Whenever you hear Alan Pardew talk to the press he either blames the amount of injuries we have or claims that new signings will turn our season around. All of the while he completely masks over or is totally oblivious to what the actual problem is and how he is going to fix it. The problem we have is not the fact we have a lack of players, or even a lack of quality, its the fact the team on the pitch are void of any organisation in defence and have a disgusting lack of ambition in attack. It's not good enough.
If you look at Reading's first choice XI not one of their players would have made it into our team on Saturday. Not one. So any excuses about players being missing or needing new signings to win games like this are complete nonsense and basically a kop out. All of which the press whole heartedly swallow up without hesitation avoiding any hint of a question about his team and his own obvious failings. I find it staggering.
The fact a lot of fans soak up this nonsense as well and then tell anyone who criticises Pardew or the team all about how we are where we are because of injuries is beyond annoying now. It's insufferable. Do us a favour please, if you are a sheep that excuses the club in whatever it says or does no matter how ridiculous or blatantly wrong than that is fine, but then don't try and tell the rest of us why we are wrong. Just keep singing. We need you to make noise in the stadium while others sit, watch and analyse what is actually going on with our team. All fans are different and we all play our roles.
What is blatantly obvious to anyone wishing to take the time or just use their eyes to see what might be possibly going wrong at Newcastle is the total lack of organisation at times at the back. The amount of times the opposition get in behind us via the full back areas is staggering. The then lack of positioning from certain centre backs once the cross comes in is just laughable to be honest. Amongst other shambolic failings. We cant even defend a long ball for crying out loud.
Davide Santon is a class footballer but he is no defender. That much is clear watching him this season. His lack of positioning at times is frightening. I reckon we have conceded more goals via our left hand side than any other. He just isn't a natural defender. We should be making moves to switch him into midfield and take over the role from the abysmal Jonas Gutierrez as the athletic work horse. All he wants to do his run with the ball so why fight it? Seeing as we are set to sign France U-21 left back Massaido Haidara the option is now finally open to us. Try it Pardew.
The other blatant problem lies in that useless, lanky, weak, slow, pathetic excuse of a defender in Mike Williamson. Where to begin with him? His talent is limited to say the least but that isn't the true problem. He is still the same player who helped the club achieve 12 clean sheets in the league last year. So what has happened? Last season we had a strong and organised back line which Willo sat in the middle of avoiding being exposed. When he was exposed at times then the Spurs, Fulham and Wigan debacles occurred. He needs protecting that much is obvious.
In fact the whole back line needs re-assessing. Where is the solidity from last season? Things like that can't just disappear. What does Alan Pardew do on the training ground now that was so different from our impressive season last time out? It's completely baffling. The first step of any team turning around poor form, or just in general, is to have a strong organised defence. Ours is yet to improve at any stage this year. In fact, it is getting worse!
Those goals conceded against Reading were abysmal. They summed up our defensive weakness this season so far. Their first goal came via Santon being out of position and no where near their right winger who easily ghosted past him and delivered an average ball into the box. Once he did it was down to a straight fight between Williamson and Le Fondre. Unbelievably Willo won! He nudged Le Fondre down to the floor and got in front of him to get to the ball first. The problem is he then missed it completely allowing Le Fondre to bundle the ball into the net (hint of handball). Just embarrassing.
The second goal was a catalogue of errors. We failed to block the cross in the right back area, we then failed to win the header in the left back area, we then weren't close enough to the oppositions players once the ball landed at their feet in the box, we then completely failed to close the ball down once it was mis-kicked and then offered no block of the shot that left Tim Krul helpless. Totally avoidable and amateur goal to concede. Simply not good enough at any level.
Our other major problem, specifically in home games, is an inexcusable lack of ambition going forward. First half against Reading was encouraging as we tested their keeper two or three times. Cisse should have at least put one of his opportunities away. However, after the half time break we did what we have consistently done this season and voided any ambition to go and seal the game by instead trying to suffocate the game and hang on. Now this comes from the manager. He has always had this type of mentality which he got away with for most of last season.
It was his decision to bring off an attacking player in Marveaux to bring on a defender come holding midfielder in James Perch with half an hour left to play. It was his decision to replace the injured Cabaye with another defensive midfielder in Gael Bigirimana even though the game was at 1-1 at that point. He had the option of bringing on Gab Obertan or even Sammy Ameobi for either player but chose not to. His confession of 'I made a mistake bringing off Marveaux' is not the issue. It's the fact he replaced him with a defender was the turning point of the game. Again, which seems completely missed by the press. What questions do they ask?!
We were in a position 2-1 down at home to Reading with not one creative player on the pitch. How is that possible? Where is the ambition to get another goal to kill the game off? Why was Obertan not brought on until the 80th minute? Why was Sammy not brought on at all? I wont even go into how Jonas Gutierrez got another 90 minutes under his belt even though he offers nothing in an attacking sense. Jonas is not a left winger any more. Wake the hell up Pardew.
Our biggest problem going forward is we don't get in behind teams enough with our wide players. Basically we don't do what the opposition do to us on a consistent basis which is attack the full back areas. We hardly created anything at Norwich and second half vs Reading we resorted to typically lumping the ball up to Shola. It's not good enough and it isn't exactly like we are incapable. We went to Old Trafford and The Emirates and scored 6 goals. Most of which were because we showed ambition in getting in behind them to provide a cross to be converted.
The Jonny Evans own goal and Cisse's left foot strike all came from crosses as well as Demba Ba's volley at The Emirates. But the most impressive goal for me was Marveaux's tap in at Arsenal as it showed what we are capable of if we have the balls to go and do it. It was so simple but effective as Obertan got in behind their right back and delivered a dangerous ball across the 6 yard box for the arriving Marv to tap in an open goal. Why cant we show this kind of ambition against teams like Norwich or Reading? This is why we aren't winning. Not because Ben Arfa is in the treatment room.
The reason we aren't doing it is because of the managers mentality in my eyes. He is so afraid of losing to teams like Norwich and Reading that he suffocates our players from playing their natural game. He insists on trying not to lose so much that he totally avoids the fact that we need to win. But when we go to Old Trafford and The Emirates he decides well we will probably lose anyway so lets just go for it. He needs to sort himself out and say to his players to go for it against the lower teams. If he did then we would win more than we lost.
The man's negative attitude has been slowly eating away at our football club ever since this season started. If it isn't moaning at the odd player being injured, it's the constant whining about the Europa League or it's the non stop message he tells everyone that our squad isn't good enough and we need more players. Just shut your face and get on with your job. This is the best squad he has ever had in his managerial career and ever will have once he is moved on. He should be grateful and ecstatic to work with such players not complaining.
Signing new players is a must for this football club to progress and match its full potential but in order to even get close to this than the basics need to be achieved first. An organised defence and ambition in attack is point one of any successful team. It really is that simple. The fact not many people seem to recognise it, which includes our highly paid manager, absolutely astounds me. You just need to look at the stats and our lack of impressive performances this year to see it. Can you name one impressive performance this season? Just one. With our squad? It's incredible.
Pardew's claims of 'we need new signings to inject some impetus' is just an example of how incapable at his job he really is. Did Chris Hughton need new signings to turn their season around? Did Nigel Adkins need new signings to reach the form they have shown before being sacked? Has Brian McDermott at Reading needed new signings to knock up the amount of points they have recently? No. None of them have. What they have done is worked effectively with the players they have (which are a lot less talented than ours) and got the best out of them on the training ground and out on the pitch where it counts. Basically they have done their job. Alan Pardew has done nothing of the kind.
All he does is moan about not having the players. All he does is claim we need new signings to turn things around. All he does is make excuses as to why our season has been an abomination while ignoring the actual truth. He has totally failed on every level as a manager this season. His lack of ability to turn things around is truly frightening. Just look at the fact that we are yet to turn around any deficit during a Premier League game into a win throughout his two years as manager if you doubt his non-existent 'bounce back ability'.
He couldn't turn around West Ham and got the sack for it. He couldn't turn around Charlton, got relegated, then got sacked for it. He is showing no signs of turning our season around as it gets more and more worse by the week. If we go 1-0 down in a game then we all KNOW we aren't going to win which is one of the most pathetic and depressing things I have ever known as a Newcastle fan in my life. Reading turned around a 2-0 scoreline in the final 10 minutes the other week. Why don't we have that kind of fight in us? Are our players not as talented as theirs?
Alan Pardew can bleat to the press all he likes but he needs to get on the training ground, with new signings or not, and get the team organised. Get the team confident in their own abilities. Get them brave enough to be ambitious in attack by getting men forward and testing the oppositions defence as much as we can. That is the only way we will get out of this pending relegation. If we don't then I can not see how we can possibly get out of it even with these new signings as great as it is to get them in. Adding new players to a flawed strategy won't have the impact we all want them to have.
Conceding soft goals and not being able to score enough is a recipe for inevitable failure. To not even have the strength of character to organise yourselves or the courage to go after a game and win it is completely unacceptable no matter what level you play at. If the level is Premier League with tens of millions of pounds at stake then you deserve to be shot...never mind sacked. Grow some balls and at least try and be a football team capable of winning a football game.
These new signings are welcomed with open arms and will no doubt strengthen our squad, but as a team on the pitch thus far, it's the other aspects you need other than talent that have been the main reason why we are in this plight. There is no shame in going out on the pitch fighting and going down, but there's no honour in not fighting at all. We did that in 2009 and I don't intend on witnessing such an abomination again.
Mr Pardew - You've got your new signings so now at least give us a fighting chance by getting the team organised to not lose games and show ambition to go out and win them. Merci.
Vive Le Toon!
Follow this blog on Twitter @ToonBano
3000000000000% SPOT-ON. ON ANOTHER NOTE, NEWCASTLE NEED A FOREIGN MANAGER WITH A NEW MENTALITY. OR A GEORDIE. BRITISH MANAGERS JUST DON'T CUT IT THESE DAYS.
ReplyDeleteComprehensive assessment. The bottom line is Al's organisation and leadership skills have been found wanting. His protestations about being the only man for the job, determination etc are completely undermined by his poor performance. Any new signings might help us get out of this hole but, for Al, we have lost confidence in him and he is on borrowed time.
ReplyDeletelonemagpie
Bang on the money yet again toonbano...setting your team up not to lose always backfires...we have to go after teams and score 3 goals on the basis we don't know how to defend and the only way to do that is use the 4-3-3 / 4-5-1 formation like we did against Man U and Arsenal. It didn't work against them but will against 75% of the teams in the Premiership. If we score 3 goals against most teams then we'll win the match for sure but we won't score 3 goals with that stupid 4-4-2 formation he chucks out week after week after week
ReplyDeleteBang on mate!
ReplyDeleteI have a massive feeling we will get these signings in but when we play aston villa hell stick shola on the right wing and put willo at the back and play guti on the left wing and bring on 3 new boys once weve conceeded a couple goals.
The thing that really annoys me is there is not enough people like me and you who share the same opinion and like to blame it on the boards lack of ambition in signings or on the players themselves. Hes had the amunition with injuries included to be a top half team atleast. Im not buying his bullsh*t!
I can go on like you aswell and add more situations in which he has shown incompetance this seasin but i cant be f*cked and have better things to do.
Its a joke, Pardew has to go in the summer!
I am shocked at the level of his defenders actually. The old 'well we finished 5th last season' is grating on me. What will these people say next season? Especially if we go down. Its pathetic to be honest. Its like saying 'Well we were 1-0 up on 70 mins vs Reading'. Who cares?
DeleteHe has to go. If I were in charge I would have an agreement with Laurent Blanc to take over and complete this French revolution. He is the obvious choice overwhelmingly for me.
But I have common sense and ambition....
Yea id do exactly the same!
DeleteI dont think Ashley has any footballing knowledge and is also buying into Pardews bullsh*t hence the fact that hes gone and bought a few players.
Plus his ego would be dented with him giving pardew that 8 year contract a few months ago.
Hes a joke and its more of a joke that people think sacking him would make things worse. Any manager would do a better job than Pardew.
It upsets me that such a clueless manager can manage a team with such great ambition and gifted footballers.
When was the last time we scored 4 or more goals and won the game?
Get rid of the virus!
Thats probably why Pardew says it whenever he is near a microphone. Its a direct message to Ashley rather than actually being true. Even AP knows he is in over his head and will say anything to pass the buck. Rat!
DeleteIt does more than upset me. If makes me enraged, sickened and depressed to be honest. Its such a waste it is actually criminal.
Pardew doesn't do 4 goals in a game. If we get to 2 he then suffocates the game and shuts up shop. He is now doing it at 1-0 due to his own paranoia and incompetence.
In the summer sack him off and get Blanc in. If we did I would back us to be top 6 again.
Agree with you on every point you make.
DeleteYou need to write to Ashley himself letting him know what hes missed all of this season and tell him that youre not the only one who has this opinion of Pardew.
Hopefully he reads it and understands that a change is needed either before Villa or in the summer to get in a new manager such as Laurent Blanc in which would in our opinion make a huge difference to the team.
It would be nice if hes already thought about it and has seen the faults of Pardew this season.
It almost makes me wish we lose heavily to Villa at the weekend and then for Ashley to sack him last day of the window (considering the new players he has bought recently) for someone like Laurent Blanc to come in and save the rest of the season.
I also think this would give players like BenArfa more reason to stay asLaurent Blanc would bring a fresh attacking style play where hed be in a more advanced RW or CF role rather than the RM he has played under Pardew.
Also if he wins most of his games and climbs the table proving that we are a great team and beat the big boys comfortbly finishing around 8th id like to think hed deffianately stay considering theres around 10 other french speakers at the club.
The only other club that would appeal more to him than nufc then would be PSG but they have some great attacking players already at the club and probably wouldnt be first team football for him.
Its a no brainer for Pardew to be sacked but cant see it happening, atleast until the summer has arrived unfortunately.
Blanc would be perfect. It makes perfect sense. But we dont live in a world of common sense. We live in a world where an average at best manager gets an 8 year contract. We live in a world where this obviously in over his head coach has no danger of being sacked even if he relegates a squad as good as ours.
DeleteWhat a world we live in
Your article is far too positive about Williamson but canny the rest. Willo was crap during the period you say had positive stats but often pulled out of the brown stuff by Collo. His luck has run out this season as of Collo's less impressive displays probably as he is sick of being next to the plank. Santon was the pick of the back four up until about four/five games ago but also dipped...again probably sick. Pardew is useless and I would honestly get shot even if it meant giving Carver a go as the board don't wish to pay for a decent experienced manager. Pardew can no longer motivate good players that should be winning against lesser teams. No more excuses and hypocritical wish wash from Pardew please
ReplyDeleteTo be fair him and Perch had a few good games together when Colo was out. Liverpool 2-0 springs to mind.
DeleteHe is the type of defender you cant afford to be left alone to make a decision. You need to be an organised solid unit. That why we did well last season and why we are shite this basically.
Its pretty simple really. All of Pardew's excuses are either blatant lies or evidence of his incompetence. Either way get him out and get Blanc in.
Are you on glue?
ReplyDeleteA - Why would Blanc want to come?
B - You seriously think any decent manager worth a damn would work under Ashley?
The only way Pardew will be removed is via a takeover.
If we get relegated it will be a season of trying to trying to get promotion "over the line" "to be honest" with you know who
Well none of us genuinely know what it is like working under Ashley. Seeing as we have signed 9/10 French players then Laurent Blanc would be attracted to us as any of these players have been.
DeleteBlanc wants to manage in the PL. He is learning English as we speak. If NUFC came calling I cant see him turning it down.
But its all pointless any way as Ashley/Llambias wont sack their perfect puppet even if we go down. We need AP to offer his resignation for some reason which is very unlikely.
We're stuck with the lot of em until, like you say, a takeover happens.
All of these French players with an average English mug coaching them. When a man like Blanc is unemployed. Madness
How about Santon in centre midfield for 20 mins tomorrow? Bano you complete and utter numpty. You give Newcastle fans a bad name.
ReplyDeleteWhat's ironic about that 'joke' is that Santon has shown this season that his defensive capabilities aren't up to scratch and that playing in an advanced role would be the better option.
DeleteBasically he is the a younger, faster and a better dribbler than Jonas.
Thanks for stopping by though. : D
Santon also hasn't scored or put in many decent crosses. So i'd hardly use him in a more forward role. Shame we didn't bring him on against Man City and put him in CM isn't it? RAPE EYES. DON'T STARE INTO HIS EYES
ReplyDeleteAgain, those eyes are clearly not mine. Seeing as they are taken from some lads Youtube account.
DeleteAnother thing lost in translation. I suppose these things happen through legend...