackems but it seems to be some of our own fans recently. I definitely don’t think Jabba is the perfect owner for us and Pardew is only an average PL manager but I don’t support NUFC expecting every season to be like under SJH and KK and if I was miserable if it wasn’t, then I’d be a pretty miserable person!
So I say, HWTL, Ashley get your chequebook out of your XXXXXL trousers, Pardew read a book on “How to win football matches when you don’t have your key player” and fans roar on our players to some good performances on the pitch! 🙂
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS don’t mention tactics and books in the same breath. I did once, but I think I got away with it 😆
I’m really enjoying your comments, btw.
brisvegas(Quote)
Aussie-truer words were never spoken 🙂
I think the only players you can say have regressed are Barfa or Cisse. But even then, have they truly regressed or is it more a matter of form? Both have endured the best form of their careers whilst playing here as well let’s not forget. I think the issue for some fans is that once they see a player perform to his max 4/5 times and then drop off, they don’t get it and assume it must be an outside force preventing them from playing well. In reality you just have to acknowledge that this is football. I always use Tim Cahill as an example, Millwall, Everton, New York Red bulls. And while at Everton he was on a shortlist for the Ballon D’or 😆
Newkie(Quote)
http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/sissoko-i-m-happy-at-newcastle-united-1-6630648
So the agent was a snake and Sissoko himself says he is happy here. I bet those “not blaming him” for wanting to leave a side that plays terrible football are heartened by such news 😉
Newkie(Quote)
Vegas, what’s this tactics book your talking about? 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Newkie – I think age might have had something to do with it as far as Cahill is concerned.
brisvegas(Quote)
Oz – ask Troy. It’s his fantasy.
brisvegas(Quote)
Vegas 😉 the best football read was Troys ‘ football is a simple game’ dossier! Its brilliant in it simplicity! 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Bris-in his last years at Everton definitely, but he was never “at that level” for me, although he did have very good seasons for Everton. But they were a result of him playing beyond his “natural” ability i.e because of his consistency, despite the fact he wasn’t lifting any trees at Millwall beforehand.
Newkie(Quote)
TDS – to be fair mate, I think those who are attacking also love the club in there way too. Their attacks aren’t against NUFC they are against Ashley who they believe are destroying the club. I don’t think it’s as severe as that personally, but I do think that he could be doing a much better job if he would only employ the right people to help him.
The other attacks are on Pardew and I think most acknowledge that his job is being made difficult with the lack of investment. But I think, like most that he could and should be doing better than what he has been.
There hasn’t been much to get excited about or enthusiastic about at SJP since that 5th place finish (both on and off the pitch mate), so I wouldn’t be too harsh on folk.
Like you say, it’s up to Ashley now. Sacking Pardew may well have appeased alot of fans, but Ashley has decided to keep him in, which (with some) has strengthen their bitterness towards both Ashley and Pardew. So it’s now down to Ashley to spend some proper money on players for Pardew – and I’m not talking about £1.5m for a young Spaniard.
People need to see something from this lot to see that they are serious about making improvements, but all we’ve heard so far mate is that they don’t give a **** about cups.
Sharpy17(Quote)
BRISVEGAS
Thanks. 🙂 Hoping to see more constructive comments on this blog rather than wall to wall negativity… 🙂
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
SHARPY17
Oh, I totally agree with you there. Only they know they can’t really touch Ashley so they have a go at everyone they believe is associated with him, even other fans who say things like “I don’t think it’s as severe as that”…
Definitely he could be doing a better job and I’ve been banging the drum for a long time that what he should have done from day one was to appoint a chairman/MD/DoF with a lot of experience in running a top-flight sports team. It didn’t even need to be football, although that would have been ideal.
I think Pardew is an average and solid PL manager and he’s nothing to be excited about. He’s not a young exciting manager like Martinez, Rodgers or Poyet (sorry) so he’s just ok. A lot of fans want some hope, the feeling that our managers and players have the potential to be absolutely world class. Maybe those other 3 will in time, but I don’t think many fans think Pardew will…
You’re dead right that there hasn’t been much to be excited about. It’s incredible how much better this season would have been received if we’d got at least 4 points against the mackems and won a few more rounds in the cups.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
SHARPY17
Also, I’m going to dispute the cup comment mate. The club has a stupid way of answering questions like they’re talking to business people. In the Fans Forum, they answered a question about the “worth” of a cup run in terms of the financial worth. Stupid way to answer to a fan…
But every single club in the PL prioritises the league over the cups and they all put out weakened squads. Nothing new there.
I want us to win a trophy as much as the next fan but football has moved on and no owner will jeopardise PL survival or missing out on the CL to win a trophy these days. If they say they would then I think they’re lying.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS – spot on mate but the way things get presented leaves a lot to be desired. Basically there’s no one else but Pardew to talk up the club and he’s **** at talking.
georgio(Quote)
TDS
I think most fans can get on board with that – it’s just infuriating that un a rare season where we don’t especially have much to play for that we don’t use the opportunity to give the cups areal go
solanostrumpet(Quote)
GEORGIO
Exactly. Pardew comes across as a puppet and is frankly out of his depth when talking about club related issues so it’s not even fair to him to make him to it. Some managers can but others need someone else to do that side of things. We desperately do!
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
SOLANOSTRUMPET
Is that “Solano’s trumpet” or “Solano Strumpet?” 🙂
When we played Cardiff we rotated the squad but we didn’t put out a youth team like West Ham (who got battered 5-0 by Forest I believe) and at the time we were still in with a chance of Europe. Obviously selling Cabaye and not replacing him scuppered that hope…
Our rotated squad was definitely good enough to beat Cardiff’s (which I think was also rotated) so that was very disappointing. Man City are a difficult kettle of fish obviously…
I would definitely have expected us to take the cups seriously if we’d got to the Quarters and we were safely mid-table. I think there would be a riot if we’d rested Remy, Tiote or Debuchy for a QF!
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS – you’re wanting perspective mate, and I understand that. The problem for some is that with the lack of investment, coupled with things like JFK, Wonga, banning fan forums, poor football and stupid comments – perspective is a difficult thing to achieve at the moment. With the lack of communication and investment and the feeling that Ashley is happy with mediocrity and using the club as an advertising billboard – it’s understandable why there are more bitterly pissed off fans than ones who want to apply perspective.
It’s long overdue that the balance is addressed be the board and their actions being a more feel good factor to the place. The majority of fans are a fickle bunch, and the signing of the 5 Frenchies 18 mth ago lifted a cloud. We need to see some urgency from the club this summer. Sign some decent players and let’s see some decent football and the mood would change soon enough.
Sharpy17(Quote)
You can’t judge a player on how much they cost. Some people wanted us to buy LDJ for 8 million and I’m glad we didn’t! I would rather have Campbell from Cardiff for 800 grand if it means paying off this intrest free loan. I think we can still challenge for a trophy and remain in the league. Fan’s have been moaning about Ashley but the sooner the loan is gone then he might sale up or show more ambition. I don’t want the club to have that 129 million pound debt.
Terry(Quote)
Once that debts gone Ashley has no excuse that’s all I mean.
Terry(Quote)
TDS – re the cups, I absolutely agree that PL survival is the most important thing. But as the FA cup doesn’t start for us until Jan, then surely they can wait until Dec before placing an importance on the cup.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Terry , the club dont appear to be re-pay the debt to Ashley. I dont know much about UK tax laws but Im assuming he doesnt want a big tax bill ifs it repaid or some other type of tax break for it
Johno(Quote)
Well Neil Lennon has become available, I know Big Dave will be happy at the thought of him as manager 🙂
Newkie(Quote)
Good read prem… ❗
Howover …the fans always right 😉
Or even… 🙄
Spend the fckn monney ashhhhhh…. 😈 ❗
So…i m standing the first article of kimytoon ❗ 😛 😀 😛
I have trust and faith on u mate ❗ … 😉
Djebs9(Quote)
Vive nufc ❗
J espere un mega recrutement et un changement radical de la face de porc de l imbecile qui nous sert de coach ❗ 😎
Un peu de francais dans un monde d anglais … 😉 ca peut que faire des eclats ❗
Come on pies ❗ 😈
Djebs9(Quote)
TDS – what’s the perspective these days doon south about NUFC these days? Not exactly the entertainers any more 😥
georgio(Quote)
TDS @ 200 – Problem is Pardew misses no opportunity to gob off about anything asked. Except from local journos it seems. Wendy fields the difficult questions with a sharp “That’s not fair”. He also has trouble remembering what he’s said in the past.
georgio(Quote)
SHARPY17
Agree with everything you said in post 202. We’re not the best fans for perspective though…if we replaced Pardew with a forward thinking manager, many of our fans would expect CL football within a season or two…
If you look at the side that we put out against Cardiff in January, there were no youth players, we simply rotated the squad. If I remember rightly we dropped Krul, Colo, Debuchy, Cabaye and Remy for Elliott, MYM, Haidara, Anita and Cisse. I think the other 6 were all starters at the time.
And yes, if we’d have beaten Cardiff, I really hope we’d have taken the other rounds seriously as we had virtually nothing to play for…especially once Cabaye left.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
GEORGIO
Most people I speak to are perplexed with the fan protests to be honest. They see a club who had a joker at the helm before Ashley took over (slagging off fans, players etc.), now has a proper businessman in charge and we’ve gone from 16th place last season to a solid mid-table finish. Arsenal fans were unhappy they hadn’t won a trophy for so long and keep faltering in league challenges, Man Utd fans unhappy that they’ve dropped so drastically, Spurs fans unhappy that they spent loads last summer and are still no closer to the top 4. In fact the fans of most clubs have some reason or another to be unhappy if they choose to be.
So from speaking to most fans, we’re viewed as a club that could easily be on a par with Spurs and Everton but is really just a mid-table club. Bit boring really…
As for Pardew, he should be limited to talking about the performance of his team in matches, there should be someone else to handle questions regarding finances, transfers and other topics.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)