Christmas Tree 4725 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Premier League preview: Newcastle United Disgruntlement is growing among Newcastle fans who are fed up with the club being synonymous with self-destructive gossip Graeme Souness likened it to a banana republic, Jermaine Jenas simply saw a glorified goldfish bowl and Sir Bobby Robson believed the place was God's little acre. While often seeming part of a parallel football universe, Newcastle United provokes a host of contrasting emotions but on Saturday all such sentiments were simply drowned out. It was so wet on Tyneside that a farcically puddle-studded friendly against Fiorentina at St James' Park played amid thunder, lightning and torrential rain was abandoned after 64 minutes with no goals and the pitch waterlogged. Such apocalyptic conditions over Gallowgate following a difficult summer seemed in tune with the disgruntlement of fans fed up with waiting for the club to become synonymous with glory rather than self-destructive gossip. Due to an amalgam of geographical isolation, a position at the heart of a compact city and the attendant reality that star players inevitably become very big fish in Tyneside's small pond, Newcastle consistently punches way above its weight in the soap opera stakes. Nothing if not contemporary, the latest episode revolves around Joey Barton's use of Twitter not only to quote George Orwell and George Washington but to publicise growing pique with the board. Upset by its decision to withdraw a long-standing contract offer, the midfielder highlighted Newcastle's failure to reinvest the £35m fee received for Andy Carroll from Liverpool in January before hinting at a latent dressing-room mutiny. When Barton then flipped at the double slight of Shola Ameobi captaining Newcastle in a friendly at Leeds and Yohan Cabaye, the France international signed from Lille, delivering dead balls, he swiftly found himself in receipt of a free transfer and placed in training-ground quarantine. Once it became apparent he was bereft of suitors, a tentative truce beckoned. Deep down a player best deployed wide on the right may be relieved; he is surely far too self-absorbed to cope with lesser-light status at a leading club. Still excluded from the squad, Barton did not feature on Saturday. "We're all taking a deep breath before we see where we go with Joey," said the Newcastle manager, Alan Pardew. Meanwhile Barton's old mucker, Kevin Nolan, was another notable absentee, the team's erstwhile captain having departed for West Ham once it became clear Mike Ashley, Newcastle's owner, would not grant him a lucrative, lengthy contract extension. Squad conspiracy theorists suggest the latter's exit was part of a concerted effort to disband the former all powerful 'players' committee' which, headed by Nolan and also including Steve Harper and Alan Smith, 'ran' the locker room under Chris Hughton's management. Not that Nolan would necessarily have been an automatic choice in a team augmented by the recent arrivals of Cabaye – impressive against Fiorentina – the winger Sylvain Marveaux, a free transfer from Rennes, and the former West Ham striker Demba Ba. Like the much coveted Cheick Tioté and Hatem Ben Arfa, that trio were identified by Newcastle's highly regarded scout Graham Carr. Anxious to instil a purist passing philosophy, Pardew trusts that Cabaye's playmaking, allied to Ben Arfa's imaginative link play, will eventually engender a more fluid, fluent Newcastle. However, the latter's long-awaited comeback from a broken leg has been delayed indefinitely by ankle trouble. Equally ominously the manager seems unlikely to be handed much of the Carroll cash. Frustration bubbles beneath a diplomatic managerial public face but is tempered by the bigger arithmetical picture. Although Ashley has done much to make supporters cringe since taking Newcastle over in 2007, the sportswear magnate had spent £286m by this summer buying and then keeping the club afloat. A former county squash coach, the reclusive Ashley arguably resembles an outsize hybrid of Willie Walsh and Arsène Wenger. Like the former British Airways chief executive he has long dreamed of presiding over a less generously remunerated, yet increasingly efficient crew, and, à la Wenger, he envisages constructing a vibrant young, largely home-produced, frequently foreign-born team that is big on re-sale value. "Mike has made it quite clear this club needs to wipe its nose," says Pardew, who is acutely aware of player unhappiness at Ashley's efforts to curtail St James' once generous bonus culture. "We can't invest above our income. We can't compete with Manchester City. "It makes things very, very difficult. The problem is that where we are financially means it's hard to fulfil the expectations of fans who a few years ago watched European football here." It seems disillusion has spread to the inner sanctum. "We need a couple of new faces, fast," acknowledges Pardew, currently close to completing a £3m deal for Manchester United's winger Gabriel Obertan. "Physically the players are in better shape than last year but mentally they're not." Unable to shatter spending records by signing latter-day Alan Shearers, he must trust Carr's bargain spotting judgment. The Northumberland-born Carr played and managed on the lower division circuit before David Pleat got him scouting for Tottenham. Having effectively replaced Dennis Wise on Tyneside his influential recruitment input frees Pardew to concentrate on reviving the bright managerial promise he displayed at Reading and West Ham by burnishing unpolished diamonds on the training pitches newly warmed by undersoil heating. The sometimes harsh Geordie climate has stripped the remotest hint of hubris from a manager who, wisely, declines to make any rash pledges. "It's difficult for me to give a message to Newcastle fans," Pardew says. "They've had too many broken promises." http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/20...ewcastle-united Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazarus 0 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 The sometimes harsh Geordie climate has stripped the remotest hint of hubris from a manager who, wisely, declines to make any rash pledges. "It's difficult for me to give a message to Newcastle fans," Pardew says. "They've had too many broken promises." that to me suggests even pardoo might be fed up. then again..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christmas Tree 4725 Posted August 8, 2011 Author Share Posted August 8, 2011 The sometimes harsh Geordie climate has stripped the remotest hint of hubris from a manager who, wisely, declines to make any rash pledges. "It's difficult for me to give a message to Newcastle fans," Pardew says. "They've had too many broken promises." that to me suggests even pardoo might be fed up. then again..... Im sure he probably is fed up and like the rest of us would like the pendulum that swings between football and business to swing a bit back in the football direction. Regardless of his faults, he is a football man through and through and can see as well as us the harmful decisions that have been made in the name of financial security. Even though he's agreed to work under these constraints it must still rankle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Aye, you'll have to forgive me for being a little bit short of sympathy for his 'plight'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 42458 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 in the words of Thom Yorke "You do it to yourself you did, just you and no one else" his own fault to be in the situation to have to take a job like this and his own fault for taking it, unless he slipped and fell into those players other halves of course, nevermind his poor record as a manager Nobody's fault but mine Nobody's fault but mine Trying to save my soul tonight It's nobody's fault but mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasepud 59 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Regardless of his faults, he is a football man through and through and can see as well as us the harmful decisions that have been made in the name of financial security. Hold on..... without the benefit of an hour or so going back through old threads arent these the same decisions that you've applauded all the way along and are required? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christmas Tree 4725 Posted August 8, 2011 Author Share Posted August 8, 2011 Regardless of his faults, he is a football man through and through and can see as well as us the harmful decisions that have been made in the name of financial security. Hold on..... without the benefit of an hour or so going back through old threads arent these the same decisions that you've applauded all the way along and are required? Being a wise old unblinkered chap I can see both sides of the argument as can most reasonable fellows, including yourself I have no doubt. Making a club that was on its arse, financially viable is a wise financial move Keeping Nolan and Reinvesting the £35 million would have been a wise football move. Both viewpoints are correct. Surely we dont need to have this debate for the zillionth time? Count me out if you do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano 0 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 For what has went wrong it could of easily of gone right. Im all for FMA improving our finances, it is important for future growth and also puttin us in a position where we can be sold. However, doing so seems to come at the cost of strengthening the squad sufficiently. He lacks the ambition to do both. I am pleased with the incoming recruits...Cabaye will be great for us alongside Tiote, Marveaux gives us pace and delivery out wide, Ba will bring goals if he hits the heights of last season and Obertan will be hungry to impress with a run of games and offers us a genuine option out on the right. This though is not sufficient. The whole Jose/Barton situation should of been resolved one way or another long before now. Infact neither should of got down to their final year. The money we get from Enrique should be reinvested in his replacement. M'Bengue will cost about 6mil. So the only other outlay should be for a 10mil+ striker. Cabaye.....Nolan money +1mil Obertan...Routledge money +1mil No matter how they dress it up on "staying in the club" they have spent fuck all....Come on man mike stop being a tight arsed cunt and go get the striker and left back we need and we will all be happier for it. Im still hopeful it will happen. Not confident....Hopeful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveTheBobby 1 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 "former county squash coach" Never knew that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene_Clark 12 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 "former county squash coach" Never knew that I believe the county was Rutland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEADMAN 0 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 well maybe the fans should protest and get this idiot to sell up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 44896 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 well maybe the fans should protest and get this idiot to sell up Maybe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano 0 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 For all a protest will get in FMA's face and make a point i dont think that will be anywhere near enough to get him to sell now. Fwiw i already think they are moulding the club into an attractive proposition but that may be a year or so away. Protests are unlikely to push things forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveTheBobby 1 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 "former county squash coach" Never knew that I believe the county was Rutland He got about the court on rollerskates they rekon . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEADMAN 0 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 we have to draw a line and say enough is enough i cant believe newcatle fans are becoming to soft and frightend to stand up for the club itself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveTheBobby 1 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Anyone going (or have been to if reading this later) Steve Wraith's bingo night at the Irish Centre tonight ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Your Name Here Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Anyone going (or have been to if reading this later) Steve Wraith's bingo night at the Irish Centre tonight ? forgot about that.... what time is it on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveTheBobby 1 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Started 6.30 mate ! Might be an update here http://ashleyout.com/?tag=steve-wraith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jusoda Kid 1 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Never seen owt on his twitter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Transfer 0 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 For what has went wrong it could of easily of gone right. Sweet Jesus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitman 2207 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 "former county squash coach" Never knew that I believe the county was Rutland Population 250 including a Jack Russell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 For what has went wrong it could of easily of gone right. Sweet Jesus. Articulate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneColdStephenIreland 74 Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 For all a protest will get in FMA's face and make a point i dont think that will be anywhere near enough to get him to sell now. Fwiw i already think they are moulding the club into an attractive proposition but that may be a year or so away. Protests are unlikely to push things forward. He's not lining us up for a sale, he's lining us up so he spend as little of his won money on us Any sale of the club will be entirely coincidental tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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