PaddockLad

Poor fuckin Cisse hes played ok tbf, but hes got to be finsihing that

32 teams qualify I think, leaving only 20 odd that dont.....top 2 go through, 3rd placed teams play off... results v Georgia and Poland will decide it by the looks of it..

Newcastle fans losing patience with Ashley's mediocrity Alan Pardew seen as "yes" man23 February ~ It's a strange feeling to be mired in mediocrity and yet still within three places of Manchester United, but that's just the position in which Newcastle United find themselves going into today's game with Aston Villa. Despite a promising start that raised hopes of a return to European competition, 2014 so far has seen just one win against an injury-hit West Ham, an insipid 0-0 draw at strugglers Norwich and six (mostly heavy) defeats, including a third-round FA Cup exit at the hands of Cardiff and an embarrassing 3-0 loss in the Tyne-Wear derby. The reaction has been to blame manager Alan Pardew. Despite the loss of Yohan Cabaye to Paris Saint-Germain in January, a move that didn't cause the decline but makes it harder to arrest, Pardew still has a tremendously talented squad at his disposal; or, at least, a squad that once appeared that way but has regressed under his management. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, a man who had captained Montpellier to a French title by the age of 23, is benched in favour of the hapless Steven Taylor. Davide Santon, once dubbed "the new Maldini, Zanetti or Facchetti" by José Mourinho, currently resembles the old Alessandro Pistone. Vurnon Anita and Papiss Cissé have been criminally misused, both victims of Pardew's direct style; Sylvain Marveaux has been forced to train with the Under-18s, though Gabriel Obertan still makes matchday squads; and despite having managed Hatem Ben Arfa for three years, Pardew still struggles to get the best out of Cabaye's natural successor. The question is, if not Pardew, then who? Mediocrity is a byproduct of Mike Ashley's ownership. Content to run the club as a business, investing the bare minimum and recouping money through player sales and (reportedly free) Sports Direct advertising, it follows that Ashley has no trouble with mid-table finishes. Though fans might feel that Newcastle could do no worse than to appoint a new manager, the problem originates "upstairs", in the boardroom. It just so happens that in Pardew, Ashley has found a "yes" man. He doesn't seem to care for cup competitions and just as well, for they have no place in Ashley's plans. It's the same with the Europa League, longed for by fans but dismissed out of hand in almost every press conference. Increasingly, however, this won't do, especially for those faced with Sunderland-supporting workmates not shy in gloating about their upcoming Wembley visit. Fans are organising, supporters' groups striving to turn apathy at another aimless season into something more concrete. And though the club are clamping down on dissent from fans and local media, such moves meet with limited success. Win or lose against Villa, the underlying problems aren't going away—and nor will the fans' disquiet. Kieran Dodds Share on twitter Share on facebook Share on google_plusone_share Share on reddit Share on email More Sharing Services On the subject... Newcastle Utd Mike Ashley Alan Pardew Discuss this article You must be logged in to comment. Please register if you don't have an account yet. © When Saturday Comes Limited 2014 | Contact | Privacy & cookies | Sitemap | Managed hosting by Latitude

Wonder how many chances Sissoko has created since New Year?....60 in all, surpirsed and impressed by that, although it doesnt stipulate what counts as a "chance"... http://eplindex.com/49928/newcastle-aston-villa-preview-team-news-stats-key-men.html Remy, Tiote and Colo back. SHOULD be enough for 3 points against these...ha...

87-96ish is all a bit vague like.....come to think about it so is most of the decade after that...

Well, there you go....I thought the Riverside was on the site of the Gate and the Mayfair was where the O2 is We went to see this, which was cancelled the first night and went ahead the following night, I said it was at the Riverside...am feeling a bit like Terry Fuckwitt now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn-rcKfmDuE&feature=youtu.be

I've got into a daft argument with an old mate....it could be solved by some kindly soul with a better memory of the early nineties than me answering these questions.. 1. Was the Mayfair on the site of what is now the Gate?.. 2. if the answer to that is yes, what the fuck was what is now the O2 called back then?... 3. Was there a venue called "the Riverside" in town or am I imagining it?...was it near what is now the Gate?..

Never mind Kev, seeing as youve "gone native" heres an article that should cheer you up http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/19/scottish-independence-76-things-apologise

Saw him in December 12...he was reading his lyrics off a lectern thingy but his voice can still reduce grown men to blubering wrecks...not me like... He's not doing "darn sarf" (only O2 London) so it could be a surprise weekend in York for Mrs PL, hes doing Leeds on Sat 24th May...

Yeah....he's not keen though....bottom line is I dont think the corporate world want the uncertainty independance will bring. Thats why their lackeys in Brussels and Westminster are trying to swing it for "no".

Hes doing it with Jackie Abbott, who was completly fab in the BS after Brianna left...

I'd been grafting 3 years when this came out! a favourite in the ball-achingly hip Black Bull in Wooler

So whats Barosa on about then?...hes EU, not UK or ESP...

And how many of the people who run these industries want an "aye" vote this year? That, and the wishes of the EU will decide it iyam. If the EU dont allow an independant Scotland in then there will be customs posts on the border. I saw this in Croatia last summer when they joined the EU on july 1st, the border with Bosnia used to have just a road sign saying "welcome to Bosnia"...now there are huge checkpoints causing massive queues because Bosnia isnt an EU member. This will only be the most visible sign of a completly ludicrous situation for trade and business. Having said that, it would be a pretty ludicrous situation if it is a "yes" vote if the likes of Scotland were excluded and Croatia were. Depends of Barosa's comments at the weekend, firing a warning shot across the boughs of Catalunya and the Basque region, are serious. Spain and England want to keep the tax revenues of the regions wishing to split, thats for sure.

Today, the best song ever is... Tomorrow, it could well be something else...

Top ten, fuck the cups. That's what Ashley's lackeys said and that's what Pardew insinuates at least every other week.

CT's flip flop -fucked up again

You made it up? Who the Fuck do you think you are? Alan Oliver?

Least surprising news of the weekend tbh, his replacement joined on loan last month.

Magaths just gone to Fulham. How much do you reckon theyve offered him?....Pardew is just right in Ashleys eyes. You know how we like a "deal" in the transfer market?...

Get Involved #bbcfootball Paul Harris: Embarrassing attendance at Sunderland... Alice Alistair: It's a myth the people in the North East are passionate about football. What a pathetic turn out for the Sunderland cup-tie. Mathew Penistone: The magic of the FA Cup is clearly dead in Sunderland. There are more people on the pitch than in the stands! One nil, mackems made 9 changes, no Lallana or Rodriguez for Southampton....

So having said that, where do you stand on some sort of boycott?.... is 5-10k of us not bothering for the rest of the season basically "packing it in"?