Something doesn’t feel right at St James’…

Trouble ahead?
With little football on offer at the moment, apart from international rubbish that doesn’t even remotely interest me anymore, there is a tendency to look at any bits of news and over-analyse them.

This is brought about mainly by the fact that there is no domestic football to feed our NUFC habit and in a desperate attempt to get our Toon fix we tend to look a bit deeper into things than we would do usually. What’s that? You don’t? Well maybe it’s just me then, and maybe it’s why my overactive imagination has spawned this article.

You see there is a bit of a negative feel around the club at the moment, which has been brought about by the last two negative results, especially the Stoke one. Talk of Europe and top ten finishes has been replaced with talk of relegation and even prophecies of doom regarding the future of Alan Pardew have begun to surface after only fifteen or so league games in charge of NUFC.

Now I’m not buying into that and I feel that the ‘one win in ten’ stat that is being thrown around at the moment isn’t a true reflection of the results. You could just as easily turn it round and say that we have only lost four games out of the last ten, which is the problem with stats – they can be read in many different ways to suit a particular argument.

Whilst I’m not jumping onto the ‘pressure on Pardew’ bandwagon I do have a feeling that something isn’t quite right behind the scenes at St James’ Park. Now I’m not overly au fait with matters of a behind the scenes nature at Newcastle, but to me something just doesn’t seem right. Don’t ask me what because I just don’t know what it could be, but call it a gut feeling if you like.

Perhaps it is a confidence issue? Maybe the players are starting to feel the heat a little bit, but I just don’t see the smiles on their faces that I happened to see even as recent as four games ago. The team spirit may remain intact, but it’s being well hidden at the minute.

It’s that team spirit that has to remain intact if we are to dodge the relegation bullet as it’s the one defining quality that this team has over the team of two years ago. On paper that team should never have suffered a relegation, but the problem is that a game of football isn’t played on paper. On the pitch, where it counts, that relegation side had no heart and spirit. This team does, or did.

It just hope it doesn’t go missing at this crucial time of the season.

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.

51 thoughts on “Something doesn’t feel right at St James’…

  1. Don’t want to sound like a broken record or nuthin’ but I’d say it’s all newspaper talk and their doomsayer lackeys. Read too much of it and it gets under your skin and you start to believe the ****.

    In a season, you are bound to have a couple of bad runs. After the Arsenal away win we won only 1 of the next 8 games. But just 3 games after that streak there was talk of Europe.

    I doubt whether morale at St James’ is any worse than anywhere else at the moment – except Villa maybe. I daresay there are a few problems there.

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  2. I’d like to say that its because of the press that I feel this way, but as there has been no hint of trouble reported I’d have to rule it out.

    These are my own observations made with my own eyes whilst being at games and watching the players themselves, and the feeling I get is that there is just something not right which I can’t put my finger on…

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  3. @toonsy: i mentioned before way earlier too. that just right after the enrique rumor of Him leaving,i have not seen any smile and enjoyable feeling in him anymore.

    The same goes to the others,the players are not passionately,enjoying playing football,they simply play for the sake.

    That’s what i observe even through online streaming.

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  4. AOD – That’s exactly what I mean. The players just don’t seem the way they used to be. Whether its nerves or something else I don’t know, but something doesn’t seem right.

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  5. The main change I noticed in the players was immediately following the departure of Carroll. I think Carroll going spoiled the ‘team unity’.

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  6. I reckon they realise Pardew talks a load of pish and they don’t trust anything he says 😉

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  7. I see the same attitude amongst all the bloggers as the players. Complacency!
    It makes my blood boil when I read bloggers accepting that Jose Enrique will leave in the summer and speculate who they will buy to replace him.
    You should be hitting the roof at the very idea and expressing your disdain! He’s the best left back we’ve had for as long as I recall.
    The players must be totally disillusioned with the situation at the club and from my source only Joey Barton is banging on the bosses door and like me, hitting the roof!!
    Wake up , smell the coffee and don’t just sit and accept the situation. Email the club and express your views like me.

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  8. Bobby I agree with you. I’m amazed at times how we seem to just accept things as inevitable. If I were Jose and reading these blogs or hearing it through others, I would be wondering why bother staying if everyone thinks that and accepts that not only am I going but also openly specualting on who should be my replacement. Won’t exactly make him feel wanted will it? I agree we need to show more outrage at the thought of him going, that is probably more likley to make him stay than just accepting it as inevitable. Ofcourse if he really wants away he will but let’s not make the decision too easy for him

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  9. been a while since ive been on, but here goes.
    i think the situation regarding enrique is down to the fact that he is a great player, the best left back we have had since i supported the team (albert is close though for that goal) and that at the moment we maybe cant match his ambitions. we have just been promoted dont forget and safety is our aim, he wants to become spains number 1 left back who are the best international side in the world and to do that he needs to be playing champions league football. i will be gutted if he does go, ecstatic if he stays but if we can get a good price (say 15 mill) for a player with 1 year left on his contract then so be it. i would be happy for him to go on and do well. we are naturally going to talk about replacements if we fear one of our best players is going to be off. his decision wont be money orientated but purely to satisfy what he wants to achieve in life, whats wrong with that?

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  10. on a separate note, i do agree that something isnt quite right with the players, but i think that confidence is an issue at the moment. the judas sale will have rocked the boat a bit but these players are strong enough to deal with that. i fully expect us to pull out all the stops vs wolves and get 3 points to get our heads above water again.

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  11. @Geordie Deb

    The fact Jose is considering leaving as well as Barton tells you all you need to know about this regime. No communication with the fans and just as important, with the players.
    Like us, they haven’t got a clue which direction the club are going. The best personalties stayed on after relegation for their own pride and are now looking to the club to show some ambition. Not to win the league but just to go forward.
    So are we, but we hear nothing from the board and I honestly believe Pards is on a hiding to nothing cos he knows the regime will sell any player for a reasonable price.
    Those players have to be replaced and on each occasion, other than Tiote, they are of less calibre.
    Don’t just accept Jose is away, it will be a travesty if we allow it!!!

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  12. Have always thought “Team Spirit” is a very fragile thing.The teams took two big hits in CH and AC going.Compouded by the uncertainty of Jose and Barton and bad results like the way we lost points against Spurs etc.
    My main worry is if the players are kept as much in the dark as the supporters.Or on the other side are they in the Ashley Loop and don’t like what they hear.
    I must go and have a lie down my head hurts

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  13. Batty and when that happens the smile will return, As i dont about the players but I know i wouldnt want to be smileing if we are not winning. As you would then have fans ranting and raving about what the players have to smile about. 😆

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  14. A win against Wolves will end this overreaction, Before the Everton match we were unbeaten in nine or something like that now its been turned into 1 win in 10.

    3 points on the board, takes us to 39 (really 40 inc goal difference) Another couple of draws after that and were there piece of ****… 😉

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  15. Players probably know that Pardew is a lame duck come the summer when Ashley finally sells the club. The players probably feel the same.

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  16. Players are just like the fans! Your brain takes charge and a situation becomes escalated! 7 out of 10 posts are negative! And in a matter of days we’ve gone from Europe to relegation talk! So 1 in ten wins at the ground must be really hard to manage! But asks yourselves what would happen if we now went on a four win run? All of a sudden things would be different… We just love to winge!

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  17. Ed’s quoting the Chron, I think. I hope it’s true, but I doubt it.

    Can’t really add much to what’s already been said. We were over-achieving through some great spirit, unity, stability and the great feeling that comes from earning respect – and even a bit of fear – from the best opposition.

    Sack CH, sell Carroll. Then get the usual injuries. Result: wheels off.

    I think it’s fixable, but not until the summer, when the club – surely – must know what they have to do. But we have to up our points-winning rate or we’ll be down again. And 42 points won’t do it this time.

    While I’m being a miserable sod, here’s a stat for you:
    we’re 27 points off the top. And 6 off the bottom.
    .. 😯

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  18. Nathandio – do you seriously think we could do that, though? I look at the players who’ve just not turned up since Feb 1st, and wonder where any points are going to come from, including against Wolves at home. And that’s quite an indictment!

    I look at the situation, and add my gut instinct… and I’m back in April 2009. It’s all too familiar! The only difference is that Pards has been in charge for 7 more games than Shearer got.

    And a win against Wolves won’t fix it any more than a win against Blackburn did back then.

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  19. To further continue the “Steve Harper is a legend” story, he has said he will only play another 2 years at most – it makes no claim at default no. 1. He says his knees are shot and he is doing it to get his coaching badges and pass on experience to Krul and Forster.

    What a legend this guy is. He needs a statue comically hidden behind a statue of Given. He would appreciate the humour.

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  20. I think it was in The Journal about two players already meant to be signed up.

    Even if it was true they have to be players from a different country who are going to be a free right?

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  21. The story is in the Journal and states that the two players have virtually signed providing we stay up.
    They’ve stopped pursuing Connor Wickham as his price tag will be too much for an inexperienced player.
    They should concentrate on ensuring Jose and Barton stay or other players coming in mean little.

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  22. Dan
    We can agree to sign someone outside a transfer window and it doesn’t necessarily have to be on a free. I’m not sure about the rules about free transfers regarding to when we can approach someone but I think it is the beginning of Jan and it doesn’t matter where they are from / what nationality they are.
    Not 100% sure though

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  23. TOONSY i said weeks ago something not right at club,but like you dont know what, and we wont find out,not from the three amigos anyway thats for sure 🙁

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  24. I am a fan of Ed’s blog, to be honest, it keeps me up to date with all the rumours about the club so I have no complaints (except “The Newcastle Club” and “The Roma Club”, who speaks like that?).

    However, he has some sort of fetish with Seb Larsson. Every week, there is at least one blog on the guy since I started reading it a year or two ago.

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  25. Funkyjesus 😆 😆
    Yeah, all his readers get p!ssy about rumours too, if you had to just write about hard facts there’d not be much to write about

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  26. I like the rumours, I have no problem with them. I just worry about his feelings for Seb Larsson and his obsession with this made up phrase he always uses. “The Newcastle Club” or “The Roma Club”, pick a team and he uses it.

    It’s as much English as efgrferfeds.

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  27. FJ
    Ed’s blog is excellent for up to date news and he and he does a great job keeping us updated about the famous Newcastle Club!. (Nothing compared to .co.uk for banter though Toonsy!)but something which annoys me is the resignation he has for Jose going and how he seems to almost create news out of nothing.

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  28. I was knocking his blog, I was praising it. I just needed to vent on his bromance with Seb Larsson and that phrase.

    It really bugs me, lol.

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  29. ahah 😛
    Not really noticed the phrase mate, Larsson on the other hand 😆 He must just like to look at the fellas picture

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  30. We are better off than 9 teams beneath us and a couple above us in my opinion.

    So lets use our unique fan base to roar our team on and keep the players we want to keep. “Simples”

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  31. Well if we have tied two deals up they’ll be for overseas players who are approaching the end of their contract…..

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