Taking the Positives – The Feelgood Factor

Premandup

Feeling good?
Feeling good?
Over 50,000 fans turned up for Steve Harpers testimonial. A great time was had by all.

Surely this should be the template for every home match at St James’ Park. Yet for some reason it isn’t. I’m intrigued to know why.

Performances aren’t brilliant, but come on we’ve been served up some rubbish over the years. Spells of good times have been few and far between over the years. However it is a results based business and last season was disappointing. Finishing 16th is poor even by our standards. Note that an away win at Villa with a good performance has lifted the spirits with most fans, so hopefully we are in for a more positive season.

However, I’m not convinced that the discontent is generated by on-field factors. I think it is more off field. So I’ve decided that a survey of our bloggers might help to clarify the perspective of what is actually going on. I’ve come up with some headings, with a bit of a description of where I think we are in each of them. What I want from you is marks out of 10 of how important each category is, and marks out of 10 for how well we are doing in each category. I’ll use these to develop a feelgood factor that we can repeat and monitor. So first up…

League Results

Since the war we have been relegated four times spending a total of 17 seasons in the second tier of English football. We have also had four periods of “Glory Years”, top five finishes, 1948 to 1952 where with George Rutherford and Stan Seymour we finished 4th – 5th – 4th – 8th. These were also the cup years.

Next up we had three relegations and only seven top ten finishes from 26 top flight seasons until the Sir John Hall and Kevin Keegan years when in the four years (1993 to 1997) we finished 3rd – 6th – 2nd – 2nd and shortly thereafter we had the Freddie Shepherd and Sir Bobby Robson years where we finished 4th – 3rd – 5th. Other than that the only other high spots were the 5th places achieved by Gordon Lee in 1976/7 and Alan Pardew in 2011/2.

If we ignore the four seasons we were relegated (and the years in the second tier) and the 13 glory years above we have averaged 13th in the remaining 32 seasons. On that basis I think that the Alan Pardew years to date deserves probably a 7/10 and as league results are the key measure and worth 8/10

Europe and Cups

Even if things are not going well a good cup run and a trip to Europe can lift the spirits so with a run to the Quarter Final of the Europa League cup last season to remember again 7/10 but as a measure it’s less important so 7/10

Next we come to things that are less tangible such as style of play, PR and communications; as well as background matters such as Finances, Squad strength etc. Personally I don’t think these are as important but you may feel different. To me so long as we are not threatened with administration and can field 11 players on the pitch it will be reflected in the outcomes and so are marginal. Together I’ve given them half the overall value.

Finances

Turnover, Profit, Global Brand awareness, Deloitte rankings etc indicate that the clubs finances are in the best state they have been in a long time. Turnover of nearly £100m, Profit of a few million, ROI of 8%, 7th biggest in EPL, 20th in Europe everything good here so 9/10 in a measure worth 4/10

Squad including Manager and Coaches

The first team is as good as anybody outside the big six. The bench and squad is probably OK for a domestic season but still very susceptible to injuries etc, Management that can cope well in the good times but struggle when under the cosh. 6/10 from a measure worth 4/10

Style of play

Well I’ve seen some decent play and some hoofball and some horror shows so no, only 4/10 from a measure worth 3/10

PR & Communications

What PR? What communications? Decision making that baffles the imagination. Appointments that confuse. I don’t mind a reclusive owner, but that has to be compensated for. It isn’t, just 1/10 in a measure worth 3/10

Showbiz

I don’t know if you could rightly even call this a measure. Newcastle became my second team in The Joe Harvey years, Pop Robson, Supermac etc. Great entertainment on and off the field. Only four top ten finishes in ten seasons.

Since then nobody can claim to have been bored following Newcastle. Always in the news for right and wrong reasons. Once described as the best soap opera in English football and still living up to the billing. Other clubs may try to claim the headlines but only Newcastle know how to fill the column inches. I’m going to have to give it 9/10 even though currently it’s for all the wrong reasons, nothing new there. But as a measure I’m only awarding 1/10 and struggling to justify that.

So folks, over to you. What’s you’re verdict on the above categories. How are we doing in each. Have I got the importance right, and any other categories that I have missed out.

So on the basis of the above I award a Feelgood Factor of 63% or 6/10. Not bad, could do better. What’s all the fuss about?

About Premandup

View all posts by Premandup →

You may like these posts

456 thoughts on “Taking the Positives – The Feelgood Factor”

  1. Europe and Cups

    I’m giving this a 4/10. The Europa League campaign was a positive but our other cup campaigns have really been pretty poor.

      (Quote)

  2. Finances

    This is a 5/10. I’ve seen nothing to suggest we are doing anything other than what we should be doing. No spectacular sponsorship coup and nothing really of note to mention.

      (Quote)

  3. Squad including Manager and Coaches

    I’m giving the squad a 7/10 but for the manager and coaches is still a 3/10 for the reasons already mentioned. Overall I guess that equates to 5/10.

      (Quote)

  4. Style of play

    This one is a 2/10. Our style is rubbish and the occasional exciting game or periods during a game cannot be considered our style if we don’t produce it consistently.

      (Quote)

  6. Showbiz

    I think this is a 5/10. To us the club is a big deal but for most other fans they’re not really interested in what happens at the club.

      (Quote)

  8. Oz, ‘carn’ should be written ‘caarn’.

    The Nyiw Ziland iccent is ivin wirse. Thiy go to the diry biy fush and chups. 😀 Thiy’re viry iccinomical with viwils.

      (Quote)

  9. Vegas, I used the posh/city “carn” not the ocker/bushy “caarn”.. and you call yourself Australian 😛

      (Quote)

  10. I’m not Australian – even if I do have a certificate that says I’m dinky-di, true blue. I’m not even a Pommie any more. I’m an internationalist – no a Lennonist 😆 😆 😆 .

    Imagine there’s no countries
    It isn’t hard to do
    Nothing to kill or die for
    And no religion too
    Imagine all the people
    Living life in peace…..

      (Quote)

  11. very deep Vegas, is that from the same guy that sang, “we’re all living in a yellow submarine” 😆 😆

      (Quote)

  12. Eminem @ 98 😯 – You need to learn to live in the moment brother! :mrgreen:

    “You can’t go back to how things were. How you thought they were. All you really have is…now.” 😉

      (Quote)

  19. Kim – I think that’s about right to be fair to Pardew. But I think the 4-3-3 formation will actually make managing Benny a bit easier to be honest. As daft as it sounds, 4-3-3 gives Benny more freedom to play – so he’s happier. It also requires less discipline defensively so Pardew isn’t stressing about that.
    For Pardews part I think managing the whole team is likely to get easier coz I think every player is now playing in a position that suits them.
    The only headache I see for him at the moment is Cisse, but there again, I think that headache will go if Cisse can bag himself a goal or two.

      (Quote)

  20. Kim I really dont know why Pards comes of wit **** like that, the funny thing is that he will go out of his way to *** other players up but always seems to like taking a swipe at Benny 😯
    Does he really think telling everyone about Benny being hard to manage is going to make him easier to manage, as I know it would **** me off if it was me

      (Quote)

  21. Dave – to be fair he has ONLY said he was hard to manage:

    “If we can do that and keep him fit and focused like that, we’ve got a player who can change the destiny of any Premier League game.”

    I’m not sure if this constitutes ‘bumming’ but it’s certainly high praise 😆

      (Quote)

  22. Sharpy I am 100% sure that Benny would be a bit of a handfull as after all that is one of the main reasons we got him.
    But Pards shouldnt be making it public 😕

      (Quote)

  23. It’s not like Benny has frustrated other managers as well… he would know this already.. he would be playing for one of the top teams if he was really focused on being a disciplined team player.. he wants to express himself on the field and it can be as frustrating as it can be scintilating. That’s what you get with him.. Pardew wasn’t being disrespectful..

      (Quote)

  28. Kim – really don’t disagree. I watched the match on BT Sport on Saturday and I was shouting at the tele :lol:. Evra also went down too easy before that and the pen/sending off I also think was harsh. But then thats Man U at Old Trafford isn’t it!. But in fairness to Young, you don’t expect your biggest critic to be your manager and team mate (Rio the gobshite).

      (Quote)

  29. Sharpy can you think of any other player that Pards has came out and been negative about ❓ ❓ as I cant, but I can remember him being critical of Benny a few times mostly to do with Benny needing to learn to be a team player and needing to help the defence more 😯
    As for Pards not saying it if he thought it would effect him 😯 I think part of Pards problem is that he dosnt think , did he really think the fans would be happy and understanding when he told the fans and all the world that we didnt want to strengthen the team as it would mean.getting an.over draft 😆 😆

      (Quote)

  30. Maybe Pardew is just trying to keep Bennys feet on the ground during all this publicity?
    Or maybe he is just a ****** no matter what he says… 😐

      (Quote)

  31. Just thinking about the U21s after the link I posted and having highlighted how close we are to having a squad of 22 very good players – this actually shows we aren’t that far from having 33:

    1st team-

    ——————– Krul —————-
    Debuchy – Colo – Mapou – Debuchy
    —- Sissoko – Cabaye – Anita —-
    —- Benny — Cisse — Remy ——

    2nd team-

    ————– Elliott —————
    ??? – Saylor – Good – Haidara
    —— Bigi — Tiote — Jonas —-
    — Gouffran – ??? – Marveaux —

    3rd Team-

    ————– Alnwick ————–
    Tav — Street — Satka — Dummett
    —- ??? — Kemen — Fergie —-
    – Campbell – Vukic – Armstrong –

    So, IMO we need 3 players in to give us all the depth we are ever likely to need to cover league, Cup or Europe games.
    I’m not suggesting that there aren’t players there that don’t need replacing to provide even more strength, but 4-3-3 works first team, reserves and U21s. If I were Pardew I’d be making sure that formation was played at all 3 levels so that if there illness/injury/suspension, the players can move between teams and know the craic.

    You’ll notice Williamson, Obertan, Gosling, Amalfitano, Abied and whoever else is missing can definately be sold on. Money raised and wage bill cut. 5 out and 3 in cant be too difficult for JFK to manage … can it?.

      (Quote)

  32. Dave – He’s had a pop at Cisse before and Williamson. But I honestly don’t see him being overly negative about him this time to be honest. I think it’s more of a tongue in cheek comment than a snipe mate.

      (Quote)

  33. No doubt he was asked how difficult is it to manage a player like Ben Arfa or something along those lines. people getting there knickers in a twist over nothing again……

    He is a disgrace…… 😉 😆

      (Quote)

  34. Sharpy

    Aye id go along with that 3 players for a really decent side, Another striker, Winger and a versatile Yanga mbiwa style defender would be just the job in january.

    Bit harsh on Sammy imo. He’s the sort of player of player who our fans would rate if he played elsewhere and had a different surname. Hes not really that different to Zaha and Redmond who also have good feet but are still lacking in end product..

      (Quote)

  35. CC – sorry mate I forgot all about Sammy 😳
    He could sit alongside Marv in that reserve team and flip a coin as to who gets in mate. His brother would be in that list of players to be moved on though I’m afraid.

      (Quote)

  36. Sharpy. I think that Bigi could drop to the third team with Gosling stepping up. In attack Gouffran could move to the centre with Sammi alongside. RB like you I’m struggling.

      (Quote)

  38. Sharpy I know Debuchy is good but you cant expect him to play left and right back at the same time 😛

    Whats the word on Kevin Mbabu surely he would get in ahead of Satka

      (Quote)

  39. Nothing much. He is soon to be replaced. But currently available. I seem to remember he left Everton because he wanted to play midfield whilst he was being played RB. Fills a hole that’s all.

      (Quote)

  40. Prem – Tav could move up to the reserves and Mbabu could go into the 3rd team. That would mean that we are sorted with your suggestions mate, with the likes of Willo, Oba, Shola, Amalfitano and Abied still free to leave.

    Georgio – I’m with you mate, I’m not sold on Gosling TBH and I’m not sure how good Tav is either. That’s why I’d be looking at 3-4 players in – subject to us making the Remy deal permanent of course.

    Santii – 😳 that would be Santon at left back then 😳 😆
    Mbabu is an out and out right back mate and making decent progress by all accounts. Like I say, I’d maybe put him in that 3rd team but I don’t think Tav is good enough to be Debuchys back up TBH mate. But Satka is a very promising CB mate, I really hope he makes the grade and gets through.

      (Quote)

  41. Ashley is quoted in 2008;
    ” I knew the club would cost me money every year after I bought it. I have backed the club with my money.
    I was always prepared to bankroll Newcastle up to the tune of £20m per year but no more. That was my bargain”.
    “I would make the club solvent. I would pour up to £20m a year into the club and not expect anything back”.
    Oh dear. What happened to his side of the bargain? 😯

      (Quote)

  42. I suppose Raylor would be the main cover for right back if/when he’s fit again, But id like to se us in for someone who could cover fulback in the short term but compete for a centre half spot in the long term like MYM has.

    Someone like Mancienne who used to play for chelsea and has been frozen out at hamburg, he was someone who can play across the defence, in midfield and good enough on the ball to play out from the back…

      (Quote)

  43. CC – I’d go for either Sam Byram or Kyle Naughton for RB. I think Naughton is probably more ready to provide the cover in terms of experience, but I think Byram would be the more expensive of the 2.
    If you are talking versatility then I think Stefan Di Vrij would be a decent signing from Feyenoord.

    Midfield I’d like us to sign Jake Livermore who would replace Bigi and drop him down to the 3rd team. Alternatively Tolga Cigerci 21yr old from Herta would be a good buy. But one for the development team for me would Paul Digby 18yrs from Barnsley – could cost £1m now or £7-8m next year.

    Forward player for me would be Finnbogason would be my choice through the middle. Wider players could be Ayew, Ince or Lucas Andersen from Ajax.

    Make Remy permanent and I’m not entirely sure what will happen with Gomis yet.

      (Quote)

  44. Troy – Ashleys quote is very none specific, which is the problem mate. He hasn’t said he’d bankroll TRANSFERS to the time of £20m.
    I could well believe that he could produce evidence to show that over the last 5 yrs he has put in a total of £100m.

      (Quote)

  45. Sharpy@178 ,Sorry for late reply been out but yep Rio needs to stfu and concentrate on failing drugs test 😆

    I have the answer to Pards latest quote on Benny . It’s a cunning plan to put off would be bidders by saying he’s frustrating to manage . No flies on our Alan like. 😉

      (Quote)

  46. Sharpy@194 ,you would be surprised how much it cost to provide the players canteen with serviettes mate ,**** expensive running the Toon like. It all adds up you know that £100m doesn’t go too far especially with all the dribblers we got ,dummies getting spat out left right and centre, if you believe the press.

      (Quote)

  48. Kim – I’m not defending Ashley at all. I think I’ve made it clear I think he should have spent this summer. But I bet he has spent around £100m. He put in quite a bit the relegation season. And wasn’t it £60m on 16 players – £30m in Jan or something?!.
    He’d easily be able to show £100m spent I reckon.

      (Quote)

  49. I’m not buying all this Mr nice guy Ashley that seems to have floated from nowhere. Lee Ryder’s the nowhere! £60m tv money and Lambias’ famous wonga deal buys us a new player every year – yet we can’t spend like everyone else without going into debt. Really? The big spend in Jan added up to Bony at Swansea.

      (Quote)

  51. Kim – to be honest, whilst I posted it to you it was really directed at those who would have read it and jumped on it taking it all wrong – Troy knows who I’m talking about 😆
    I well believe that serviettes are accounted for and fines issued to those using too many squares of bog roll!!

      (Quote)

  52. aye, what happened to being bankrolled to the tune of 20mil per season??

    + 10 mil wonga money will buy us a player.

    I would love him to answer whether we benefit from his free SD advertising.. 🙄

    or should I shut up and stop being a negger 🙄 😆

      (Quote)

  57. Ice – I thought Bony was the new Drogba?!. 😆
    I think I’d prefer this kid to Gomis to be honest. Him or Finnbogason.

    Mark – to my mind we are 3 players short of have 33 players who can fit into this 4-3-3 formation.

    A back up RB – Kyle Naughton = £4m
    A back up CF – Finnbogason = £5m
    A 3rd choice RCM – Paul Digby = £1m

    I don’t mind him not sticking to £20m per season. I would simply ask that he spends the money wisely to strengthen when needed.

      (Quote)

  59. @Sharpy

    He may state his loan of £100m is £20m over 5 yrs however his quote states he didn’t want the money back.

    Well that doesn’t seem to be the case when it’s classed as a loan. A loan is exactly what it is.

    No matter which way you look at the facts before us, he isn’t bankrolling the club £20m per season without wanting it back.

    The financials clealy show this. 😉

      (Quote)

  60. Mark you are making a lot of sense lately 😉

    Sharpy I would be amazed If Jabba put even half that in 😯 😯 yeah he did help us out after getting us relegated with an interest free loan. I am 100% certain that if he put money in it would have been well highlighted, but thats only my opinion

      (Quote)

  61. Troy I cant believe the change in Mark from you took him under your wing 😉 to think he was a butterfly and now he is like an eagle ready to attack Jabba 😯 😆

      (Quote)

  62. @Dave

    It’s quite reMARKable really watching the transformation. The metamorphosis has completely overshot and if Darwin was alive today he would rewrite his findings on evolution.

    From caterpillar to butterfly to Falcon! 😛

      (Quote)

  63. @BD sense..me.. ? wow.. never thought i’d hear that being said 😆

    tbh m8. it really winds me up thinking about his FREE SD ads all over St James’ surely there should be some sort of explaining how he gets it for nixie..

    After watching troys vids I wouldnt like to get stuck under his bingo-wings.. I’d get lost 😆

      (Quote)

  64. Santii – thanks for that mate. I’m most interested to see how that midfield trio work out and whether they develop an understand of who stays and who goes. That article certainly suggests despite it being the first time they have been played that way, they had it and covered they own area of the pitch well.

    Troy – I still bet that Ashley could produce figures that equate to £20m per season. We may read them and say ‘whey that doesn’t count man!’.
    But to reiterate my point to Mark, I’m not bothered if he folks out £20m or not, I’d simply ask him to spend when needed. By my calculation we need 3-4 in, but maybe he has said he will only get them when we ship out the deadwood like Willo, Obertan, Etc.

    I’m not annoyed that he hasn’t spend £20m in the window because potentially he’d be spending unnecessarily. I’m annoyed that he hasn’t strengthened when needed – suggesting he’s learnt nowt from last summer.

      (Quote)

  65. yes Sharpy. I totally agree. Not many fans are asking for big bucks being spent. just decent cover.

    I hate Pards line about not competing with the big boys. 8 mil & a couple of loans could of covered us for the season.

      (Quote)

  66. Mark – I agree. But I have to be honest. When I laid my 3 teams of 4-3-3 out and realized yes some players need replacing but to give us decent cover we need a CF, RB and RCM – things actually don’t look that bad.
    Ironically, had we kept Simmo and Perch that’s RB and RCM take care of so we would have only needed the CF. So in that sense, we’ve actually went backwards 🙄

      (Quote)

  67. SHARPY@207 i was taking the water a bit,they payed 8.5mil for him now they want 20mil so my guess is we wont be seeing him at SJP mate 😉

      (Quote)

  70. Ice – he wouldn’t need to mate, as soon as the kid knows he gets to work with AP he’d hand a transfer request in and take a pay cut!!.

    If we want to take a punt on a young African CF though, I’d go for Vincent Aboubakar, 21 yr old Cameroon lad at Lorient. Similar in style to Bony I’d say.

    I still like Finnbogason and Abel Henandez though.

      (Quote)

  71. Sharpy son of *****..i never disrespect anyone here for his opinion …ok ❗
    Prem. I was born on the street and haven t lurn like u ok…fucking mind u have… ❗
    And troy just kiss my *** and suck my **** sun of monkey ❗ i **** u when u whant dirty bastar ❗
    I always respect evry body here and i love post here and exchange …but some body here deserve a big hit on there dirty mouth ❗ bitches ❗ **** u ❗

      (Quote)

  73. g-wiz Sharpy, you are upsetting everyone on this blog… you need to tone it down mate, so much anger! 😛

      (Quote)

  74. Hahahaha 😛

    Jebsy you English speaking WUM. 😛

    I can’t believe some were fooled you were foreign. 😉

    Oh dear 😆

      (Quote)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *