Another chance for Pardew or not?

Go – Sack him now – This is pretty self-explanatory and really seems to be the popular choice from a large section of our fan base.

At this stage of the season, I would say that this is a very low risk option. It will give us plenty of time to find a new manager and would allow us to have a full pre-season under the new manager.

Stay – Give him another chance – Well this is a slightly less popular option but there is a small segment of fans that think he deserves another chance based on the exploits from his first full season in charge.

His record shows that he has had one good season and one bad, it is as simple as that. If you remove all the excuses both good and bad, the fact remains that both seasons have been the polar opposite when it comes to ladder positions and points. So if he is given a third season, he may turn things around and we see some improvement and some solid results. Who knows, stranger things have happened!

No one likes a managerial revolving door where managers are replaced as soon as things go bad. I think it is pretty safe to say that most fans like the idea that the club wants a long term manager and stability but it has to be the right man. Given our track record and the large amount of distrust of our owners, many fans fear that we will simply get another average manager in if Pardew is indeed sacked.

I must admit that I fall into this category and I really can’t see Newcastle United going after a top manager for the foreseeable future. To sack Pardew now and replace him with another manager that has not got an impressive CV and a proven track record would be a step backward as far as I am concerned.

What also concerns me is that Pardew retains his position and we start the 2013/14 season off poorly. If Mike Ashley then decides enough is enough and sacks Pardew ten games into the new campaign we will be in a disastrous position! I am not sure how many top flight managers will be available, the only ones around are generally the ones that have been out of work for some time. This thought hardly breeds confidence going forward.

A part of me really wants to stick with Pardew to see if he can turn things around but another part fears that if he is not removed now, we will miss out on a chance to recruit a manager of some repute. I would love to see our owners show some real desire to grow the club and move it forward. It is not just about buying more players it is about showing the fans that they are serious by putting a top man in the managers seat.

So summarise all of the above; the old jaded Newcastle fan in me says that we will stick with Pardew and if he is replaced it will be early into to next season when it is too late to get a good replacement. But the smaller wishful thinking part of me hopes that the owners of Newcastle will prove me wrong and sack Pardew and proactively look to bring a top new manager.

This all sounds a little cold and callous, Pardew is not a bad man but the past six months of football has really made me struggle to keep supporting him.

There will be interesting times going forward that is for sure! How do you think it will play out?

Aussie Magpie Fan

Has Perch been the pick of the bunch?

Safety has been assured and now we can’t get relegated, thankfully, but with the end of the campaign fast approaching we’re now at the stage of the season where awards are dished out and accolades are given for good performances throughout the season.

That’s the problem though. How on earth do you pick out the best player from a team that had performed so poorly all season? How do you give accolades to players in a team that should never have found itself pondering relegation yet still had it’s Premier League future up in the air with just two games of the season remaining? It’s almost impossible…

Usually I’m pretty good at highlighting the good from the ugly but I’m really struggling to come up with options to add into a poll for this one. Maybe it shouldn’t be a “Player of the Season” award and should instead be an award doled on the basis of who has not been as bad as the rest.

Let me give you an example. To me a Player of the Season has to have performed above expectation, to be the one that has turned matches or helped us save them on a regular basis. Using that criteria I honestly can’t think of one player who has done any of that on a consistent basis this season.

So now I’m dropping down to the next level where I stumble across James Perch. Unfancied and unfashionable and by no means our best player, but can you honestly recall a time where he has let us down this season? Or a time where he has been the worst layer on the pitch?

So there is my nomination for Player of the Season (and I can’t believe I’m being serious) based on nothing other than the fact that he’s not let us down when called upon unlike so many other of the fashionable names within our ranks. But we can’t just have one nomination surely? I’m looking for a number of suggestions which I can eventually add into a poll before we can decide ultimately who we, as fans, deem to be our Player of the Season. Which is where you guys come into the equation…

Please leave a nomination in the comments below, ideally with a reason behind it, and I’ll count up the top nominees and use them in what will be our defining NUFC Blog poll for our Player of the Season.

I know the Mackems tried to rig one a vote a couple of years ago by voting for James Perch, such is their obsessive nature about anything to do with Newcastle, but the sad thing is that they may not be far wide of the mark when it comes to this season.

Comments welcome.

Celebrations at last

A penalty from Hatem Ben Arfa and a fortuitous strike from Yoan Gouffran cancelled out Loic Remy’s opener for QPR giving the Magpies just their second away win of the season.

It wasn’t a great performance as both sides struggled, but with the bulk of the pressure on United I’m extremely happy to say that we came out on top in the end which was ultimately all that mattered. People can be critical about the way we played or the football on show, but getting the three points and sorting out which league we’d be playing in next season mattered more than any of that yesterday, and on that score it was job done.

The reason we’re safe is because Aston Villa and Wigan play each other on the final day of the season next week, and both sides can’t overtake us. Mind you I have a feeling that it could all be over by then anyway as Wigan must first travel to Arsenal and win on Tuesday to ensure they enter that final game against Villa with at least a fighting chance. Still, at least we’re out of it…

Newcastle started off poorly and struggled to get into the game. Indeed it was an error on the part of Mathieu Debuchy who gifted QPR the chance to take the lead by conceding a penalty although replays have subsequently shown that Debuchy’s infringement was outside the penalty area and shouldn’t have resulted in the spot-kick that Newcastle target Loic Remy duly fired past Rob Elliot.

However just seven minutes later United were level after Jose Bosingwa decided he wanted to swap shirts early with Hatem Ben Arfa leavin referee Lee Probert little choice but to award a penalty to the away which Hatem Ben Arfa smashed home via the underside of the crossbar.

United could have grabbed the lead soon after had Papiss Cisse’s powerful header not been ruled out for a marginal offside call, but good news was on the horizon as Jose Bosingwa dropped another clanger by leaving his back pass to Rob Green short which allowed Jonas Gutierrez to close down the former England ‘keepers clearance with the rebound falling to the feet of Yoan Gouffran who volleyed home into an empty net from 25 yards out.

Gutierrez could have sealed the points in the second half but Shaun Derry had other ideas and cleared his header off the line leading to a nervy ending which saw Newcastle reduced to ten men ten minutes before full-time after Rob Elliot picked up his second booking after being adjudged to have handled outside the box.

As I said, it wasn’t pretty but I always knew it was never going to be a game for the archives. However we did get what we wanted from it which was three points and Premier League safety assured, and for that alone I’m over the moon!

One more game to go and the inquests and planning for next season can begin in earnest. I don’t know what the club have planned regarding the future of Alan Pardew, for transfers in or out or anything like that, but at least we know we can plan to be in the big league again.

Howay the lads!

QPR: Rob Green, Jose Bosingwa, Nedum Onuoha, Clint Hill, Armand Traore, Andros Townsend, Jermaine Jenas, Stephane Mbia, Junior Hoilett, Loic Remy, Bobby Zamora

Subs: Brian Murphy, Fabio, Shaun Derry, Park Ji-Sung, Adel Taarabt, Jamie Mackie, Esteban Granero

Newcastle: Rob Elliot; Mathieu Debuchy, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa; Cheik Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez; Hatem Ben Arfa, Yoan Gouffran, Papiss Cisse

Subs: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, James Perch, Vurnon Anita, Sylvain Marveaux, Gabriel Obertan, Adam Campbell

Attendance: 17,278

Game On at Loftus Road

We can the head into the final game of the season – at home to Arsenal – without any real pressure knowing that we have Premier League football to look forward to next season.

A win at QPR, with their squad of expensive signings who will no doubt be looking for a way out of the club in the next few weeks, should be simple. Already resigned to relegation, and with the poorest home record in the league, they have nothing to play for other than pride whilst we have everything still on the line. However our away record this season suggests that we won’t win this game although I am of course waiting to be pleasantly surprised.

For some more background on the match, along with injury news, a look at the history of the fixture between the two clubs, some facts and stats for both sides and some random thinking at the end, why not head over and read my match preview which is online here.

The game itself is not being shown live on the TV here in the UK. However there are a number of overseas TV channels who have chosen to broadcast the match so catching a stream shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Hopefully. If you happen to find a good stream then please feel free to share it with your fellow Newcastle fans by leaving a link in the ‘comments’ section below.

Team news will be provided by myself today before I head off to work and miss the match, which is probably a good omen for us to be fair. I will endeavour to add the teamsheet in full at the bottom of this article.

Now is the time to deliver.

Howay the lads!

QPR: Rob Green, Jose Bosingwa, Nedum Onuoha, Clint Hill, Armand Traore, Andros Townsend, Jermaine Jenas, Stephane Mbia, Junior Hoilett, Loic Remy, Bobby Zamora

Subs: Brian Murphy, Fabio, Shaun Derry, Park Ji-Sung, Adel Taarabt, Jamie Mackie, Esteban Granero

Newcastle: Rob Elliot; Mathieu Debuchy, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa; Cheik Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez; Hatem Ben Arfa, Yoan Gouffran, Papiss Cisse

Subs: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, James Perch, Vurnon Anita, Sylvain Marveaux, Gabriel Obertan, Adam Campbell

Who is to blame?

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.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Hoops v Magpies

That slither of light was provided by Swansea in midweek, who thankfully beat Wigan on their own turn ensuring that we don’t enter this match against QPR in the bottom three of the Premier League table.

In fact the result for Swansea has given us another chance to get ourselves out of this mess and could potentially see us safe on Tuesday evening providing to things happen. The first thing that needs to happen is that we need to pick up at least a point at Loftus Road tomorrow, although ideally we’d pick up three. The second thing is that Wigan must lose at Arsenal on Tuesday (or achieve no more than a draw if we win at QPR) which would be enough to see us safe heading into the final league game of the season and would see super Roberto Martinez – managerial mastermind in the eyes of some – relegate Wigan with a record that isn’t even comparable to that of Steve Bruce!

QPR

Chris Samba is doubtful for the visit of the Magpies as he battles with a knee injury. Shaun Wright-Phillips (ankle) and Andrew Johnson (knee) will both miss the match and what is left of the season as both have undergone surgery on their respective injuries. Tal Ben Haim has already left the club and has signed for MLS side Toronto FC while goalkeeper Julio Cesar won’t be considered for selection.

Newcastle:

Mathieu Debuchy is available once more after sitting out the 0-0 draw with West Ham last weekend due to suspension. Tim Krul, Shola Ameobi and Moussa Sissoko have been ruled out for the rest of the season and will join Ryan Taylor and Haris Vuckic on the treatment table. Sylvain Marveaux and Davide Santon are training again although their readiness for match action remains unknown while Sammy Ameobi and Shane Ferguson are available again after returning from loan spells at Middlesbrough and Birmingham respectively.

Previously…

United go looking for a first league double of the season following on from the 1-0 victory recorded at St James’ Park back in December. The goalscorer that day – Shola Ameobi.

Newcastle last tasted defeat at Loftus Road back in 1995. The scoreline was 3-0 that day and whilst 1995 sounds a long time ago there has only been three matches in West London since then with United recording two victories (one in the Championship) and one draw.

Home and away and in all competitions our record against each other is remarkably similar. There have been 41 games contested between the two sides with United winning 18, QPR winning 16 with 7 draws making up the numbers.

Match stats and facts:

QPR have the worst home record in the division having won just two games in front of their own fans all season long.

United have the third-worst away record in the division and have won just once on the road all season.

QPR have failed to score on 15 occasions this term and have not scored in their last four league games.

United have kept only two clean sheets away from home all season. Last week at West Ham was one with the other coming against Norwich in January.

If Newcastle fail to win tomorrow it will be our worst season away from home in terms of wins. Even in our relegation season we managed to win two games away from home.

Final thought:

On the face of it United have everything to play for whilst QPR have nothing, but that isn’t strictly true. Their pride will be hurting and they will be wanting to sign off the season with a win in front of their own fans. They owe us no favours.

We have the capability and quality to win this game no doubt, but we’ve had that in other games also and have crumbled before. The pressure is most definitely on us and we must get a result, whether it be through nice football or dog ugly long-ball stuff I don’t care as long as we get the points on the board. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we’re hardly in a position where we can be picky about the type of football we play, are we?

P.S: I’m getting a bit fed up of the snide remarks people seem to be aiming towards each other and the amount of general bickering right now. Fed up to the point of considering whether it’s actually worth keeping this open bearing in mind I set it up with the aim of encouraging RESPECTFUL debate between ADULTS who support NUFC. I know a lot of people are annoyed with things right now, but come on, it doesn’t mean that people have to act like peckers does it now? Calm it down please, make your point, respect others, and all will be good.

Howay the lads!

Date: Sunday, 12th May, 2013

Time: 3pm

Venue: Loftus Road

Wigan miss chance to overtake United

So whilst I’m loathe to revel in the misfortunes of others, I am still delighted that Swansea managed to do us a favour last night by beating Wigan 3-2 at the DW Stadium.

That game was Wigan’s game in hand and if they’d have won it they would have overtaken us and ensured we faced QPR at the weekend as the last occupants of the relegation zone. However as things stand now we are still three points ahead of the Latics with just two games left to play for all teams involved in the relegation dogfight.

So how do things stand now following on from the result last night? Well the first thing to observe is that our destiny is now back in our own hands. From experience that chance often doesn’t come around twice so it’s now up to us to take the chance we’ve been afforded with both hands.

To ensure we make the most of this chance we must pick up a win at QPR on Sunday. If we manage to grab just a second away win of the campaign it would mean that Wigan would then definitely have to win their two remaining fixtures which, if they did manage, would mean we need to pick up a point against Arsenal to be safe. Even a draw for us at QPR would be enough providing Arsenal beat Wigan at the Emirates on Tuesday night.

To be fair there are still lots of permutations and many twists and turns that could happen and any team up to Fulham in 12th could still be dragged into things, however unlikely it may seem right now. What we do have is a second chance to keep the ball in our court so to speak, but to make sure it remains that way we must win this weekend at QPR.

And if the players and manager can’t get that then well….

Please don’t confuse my plea for calm as an indication that I’m happy or for people not to panic. It’s more that I’m asking everyone to focus on what is most important and that is our quest for survival.

I keep hearing a lot of questions that have been brought about by our poor season. Understandably so and I realise that it’s always going to happen after a season like we’ve had. However I just think it’s time to knock the questions on the head, temporarily, until we know what is what and where we’ll be next season.

The reality is that none of the kinds of questions posed can be adjudged to have any real accuracy until we know if we’re going to survive or not. Everything is on hold at the moment and whilst I’m not saying anyone should be oblivious to the spectre of relegation, I do think our focus needs to shift from tearing things apart to expending every ounce of willingness we have towards our team.

There will be plenty of time for everyone to dissect things after the season has gone and we know how things stand. That’s part of the reason there aren’t many articles on here at the moment as I can’t bring myself to think about anything else right now. We shouldn’t be in the mess but we are and getting out of it is more important than finger pointing or laying blame.

This isn’t one of those “support your team” articles. Quite frankly I think we’ve been superb all season and have stayed with the team far longer than perhaps we would have done in the past. It’s more a reminder that it’s pointless looking too far ahead when it’s things in the very near future which will determine what happens next.

These next two weeks are vital and it starts tonight with Wigan v Swansea. In an ideal world Swansea will do us a favour and beat Wigan but unfortunately for us the Welsh side seem to already be on their summer holidays whilst Wigan look up for the scrap again.

Come on Swansea!

Cisse’s effort rolls to the line

Indeed United could have bagged more than just a point had Papiss Cisse’s first-half effort been adjudged to have crossed the line and been awarded as a goal. Rightly or wrongly it wasn’t given and a point had to do in the end.

If you look at our result in isolation a point away at West Ham wasn’t a poor result, but wins for sides above and below us, especially Wigan winning at West Brom, mean that nerves are starting to jangle a bit louder here in the North East.

With Moussa Sissoko missing United lined up in a 4-3-3 formation which did at least show some attacking intent, but it was West Ham who had the first attack although Mohamed Diame’s shot was blasted wildly over the crossbar. United responded and had their own half-chance soon after as Hatem Ben Arfa fired in a free-kick from the wide right which landed on top of the net rather than inside it.

The game ebbed and flowed with neither side really threatening in attack although there was a moment of controversy as Yohan Cabaye played in Papiss Cisse who rolled the ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen only to see Winston Reid hook the ball off the line. Cisse was adamant it was over and TV replays proved inconclusive, aside from a replay from one angle which showed that the ball looked to have crossed the line.

Hatem Ben Arfa then had another soon after as he burst into the West Ham box but his tame shot was easily dealt with by the West Ham goalkeeper. United had probably had the better of the first-half but it remained all-square at half-time.

Half-time: West Ham 0-0 Newcastle

The second-half started with Andy Carroll nodding a cross from Matt Jarvis wide of the goal before once again United responded as Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa rolled the ball to Yohan Cabaye who say his long-range drive fly just wide of Jaaskelainen’s post. Hatem Ben Arfa the curled a frekick into the arms of the West Ham ‘keeper.

The away side had Rob Elliot to thank for keeping the score at 0-0 as he kept out Kevin Nolan with a fine double-save before denying Matt Jarvis with another fine save to his right.

Just two minutes after that though United were handed another chance as Yoan Gouffran advanced forward and knocked the ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen who had come out of goal in an attempt to deal with the danger. With space running out Gouffran was forced to shoot from a narrow angle and his effort bobbled just wide of the post.

Both teams pressed at times but neither was able to break the deadlock in what was a match that lacked any real quality. A point gained but it doesn’t feel like it due to results elsewhere.

Full-time: West Ham 0-0 Newcastle

It’s now looking like we are going to be the third side relegated and we’ll be joining Reading and QPR in the Championship next season. These are dark times at Newcastle and I can’t see it sending any time soon. Suffice to say I’d buckle your seatbelts as it’s going to be a bumpy few years.

That might be an understatement…

West Ham: Jussi Jaaskelainen; Joey O’Brien, Winston Reid, James Collins, Guy Demel; Gary O’Neill, Mohamed Diame, Kevin Nolan, Matt Jarvis; Ricardo Vaz Te, Andy Carroll

Subs: Stephen Henderson, Emanuel Pogatetz, Matt Taylor, Mark Noble, Jack Collison, Joe Cole, Carlton Cole

Newcastle: Rob Elliot; Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa; Cheik Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez; Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse, Yoan Gouffran

Subs: Steve Harper, Mike Williamson, James Perch, Dan Gosling, Vurnon Anita, Adam Campbell, Shola Ameobi

Attendance: 34,962

Game On at Upton Park

Currently we’re five points clear of Wigan who are away at West Brom this afternoon. In an ideal world that gap would be extended to eight points with just three games to go (for them anyway) as we win and they lose.

However I get the feeling that things aren’t going to go to plan in much the same way that they’ve not gone to plan all season long. At the moment we can sort of forget about Wigan as our destiny is in our own hands, but for it to stay that way we must win at all costs this afternoon and take the points away from a host of faces who will be desperate to put one over on us.

Sam Allardyce, Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan are all former employees of Newcastle and will want to make a point, especially Allardyce who has made it a habit of getting one over us wherever he has been. His brand of football may attract criticism but it’s effective, especially against us.

We look devoid of confidence, lacking ideas and low on fight which are ingredients needed to help pull us out of this mess. One win is all it will take I reckon, but until that comes nerves will understandably be frayed. A growing injury list has seen Moussa Sissoko added to the list of walking wounded. Put simply, things are bad right now.

If you need a bit more background ahead of the match then why not take a look at our match preview article which is linked at the bottom of this article? It features all the other injury news, a history of the fixture and some facts and stats to get you thinking.

The game itself is not being shown live here in the UK so streams will be needed. Once again if you happen to find one then please leave a link to it in the ‘comments’ section below. Team news will be made available as soon as I can get my hands on it.

Howay the lads!

West Ham: Jussi Jaaskelainen; Joey O’Brien, Winston Reid, James Collins, Guy Demel; Gary O’Neill, Mohamed Diame, Kevin Nolan, Matt Jarvis; Ricardo Vaz Te, Andy Carroll

Subs: Stephen Henderson, Emanuel Pogatetz, Matt Taylor, Mark Noble, Jack Collison, Joe Cole, Carlton Cole

Newcastle: Rob Elliot; Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa; Cheik Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez; Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse, Yoan Gouffran

Subs: Steve Harper, Mike Williamson, James Perch, Dan Gosling, Vurnon Anita, Adam Campbell, Shola Ameobi