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!
Dub I tend to agree I think they have the club running well and it seems everyone knows what is required of them. and tbh I cant see them letting any of our top players go except if Ba is wanted by PSG if thats the case I would understand because its the same as Shearer coming home to us.
Big Dave(Quote)
OH alls going good mate 😉 hows the new job going
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE @73 😀 😀 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
Talking of Jobs I walked out of work today but the guy I worked with phoned me to see if i’ll come back so I said i’ll comeback and give it a couple of weeks to see how it goes.
Big Dave(Quote)
we have to stop takeing the “micky” out of RICHIE he a fine young upstanding fellow 😉
icedog(Quote)
Pards is a mixture of both, has to be, was taught everything he knows by me rel Keith as he mentions in his LMA inteview lol
But from what I’ve heard, as well as being a good tactician, he can make a poor player seem like the best in the world as he takes the pitch. Think we have struck lucky getting him. Wasn’t 100% to start with when he came in, knew he was good, but didn’t think he could do what he has done
Simon(Quote)
I remember AP first game in charge when he ran into his BUNKER to take charge of his first game. After all the big name Managers that have been peraded on the pitch with so much expectaion it just goes to show that maybe hard graft is more important than reputation. Me thinks that AP is out to prove a point and good for him.
p.s. decent tactician, great man manager/motivator and a dam decent chap.
Carter(Quote)
And there have been a lot of told you so’s about. Lose with dignity win with dignity. Everyone gets some right and some wrong. You an enjoy your moment without ‘rubbing it in’ or getting an ego.
(for the record, never been particularly pro or anti Ashley, just evaluate decisions as they’re made)
Dubtoon(Quote)
DAVE dont you take any **** mate,get em telt 😡
icedog(Quote)
Ice no **** really im just fuked off with it probably because I don’t really need to be there because I can do my own stuff without having to pay a % of what I earn 👿
Big Dave(Quote)
Carter – I think that’s a big part of the recruitment policy that ap/dl/gc/lc work on. Work ethic often relates to a type of character that has been successful for us. Builds a team spirit, positive environment an helps foreign players settle. And like any good plan it has allowances for exceptional circumstances like hba
Dubtoon(Quote)
Dub if you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory.
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE well theres only one way to go the way i see it mate
icedog(Quote)
Dubtoon
I he ain’t done a lot wrong. I feel he has some of keegans qualities but is a much better tactician. Keegan also got the best out of all his players just lacked on the tactics. If AP was in charge when we were 12 points clear at the top of the league I don’t think he would of blown it.
Carter(Quote)
Dubtoon .. shudnt people who are losing, do it with dignity .. i dont remember people being particularly dignified in their aggressive abuse of MASH …
TOONPIPES(Quote)
Only person i have seen showing any dignity was Craig Chisholm who was very very anti-MASH, up there with the most abusive, and he came out and said he got it wrong. Respect him for that.
TOONPIPES(Quote)
Anyone know if Troy did the naughty boy lines he was instructed to do for ´most got it wrongs in one season award´ .. ??
TOONPIPES(Quote)
Ice I know its just making the break, I basically decided at xmas but I just keep putting it off waiting for a bigger reason to jack it 😕
Big Dave(Quote)
Dont you just love the Irish? Heart on their sleeve and don’t care who knows…
Do your own stuff, Dave!
Stuart79(Quote)
Hurls, soz mate wasn’t ignoring you on the other thread@34, had to tend to the armadillos. Messy business. 😯 …they got into the badger nest again.
…aye, fair comment on the gaffer like. He’s deffo a ladies man. Momma loves Pa dew, so they say.
Arekn if a was a 50 odd yr awld readers wife, ad defli be in his pants like.
But am not, so a wouldn’t.
Am not gay like. 😯
…aye, big difference between standing on the sidelines in a fucking tracksuit and baseball cap (err Pulis, Dalglish and any other tramp). As much as I’m not a ‘suit’ myself, you should, as a manager display respect to the club through formal attire on the touchline. It exudes professionalism and respect, hitherto gaining it back in return.
Exceptions can of course be made, when umbrellas are involved.
Rodzilla(Quote)
TP just because you roll over when Jabba is fuking about treating are legends like *****, lying, scrapping level 7 and renaming the ground etc etc doesn’t mean everyone has to do that.
I have heard near everyone of the so called “Negger” admitting that he has done some good and gave him credit for him, but it seems that to you and a few others that that isn’t good enough and you want them to roll over and accept him as our spiritual leader and saviour as you have.
But not everyone can be bought by a place in the top 4 👿 so why don’t you change the record 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave, re job.
Swallow your pride/tongue mate and stick with it. Fucking jungle out there. Look for other **** if you’re unhappy, but keep the coins rolling in for now. 😉
Rodzilla(Quote)
Stu I am a what you see is what you get type person and tbh that is the type of person I normally get on best with, I can’t stand sneaky people, liars, arrogant or self righteous types and the I told you so crew 😉 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Ah ha! Poopsy! You little tinker! Getting a dig in when Im not there. 😛
I’m always right Poopsy. You know that.
MASH listened to the mob (which includes me) and is starting to gain our trust.
He still has to keep trying to impress us but we will give him a chance.
I don’t believe in blind love. That’s what battered wives do. You old battered wife Poopsy. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Its an interesting question really, as its quite clear that Hughton could get us fired up for some big matches as well-Villa and scum at home, Arsenal and maybe CHelski in the cup match…pards seems to be able to motivate us against the lesser teams though…and now we’re starting to come up against “big teams” like when we thrashed manure.
Think its a mix between motivation, better touchline tactics to change a game, fitness and the players.
Newkie(Quote)
, I can’t stand sneaky people, liars, arrogant or self righteous <<<< dave is that why you get on with wanky bollocks so well 😆
batty(Quote)
@Big Dave
There’s nothing changed I see.
Poopsy still confused about life and it’s rules 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Deary me BD, you are out of date .. didnt you know everyone supports MASH now!!!! .. didnt you know everyone is supposed to be dignified now !!! yeh look at spurs, we shud have shown ambition and insisted to kept carroll like they kept Modric hahahahahahaha modric f yucking hates playing for spurs now and the spurs fans want him out!!!! …
TOONPIPES(Quote)
boooobyy!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH ASpurs are bigger than the toon!!!, cabaye has no class!!!, predicting bottom half finish HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH
TOONPIPES(Quote)
Troy, I do belive Ten Parps was referring to the USA Mobile Army Surgical Hospital medical unit, to whom respect is very obviously due, despite atrocities achieved on both fronts. 😉
Rodzilla(Quote)
Wow! Look at Poopsy losing his fanny hair. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
TP – i’ve seen a lot admit they have been proved wrong in certain respects (i think i saw stuart say something along those lines the other day along with CC). Maybe they were a bit harsh at the time but for now most have accepted the situation and that the club is moving in the right direction and MA is learniong from his mistakes. If you predicted that he would then ok, well done. Rise above it like MA and be the bigger man 😉 not an attack on you or anyone here btw, just don’t see the need for animosity when 99% are happy to have been proven wrong (for now at least)
Batty @101 😆 😆
Dubtoon(Quote)
Come on Troy you are bigger than that, hold you hands up and admit you were wrong and i was right .. MASH didnt listen to you, thats why he sold Carrol – Nolan – Bartoon and will hopefully sell the naming rights to the stadium – whilst we will of course still call it st james park .. hes a legend
TOONPIPES(Quote)
Batty I forgot about that I hate thieves aswell. 😉
Troy yeah some think that because they roll over like a little puppy dog everyone else should 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Wise words indeed Dubtoon.
Carter(Quote)
Troy watch now don’t get him angry or he’ll use the upper case ON YOU
Big Dave(Quote)
Dubtoon — the 1% being Big Dave!! haha …. look, im not being malicious or rude, or overly aggro about this, its all fun and games .. same way it was when everyone, apart from a few insightful bloggers, were criticising MASH very aggressively .. i honestly thought Tory would come out and be the bigger man … frankly im disappointed ..
TOONPIPES(Quote)
Dave, if i were a puppy dog WOOF WOOF, i would have bowed WOOF WOOF to your and the others persistent rebuking and admonishment of my beliefs .. but i didnt .. i stuck to my guns .. difference between you and me is that i was right not to change my opinion and you were WRONG WOOF WOOF WOOFF
TOONPIPES(Quote)
@Poopsy
I certainly didn’t expect Europe but its fair to say you called that wrong as well. 😛
Cabaye has always been a subject that you’ve distorted and it turns out that I was right.
All he needed to do was play further up field and the balance of the team would change.
Rumour has it he read my article and told Pards. 😛
The great thing has been watching your the abusive relationship you’ve been in with Jabba.
I provided counselling in the brutal years but it’s all been worthwhile and Mikey has learnt and changed his behaviour. 😆
You must feel grateful to me do you? 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Dub @ 107 well said lad
Big Dave(Quote)
If i’m not mistaken troy has given credit where its been due in the last few months, whilst still having reservations, which is fair enough imo given the track record.
Maybe your just trying to hook troy for his history of fishing and i’m geetting caught up in the middle 😆
Dubtoon(Quote)
Troy, thats is a shameful attempt at a counter .. get back to your lines Í TROY AKA BOOBY AKA THE BOOBSTER WON THE AWARD FOR GETTING IT WRONG THE MOSTEST OF ALL – TOONPIPES WAS RIGHT WOOF WOOF´.. thank you
TOONPIPES(Quote)
I saw Stu79 show humility earlier btw, just in case Stardy missed it. Although it wasn’t a white flag it was an indication of content.
The summer window will be fkn massive for me as an NUFC fan. But for now the fence I’m sat on is maaaaaaaaaaydy comfy. Surely Fatty can’t blow it all now ❓
…come on Stu, it’s a fucking big fence I’m sitting on here. **** the Dream Bus and the Reality Train, we can see them both from here! 😯
CLIMB ABOARD RODZILLA’S SENSIBLE FENCE!
🙄
😎
Rodzilla(Quote)
Pards certainly seems to get the best out the players. They obviously respect him and he will often shield them from any criticism in post match interviews ,always ready to shoulder the blame .There has to be some very well thought out additions in the summer, we can’t just buy anyone with a name or talent .They have to fit in well as our team is turning into a well oiled finely tuned machine and the last thing Pards wants is a spanner in the works.
Sidekick and Dave -Totally agree re-Santon he looks more assured with every game and looks to be settleing quicker than Colo did when he first arrived.
kimtoon(Quote)
Dubtoon, Troy has shamefully been backtracking over the last few months .. thats not suprising given the tangle he´d gotten into .. and yes, sorry you nibbled his bait ..
TOONPIPES(Quote)
Rodz 😆 😆 (had given you three but decided to delete one, you’ll have to work harder for that 😉
Dubtoon(Quote)
@Big Dave
You gave him a few mins and were proved right.
POOPSY IS USING THE CAPS. WOO HOO HOO HOO HOO 😛
Poopsy, did you really believe I would admit you were right when in fact you were wrong? 😯
I do recall Lambias telling us the fans that the £10m trophy signings were a thing of the past.
No wonder we criticised the regime.
They clearly listened to us as within 6 months they bought Cisse.
You really are confused with life and it’s rules aren’t you? 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Rodz as I said earlier I have seen everyone of the so called “neggers” giving credit to Jabba for what he has got right etc but you still get the odd one that likes to try to distort things to suit thier own agenda 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
And no tp the only one he’s fishing with at the moment is you, i thought you might have been doing some in return originally but i think you’re just working yourself up a bit.
Life’s good in toon, relax
Dubtoon(Quote)
Troy, i used the capitals on purpose and you munched it right up dreary me .. wish you and BD would do your man love thing somewhere else .. are you not able to fight your own battle without BD there by your side WOOF WOOF .. so now you are saying that you would rather Decka had not spent the cash on Cisse ahahahaahahahaahahaahahahaahahahahahaha priceless .. back to your lines WOOF WOOF
TOONPIPES(Quote)
dave @ 123 ive never give the fat **** any credit ,he is nearly as big a **** as stardust 🙂
batty(Quote)
Dubs, thanks .. dont worry this is quite normal exchange between myself and Troyster .. hes used to taking a beating .. dont worry about it – back to your middle of the road comments please .. thank you WOOF WOOFF
TOONPIPES(Quote)
Gan on Batty thats better .. non of this ***** footing around … people are so fickle giving their ´credit where credits due´ ***** .. either you dislike him or you like him .. i know where you are – nice one
TOONPIPES(Quote)
@Rodz
You’ll get a spelk in your *** being up there! 😆
This is like politics and Rodz is a coalition group.
Do you not understand the reality train is firmly in the New Ashley regime? Ashley boarded the train several stops ago but I’ve made sure he stays in the cattle truck until he can be trusted.
If he gains my trust this summer he can move up to second class! 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
i think some 1 is missing wolfie with all this woofing 😆
batty(Quote)
BATTY thats it mate,call a spade a spade 😉
icedog(Quote)
Troyster that is the most sensible thing ive heard you say ….. Rodzilla what is with this middle of the road coalition thing youve got going on … yeesh dont like that .. yur either bedsheets and brickwallers of youre up fattys **** … where the hell are yee?
TOONPIPES(Quote)
Dubs, two’s company, three’s a crowd mate, am happy with that 😎
(numerical hierarchy doesn’t add up wi me) 🙂
Rodzilla(Quote)
Dub yeah he does like to get worked up a tad 😆 I think its knowing that Troy hammers him every time.
Batts he is bad but not that bad 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Batts @ 130 😆 😆 😆 woof woof
Big Dave(Quote)
Scott Wilson @Scottwilsonecho Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Might #NUFC have to play their opening European game away from St James’? Find out in tomorrow’s Northern Echo.
batty(Quote)
BD leave Dub alone, Troy will get jjeeeeaaloooussss
TOONPIPES(Quote)
Scott Wilson @Scottwilsonecho Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
With Senegal qualified for #Olympics tonight, expect them to inquire about Ba and Cisse. #NUFC don’t have to release over-age players though
batty(Quote)
TP – Isn’t this whole “I was right, look at me” kind of thing not getting tiresome?
The clue is yes it is btw…
toonsy(Quote)
dave Toonpipes has gone barking mad 🙂
batty(Quote)
@Poopsy
You really are spinning like Scott Parker on whizz 😛
Of course we should have bought Cisse. It’s quite clear from my post.
Now get off your merry go round and start to walk in a straight line or you will never reach your destination.
I can see you falling for another brute and getting in another abusive relationship. I have already helped you with your abusive marriage to Jabba.
😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Toonsy here here ,the clue is yes ,do you think he will get it 😆 😆 😆
batty(Quote)
Can’t read or understand sarcasm the poor lad.
Aye Batty, think the Olympics would clash with the Europa playoff round. The Ronnie mentioned it a few months ago
Dubtoon(Quote)
Toonsy, nah its not … dont be sensitive, people enjoyed giving out banter this is banter back .. nowt more nowt less .. Troy, seems the patronage are getting upset .. i´ll leave you to it .. peace WOOF WOOF
TOONPIPES(Quote)
Batts he always was a self righteous barking mad I told you so Jabba lover 😆
Toonsy yeah it is boring as fuk
Big Dave(Quote)
@troy
sounds like he likes abusing MA as much as the neggars – ‘either bedsheets and brickwallers of youre up fattys ****’ – i think we know when you fit in the TP 😉
Dubtoon(Quote)
TP – But like I said to Troy earlier on in the season, there is a line where it becomes tiresome when crossed.
On Europa game being shifted, wouldn’t it be funny if it was moved to Sunderland for a one off game? The only European game ever at their ground, and it doesn’t even involve them! It would stick right in their craw 😆 😆 😆
toonsy(Quote)
@Poopsy
I hate to see a grown man cry. Would you like a tissue? 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
aye tiresome is the word,i could be more truefull but tiresome will do for now 😡
icedog(Quote)
night lads ,nighty night troy 😉 😆
batty(Quote)