Allardyce and his obsession with...

[The Fish]

As far as mid level premier league clubs go you's have spent a reasonable amount.

Since the Premier League's inception* we have spent a lot, but it's not incomparable to yourselves and Villa.

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We're the 9th highest spenders per season and when our

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, that's fairly reasonable. Your spend is 10th highest per season, 10th highest overall, and your

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. (Tried to find an average league position table, but failed)

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*that's as far back as transferleague.co.uk goes

 

[Mackemansj1]

Agreed.

One thing that worries me is that, much like his mate who has here before, none of this will be his fault if we go down. He'll be the first to pat himself on the back if we stay up but will be off like a shot blaming everyone else if he fails.

It's largely not his fault, we hadn't a win in eight games before he came and nearly all of the squad isn't his players, the ones he's brought in have largely been a positive.

he was and Bilic has acknowledged that! Though adding Payet, Lanzini and Antonio to that for under 25m was outstanding work!

Weren't most of them already on the clubs radar before bilic even arrived?.

 

[Mrjardine]

Since the Premier League's inception* we have spent a lot, but it's not incomparable to yourselves and Villa.

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We're the 9th highest spenders per season and when our

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, that's fairly reasonable. Your spend is 10th highest per season, 10th highest overall, and your

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. (Tried to find an average league position table, but failed)

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*that's as far back as transferleague.co.uk goes

So what you's spend is pretty much what you's are and thats middle of the road. Where's the problem?

 

[Mackemansj1]

Respect for what he did but well and truly tarnished with the mess he left .

His heart wasn't fully in it and he should've stuck to his guns and not changed his mind. He either took it because of what he was promised money wise to change the team even more or the fuckers who chipped in for flowers changed his mind and cost us.

 

[cbwhu]

It's largely not his fault, we hadn't a win in eight games before he came and nearly all of the squad isn't his players, the ones he's brought in have largely been a positive.


Weren't most of them already on the clubs radar before bilic even arrived?.

Payet and Lanzini Bilic chased at his previous job

but yes probably as I said Allardyce had transfer control taken away from him the summer before so they were likley picked by Tony Henry who we got from you guys (had been at Everton previously and for some reason was only a few months with you)

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[Mackemansj1]

Payet and Lanzini Bilic chased at his previous job

but yes probably as I said Allardyce had transfer control taken away from him the summer before so they were likley picked by Tony Henry who we got from you guys (had been at Everton previously and for some reason was only a few months with you)

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Another top call from short then, the West Ham way mentioned in that article, do you're real fans buy into that or is it media driven, I cringe when I read it same as the Tottenham way etc.

 

[cbwhu]

it just means we like to see the team play attacking football generally on the floor (as I'm sure all fans do)

the media take it out of all proportion and make it sound like it's some set method of tactics that no other team uses

Another top call from short then

Was responsible for a lot of Evertosn great signings apparently, joined you March 2014 and then left to join us in the summer that year

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[The Fish]

So what you's spend is pretty much what you's are and thats middle of the road. Where's the problem?

Where to start; buying the bargain rather than what's needed, paying £40m replacing someone who didn't need replacing, buying attacking midfielders when the world and his dog could see we needed defenders, not investing in the squad when we somehow got into Europe, gambling on survival instead of ensuring it, scrimping on managers instead of paying for a proper one in the first place, sabotaging a season for the sake of a few million, and so on and so forth...

As you said, we're a midtable club, so 8-12? Well under Ashley we've been fighting relegation more often than not, under his predecessors we never really had that struggle (I'm putting SJH's 1st season very much at McKeag's door). Even when we do finish near midtable that happened because of the final couple of fixtures. We've not been comfortable bar the season we finished 5th, even when we finished 10th, our form going into the final fixtures was atrocious.

The reason Newcastle United are in the shit now, is because of Ashley's ineptitude in the boardroom, his awful appointments at boardroom and bootroom levels, his stingy approach to business and his arrogance. I'm sure you've heard the tale of Ashley and/or his representatives failing to treat a meeting with Sheikh Mansour with proper respect? Not saying that the Sheikh would have bid for Newcastle even if Ashley had genuflected and prostrated himself, but jesus wept if you're trying to sell something, treat the meeting with respect.

The man's only now realising what the football world knew nigh on a decade ago. You can't get by on the cheap unless you have a really solid plan.

 

[Mrjardine]

Where to start; buying the bargain rather than what's needed, paying £40m replacing someone who didn't need replacing, buying attacking midfielders when the world and his dog could see we needed defenders, not investing in the squad when we somehow got into Europe, gambling on survival instead of ensuring it, scrimping on managers instead of paying for a proper one in the first place, sabotaging a season for the sake of a few million, and so on and so forth...

As you said, we're a midtable club, so 8-12? Well under Ashley we've been fighting relegation more often than not, under his predecessors we never really had that struggle (I'm putting SJH's 1st season very much at McKeag's door). Even when we do finish near midtable that happened because of the final couple of fixtures. We've not been comfortable bar the season we finished 5th, even when we finished 10th, our form going into the final fixtures was atrocious.

The reason Newcastle United are in the shit now, is because of Ashley's ineptitude in the boardroom, his awful appointments at boardroom and bootroom levels, his stingy approach to business and his arrogance. I'm sure you've heard the tale of Ashley and/or his representatives failing to treat a meeting with Sheikh Mansour with proper respect? Not saying that the Sheikh would have bid for Newcastle even if Ashley had genuflected and prostrated himself, but jesus wept if you're trying to sell something, treat the meeting with respect.

The man's only now realising what the football world knew nigh on a decade ago. You can't get by on the cheap unless you have a really solid plan.

In regards to boardroom level appointments you would certainly know better than me so happy to take you at your word on that score.
What I can't accept is how on earth you can blame Ashley for the signings? That's the manager/scouts job not the chairmans. He provides funds which in my opinion he's been pretty fair with.
As for appointing poor managers id say Pardew was a very good appointment. What did you want from the bloke? 1/4s of euro league, 5th place finish against all odds and kept you's in top flight. Obviously he sailed close to the wind the season after finishing 5th but last season had you's comfortable before he left.
Mclaren was a poor appointment mind. Didn't get that one at all.

 

[The Fish]

In regards to boardroom level appointments you would certainly know better than me so happy to take you at your word on that score.
What I can't accept is how on earth you can blame Ashley for the signings? That's the manager/scouts job not the chairmans. He provides funds which in my opinion he's been pretty fair with.
As for appointing poor managers id say Pardew was a very good appointment. What did you want from the bloke? 1/4s of euro league, 5th place finish against all odds and kept you's in top flight. Obviously he sailed close to the wind the season after finishing 5th but last season had you's comfortable before he left.
Mclaren was a poor appointment mind. Didn't get that one at all.

The transfer policy was agreed on by Ashley, and given it dovetails nicely with his business approach outside of football it's not a stretch to argue that he was part of the driving force behind it. The rhetoric coming from him has always been "wiping our own nose", "pound for pound value" etc. He chose to gamble on survival by not spending in January, Hell we went 18months without signing a single 1st team player on a permanent basis. Either he's impotent or wilfully negligent, neither is anything to be happy with.

The myth about Pardew carries on it seems. He's not a good manager, he's been found out at every club, he's incapable of arresting a slide and has no idea how to utilise players that aren't limited grafters. There's a Charlton fan on here, there's a West Ham fan, ask them about Pardew and they'll agree that he's fundamentally not a good appointment, especially as he replaced a well liked promising manager in Hughton (who looks like h'll be bringing Brighton up). Add all his off-field behaviour to his on field limitations, it's clear that Pardew is not a good appointment.

 

[Mrjardine]

The transfer policy was agreed on by Ashley, and given it dovetails nicely with his business approach outside of football it's not a stretch to argue that he was part of the driving force behind it. The rhetoric coming from him has always been "wiping our own nose", "pound for pound value" etc. He chose to gamble on survival by not spending in January, Hell we went 18months without signing a single 1st team player on a permanent basis. Either he's impotent or wilfully negligent, neither is anything to be happy with.

The myth about Pardew carries on it seems. He's not a good manager, he's been found out at every club, he's incapable of arresting a slide and has no idea how to utilise players that aren't limited grafters. There's a Charlton fan on here, there's a West Ham fan, ask them about Pardew and they'll agree that he's fundamentally not a good appointment, especially as he replaced a well liked promising manager in Hughton (who looks like h'll be bringing Brighton up). Add all his off-field behaviour to his on field limitations, it's clear that Pardew is not a good appointment.

Pound for pound yet a net spend of over 90m in last 5 years? That doesn't stack up mind.
Onto Pardew and given you are laying the blame for the transfer policy at Ashley's door (which you claim to be inept) then surely you should be heaping praise on Pardew for keeping your heads above water in such circumstances? As for not arresting a slide didn't he arrest one that was occurring beginning of last season only to leave you's in a very comfortable 10th? Id say that puts a hole in that theory mind. He's also got Palace safe this season with their first cup final for over 25 year thrown in for good measure.

 

[The Fish]

Pound for pound yet a net spend of over 90m in last 5 years? That doesn't stack up mind.
Onto Pardew and given you are laying the blame for the transfer policy at Ashley's door (which you claim to be inept) then surely you should be heaping praise on Pardew for keeping your heads above water in such circumstances? As for not arresting a slide didn't he arrest one that was occurring beginning of last season only to leave you's in a very comfortable 10th? Id say that puts a hole in that theory mind. He's also got Palace safe this season with their first cup final for over 25 year thrown in for good measure.

Ok, with the players that were foisted upon Pardew, he should still have been able to get Newcastle United comfortably midtable every season. You're either misunderstanding my point about Ashley's transfer policy, or you're misrepresenting it. Ashley didn't always buy shit players, he bought whichever player represented the most value for money and offered the best chance of sell-on value. Hence signing Marveaux, Gouffran, de Jong, Riviere, rather than a left back or replacing Cabaye. Carr would provide a list of promising talent and Ashley & Charnley would scroll towards the bottom in the hope they'd unearth another Cabaye. Buy for £5m, sell for £20m. That said, Newcastle United had internationals throughout the team and Pardew had enough in the squad to get the stated requirements, be they safety, or top half.

Look at how he's performing at Palace now, how he did at West Ham (with Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano foisted upon him), how he did at Charlton... The minute his key players fail to produce or get injured he's scuppered. He hasn't got a plan B. He's so obviously limited, but the only reason he's rated on here is because of his relationship with Newcastle fans. Ask yourself, would you want Alan Pardew in charge of Sunderland AFC? No, of course you wouldn't. Even Palace fans, who've a genuine affection for the man, are turning on him already and it's only been 1 season. It's bizarre behaviour to claim he was a good appointment.

Re: the "Arresting a slide" comment, I suppose it's better to say that he is apt to go on runs without wins, runs that go beyond the normal course of a midtable clubs' peaks and troughs. Fwiw he has not yet got Palace safe yet, not mathematically, though he does have them in a cup final. He's taken them on a run of one win in 19. They were 2 points off 4th at Christmas, they're now only 7points clear of the relegation zone

 

[Mrjardine]

Ok, with the players that were foisted upon Pardew, he should still have been able to get Newcastle United comfortably midtable every season. You're either misunderstanding my point about Ashley's transfer policy, or you're misrepresenting it. Ashley didn't always buy shit players, he bought whichever player represented the most value for money and offered the best chance of sell-on value. Hence signing Marveaux, Gouffran, de Jong, Riviere, rather than a left back or replacing Cabaye. Carr would provide a list of promising talent and Ashley & Charnley would scroll towards the bottom in the hope they'd unearth another Cabaye. Buy for £5m, sell for £20m. That said, Newcastle United had internationals throughout the team and Pardew had enough in the squad to get the stated requirements, be they safety, or top half.

Look at how he's performing at Palace now, how he did at West Ham (with Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano foisted upon him), how he did at Charlton... The minute his key players fail to produce or get injured he's scuppered. He hasn't got a plan B. He's so obviously limited, but the only reason he's rated on here is because of his relationship with Newcastle fans. Ask yourself, would you want Alan Pardew in charge of Sunderland AFC? No, of course you wouldn't. Even Palace fans, who've a genuine affection for the man, are turning on him already and it's only been 1 season. It's bizarre behaviour to claim he was a good appointment.

Re: the "Arresting a slide" comment, I suppose it's better to say that he is apt to go on runs without wins, runs that go beyond the normal course of a midtable clubs' peaks and troughs. Fwiw he has not yet got Palace safe yet, not mathematically, though he does have them in a cup final. He's taken them on a run of one win in 19. They were 2 points off 4th at Christmas, they're now only 7points clear of the relegation zone

So Ashley as chairman only wanted plsyers in who represented the best value for money?? Wonder if that'll ever catch on
Didn't you's finish something like 12th, 5th, 16th then 10th at time of leaving under pardew? What were you expecting exactly given Ebeneezer Ashley was too busy counting his pennies to spend them (allegedly)?
If Palace fans who up until pulis had never managed to survive a top flight season are unhappy over being comfortble last season and comfortable this (they aren't going down and never have been) as well as a cup final then I just give up on football fans to be honest. What a joke!
If you're trying to imply that my impression of Pardew is based on some agenda against the mags you're wrong, I've no issue with Newcastle or the fans. The opinion of pardew change like the wind in here as well mind. Whilst you's were having a slump last season it was all shit and giggles on here mocking Pardew, once he left he all of a sudden became a good manager who you's forced out. My opinion of him as a decent enough manager hasn't changed throughout.

 

[The Fish]

So Ashley as chairman only wanted plsyers in who represented the best value for money?? Wonder if that'll ever catch on
Didn't you's finish something like 12th, 5th, 16th then 10th at time of leaving under pardew? What were you expecting exactly given Ebeneezer Ashley was too busy counting his pennies to spend them (allegedly)?
If Palace fans who up until pulis had never managed to survive a top flight season are unhappy over being comfortble last season and comfortable this (they aren't going down and never have been) as well as a cup final then I just give up on football fans to be honest. What a joke!
If you're trying to imply that my impression of Pardew is based on some agenda against the mags you're wrong, I've no issue with Newcastle or the fans. The opinion of pardew change like the wind in here as well mind. Whilst you's were having a slump last season it was all shit and giggles on here mocking Pardew, once he left he all of a sudden became a good manager who you's forced out. My opinion of him as a decent enough manager hasn't changed throughout.

Again, you're either wilfully missing my point or I'm not being clear enough for you.

Ashley paid for players, not for their on field value to Newcastle United, but their sell on value. Sometimes it worked (Cabaye) sometimes it didn't (Riviere). What never worked though, was building a team for the future. No ambition, no forethought. Had Ashley spent little, but with a clear plan (buying a left back and centre halves instead of superfluous attacking midfielders), there wouldn't be the furore. As it is, his policy neuters the club, it doesn't foster a team spirit, it doesn't convince the players to invest in the project. They all know that if the right amount is thrown their way, they're gone. Hence Sissoko's performances on the whole, he's a man who expects a top club to come knocking. They won't because a) he's not that good and b) his attitude stinks.

I've suggested you ask fans of other clubs that've endured Pardew, they will all tell you his limitations. He has no plan B, he's not able to dynamically react to situations on the field, he can't produce if key players are injured/out of form, he's fundamentally not a good manager.

The bit in bold is daft, by the way.

 

[Mrjardine]

Again, you're either wilfully missing my point or I'm not being clear enough for you.

Ashley paid for players, not for their on field value to Newcastle United, but their sell on value. Sometimes it worked (Cabaye) sometimes it didn't (Riviere). What never worked though, was building a team for the future. No ambition, no forethought. Had Ashley spent little, but with a clear plan (buying a left back and centre halves instead of superfluous attacking midfielders), there wouldn't be the furore. As it is, his policy neuters the club, it doesn't foster a team spirit, it doesn't convince the players to invest in the project. They all know that if the right amount is thrown their way, they're gone. Hence Sissoko's performances on the whole, he's a man who expects a top club to come knocking. They won't because a) he's not that good and b) his attitude stinks.

I've suggested you ask fans of other clubs that've endured Pardew, they will all tell you his limitations. He has no plan B, he's not able to dynamically react to situations on the field, he can't produce if key players are injured/out of form, he's fundamentally not a good manager.

The bit in bold is daft, by the way.

I understand your point but the thought of Ashley sitting inside JD towers running the rule over players and deciding wether he thinks they have the potential of a sell on value is risible to be honest. Since when did he become super scout? You've already got one of them man!
Didn't you's sign a centre half (mbemba) for decent money in summer? The part about fostering team spirit has to be a piss fans surely? Every player at a club like ourselves, mags, Stoke, west brom etc has a price, everyone knows that including the players so why should it affect your lot any more adversely than players at other clubs I mentioned?
As for Pardew I've no idea what other clubs think of him but I see nothing wrong in job he did for you's or in job he's doing for palace. Unless premier league football ,1/4 finals of UEFA cup and FA cup finals are commonplace for both clubs of course!

 

[bu-bu-buchanon]

Pardew is shite like. I agree with the mag in this one.
He's also a total helmet.

 

[Keith S30S]

To be fair, whilst those players have been canny, we've only won two matches since bringing them in. Hardly made us world beaters like...

They're made us very hard to beat which has enabled us to grind out a lot of points. We all know we should have won a couple of more games but before they came in we were a soft touch.

 

[samaistonsrightfoot]

What has he said about Benitez that is xenophobic?

 

[The Fish]

I understand your point but the thought of Ashley sitting inside JD towers running the rule over players and deciding wether he thinks they have the potential of a sell on value is risible to be honest. Since when did he become super scout? You've already got one of them man!
Didn't you's sign a centre half (mbemba) for decent money in summer? The part about fostering team spirit has to be a piss fans surely? Every player at a club like ourselves, mags, Stoke, west brom etc has a price, everyone knows that including the players so why should it affect your lot any more adversely than players at other clubs I mentioned?
As for Pardew I've no idea what other clubs think of him but I see nothing wrong in job he did for you's or in job he's doing for palace. Unless premier league football ,1/4 finals of UEFA cup and FA cup finals are commonplace for both clubs of course!

Ah, so it's the wilful misrepresentation then.

I have never said Allardyce is a scout, super or otherwise. I said he's paid for the players and he's been part of the group drawing up the policy.

I've no idea what this means;
"The part about fostering team spirit has to be a piss fans surely?"

There's a difference between everyone having a price and the Newcastle model, which is to sign players to sell, rather than to address weaknesses in the team. If Chelsea bought John Stones, Everton would sign a proper Centre Half to replace him. If Liverpool bought Kirchoff from you, you'd try and sign a defensive midfielder in his mould, right? If Everton bought Mbemba from us, we were more likely to sign an attacking midfielder because that's where the profit is. The stated policy was under 24 with resale value. You can't build a team like that, you can't build for the future. Pretty obvious, no?

You saw nothing wrong in strings of defeats, terrible football, huge defeats, discord in the squad, telling a respected manager to "Shut your noise you old ****", headbutting opposition players, blaming the fans for defeats, blaming players, blaming the media, blaming "science"?

The man's a charlatan who, when the chips are down, has no ability to redress the situation.

This is from 2014; all the non relegated, non promoted sides have played 27 games and Newcastle came bottom in every metric.

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and this list from september 2014 should put into stark clarity just how bad he was

1. In 2014 no Premier League Team has won fewer league games than Newcastle United (5/25)
2. In 2014 no Premier League Team has lost more league games than Newcastle United (16/25)
3. In 2014 no Premier League Team has a worse goal difference than Newcastle United (-28)
4. In 2014 no Premier League Team scored fewer goals than Newcastle United (19/25)
5. In 2014 no Premier League Team has fewer clean sheets than Newcastle United (5/25)
6. In 2014 no Premier League Team conceded more goals than Newcastle United (47/25)
7. In 2014 no team in England has failed to score as frequently as Newcastle United (16/25)
8. Newcastle United failed to score in 17 from 26 games from 29 December 2013. This matches a 33 year old record set by Arthur Cox in 1981 with a team inherited from Bill McGarry.
9. Newcastle United have 19 points from 26 games. You have to go back 36 years to 1978 for the last time the club failed to earn 20 points from 26 games under Bill McGarry.
10. Newcastle United lost half of their games in 2012/2013 (19/38), a feat not achieved in 25 years since the relegation season of 1988/1989 under Jim Smith (21/38). Pardew went one better though and repeated this ignominy again in 2013/2014.
11. 68 goals conceded in 2012/2013 is the most goals Newcastle United have conceded in a single season since 1991/1992 when the club battled against relegation to the third tier.
12. When Pardew lost 6 league games in a row earlier this year he matched a 27 year old record set by Willie Mcfaul in 1986/1987
13. Before Pardew arrived Newcastle had lost a total of 35 Premier League games by 3 goals or more in 17 years. Pardewhimself has lost 21 Premier League games by 3 goals or more in less than 4 years since December 2010. This is more than any other Premier League club in the same period.
14. The 6 nil home thrashing from Liverpool was the biggest home defeat in 89 years (since September 1925, Newcastle 1-7 Blackburn).
15. Alan Pardew has been bought £90m worth of players in less than 4 years.


He is fundamentally a bad manager.

 

[Mrjardine]

Ah, so it's the wilful misrepresentation then.

I have never said Allardyce is a scout, super or otherwise. I said he's paid for the players and he's been part of the group drawing up the policy.

I've no idea what this means;
"The part about fostering team spirit has to be a piss fans surely?"

There's a difference between everyone having a price and the Newcastle model, which is to sign players to sell, rather than to address weaknesses in the team. If Chelsea bought John Stones, Everton would sign a proper Centre Half to replace him. If Liverpool bought Kirchoff from you, you'd try and sign a defensive midfielder in his mould, right? If Everton bought Mbemba from us, we were more likely to sign an attacking midfielder because that's where the profit is. The stated policy was under 24 with resale value. You can't build a team like that, you can't build for the future. Pretty obvious, no?

You saw nothing wrong in strings of defeats, terrible football, huge defeats, discord in the squad, telling a respected manager to "Shut your noise you old ****", headbutting opposition players, blaming the fans for defeats, blaming players, blaming the media, blaming "science"?

The man's a charlatan who, when the chips are down, has no ability to redress the situation.

This is from 2014; all the non relegated, non promoted sides have played 27 games and Newcastle came bottom in every metric.

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and this list from september 2014 should put into stark clarity just how bad he was

1. In 2014 no Premier League Team has won fewer league games than Newcastle United (5/25)
2. In 2014 no Premier League Team has lost more league games than Newcastle United (16/25)
3. In 2014 no Premier League Team has a worse goal difference than Newcastle United (-28)
4. In 2014 no Premier League Team scored fewer goals than Newcastle United (19/25)
5. In 2014 no Premier League Team has fewer clean sheets than Newcastle United (5/25)
6. In 2014 no Premier League Team conceded more goals than Newcastle United (47/25)
7. In 2014 no team in England has failed to score as frequently as Newcastle United (16/25)
8. Newcastle United failed to score in 17 from 26 games from 29 December 2013. This matches a 33 year old record set by Arthur Cox in 1981 with a team inherited from Bill McGarry.
9. Newcastle United have 19 points from 26 games. You have to go back 36 years to 1978 for the last time the club failed to earn 20 points from 26 games under Bill McGarry.
10. Newcastle United lost half of their games in 2012/2013 (19/38), a feat not achieved in 25 years since the relegation season of 1988/1989 under Jim Smith (21/38). Pardew went one better though and repeated this ignominy again in 2013/2014.
11. 68 goals conceded in 2012/2013 is the most goals Newcastle United have conceded in a single season since 1991/1992 when the club battled against relegation to the third tier.
12. When Pardew lost 6 league games in a row earlier this year he matched a 27 year old record set by Willie Mcfaul in 1986/1987
13. Before Pardew arrived Newcastle had lost a total of 35 Premier League games by 3 goals or more in 17 years. Pardewhimself has lost 21 Premier League games by 3 goals or more in less than 4 years since December 2010. This is more than any other Premier League club in the same period.
14. The 6 nil home thrashing from Liverpool was the biggest home defeat in 89 years (since September 1925, Newcastle 1-7 Blackburn).
15. Alan Pardew has been bought £90m worth of players in less than 4 years.


He is fundamentally a bad manager.

It's not wilful misrepresentation at all. You keep talking about how Ashley only looks to buy players with a sell on value! How on earth does he know? He's a businessman not a scout! Also if this is his grand plan to buy cheap and sell big ASAP then how many times has this happened to back up your theory? I only really remember it happening with Cabaye and once PSG come knocking at club like Newcastles door then he's on his way. That's nowt to do with Ashley being chairman it's just part and parcel of football.
There's a saying that goes there's lies, damned lies and then there's statistics. That sums up that little list you've complied regarding Pardew there. Everyone of them come from 2014 and totally ignore everything else. There's no balance of objectivity whatsoever. Under Pardew you finished 12th, 5th, 16th then 10th at time of leaving. You slate Ashley for not spending enough, buying wrong players and having this sell as soon as there's a profit to be made attitude. You then slate Pardew for what he achieved as he should have done better. If Pardew should've done better then I can only assume the recruitment was fine and it was managers fault. It can't be both as otherwise it's a total contradiction surely?