Pardew gives Ashley ‘credit’ for gamble.

Pardew's praise.
Alan Pardew has praised Mike Ashley today, and has said that it’s his gamble to keep some of the big earners at St James’ Park which have helped to get the club to where it is today.

A win at Villa Park would be nice, for the obvious reason of what happened there two years ago, but it will also be nice for NUFC because of what it would mean. Not only would it give us enough to survive and ensure that we have Premier League football again next year, but it would also give us clear breathing space in ninth place in the table and consolidate a top half position.

Of course this search for a top-half finish wouldn’t have been possible had we not managed to get promotion last season. Chris Hughton must take a large chunk of credit for that, as should the players who demonstrated superb application and professionalism to get the job done over the 46 games.

I would guess, as a spin-off from that, Ashley does deserve some credit for paying out to keep stars such as Fabricio Coloccini, Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan, who all earn more in a year than what some Championship sides pay their entire squad over the course over the season.

“You have to say, and the figures last week back this up, that Mike Ashley put his neck out two years ago (after relegation) in the Championship year to keep the big players,” Pardew told the Sunday Sun. “That has proved to be a really sound decision because most clubs, quite rightly, run for the hills a little bit.”

Pardew continued: “We did at Charlton. We had no backer like Mike, no chance. The damage is irreparable and you can see yourself go through the division like Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday and a number of clubs have.”

I guess, begrudgingly, Pardew is correct. Granted it was Ashley’s mistakes that rocked the boat so much during the season that we were relegated, but he did kind of put his money where his mouth was during the promotion campaign. I doubt it was because he wanted to, but it was more of a case of having to in my opinion.

That core of Premier League players is what ultimately saw us coast through last season and end up winning the league rather comfortably in the end, and they aren’t doing too bad this season either in all fairness. Imagine if they had have been sold? Keeping them was a gamble that paid off.

“That was a bold decision by Mike and Derek on this occasion that perhaps went a little bit unrecognised,” Pardew insisted. “On reflection, I think maybe in two or three years time, if things have gone well for us, suddenly it might be seen as a very positive thing that Mike did. I believe it was.”

That was in the past though, and it’s this season that is important. Targets have changed and goalposts have shifted throughout the season, and the latest target is to finish above Sunderland. Considering Sunderland have spent three times what we have on players in the last two seasons, are still trying for that next level and are generally top dogs 🙄 (sarcasm intended), that would be some achievement.

“Finishing above them (Sunderland) would be massive for us. It would be a good coup for the team,” said Pardew.

“They had an opportunity to spend some of their money and we haven’t, so that would be a marvellous feat if we could do that because we lost a key, key player in the window, there’s no disguising that.”

Let’s get that ball rolling then – starting today at Villa!

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.

76 thoughts on “Pardew gives Ashley ‘credit’ for gamble.

  1. being honest though i think after relegation if there was firm interest in players and concrete bids they would be sold.
    fair play to a degree to ashley, but you cant sell players when there are no offers.

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  2. He deserves credit for sticking with the players that were needed to get us back up. Whatever his motivation was no-one can deny that and he had to shell out a further £42 million to keep the club afloat while we were in the Championship.

    No doubt he is a gambler and saw it as his best chance of getting his money back – I don’t think Ashley would ever walk away, cut his losses and admit defeat, that’s why he is a billionaire. In business he is a winner – let’s just hope he is successful and gets into a position where he can get his money back because that will mean the club is successful

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  3. 3 hours-
    not disputing the fact that he kept us afloat financially, he pumped his own money into the club and i take my hat off to him for that.
    just saying ashley hardly controlled who we had bids for. if someone had put in a cash offer for colo or nolan he would have sold them IMO

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  4. Well not sure about that Mark I think he knew full well that selling all the decent players and we would never recover and he would kiss goodbye to £125 million minimum.
    A lot of people were predicting we would go straight down to league 1 even with the players we had left. I think he took a gamble and it paid off. Fortunately he was rich enough to take the risk…as Pardew said in the interview Charlton & Sheffield Wednesday weren’t that fortunate.

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  5. Always on match days 😉

    Ron’s win %age must be quite high. Better than Steve Bruce’s anyway 😈

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  6. If Arsenal beat Blackpool every single result has went out way.

    Dunno why I’m feeling so confident about today! Haway the lads.

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  7. Just gettin round to watching MotD. Sunderland 0-0 WBA. Can’t wait to see what happens 😉

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  8. I’m so conflicted when I see Ron… he totally skeeves me out, but I know it’s about the superstition, Toonsy.

    Still, can you try out some others when we’re clear of relegation? Every time I see Ron, I throw up in my mouth a little.

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  9. Jobey
    Loving the new avatar mate!

    Also how come we have sold out Bpool away but not Villa?

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  10. Also pardew saying finishing above 5under1and would be a coup?!?!
    They are ***** I would expect nothing less! :mrgreen:

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  11. £41 ouch. and when you factor in travel and couple of pints I can see why its not sold out

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  12. I know it’s better for us that Arsenal win but….

    I would really love to see Blackpool do them. Plus, less pressure for them to win when they play us

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  13. Game over now I reckon.

    Not being greedy, but wouldn’t it be nice if we won? It would mean every result has gone our way this weekend 😀

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  14. ANDYAMOGWO Andy Aaron Mogwo
    Gwaarrnn my ****** @NilePowerRanger startin tday vs villa

    I seen that on twitter fans should own the club, for those who don’t know Mogwo is a reserve player.

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  15. I like that Patrick Nzuzi. Think he could be a canny player. He can play RB, wonder if he’s any good. 😛

    Perfect weekend. Would be great if we won but also it’s nice to know that if we don’t the bottom teams are the same distance away with one game less.

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  16. Of topic (something you could maybe have a vote on toonsy)

    What do you guys think about the idea of making half time 20 minutes in order to give people more time to stand waiting for a pie ect. I usually just stay in my seat so would like to keep it 15 minutes. What would you prefer, the old fashioned 10 mins, the current 15 mins or the mooted 20 mins?

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  17. DJG, for me personally I hate half-time, especially when were losing! The entertainment is alright but I’d just keep it at 15.

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  18. Pointless really. Any longer than 15 minutes and the muscles start to seize up and you need to warm up again (or stay warmed up). 15 minutes is bang on IMO. If people want a pie then tough ****.

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  19. Lucky Blackpool took advantage there like. Would have been red for Lehmann and no back up keeper.

    2-1 now. Game on.

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  20. If Blackpool get a draw here it sums up Arsenals season, they havn’t took their chances. Should have been winning 4 or 5 at half time.

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  21. Nowt happens to these refs when they make howlers. Blackpool should of had a penalty and a chance to go level.

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  22. I think reid has been eating all of the pies DJG has been missing oot on.

    Did DJG manage to keep oot of bother this weekend.

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  23. I remember seeing Reid at a Frankie and Benny’s when he played for Sunderland, his lass was well nice.

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  24. milesstarforth Miles Starforth

    #nufc team v #avfc: Harper; Simpson, Williamson, S Taylor, Enrique; Coloccini; Barton, Guthrie, Gutierrez; Ranger, Lovenkrands

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