Pardew’s predicament!

Alan Pardew

Alan Pardew
Alan Pardew faces the media masses, alone....
I don’t know if anyone has noticed how quiet Alan Pardew has been these last few days? My hope is that it’s because he is frantically looking for the new left back and striker promised, but I’m more concerned that it is more through embarrassment that it looks unlikely we will have one in before the big derby clash on Saturday.

“We’re confident we’ll have some new players here by next weekend.I don’t want to talk about specific players, but I’m confident that by the time we play Sunderland I’ll have a left-back in place – and hopefully a striker.” The words of Alan Pardew after the match against Arsenal last weekend.

The Newcastle manager has already been embarrassed by having the rug seemingly pulled from beneath him after promising 100% that Andy Carroll would not be sold. Since then he has been far more careful with his wording, knowing perhaps now, like the fans, that Ashley’s promises mean nothing.

However, at Saturday’s press conference he once again felt confident enough to assure the fans signings will be made before the derby.

Pardew seems to have become the target of abuse from some fans whose impatience at not getting the striker and left back, so desperately needed since January last year, has come to the fore.

But, in my opinion, fans should be aware that Pardew probably has as much control over these issues, as fans do when it comes to seating sections, stadium renaming etc.

Some will say he is a “puppet”, a “yes man”, but what is his alternative – to walk like Keegan? Say he did, what decent manager in their right mind would take the job under the Ashley regime?

Let’s take a look at what he has managed to achieve under trying circumstances and a tight **** owner so far…

In:
Yohan Cabaye – £4.5m (estimated wages 40k)
Demba Ba – Free (estimated wages 35k)
Sylvain Marveaux – Free (estimated wages 40k)
Mehdi Abied – Free (estimated wages 10k)
Gabriel Obertan £3.5m (estimated wages 25k)

Out:
Stephan Ireland – Loan ended (estimated wages 40k)
Sol Campbell – Free (estimated wages 25k)
Kevin Nolan – £4m (estimated wages 45k)
Jose Enrique – £5.5m (estimated wages 50k)
Xisco – Loan (estimated wages 35k)
Wayne Routledge £2.2m (estimated wages 15k)
Shefki Kuqi – Free (estimated wages 10k)

Other loans: Michael Richardson, James Tavernier, Kazenga Lua Lua, Phil Airey and Fraser Forster (estimated combined wages 10k).

Assuming big signing-on/agents fees let’s say the free transfers cost £10 million. That would mean £18 million spent with added wages of around £150,000 per week.

As for outgoings, about £11 million has been recouped, meaning that we have spent £7 million on signings this transfer window plus a saving of £220,000 a week in wages saved. Meaning overall we have chipped some £70k a week off the wagebill.

Now assuming Carroll was on around £30,000 a week, that’s £100,000 a week off the wage bill. With £28 million left from the £35 million Carroll fee. So in theory we should have £28 million and £100,000 a week in wages to splash
to get to where we were (expense wise) at the beginning of last season.

Fair enough some money was spent on upgrading the training ground, and hiring a tea lady, but a fair chunk of it should still be remaining. And we should have more than enough with £100,000 to offer decent wages to a new quality left back and striker.

Yet, we are still haggling over fees for players, by trying to play hardball and offering fees way below what clubs are asking.

There are still two days to go, but I feel yet again Alan Pardew is being made to look like an idiot and is being put under immense pressure by a completely incompetent board, when it comes to football matters.

Even if a player is brought in today or tomorrow, they will get no training time with the new squad and they would have to be thrown completely in the deep end, in what is the most important pressure fixture on the Toon calendar.

All we (the fans) can do is support him, because no doubt, if anybody knows the frustration the fans are going through, with regard to false promises, it is him.

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Thanks go to JJ for submitting this article. Well done fella.

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.

101 thoughts on “Pardew’s predicament!

  1. I find it astonishing that Pards has made it clear he’s wanted a forward since the start of the window and here we are now with 2 weeks to go, countless failed bids, 2 games into the season this Saturday and we are still waiting.

    The same goes for the left back position. I knew Jose was signing for Liverpool back in January . Did the club not?
    And we are still waiting with no real plan.

    It’s embarrassing that we must be at the bottom of the list of summer targets who have all snubbed us.

    We really are turning into an average club. I always maintained we are the equivalent of the Seymour and mckeag eras since Ashley took over.

    Football in general has got more money in it,
    but basing it on our standing within English football, Carroll was our Supermac and Pards our Gordon Lee

    The board aren’t making Pardew look like a mug , he’s doing it himself. Surely he knew the situation before he arrived and the Keegan fiasco.
    That’s Pardews naivety for believing the regime when it’s been obvious from the start.

    I touched on it last night. The club needs a patsy coach to work for this regime and no one does it better. Otherwise we would have had a conveyor belt of sacked managers who wouldn’t put up with the embarrassment.

    Pardew must stay as hes the best Patsy for the job IMO . 😕

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  2. Pardew said: “Everybody knows we need a left-back and it’s being made difficult, not by us, but by other clubs and we have to get over that.

    “It could be that something gets done before the game, but I don’t think I would include him even if it did because this game is a game you need to know about and you need to be prepared for.”

    Striker
    The Toon are also struggling to acquire a striker. One of their targets, Sochaux frontman Maiga, is currently on strike to unlock a move away from his club.

    Pardew said: “There’s a lot of stuff coming out about him being on strike and we can’t condone that.

    “But in terms of us, we have put a bid in for the player and he is a player that we want to bring to the club.

    “That’s where that is and negotiations are still ongoing.”

    I’m at the point where as long as we get 2 players in before the window closes then fair enough. As long as we don’t get relegated then fair enough. I feel sorry for Pardew having to work for these muppets.

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  3. A) Pardew cannot be blamed, no manager can make promises under this board
    B) Pardew has known the situation for weeks and should have had players in by now
    C) Pardew is under the thumb and knows what is going on although he distances himself from the board during interviews, he quietly hope for a LB and striker although Del has told him to be very greatful for the 5, yes FIVE players we have signed this summer compared to other club like Everton who haven’t really bought anybody, Pardew wags his tail like and obedient puppy. ‘Please master, can I have a LB now’. ‘No, tell the locals we are trying very hard and have had bids of £6M rejected. ps see you in Aspers later’, TICK

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  4. Cant help but think that Pardew is being set up for a mighty fall, its his words that are coming back to haunt him even though the script is being written by others.

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  5. @DJG

    Everton don’t need to buy as many players as us, they are streets ahead of us. 😕

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  6. Toonsy please don’t feel sorry for Mr Pardew ,he his picking up good money just to tell one bit of spin after another.He his their mate and he is gladly doing as he his told.In my opinion he his well aware of whats going on and his more than happy to be part of it and pick up his pay check .

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  7. @troy

    The board aren’t making Pardew look like a mug , he’s doing it himself. Surely he knew the situation before he arrived and the Keegan fiasco

    He certainly aint helping himself but I doubt he knew we were selling Carroll, Nolan, Jose after stating he wanted to keep all of them at the club. I think a lot of the decisions are out of his hands.

    He just needs to keep his gob shut and stop trusting what these muppets r telling him regarding imminent transfers etc

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  8. @Mark

    It’s strange how we always go for players with injury, contract or personality problems. They cost less money but come with a greater risk value.

    The problems just don’t disappear once they arrive. The whole policy is going to bite us right on the **** soon.

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  9. After listening to sky`s latest interview I am of the view that Pardew is every bit as bad as his two comrades. “We will try and bring a LB in before the window closes, clubs know we need a LB and are making it difficult” As the weeks go by nothing of any significance materialises and the excuses become more and more lame. I understand if Pardew rocks the boat too much he will go the distance, but which manager could put up with this **** if he is not implicated which I believe he is. It`s embarrassing listening to his empty promises which change every week.

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  10. @Troy Stavers

    Everton are streets ahead of us? are they?. even after our transfer dealings I’d say we’re in a healthier position

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  11. The comparison to Everton is totally spurious as they didn’t suffer the loss of 8 to 9 players out, including 3 key players. They didn’t have the promise of £35m investment and most of all, they didn’t manager only 3 wins from their last 18 league games, essentially relegation form.

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  12. @mark

    I was predicting all this back in early January that Carroll, Nolan, Jose and Barton would be gone by this summer as a fact.

    The clubs policy is to get rid of high earners. If I knew it, surely Patsy Pardew did .

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  13. @Troy Stavers

    If thats the risk the board are willing/happy to take then I’ll go along with them if it means Ashleys debts are squared up and he leaves.

    but it is certainly risky

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  14. in my opinion pardew is being smart….. he is saying for those to read between the lines “look i want this person, and should sign” the reason there not is obvious the board……… not sure what more the man could do but walk…… i am not rating pardew or slagging him only speaking about the situation and in my opinion he is making these statements for a reason !

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  15. king kev would’nt put up with this ***** – so he walked.

    big al would’nt put up with this ***** & would’a walked – that’s why he didn’t get the job.

    so why did pardew take it under this regime ?? – he must be that decent manager that’s not right in the mind you refer to – or it could have summit to do with a pile of unpaid gambling debts that could’nt be met.

    it could only happen at the toon.

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  16. @Troy Stavers

    yes m8, wasnt hard to predict given the sale of Milner/Given and any1 else worth selling, I’d say a fair few may go in Jan too, Tiote, Collo..

    hope not but thats the way it is under MA

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  17. @boater

    So are you saying we would have finished higher than Everton or that we are better than them now?

    Nowhere near IMO.

    I’ve seen a very poor attacking side so far from Newcastle pre season and the arsenal game.
    No creativity and it’s worrying.

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  18. All the signs suggest the club’s financial model is being rigorously streamlined towards recouping initial losses and restoring solvency – exactly what any business does before it is placed on the market… Pardew was brought in as part of the team to oversee this end game – he is being paid to take the flack but is probably more than aware of what is coming.

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  19. Wasn’t Pardew out of management for quite a while? Whats the betting if we wern’t doing so well and top of the league he would have been in a lot sooner. 😉 Then a couple of defeats in the prem and chop.

    Gambling debts??? More like pay offs to keep quiet, take in games, stay in the loop and wait for the sacking. 😉

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  20. Strange as it may seem, I’m beginning to admire Pardew.

    He’s been compromised, embarrassed, undermined and clearly misled by his superiors (in the hierarchy that is) and he still carries on.

    Yes, some say he’e a puppet but as I’ve said before, it takes a much stronger person to manage when his situation is virtually untenable than it does to manage the likes of Citeh or Lifterpool.

    As long as Pardew keeps his dignity intact and as long as he’s honest with himself and moreso the fans, then his reputaion can only be enhanced.

    I haven’t a problem with the club running to a tght budget, but the difference between us and Arsenal is that they do sell when they have to (not as soon as a bid comes in) but buy when required and more to the point, show some ambition. Spot any differences between us and them anybody

    How MA and Llamibias can sleep at night or look in the mirror, I just don’t know.

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  21. It’s frustrating and worrying, but still not time to panic. We have people who know this transfer malarkey better than us and some kind of trust is in order… well a bit.

    Let’s not forget that we’re getting angry basically over and agent – an AGENT – saying he’s heard nothing since last week. Hardly gospel truth material, then.

    Given what we know about Ashley, he’ll be playing brinkmanship with the clubs that know we’re desperate and area making unreasonable requests. The problem seems to come – as was the case with Carroll – when that game of chicken reaches collision point and Ashley’s ego won’t let him blink. He’ll send us into a season with no LB rather than back down.

    That’s what worries me. It’s not whether Ashley will spend the money or whether Carr and co have the players lined up. It’s Ashley’s ego and love of a gamble that worries me.

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  22. Ashley’s sports direct ‘pile ’em high and sell ’em cheap’ motto isn’t a clever business ploy, it’s actually just who he is, and that’s what Newcastle might become. He’s pretty transparent in the way he wants to do things though, at least, despite the fact that he has blatantly lied, but at least we know why he’s doing some of the things he’s doing. Money.
    In one sense he might be a lot more transparent than we give him credit for. I bet at least some of the premier league club owners and chairmen give a load of lip service, but sneer about it behind closed doors in smokey filmed rooms.

    At least we know he’s just a greedy **** and that Pardew’s a bit scared of him.

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  23. By the way I was being sarcastic with the 5 players comment, just coz a couple of comments seem to have not picked that up.

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  24. Don’t want to comment yet Toonsy. I have been scathing of the board in the past. This time I shall wait until the deadline slams shut and see what the score is. Ashley has an opportunity to appease his doubters in this window and does not even need to find the money due to the Carroll sale. If he misses the boat there will be no turning back I feel. Time will tell.

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  25. @Freddie Shep

    I agree with you. As if Pardew didn’t know we wanted a left back in January when Enriques agent all but sealed the summer deal with Liverpool.

    I find it incredible that Patsy Pards has the nerve to try and kid us.

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  26. @lesh

    Pards is either very naive that he couldn’t see all this coming or is as unscrupulous as Big Mick and Dekka.

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  27. You’d think after the Carroll thing Pards would know that he just cannot make promises. He doesn’t help himself.

    I just hope the agents and clubs who are holding out for more money take a look at Ashley’s form book and realise that he doesn’t do backing down. If they’re not careful they’ll just end up with players on their books that don’t want to be there, while Newcastle trudge off with Ashley’s ego intact but the team in the ***** again.

    My guess is still that we’ll get the two players; not sure it’ll be the right two, though. This guy who’s “gone on strike” sounds like a pain in the **** to me.

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  28. Pardew either loves working for the Mighty mags, or he’s confident we’ll be fine or he’s thicker skinned than we thought. Or he gets a good wage and bonus.

    Not many managers would take this amount of sh** and blame for the incompetence of MA & DL

    hats off I’d say, just learn to zip it.

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  29. @whumpie

    Again, I can’t help but challenge your viewpoint. History tells you that cometh the final weekend of the window, our big players are more likely to be sold than any players coming in.

    It would not surprise me one iota to see one or more of Jonas, Colo, Tiote, Best, Harper leave.

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  30. Joey7Barton Joseph Barton
    “Am goin to annoy everyone and make no comments about anything, until theres 100k signatures on this petition. So get it signed, takes 30secs”

    Please, no one sign the petition. At least not until he signs for QPR! 😆

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  31. Oops. Right on time again. Here comes Toon Chomper! 😛 😆 😆 😆

    You still biting Chomper? 😆

    Bless you. 😳

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  32. @whumpie

    You say;

    My guess is still that we’ll get the two players; not sure it’ll be the right two, though. This guy who’s “gone on strike” sounds like a pain in the **** to me.

    Wow! Fits our buying policy perfect. He’s a cert surely. 😆

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  33. @Toon Chicken

    RE: Barton

    Thank fu** for that, ne1 sign, he’ll be gutted if he can communicate thru his twitter it!!

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  34. @TC

    waaaaaaaaaaaargh ha ha ha ho hoo hoo! Woo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo! Stop it please my sides are killing. 😆 😆
    How many bites have I had off you today.

    I can’t wait for the next reply. Come on . I’m ready and waiting. Woo hoo hoo ho waaaaaaaaaaargh haaaaa haaaa haa. 😆

    Another Stella please barman. Gather round everyone. Freeeeeee entertainment from Toon Chomps. Standby everyone. 😆 😆

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  35. Personally I have been quite understanding of this board in past windows given the various circumstances and the fact that I am generally quite a tollerant person. (Even though I have recognised the trigger happy sell on finger that has happen on the last day of windows ‘with no time to reinvest’). But even I am at the final straw stage now, if theres no LB or striker as the bare minimum of what needs to be invested I will be extremely pi##ed off to say the least.

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  36. Pardew is quoting on SkySports as saying we need a new keeper now Forster has gone out. Strange. What does this mean for Harps or Soderberg? One of the two will obviously not be playing for us again…

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  37. I’m with you DJG. A striker and LB with no one else out, and I will be happy with the window. Without them, extremly dissapointed.

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  38. Just been reading Joey Barton’s book of quotes (available in bookshops this Xmas).

    According to him “You can never win an argument with an idiot. They just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.”

    Ok, Bobs. I give up. You win!!! 😆

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  39. Im not even bothered about the money I just care about the squad. I think if Ferguson had 2 good games at LB that would be enough for Ashley to pocket another £5.5-£6M? from John Henry. Even though the lad is small, frail, just starting out and talented enough to be a winger. It’s not fair on him even though he would probably jump at the chance just to get games.

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  40. There is no point in even referring to Pardew as far as the club’s actions are concerned. He is merely a coach with no real input in player signings, wages, etc. Ashley acts through Llambias and it is clear they decide how much to pay and clearly they will not pay for Pieters. To add the cost of agent fees and wages and say that money must be taken from the Carroll money is a true reflection of our state of affairs. Normally all wages would be a normal operating expense, especially when the overall wage bill has shrunk drastically. The owner can and will make a net profit this season. The huge risk to him is that the club does not play well and an increasing number of supporters are turned off and stop attending matches. I would think if the average attendance drops below 40K per game Ashley’s strategy would change somewhat. If not it will be full steam ahead. Make the team profitable and attractive then sell at the first real opportunity.

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  41. @ TC, Barton forgot to finish his quote it seems. It finsihes like this: “You can never win an argument with an idiot. They just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. Under those circumstances, make sure you stick a lit cigar in their eye before the argument is concluded.”

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  42. @TC

    Waaaaaaaaaaargh haaaa haa ha woooooooooo hoo hoooo hooo 😛 😆

    The whole bar is laughing at you now. Woooooooooo hoo hoo hoo.

    The best of it is, the waiter won the sweep as he said your chomp would be mega.

    Toon Chomps. Waaaaaaaaaaargh haaa haa haa. Woo hooo hoo hoo. 😳 😛 😆

    Aaaaaaaaargh bless you little Chomper .

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  43. I never pictured Joey using a quote book. Always figured it was one of those desk top calender things with a “profound” quote of the day…

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  44. At the end of the day… (wheres he gone?)

    At the end of the day, we are like the customers and Pardew is like the friendly barman serving you a whisky and soda and Lambias is like the bar manager saying ‘water down that whisky a bit more tonight they’ll never know’. Pardew is smiling away but he knows whats going on behind the scenes and the trade secrets. 😉

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  45. I rest my case.

    Feel free to carry on though, Bobby.

    Knowing you it won’t be too long until you wind Toonsy up again and he bans you. You just can’t help yourself. 😆

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  46. I can see Jonas being dropped to left back once Marveaux gets fit, then Jonas reverted back to the wing once they realise Marveaux is always injured and rubbish. 😆

    Sorry, couldn’t resist, as I don’t know anything about Marveaux. Well, otherthan he’s got an injury question mark hanging over him and no one else in England knows anything about him as well. 😕

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  47. Pardews got the job so he would be the front and dumb and dumber could hide in the background – why else did he get the job – certainly not on past performances. Puppet boy is in on the whole thing and I have no sympathy. Ps in response to an earlier point Everton are miles ahead of us, in the last 10 or so years they have finished top ten on a regular basis – much better then us, David Moyles deserves a medal.

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  48. @DJG

    lol good analogy m8 but I think Pards has been told by customers about suspect ‘watering down’ and has confronted Derek who in return has reassured Pards that its all lies and to believe his boss over these alcoholic morons. Which he does

    Too trusting for me is Pards

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  49. Seriously? We are supposed to feel sorry for AP because he’s the best we can get?
    AP being the best we can get is a sad indication of how far the club has fallen under Ashley. I used to be prepared to give the owner the benefit of doubt, but no longer. We had the perfect opportunity to strengthen and strengthen well this summer, but we haven’t. We are going into the second game of the season against the mackems of all people without replacing caroll or Enrique.
    Pardew knows he will never get a better job than NUFC, so he just toes the party line. Mushroom fans, that’s us. Kept in the dark and fed ****.

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  50. So according to colin,Barton is going to make a decision on whether to leave for QPR. 🙄

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  51. Wondering if Pards will walk on us, at some point soonish, actually. I imagine he was given all kinds of assurances that seem like they’re being debunked but the tight-fist-ery going on.

    I didn’t see the press conference. Did he seem angry or wound up or whatever?

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  52. You’ve probably already discussed this but Chelsea sign new striker…sturrigde on loan? 😕

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  53. From ESPN-Soccernet’s transfer blog:

    17.40 It looks like the Peter Odemwingie speculation has been put to bed. The West Brom striker, who’s been linked to Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle, Juventus and Wigan, amongst others, has signed a new three-year deal at The Hawthorns today.

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  54. @ Micky

    I don’t think Pardew is such a bad manager. If he has the resources availablr to him I think he is a man who likes to play a bit of footy on the deck and get some good attacking players on, a manager more suitable for Newcastle than the likes of Kinnear and Hughton. Some of his decisions recently are making me wonder though, another contract for Ameobi? Selling top players seemingly at will? I just think his hands are tied and he is probably a talented manager that could do well for us given the correct support. If fans at Southampton ect. can say he played good attacking football imagine what he could do in the prem with really backing, and I don’t mean Wet Spam.

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  55. Can’t believe how much stick Pardew is getting.
    Judge him as a coach not as a manger
    He got us, and will get us again, the points on the board to keep us in the Premier League, I know it’s not much, but until Ashley leaves, it the best we can hope for.

    I would like to hear people’s suggestion for a replacement manager once they’ve succeeded in driving Pardew out? Jesus, when did this blog get so overrun with the stereotypical delusional Toon fan.

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  56. Maybe it’s time for my favourite fact for whiners
    Last seasons points tally was our second best since Sir Bobby was here…
    Get a grip you nutters!

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  57. Solano, I think you and others are right–he’s a coach, not a manager.

    Maybe these supposed deals come off and maybe they don’t, but I think it’s safe to say that if Pardew had a say in the financial side, he’d have put these two signings to bed by now instead of dithering over a few bucks here and there in this manner.

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  58. Pardew, will be getting told one thing by knackas and crackas, he then tells that to us the fans, he then has the rug pulled from under him by the aforementioned duo and looks a complete t!t. His big mistake though is in not learning from his big mistakes and keeping his gob shut, if he learns that then he won’t look like a lying fecker all the time 😉

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  59. RICHIE ever thought he is being clever git by nameing these players he wants that throws it back on the clowns if it doesnt come off 🙄
    or is he just a git 😆

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  60. Sorry Solanostrumpet I’m not satisfied with the second best points total since Sir Bobby. Most of our seasons since Sir Bobby have been dross. How about a little ambition from a billionaire owner? No I guess not. Wouldn’t want to get a decent left back in for 6 M and 30K a week when we can leave the team floundering. Wouldn’t want to pay a decent price for a good striker. No, that would make too much sense. He would rather further alienate the supporters and hope they don’t stop coming to the matches. Must be a pathetic human at best. You can tell how pathetic by who he hires. That man among men Derek Llambias.

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