A lot of people will remember that his appearance at United following the dismissal of the popular Chris Hughton was hardly greeted warmly. In fact some people still hold that particular viewpoint, which is staggering really when you look at the Premier League table.
Naturally a win in his opening game helped to ease the tension. A 3-1 victory over Liverpool was just the medicine the Toon Army needed to avoid one of those downward spirals of our own making and eased any unrest that was simmering beneath the surface, at least temporarily anyway.
Sales of players like Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton and Jose Enrique didn’t help either. With suspicion rife a lot of fans were left wondering just what the motives of the former Reading, West Ham, Charlton and Southampton manager were. Was he here to assist Mike Ashley more than anything else?
Fast forward to the present day and what do we have? A team guaranteed to be in Europe with the possibility of even making the Champions League. A best league finish since the days of Sir Bobby Robson and a team that is starting to show real attacking intent and flair.
It’s folly to suggest that every bit of success has been a tactical masterstroke. There are times when we have been lucky and times that we have been awful, which I’ll point out now is no different to what any other Premier League team goes through during the course of the season.
There are also times that we’ve been sublime and have pulled of tactical masterstrokes. I remember Blackburn away where we were being outplayed. A quick shuffle of the pack for the second half and we ended up being comfortable winners. Stoke away was another example, especially Danny Simpson and his towel routine which is the kind of fine detail that can influence a game – notice the reaction from the Stoke players and manager, who collectively were rather irate about it all.
The key thing for me though in the success story so far that has been Alan Pardew’s appointment, has been the motivational aspect of his tenure. Quite simply it’s been exceptional. It takes more than whispering “well done” in the ear of a player to make them feel happy. All you have to do is look towards the squad players, like James Perch and see the improvement in those to see that motivation does work.
He’s quick to praise players and will shoulder the blame when needed. A look back at the 5-0 loss at Tottenham will confirm that. Rather than condemn the players for basic defensive errors he instead came out and said that the blame should be laid at his own door, thus lifting any real pressure off of the shoulders of the players.
It’s that kind of thing that has served us well so far this season and has given the players the belief to perform so well. It helps that we have quality players of course, but as we’ve seen first hand, just because we have quality players it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will play like a quality team.
That is down to the manager!
Off topic, but who do people see as irreplaceable over summer?
Of those who are possibilities for big bids – Krul, Ba, Ben Arfa, Tiote, Cabaye – I’ve now got to say Ben Arfa and maybe Krul!
That’s not making light of Cabaye, Ba and Tiote’s contributions this season, but there really is no one of Benny’s raw talent who sits in our price range. And Krul has won us so many points this season…
The other 3 would be VERY HARD to replace, but think Carr would have a better chance of replacing them than Benny or Timmy! Thoughts?
On topic, think Pards is growing into the role. Tactics are *generally* spot-on (with the occasional howler), but he really seems to have the motivational side of the job down!
blip(Quote)
My hat is off to Pardew. A fantastic job this season. I don’t even have the heart to go after Llambias any more. Shows how much things have changed. My only fear now is injuries, especially at the back. When I compare this team to the one that was relegated I just shake my head. Put Owen up against Cisse or Martins against Ba or Duff versus Ben Arfa. No comparison at all. Owen was a ****** and Martins a waster. Where is Owen now? Martins could have been great but wasted his talent. Duff is good enough for Fulham but that’s about it.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
…well wanted to see an image of Mr Motivator for this story 🙁
In answer, I think it’s a bit of both to be honest. He’s a very charismatic geeza; straight-talking, open and honest. The players love him, as well as most fans’ Mams.
Winning over the dressing room, and keeping a cap on egos is half the job (well, maybe not mathematically).
Rodzilla(Quote)
Everything that goes wrong is pardwho’s fault, everything that goes right is as a result of the work of Carr, carver, stone, lucky results…basically there are some right twats who supporter Newcastle united (allegedly)…. 🙄
witters(Quote)
This is not rocket science – good, technically gifted players with pace cause the opposition problems. At the minute I believe we have potentially the most dangerous attacking threats in the league all in one team. Cabaye, Jonas, HBA, Ba and Cisse. They take some beating as an attacking threat! It could even be improved as I’m sure Marvauex would do a better job on the left than Ba. I’m not criticising Ba before anyone starts, he still does a fantastic job but it’s natural for a actual winger to do a better job.
Stuart79(Quote)
Pardew is a fantastic manager. He is tactically astute and always prepares well for each game. He respects every opponent.
The Kid(Quote)
Stuart79
Spot on. Ba is superb, but he’s no winger. Marveaux is quality and he will add a lot if he features in our last four games
The Kid(Quote)
Toonsy I would agree with you I said all along that I thought he was a good man manager which to me is a very important factor.
as for being good tactically it was only a while back there was lots of people saying that he was tactically inept 😕
Big Dave(Quote)
I think you’ll find that Ba, Cisse and HBA constantly change positions – watch the last few games again and you’ll see it
stevep(Quote)
or rather swap positions https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif
stevep(Quote)
“Master of tactics or master of motivation?”
A little from column A and a little from column B I think.
Pardew in my humble opinion is a very decent tactician and has showed that in abundance the way he has made both his 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 formations equally effective in the 1st and 2nd halves of the seasons.
Some of his substitutions have been superb and recently to balance out our team in edgy moments of matches.
His man-management is arguably an even better asset of his. Pardew has been a phenomenon so far and if we had of brought in Jose Mourino or Fergie I doubt 100% that either would have got us into 4th at this stage of the season.
It is simply an outstanding achievement and he should be very proud of himself as we are of him and the team.
I’m still pinching myself that we’re in Europe again! 😯 😆
NUFC heaven for me!!!!!
GeordieDan(Quote)
I think he is so good at both motivation and tactics that he will be the manager that finally brings home a trophy . The bloke is a god send , i still hold Hughton in high esteem for what he did for us but Pardew is without a doubt the best manager since Sir Bobby and the first i truly believe will make us winners of something.
Axel(Quote)
sky sports news, bigging the TOON up
spuds fans all look sick as **** 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
toonsoldier9(Quote)
Stevep – What’s your point? Ba is more often than not on the left, which isn’t his natural position but hey we’re winning so I’d keep it. But that doesn’t alter the fact he’s not a winger, neither is Cisse, so even if they change we’d have a player who isn’t natural in that position.
Stuart79(Quote)
geordietwo from the last thread ,stoke got more points when they were in europe than after they were knocked out they are just ***** 😉 relegation contenders next year in my eyes 🙂
batty(Quote)
Batts how good was Krul 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Batty….beat me to it but posted this on the last thread…..
G2….that’s a bit of a myth ref Stoke, they are on exactly the same points this season that they were on at this stage last, Fulham who got in via the fairplay are actually better of points wise this season than they were at the same stage last season 😉
richietoon(Quote)
dave 😆 have you found it 😕
batty(Quote)
BLIP@1: I’d agree with you on Krul and Ben Arfa. I think Tiote is replaceable, and we have actually done it this season. He’s missed loads of games and we’ve managed fine. If we have to sell one, he’d be the one i’d go for, but I wouldn’t take less than £20m.
RE Pardew, I think his motivational skills slightly out-do his tactical skills, but only just. I think some credit has to go to the scouts too, as we seem to pick players who will fit well into the group, but the spirit he’s instilled is fantastic. He also seems to be learning well from his tactical mistakes so in a couple of seasons he’ll have it down.
Jon R(Quote)
Pardew might not be the best manager we have had but he is certainly the best coach.
Who else could have transformed Williamson and Perch into premier league defenders ?
Santon , who was a sensation at 18 , was struggling to get a game two years later. With Pardew , Santon is beginning to recover his best form and I can see him becoming the best full back in the premiership.
He’s even getting great cameo performances out of Shola 😯
sidekick(Quote)
RICHIETOON>
Out of interest do you know who is due to qualify for the Europa via fair play this coming season?
(What a joke that qualification rule is btw)
Just wondered.
GeordieDan(Quote)
Batts I forgot to look 😆 😉
Sidekick agree 100% about Santon I think he is going to be a cracker
Big Dave(Quote)
Dan… they just take the “fairest” ranking team from each of the 3 or 4 highest ranking European leagues…..or summat like that, so they’re may not be one from the prem 😕
richietoon(Quote)
Actually I have a feeling its Swansea! 😯
Tbh it would be a I would far prefer them to get into Europe than most other EPL teams.
At least they play the game the right way -and they aren’t the Mackems…. or a London team….. or those nasty little t***s from Villa 😆
Bet they’re asking who their next messiah is eh! Haha Karma is funny as owt when it bites them in the ***. he he
GeordieDan(Quote)
Sorry. You just beat me to it. 😉
Had forgot that tbh. Cheers mate
GeordieDan(Quote)
Found this, but no idea who the 3 leagues will be
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Fair_Play_ranking
richietoon(Quote)
At the moment Fair Play won’t add an Extra place for Premier League teams. It’s only been an English team six times in the last 20 years. Usually it’s some Danish/Scandinavian team
toonsy(Quote)
Good write up Toonsy.
@ big Dave
I see Stardust was slagging you off on the last thread for being anti Ashley in the early years.
Like me, you were right to be vocal at Ashley’s actions.
However, Stardust fails to mention his vocal disdain shown towards Pardew when he was brought in to replace Hughton.
Shame on you Stardust! You repulse me! 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
now i love a joke,but play for england takes it past any joke 😯
http://fourfourtwo.com/interviews/boysabitspecial/439/article.aspx
icedog(Quote)
Aye Toonsy…..only table I can find is from Jan, with Norway, Finland and the Netherlands as the top 3, England were 9th….dorty feckers 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Can somebody tell me the words of Jonas’s song. Thanks
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Troy 😆 good old Stardy needs to change his bait 😀 yeah there has been a lot of I told you so’s on here the last couple of days, you even get ones saying that some of us would rather see the team doing bad just so that we would have a reason to rant and rave about Jabba and co, I starting to think I had wandered onto eds 👿
Big Dave(Quote)
Ice
There have been worse than Shola play for England
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Ice you wouldn’t think that was 11 yrs ago
Big Dave(Quote)
Oooooooooooh Gutierrez
from Buenos Aires
he’s spiderman
he’s our super hero playing on the left or right
He wears black n white &
he’s fecking dynamite
oooooh Gutierrez…. or words to that effect 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Jon R
We have missed Tiote big time. Five goals at Fulham Five at Tottenham Four at Norwich when he wasn’t playing tells me something. The press and tv rave about Parker. Tiote is ten times better. Jabba and Del will sell though but my advice is don’t do it for less than £25 million. Tiote is the best defensive midfielder in the premier league
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Richie you are such a talent 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave….aye, plagiarism is such a skill 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
DAVE trouble is what is he talented at,oh i got it eating and drinking knew he was good at sumit 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
Ice…to be fair they’re canny skills to be good at 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Ice – Being bald aswell. He’s good at that like 😉
toonsy(Quote)
ya not getting too bad at that one yourself 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
He is a talented polisher I heard he uses mr sheen on his napper 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Still not quite as perfect at it as you though 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy meant to ask hows young Billy doing ? and are you’s getting into the swing of things now
Big Dave(Quote)
TOONSY thats not a talent,its a draw-back,try sitting behind him at the match when the sun shines you see nowt,a fellow can go blind 😎
icedog(Quote)
Cheers Richie
Pay no attention to the juvenile humour haha
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Aye…but that’s ‘cos I shaved mine off rather than your Bobby charlton comb over effort 😉 …..when I say shaved, I mean plucked all 3 of them out 😆
richietoon(Quote)
As a spurs fan I have got to congratulate you guys and your team, I was on here after the 5-0 saying that I didnt like Danny Simpson but other than that you have a great team and it was a freak result.
I have been proven right, I hope you guys get 4th, Spurs dont deserve it and the stupid ignorant **** of a manager Harry Redknapp has ruined us and will sink us before becoming the England manager.
I know it sounds stupid considering we are back to 4th if we win and you lose on the weekend but honestly we are shot to pieces and I hope you use that 4 point lead over Chelsea to cement your place…..
God knows what you will sign in the summer with the lure of champions league football and team of scouting geniuses
Jay(Quote)
Ice…the fecker who sat behind me didn’t deserve to see owt 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Dave….Mr Sheen is for the commoners, pure beeswax for me fella
Jay…cheers, long way to go yet though but whatever happens from here on in we’ve had a cracking season.
richietoon(Quote)
RICHIE 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
JAY very humble of you cheers 😉
icedog(Quote)
wonder how many will turn oot for this 😕
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/breaking-news/2012/04/23/brazil-and-spain-to-play-at-st-james-park-for-games-72703-30823727/
icedog(Quote)
Ice…should be canny games like, I’ll go if you pay my flights 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Jay I thought up til his trial and the England job he had done well with you’s as you’s wre playing some nice footie, and tbh I enjoyed watching some of the footie you’s were playing, but then it all went pear shape then offcourse he started to try telling anyone that would listen that Ba would be available for 20 bob and a pack of monster munch.
Big Dave(Quote)
RICHIE aye nee bother mate,just lose aboot 10st and you got a deal,ime not paying for two seats for one person 😉 😀
icedog(Quote)
Dave – Billy is fine mate. More hair than Richie so he’s doing fine on that front. Keeps getting lots of wind and griping after a feed though which is annoying as he screams the house down 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Still makes me laugh when I see the word ‘jabba’ used as naturally as calling someone Paul… 😛
Stuart79(Quote)
Toby – You’re right on those but I don’t see how you can just pin it on Tiote missing. The Norwich game was all about our defense being in tatters after the Chelsea match. We also conceded 3 against WBA and 3 against Liverpool with Tiote in the side. And we drew at Old Trafford without Tiote, and have won 3 of our last 6 games without Tiote.
Jon R(Quote)
Toonsy…sounds like the “hair” bit is the only difference between me and Billy 😆
Ice… that’s like a knife through my heart 😥
richietoon(Quote)
Great to see Collo in the PFA Team of the Year. Ok lads as far as Stoke is concerned they have similar points but I still think all the qualifying games early in the season had a big effect on their season. I don’t think they will be relegated next year, they have too much for that. Like it or not I have to admire Crouch. Very good around goal. Stoke need a midfielder or 2 to get into the top 10 but that’s about all they could manage. We compete at a different level now. Nice to see Santon, Gosling, and Perch improving and Pardew’s confidence in them has payed off. I would like to see a taller, faster player at right back to really complement Ben Arfa. Simpson has been ok but we need better to improve. For me the same goes for Willo but we play such an organized defensive game that he is well protected. Saylor will bring more to the team next season than Willo but we should still look for a big horse for the CB position.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
triffictottenham.co.uk/ Just had a look on here and these lot are suicidal and ‘Arry is the devil. Got them worried
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Well said Jay. I can’t understand what is going on with your team. They have a lot of talent but it isn’t showing up all the time. That works out well for us however so I can’t help but hope the trend continues.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Toonsy funny enough I loved the winding part, though sometimes you had to rub thier back for yonks.
Stuart 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
TLR I just have a funny feeling the players know that he is leaving.
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave – I can’t do it. Nothing comes out no matter how long I try 😆
toonsy(Quote)
TOONSY just show billy a close up photo of richie that will do the trick 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
Toonsy you’ll get the knack, winding was my main job cause when the lass done it she done more burping than the Cubs did 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Think the biggest attribute of management (including coaches and the untrustworthy looking CEO fella) is organization. Everything is planned for, from the defensive unit to scouting opponents, players recruitment, everything is worked out in advance and executed. The players have confidence and know what their jobs are, and trust in management and teammates
Dubtoon(Quote)
Toonsy…that would make them gulp down air, not get rid of it 😉
richietoon(Quote)
oops..*Ice
richietoon(Quote)
Ice is he not better keeping that for when he’s older and he could use it to threaten or scare young Billy the kid into doing what he’s told. As I think he is to young to show him Richie pic now I think you would scar him for life if you showed him it now 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
Richie-
Your avatar is feckin’ butters, mate 😉
Pardew is an absolute class act. He looks the part, acts the part, plays the part, and sees to it that his team is up for every match. I love the refusal to get carried away and simply take each game as it comes. The most important match of the season is always the next match. Pards knows this, and so do the lads. Long may it continue!!
Btw Troy-
Since England and the continent are separated by the Channel, does that mean that you’ll now be buying a “reality boat” too? If so, may I book passage? 😉
OHurley(Quote)
Dave-
How’s it goin’, mate?
OHurley(Quote)