It’s been a terrible season all truth being told, and it could yet get worse should we fail to pick up enough points in our final four league games to survive.
A second relegation within the space of four years would be disastrous for this club and would take some time to recover from.
That may sound dramatic, but if you look at our playing staff then compared to what we have now you can perhaps see my cause for concern. So many of our key players are also now full international players who will, quite rightly, want to play at the highest level so they get the chance to play for their country. They won’t get that in the second tier in England so I imagine a lot of them would be off like a shot should someone take a gamble on them.
The problem these players have is that the options available to them might have narrowed down somewhat due to their poor showing this season. As I said above, I’m sure some clubs would take a gamble on them and sign them up, but in all likelihood they won’t be top clubs. It’s simplistic in its view, but how good is a player who ends up relegated from the Premier League? And last time around I don’t remember many top clubs coming in for our supposedly “star” players of the time.
Now it’s all well and good to say that these players are tied down to long-term contracts so will command a fee, but the problem is that so many of them have regressed so much from last season to this I’m starting to wonder if these long contracts were such a well thought out idea after all.
A lot of the blame has been put at the door of Alan Pardew, and rightly so as he seems to have regressed from last season. Whether it’s actually him regressing so much or whether it’s the players at his disposal that have regressed leaving him with few options is up for debate. Perhaps it’s a combination of both?
Look at some of the players as a perfect example of what I’m talking about. Take Cheik Tiote. When was the last time he played like we know he can? I can’t remember a game where I’ve thought Cheik has looked like Cheik since his debut season in the Premier League, and that was getting on for three years ago.
It doesn’t stop there. Jonas Gutierrez has got so bad it’s unreal. Granted he was never one to score lots or create lots, but he was solid enough if unspectacular. The list goes on, Cabaye and even Tim Krul have got worse in my humble opinion. Even recent additions like Moussa Sissoko seem to have gone backwards since arriving on the scene. His position hasn’t changed, it’s still the same one that he was playing in at the start when all and sundry were purring over him. Even those absent through injury have got worse, like Fabricio Coloccini, have failed to regularly reach the high standards he’s set himself ever since relegation in 2009.
Now I’m not defending Alan Pardew by any stretch of the imagination, but can anyone seriously say that so many players losing form is his fault? Maybe it is and I’m just being overcritical of the players? Maybe last season we collectively overachieved? Maybe this season we’re collectively underachieving? Maybe our expectations are too high? Mind you, I’d like to think we had every right to expect to progress this season after what happened last season.
It just hasn’t happened though, for whatever reason…
Unrelated but I’ve read some interesting comments on Suarez, and changed my opinion.
Now I just think – what’s the big deal? It’s disgusting and pathetic, but is it any worse, or more importantly, anymore dangerous than say the elbowing an opponent. No. It should be a few game ban and a fine, the whole “banned from football thing” is just an overreaction due to us instinctively for some reason believing that biting is worse than punching.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
This word Relegated is starting too be used too much on here of late ,its bringing up nightmares . TOONSY as web master do something . Ban anyone that uses it until the end of he season , not that i am getting nervous aboot it like 😆
Axel(Quote)
I watched one Scottish football game this season, St mirren v Hearts in the Scottish cup final, such a weird game, couldn’t tell if it was any good as it looked like the players were trying and there was quality there but you just knew why these players weren’t scouted into English football.
Andymag(Quote)
Andy,
He is – I am from Glasgow though, that’s what I meant but due to **** wording, I gave the impression I meant Lennon, sorry.
MM,
Scottish football is going down the toilet at the same time we’ve actually got some decent youngsters coming through the youth ranks, it’s odd. I could see us becoming a Belgium type team where we have decent players playing in the English division and a decent national team with a horrid national division.
If you look at the Scotland team, most of it plays in the Premiership so all those pundits going on about the lack of Scots in England now are a bit daft. Almost as many Scots as English nowadays, lol
funkyjesus(Quote)
Dare I suggest that Tiote’s off-colour performances this season are down to Pardew’s tactics ?
Or has he carried too many injuries ?
Or does he think he has made it and lost his intensity ?
Or was he a one season wonder…?
Or has he stopped eating raw meat and became a krishna loving vegetarian ?
Either way his fall from being a 20 million man being linked with everyone and his dog to where he has been this season has been shocking. 😥
We need the real Tiote back…please..
Munich Mag(Quote)
Solano,
I’d rather get elbowed than bit. You have no idea if he has any medical conditions that are passed by body fluids and stuff.
funkyjesus(Quote)
ST
It’s the act rather than the physical nature of it. Biting is knocked out of toddlers at 3 as a horrible thing to do, it just suggests to young minds watching the game that it was acceptable and they then replicate it on a mini league game. Elbowing is part of the physical nature of the PL, biting is scorned by society.
Andymag(Quote)
@ST
Agree
Honestly the Macmanaman challenge was 10x worse than it like. I find it really funny more than anything like. People calling for him to be banned from football need to give there heads a shake.
@Andy 145
Yeah we can just pretend he is from Ireland (and not Northern Ireland) 😀
Santii(Quote)
@Andy
Possibly Krul?
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
ST-Nah mate, I draw the line at biting. I know what you mean i.e its assault with punching but I just thinking biting people or spitting in their face is just scum tactics (proper scum, not mackems)
Not saying he should be banned from football, of course he shouldn’t. He does need to be punished though, preferably before our game with his lot 😉
Newkie(Quote)
FJ
All good mate 😉
The welsh national team is probably more comparable to the Belgian one IMO.
Andymag(Quote)
Actually there is only one thing stupider than punching a police horse and that is seeing a grown man biting another grown man on live TV in front of 100 million viewers during a high intensity sporting event.
It looked like gbh to me to be honest.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Funky-I guess Solano is saying from a safety perspective, I mean, you’re highly unlikely to end a career by biting, but an elbow to the skull could do that. Suarez could pass something on, granted but it’s unlikely..
Newkie(Quote)
ST – you’ve said some ridiculous things in the past mate but that takes the absolute biscuit my friend.
That’s like saying what’s the big deal about Tyson biting Holyfields ear off coz he was trying to knock him out anyway?!
It was a disgraceful act and one he’s since acknowledged himself. To bite another human being is a calculated cowardly act and I hope they throw the fucking book at him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
ST
His suitors would come in if we went down, the rest would
1) want to remain in the national team thinking and so move on
2) Be sold due to excessive wages that a championship team couldn’t handle
3) Another team realises they are quality players and so buys them from us
Andymag(Quote)
Solano ,I promise you if you had any idea how much bacteria there is in the average human mouth ,you would never wanna get bit. I rather get punched than bit .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Santii
They’re the same thing aren’t they? 😆 Just kidding 😉
Andymag(Quote)
FJ I will try refrain from getting into the fact that Lennon is/was a well known IRA sympathizer and supporter I couldn’t bring myself to get behind a team that he was managing but if it doesn’t bother you then so be it, but having lost friends and family by the IRA maybe I have a different view.
ST I have to agree with MM punching etc isn’t in my eyes as low as biting someone.
Big Dave(Quote)
If Ashley sacked Pardew in the summer my choice would be Poyet. Very highly rated when he was assistant manager and obviously doing a great job at Brighton.
Oh and we would have a better chance of not getting knocked out of the FA cup by Brighton too…
Stuart79(Quote)
Aye Kim that’s why you would rather it was a dog biting you, unless it had rabies, though you never know with a chap like luis 😕
Andymag(Quote)
It was a classless act by a classless person end of.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Spot on Big Dave… “Crime is crime is crime!”
Stuart79(Quote)
@Sharpy
Is that what i’ve said? Don’t twist my words.
I think biting is disgusting. I think spitting is disgusting. Suarez’s bite was never going to injure, it was just a pathetic moment by a cowardly scumbag player.
Would I rather be bitten on the arm or elbowed in the head?
Hmm. Bit of a no brainer.
His punishment should be slightly more than the standard violent conduct ban, that’s what it is – violent conduct.
Though Newkie is right, you’d probably get infected with something.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@Dave
Agreed. But I think punishment shouldn’t be based on what we feel is worse, but on what is objectively more dangerous.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@Andy lol
When i lived in Scotland and all my mates used to say that. I would just say then you are basically English 😀
I don’t think Poyet would bring us to the next level. He does like attacking football though which would be nice.
But i think Rafa (if he is happy to leave the transfers to the club) would be great for us. I think Blanc would be a great appointment as well. ^^ these two would bring us to the level we want imo.
Santii(Quote)
@Santii
Agree. Though I’m not mentioning the tackle as I wanted to try and compare things that weren’t related to playing – so punching, stamping, spitting, biting, whereas the tackle could have been “misstimed”
Still – if the ref hadn’t seen the Wigan lads challenge and he was getting a ban, who would you think deserved a longer ban – him or Suarez ❓
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
*that question was to everyone
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Andy & Sharpy ,I meant to say the other day that Starz who brought us Spartacus have a new series hitting screens in 2014 called Black Sails ,it’s set about 20 years befor treasure Island ,a pirate drama .If you google Black sails you can get to see an early trailer ,looks good. Also Steven De knight who produced Spartacus has another series with Starz called Incursion a sci-fi intergalactic war drama apparently ,all on google.
KIMTOON(Quote)
ST @ 174 yeah but it’s hard to see it objectively
Big Dave(Quote)
@Kim
The two best TV shows of all time…
The Sopranos and The Wire watch them 😀
Santii(Quote)
Santii
Don’t you ever say that ya bawabag, ya ken ❓ 😆
Kim
Cool, might give it a watch
Andymag(Quote)
ST – you’re wrong mate. I’m not suggesting he should be banned from football for life but I’d put it on par with the Cantona Kung fu kick for moments of madness in football.
Also, lets not forget this isn’t an isolated incident and he bit someone whilst playing for Ajax – that 7 match ban taught him a lesson didn’t it?!.
But all that aside, the blokes a father!, what lesson is he teaching his kids man.
I’m sorry mate but I honestly believe at least a 10 match ban, and I promise that has nothing to do with the fact I think he’s the most disgraceful player in world football at the moment.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well Suarez got a 7 game ban for it previously ,so as he hasn’t learnt his lesson I would dish out 8 and hope he finally realises we live in a society that finds such things disgusting. It would also act as a big deterent to other lik minded morons. As for macs tackle on Haidara the usual punishment would be warranted ,end of the day it isn’t a witch hunt on the boy but he should of been punished none the less, especially as he like Suarez also had previous and so hadn’t learn’t either.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Santi ,I loved the Sopranos ,never caught the Wire though. I’m watching Corleone on sky arts ,it’s got Italian subtitles but tells the real story of the original mafia story ,it’s brilliant ,I’m 4/5 episodes in . Also love true blood ,do you watch that?
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim spot on if they haven’t learnt after allready doing the same sort of thing that shows the punishment wasn’t severe enough to teach them a lesson
Big Dave(Quote)
Yeah I think a 7-10 game ban would be fair. Though I think your comparison to Tyson and the ear biting is ludicrous and exactly why the FA shouldn’t listen to the hysterical media.
Liverpool are pretty unlucky, they either stand by him and get abuse from all quarters, or get rid and lose a world class player on the cheap.
I hate the guy though, regardless of the biting, I wish all the clubs in the world would agree to banish him from football.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
I liked the first few seasons but just lost all interest in it. I just think it started to go all over the place like the writers have no idea where they want it to go. It looks like they are going to try and milk the cash cow and get as many season out of it regardless of how poor it gets. A bit like Supernatural and a ton of American shows just get ruined because of it.
The Wire and Sopranos being the exception the the rule 😀
Should check this site out if you haven’t already
http://www.1channel.ch/?tv
Santii(Quote)
@Kim btw 😀
Santii(Quote)
Solano ,I popped on a couple of Dippers sites early on to see what they thought and got to say most are really upset with him .They feel the clubs good name is being sullied and they are dead right ,he’ll ruin that clubs rep if he stays cause he’ll do something equaly bad again as he’s an animal ,vile little racist toad.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Santi wum
KIMTOON(Quote)
Santi ,thanks for the link ,might watch the following that’s right up my street.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim you can watch whatever you want on that site movies and tv shows. It takes a wile for new movies to get DVD quality links up but it is a great wee site like.
Santii(Quote)
@Kim
I think if they get a decent offer they will sell. Otherwise I reckon they’re stuck with him, sack him and some other club will just get him. Football really is a grim sport at times.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
SOLANOSTRUMPET
I think it is a big deal because biting someone is disgusting for one thing. It is not the same as punching or kicking in frustration on the sports field. It has nothing to do with sport or losing your temper. It is deliberate and really disgusting.
DJG(Quote)
Santi yeah looks good ,i will do.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Solano ,fans were saying Bayern after him apparently.
KIMTOON(Quote)
ST – you’re right mate, you suggest that biting someone is no worse than any other violent conduct and I’m the one that’s ludicrous 🙄 😆
I don’t think Lpool have to get rid of him but they accept whatever punishment is given and probably fine him. But he’ll never change and if Lpool keep him they’ll have to accept that.
Sharpy17(Quote)
@DJG
Yeah but you can’t really define disgusting. Vinnie Jones grabbing Gazza’s balls, Barton mooning fans, one man’s disgusting is another man’s meh. I think mackems are disgusting, can’t ban them from football though. Unfortunately.
I’m not defending it, I just think something like elbowing should be punished more heavily. Do you remember the Ian Hume incident?
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Kim – I think the thieving fans sully the good name of their club to be fair 😛 😀
ST – MOTD2 have just said that Tyson has just joined Suarez twitter account as a follower since the incident – so maybe I wasn’t so ludicrous to draw the comparison after all 😉 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Mbiwa in the Mirrors team of the weekend
KIMTOON(Quote)
@Sharpy
He bit someone on the bloody arm. Get a grip, it was vile and disgusting, but I’m sure Ivanovic isn’t losing any sleep tonight. You’re comparison to the ear biting had no relevance whatsoever.
Who do you think deserves a greater ban – Macmanaman or Suarez?
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
SHARPY17
I would expect the odd elbow but if I was being bitten or spat at I think I would not want to play because you don’t know what diseases people have. The the FA should protect Ivanovic and all other players from professional to grass roots and throw the book at Suarez in my humble opinion.
DJG(Quote)
@Sharpy
I would love to see them in a fight together.
I reckon he’s probably in the top 5 most hated people in football ever. The Ghana celebrating after he’d cheated them out of the Semis is one of the WC’s lowest moments.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@DJG
Diseases, seriously? Is this trolling?
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
SOLANOSTRUMPET
‘You’re comparison to the ear biting had no relevance whatsoever.’
Actually it had more relevance than you suggesting Sunderland are disgusting and Barton mooning fans is disgusting so biting someone is as trivial as that, what? If he had cut the skin of his arm with his beaver teeth and given him AIDS would you defend that as well?
DJG(Quote)
SOLANOSTRUMPET
You are aware that diseases are passed from one person to another right?
DJG(Quote)
@DJG
The Sunderland thing was obviously a joke. Sort of.
The Barton was just a point on how I don’t believe you can place a greater ban on something for it “being disgusting”
I think I’ll probably just not comment on yours aids remark. You win.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
ST – in answer to your question mate Suarez should without doubt get the greater ban.
Don’t get me wrong Mc should have got a 3 match ban for that challenge but its about intent for me like.
The Mc challenge was horrific, but I don’t believe he went into the tackle trying to break Haidaras leg. Whereas Suarez has clearly intended to bite the lad – blood or nee blood, rabies or nee rabies.
Sharpy17(Quote)
@DJG
I am, every night I used to go out down in Bigg Market I’d have to take a girl to the doctors for a check up before having a cheeky snog. Honestly, if I had a penny for every time I had to go to the emergency room from a girl getting to frisky and biting my lip.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@Sharpy
Fair play, I could go either way on that one tbh. Like you say, can’t really prove intent with the Wigan lad, or any bad football tackles really.
That’s why I think it’s probably better for me to compare the bite to punching etc that aren’t football related.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
SOLANOSTRUMPET
If someone had cold or flu you wouldn’t want them spitting in you face mate, just because your team is winning 2-1.
DJG(Quote)
No of course I wouldn’t. But I wouldn’t leap to the conclusion I had aids. 🙄
I’m off now.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
ST – there are certain challenges in football which are clearly made with the sole purpose of hurting the other person – like the Ben Thatcher v Pedro Mendes incident.
But the Mc challenge was on par with or slightly worse than say Sidwell or Giroud sending off yesterday. It was a badly mistimed attempt to get the ball. The greatest sin was the ref not sending him off then the FA taking no action. But the ball was there and so he will always claim his intention was to win the ball.
Suarez was caught on live television trying to bite an opponent, then done some stupid type of limp as if he had been injured.
I think it should be 10 matches banned from all competitions with immediate effect and not drag it out like the FA like to do.
Sharpy17(Quote)
How funny is Suarez and his over bite 😆 he would have to be one of the biggest dickheads to play at the top level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLfSdfJ9TqY
At least he won’t be playing against us….
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Sharpy – That’s what gets me. Dont get me wrong I think it was a disgusting thing to do but what makes it worse is that the tussle for the ball had long gone.
I’m sure it was out of frustration more than anything but dear god I’m sure Suarez isnt the only person to get frustrated. I get frustrated and angry but can deal with it without biting someone ffs. Maybe I’m not normal lol
Besides, biting is a term of endearment in Uruguay so I hear 😆
toonsy(Quote)
if your first reaction is to turn and bite when someone is pulling at your arm, you have some serious mental issue.. what the ****! …
It would be like standing in line next to Richie at a buffet, you would no doubt cop a random bite as he samples all the food with reckless abandon 😆 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I hear the cartoon tazmanian devil was modelled on watching rich at an all you can eat buffet 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Just seen something interesting:
These are the stats for our second half performances this season:
Played 34 Won 5 Drawn 9 Lost 20 Points 24
Goals scored 19 Goals conceded 45 Goal difference (-26)
For me that stats are also massively improved by our last minute goals in injury time when we are forced to attack, yet they still make for abyssmal reading.
Its a clear indication of a couple things:
A) Pardew plays negative football in the second half. He sits back and invites pressure by trying to hang on to a one goal lead or for a point.
B) Pardew gets worked out by the opposition manager who adjust their tactics in the second half and Pardew can usually has no response.
C) Pardew’s substitutions are usually ineffective and negative as his only reply to pressure is to sit back and go route one to Shola.
D) Our players lack fitness and can’t play out the full 90 minutes.
Add to this our shocking set plays, all the tired excuses, the poor football, and most of all the shocking results.
I cannot remember a season where a manager and his staff can get so little out of his players and perform so poorly overall without getting the sack.
I think Pardew needs to do less moaning about what he doesn’t have and start thanking Ashley that he still has a job.
JJ(Quote)
On a more positive note…
Assuming Man United beat Villa today. Then with goal difference. Both Wigan and Villa will have to pick up two wins from their last four games. And we will have to lose every game for us to go down.
Plus, they play each other in the last game of the season, which means for one of them, its a maximum of 1 point.
So the other would need to win 2 out of their last three.
Wigan have Spurs and Arsenal to play. Villa have Chelsea and the Scum.
Can’t see either getting past the 38 point mark, so one more point should do it.
JJ(Quote)
On Saturday we missed at least 2 very good chances after we scored. Pardew surely cannot be blamed for that? Cisse should have scored as his chance was very easy and also Taylor should have done better but it was a defenders effort.
In games like Reading at home and even Fulham recently we missed so many chances and they’re all falling to Cisse. It is clear we are desperate for another striker to take some pressure of him. Remy would have been perfect and if we had got him or someone like him we would probably have been 9th or 10th by now.
Stuart79(Quote)
JJ – you’re dead right there mate, those stats would have had other managers sacked along time ago. Would be interesting to see how they compared to Saints and Reading stats at the of Adkins and McDermott sacking – and I’d expect them to be alot worse than the ones that got O’Neil the push.
The other thing I was think yesterday was that I hope he alternative transfer targets, coz I really don’t see us signing players like PEA or Alderwiereld now do you?!
Sharpy17(Quote)
JJ .,well worked out mate ,saved me the headache ,I was gonna try and work out exactly what we need today.
Aussie@216 lol ,you do know it’s monday mate ,Richie is off target. 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Stuart
No Pardew cannot be blamed for players missing chances… BUT
Players are going to miss chances… they all do… So we can’t keep using that as an excuse… Its non-sense.
What we can use an an excuse is that we have West Brom on the back foot. We CREATED chances and would have created more had we continued to attack and try finish the game off in the second half…
However, Pardew decided to sit back and defend the lead (AGAIN) as he has done all season. This is what annoys me
When you sit back and invite pressure on a defence, there ARE going to be individual errors. Its not rocket science…
You can be the best goal keeper in the world, but if you have shot after shot blasted at you, eventually the error will come.
The best form of defence is attack. That is a philosophy which works IMO, unfortunately Pardew isn’t a believer.
We have gone on to lose far too many games this season after being in front at half time. Games we have been in control of. Why? Because we sit back and try to defend the lead…
I can understand parking the bus in the last 5 minutes. But not an entire half.
JJ(Quote)
Sharpy,
If Pardew remains at the helm, it would be a complete waste of time buying the likes of PAE or anyone with technical skill and pace.
We are an ugly long ball team. We have played more long balls than Stoke this year – yet some people are under this false illusion that we play decent football… erm no… We have players with decent individual skills but as a team, we play the worst football to watch in the league.
If Pardew stays the first signing we need to make is Andy Carroll.
Then hopefully Cisse can feed off his scraps.
We may as well sell Ben Arfa, and buy a Kevin Nolan clone. Then someone who can take a decent corner.
And a giant centre half like Shawcross to head down diagnal balls from freekicks.
It’d suit us far better with Pardews tactics. We’d finish top ten easily and Pards will be praised, but we’d basically be the new and improved Stoke.
JJ(Quote)
We really need to take advantage of playing at home next game ,I was thinking we’d get nowt but if Suarez is indeed banned that’s a massive get out of jail for Pards .If he fails to capitalise on such a big dollop of good luck he’s a mug . With the racist out the equation there is no excuse not to get forward ,I know Couthino and Sterling are dangerous but their main threat is Suarez ,he’s why they are where they are in the league .I do not want us sitting back trying not to conceed a goal and playing for a draw or trying to protect a 1 goal lead unless it’s very late in the game.
KIMTOON(Quote)