Pardew eyes top 10 finish

Alan Pardew admits he is targeting a top 10 finish after Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Birmingham lifted them into the top half of the table.

Newcastle have two matches in which to stay there this season following a victory over a lacklustre Birmingham side.

Shola Ameobi’s penalty after Liam Ridgewell was sent off for handling on the line and Steven Taylor’s goals were enough to win it for Newcastle, although Birmingham did pull one back through Lee Bowyer.

And Pardew said: “I am very pleased because it has been a very difficult week at the training ground, especially after Liverpool beat us last week.”

“We lost our focus. We had our own little rally and we focused for this game. Losing would have made things a bit jittery and spoilt our good work.”

“But we were focused today and although Birmingham tried to nullify us, we were patient and I knew our time would come. It came with a flurry too – it was a definite penalty but maybe the red was debatable.”

“We could have had four goals. One little lapse from one of our players of the season in Fabricio Coloccini gave them a lift, but we were professional in the second half. We created enough chances for the next goal but it is not too disappointing.”

And Pardew now wants to end the season on a high by remaining in the top half.

“I am delighted with 44 points and we can dream for a top 10 finish now. We have worked really hard,” Pardew said.

Alec McLeish admitted he had no complaints with Newcastle’s penalty but thought Taylor was lucky not to get a red card of his own.

“It hit (Ridgewell’s) arm and he was on the line. The referee has seen the arm go towards the ball and that is a penalty, as that’s the rule,” he said.

“I am disappointed but we were soft at corners. They had too many free headers. Ben Foster worked wonders to keep the header out for the first goal but then we conceded a penalty from it.”

“It was a penalty and that’s the rules. It was going across the face of goal and he handled it.”

But Birmingham manager McLeish was disappointed not to see Taylor sent off for an alleged elbow on Cameron Jerome.

He added: “Steven Taylor should have been sent off for an elbow but the ref didn’t see it, unfortunately. That type of challenge is outlawed.”

Sat 7 May, 2011

Pardew eyes top 10 finish

Alan Pardew admits he is targeting a top 10 finish after Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Birmingham lifted them into the top half of the table.

Newcastle have two matches in which to stay there this season following a victory over a lacklustre Birmingham side.

Shola Ameobi’s penalty after Liam Ridgewell was sent off for handling on the line and Steven Taylor’s goals were enough to win it for Newcastle, although Birmingham did pull one back through Lee Bowyer.

And Pardew said: “I am very pleased because it has been a very difficult week at the training ground, especially after Liverpool beat us last week.”

“We lost our focus. We had our own little rally and we focused for this game. Losing would have made things a bit jittery and spoilt our good work.”

“But we were focused today and although Birmingham tried to nullify us, we were patient and I knew our time would come. It came with a flurry too – it was a definite penalty but maybe the red was debatable.”

“We could have had four goals. One little lapse from one of our players of the season in Fabricio Coloccini gave them a lift, but we were professional in the second half. We created enough chances for the next goal but it is not too disappointing.”

And Pardew now wants to end the season on a high by remaining in the top half.

“I am delighted with 44 points and we can dream for a top 10 finish now. We have worked really hard,” Pardew said.

Alec McLeish admitted he had no complaints with Newcastle’s penalty but thought Taylor was lucky not to get a red card of his own.

“It hit (Ridgewell’s) arm and he was on the line. The referee has seen the arm go towards the ball and that is a penalty, as that’s the rule,” he said.

“I am disappointed but we were soft at corners. They had too many free headers. Ben Foster worked wonders to keep the header out for the first goal but then we conceded a penalty from it.”

“It was a penalty and that’s the rules. It was going across the face of goal and he handled it.”

But Birmingham manager McLeish was disappointed not to see Taylor sent off for an alleged elbow on Cameron Jerome.

He added: “Steven Taylor should have been sent off for an elbow but the ref didn’t see it, unfortunately. That type of challenge is outlawed.”

Sat 7 May, 2011

Pardew strikes it rich

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew hailed strikers Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best after they both scored in Tuesday’s 2-0 win against Birmingham.

The Tyneside club’s decision to sell Andy Carroll to Liverpool on the last day of the January transfer window was the subject of much discussion, with many quick to criticise Pardew after he was left with just four fit strikers on the books – including virtually untried duo Best and Nile Ranger.

When Shola Ameobi – the club’s new number one striker – went down injured just three days after the transfer deadline had passed, Newcastle’s attacking options looked even thinner.

But Best, who now has five English Premier League goals this season, has formed a good partnership with Lovenkrands and Pardew was delighted with the duo after the win at St. Andrew’s.

“It’s about encouraging them and getting what is best for their particular game,” Pardew said.

“They’re not Shola Ameobi and they’re not (Andy) Carroll. They’re different types but we got the best out of them tonight.”

“I’m so pleased for Leon Best. I think there is a bit more pressure on him than Peter (Lovenkrands), because he hasn’t really done a great deal at the club, but he produced a great performance tonight and he can be really proud of that.”

Pardew also heaped praise on his defence, insisting his side had put in a ‘really complete performance’.

“We’ve defended well since I’ve been here and we did that again today,” he said.

“Birmingham are superb at working positions for angled balls into the box and they did that at times to us but we defended them brilliantly. And when we tried to pay our game, I thought we passed it well on a tricky surface. It was a really complete performance by an away team, I’m very pleased with that.”

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish admitted his side were off the pace on Tuesday in a contrast to their recent performances.

“We’ve had a fantastic month really in terms of results since the game against Manchester United at Old Trafford (a 5-0 loss on January 22),” McLeish said.

“There have been some inspired performances but tonight we looked a bit flat. To lose the first goal so easily as we did and so early goes against what we were like at the weekend (against Stoke) when the concentration levels were phenomenal.”

“I think there was a bit of fatigue. One or two players looked a bit tired and I am not going to hammer the players after one performance like that.”

Wed 16 February, 2011

Pardew strikes it rich

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew hailed strikers Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best after they both scored in Tuesday’s 2-0 win against Birmingham.

The Tyneside club’s decision to sell Andy Carroll to Liverpool on the last day of the January transfer window was the subject of much discussion, with many quick to criticise Pardew after he was left with just four fit strikers on the books – including virtually untried duo Best and Nile Ranger.

When Shola Ameobi – the club’s new number one striker – went down injured just three days after the transfer deadline had passed, Newcastle’s attacking options looked even thinner.

But Best, who now has five English Premier League goals this season, has formed a good partnership with Lovenkrands and Pardew was delighted with the duo after the win at St. Andrew’s.

“It’s about encouraging them and getting what is best for their particular game,” Pardew said.

“They’re not Shola Ameobi and they’re not (Andy) Carroll. They’re different types but we got the best out of them tonight.”

“I’m so pleased for Leon Best. I think there is a bit more pressure on him than Peter (Lovenkrands), because he hasn’t really done a great deal at the club, but he produced a great performance tonight and he can be really proud of that.”

Pardew also heaped praise on his defence, insisting his side had put in a ‘really complete performance’.

“We’ve defended well since I’ve been here and we did that again today,” he said.

“Birmingham are superb at working positions for angled balls into the box and they did that at times to us but we defended them brilliantly. And when we tried to pay our game, I thought we passed it well on a tricky surface. It was a really complete performance by an away team, I’m very pleased with that.”

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish admitted his side were off the pace on Tuesday in a contrast to their recent performances.

“We’ve had a fantastic month really in terms of results since the game against Manchester United at Old Trafford (a 5-0 loss on January 22),” McLeish said.

“There have been some inspired performances but tonight we looked a bit flat. To lose the first goal so easily as we did and so early goes against what we were like at the weekend (against Stoke) when the concentration levels were phenomenal.”

“I think there was a bit of fatigue. One or two players looked a bit tired and I am not going to hammer the players after one performance like that.”

Wed 16 February, 2011

Newcastle United Set for £28m Triple Exit That Will Anger Boss Pardew

no comments by The Newshound on February 14th, 2011

Talented trio could leave St James’ Park unless owner Mike Ashley is willing to spend Carroll cash.

Newcastle United Tickets Available from Tixdaq.com

Comment on Pardew thrilled with Kuqi signing by Graham Fisher

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Newcastle United Boss Alan Pardew Brings In John Carver as Assistant Manager

1 comment by Matt Rowan on January 18th, 2011

Former assistant to Sir Bobby Robson returns to St James’ Park.

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Pardew apologises for Cup shocker

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew apologised for his side’s embarrassing 3-1 FA Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Stevenage.

The Premier League outfit looked a far cry from the side that handed West Ham a 5-0 hammering last time out, with Stevenage creating one of the greatest fairytales in the Cup’s history with a memorable third-round win on home turf.

Newcastle, who went in without first-choice strikers Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi following a hectic Christmas period, were humbled as Mike Williamson’s own goal and strikes from Michael Bostwick and Peter Winn were enough for the hosts.

A long-range Joey Barton effort in second half injury time gave Newcastle hope at 2-1, but Pardew admitted his side were outworked and outplayed, and apologised to the fans despite a tough sequence of games.

“I can only say we are sorry for the result and for the performance because it was the performance level which was the problem tonight,” Pardew said.

“The physical side of Stevenage’s game was a problem for us all night.”

“We were running on empty. It’s been such a tough sequence of games. The team was a shadow of the team which played at Wigan and West Ham. Our energy level just couldn’t match theirs. In both boxes we got dominated. The team looked tired.”

“We had some key players missing through injury but I played the strongest team I could.”

Newcastle went into the tie sitting eighth in the top flight, some 75 places above their League Two rivals, but were left to lick their wounds and forced to finish the match with 10 men after substitute Cheick Tiote’s send off for a two-footed challenge.

Stevenage manager Graham Westley couldn’t hide his delight after pulling off one of the greatest FA Cup shocks in the competition’s long history.

“This is a fantastic day for the football club,” Westley said.

“We’re in the draw for the fourth round and hopefully we get a great draw and look forward to the next (match).”

“The focus before the game was how we would win 5-0. We established that if we did just 20 percent of what it would take to win 5-0 we would still win the game.”

“We played to our strengths and their weaknesses. The top players are not infallible, they all have their weaknesses and winning is about exposing their weaknesses and playing to your strengths and we did that.”

Sun 9 January, 2011

Pardew apologises for Cup shocker

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew apologised for his side’s embarrassing 3-1 FA Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Stevenage.

The Premier League outfit looked a far cry from the side that handed West Ham a 5-0 hammering last time out, with Stevenage creating one of the greatest fairytales in the Cup’s history with a memorable third-round win on home turf.

Newcastle, who went in without first-choice strikers Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi following a hectic Christmas period, were humbled as Mike Williamson’s own goal and strikes from Michael Bostwick and Peter Winn were enough for the hosts.

A long-range Joey Barton effort in second half injury time gave Newcastle hope at 2-1, but Pardew admitted his side were outworked and outplayed, and apologised to the fans despite a tough sequence of games.

“I can only say we are sorry for the result and for the performance because it was the performance level which was the problem tonight,” Pardew said.

“The physical side of Stevenage’s game was a problem for us all night.”

“We were running on empty. It’s been such a tough sequence of games. The team was a shadow of the team which played at Wigan and West Ham. Our energy level just couldn’t match theirs. In both boxes we got dominated. The team looked tired.”

“We had some key players missing through injury but I played the strongest team I could.”

Newcastle went into the tie sitting eighth in the top flight, some 75 places above their League Two rivals, but were left to lick their wounds and forced to finish the match with 10 men after substitute Cheick Tiote’s send off for a two-footed challenge.

Stevenage manager Graham Westley couldn’t hide his delight after pulling off one of the greatest FA Cup shocks in the competition’s long history.

“This is a fantastic day for the football club,” Westley said.

“We’re in the draw for the fourth round and hopefully we get a great draw and look forward to the next (match).”

“The focus before the game was how we would win 5-0. We established that if we did just 20 percent of what it would take to win 5-0 we would still win the game.”

“We played to our strengths and their weaknesses. The top players are not infallible, they all have their weaknesses and winning is about exposing their weaknesses and playing to your strengths and we did that.”

Sun 9 January, 2011

Pardew pleased Magpie pair can play

Alan Pardew has underlined the importance of central midfield duo Joey Barton and Cheik Tiote in Sunday’s clash with Wigan Athletic.

The pair narrowly avoided unwanted suspensions for the trip to the DW Stadium with Barton just one yellow card away from a one-match ban and Tiote clashing with Tottenham’s Younes Kaboul, who was red carded for head-butting him.

Fellow midfielder Kevin Nolan returns from suspension against Wigan.

Pardew could start with Barton wide on the right after Newcastle fans criticised a lack of supply to striker Andy Carroll from Wayne Routledge and Jonas Gutierrez.

“If Joey had picked up a booking, he’d have missed Wigan,” Pardew said.

“We got away with that one a little bit, because he was on a knife edge with the ref I think.”

“Cheik was on a knife edge too, and I had to make sure we had him for Wigan.”

“We had to protect ourselves a little bit towards the end, but the game wasn’t for us. It didn’t break for us – we never got a break in the game.”

Pardew clashed fiercely with Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp and assistant Joe Jordan but shook hands with both after the game, with his goalkeeper coach Andy Woodman also coming under fire from the Spurs bench.

“There were a couple of incidents near the benches, but you’re going to get that. We’re fine – there’s no bad feelings,” he said.

The Newcastle manager has lost two of his first three games in charge.

But ahead of Sunday’s trip to Wigan, Pardew is hoping to rebuild Newcastle in the same way Harry Redknapp has transformed Tottenham.

“Let’s be honest, they are a very, very good side,” he said.

“They had people who could really influence the game on the bench, and for us, we need to add that sort of quality.

“That’s what we hope to aspire to.”

Pardew has also slammed defender Jose Enrique for using the social networking tool Twitter to reveal details of a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the clash with Spurs.

“I heard he tweeted that himself, and that’s something we can’t accept,” he said.

“We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen again as best we can. The information network, as it is, in society today means there’s instant news, but it shouldn’t be from our own players.”

“That’s something I’ll be speaking to Jose about.”

Enrique and Nolan should return against Wigan.

Thu 30 December, 2010

Pardew pleased Magpie pair can play

Alan Pardew has underlined the importance of central midfield duo Joey Barton and Cheik Tiote in Sunday’s clash with Wigan Athletic.

The pair narrowly avoided unwanted suspensions for the trip to the DW Stadium with Barton just one yellow card away from a one-match ban and Tiote clashing with Tottenham’s Younes Kaboul, who was red carded for head-butting him.

Fellow midfielder Kevin Nolan returns from suspension against Wigan.

Pardew could start with Barton wide on the right after Newcastle fans criticised a lack of supply to striker Andy Carroll from Wayne Routledge and Jonas Gutierrez.

“If Joey had picked up a booking, he’d have missed Wigan,” Pardew said.

“We got away with that one a little bit, because he was on a knife edge with the ref I think.”

“Cheik was on a knife edge too, and I had to make sure we had him for Wigan.”

“We had to protect ourselves a little bit towards the end, but the game wasn’t for us. It didn’t break for us – we never got a break in the game.”

Pardew clashed fiercely with Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp and assistant Joe Jordan but shook hands with both after the game, with his goalkeeper coach Andy Woodman also coming under fire from the Spurs bench.

“There were a couple of incidents near the benches, but you’re going to get that. We’re fine – there’s no bad feelings,” he said.

The Newcastle manager has lost two of his first three games in charge.

But ahead of Sunday’s trip to Wigan, Pardew is hoping to rebuild Newcastle in the same way Harry Redknapp has transformed Tottenham.

“Let’s be honest, they are a very, very good side,” he said.

“They had people who could really influence the game on the bench, and for us, we need to add that sort of quality.

“That’s what we hope to aspire to.”

Pardew has also slammed defender Jose Enrique for using the social networking tool Twitter to reveal details of a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the clash with Spurs.

“I heard he tweeted that himself, and that’s something we can’t accept,” he said.

“We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen again as best we can. The information network, as it is, in society today means there’s instant news, but it shouldn’t be from our own players.”

“That’s something I’ll be speaking to Jose about.”

Enrique and Nolan should return against Wigan.

Thu 30 December, 2010

Ten Ways Alan Pardew Can Make Newcastle United Fans Love Him

2 comments by Mad Dog and Glory on December 9th, 2010

St James’ Park have a new manager and he is going to have a tough time convincing the supporters of his worth. Here are a few ways he can win over the masses.

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Southampton Sack Alan Pardew After Disappointing Start to the Season?

"Alan Pardew (Southampton Manager) shows his pleasure at the result as Charlton's Manager Phil Parkinson looks disgruntled behind him Southampton v Charlton Athletic (1-0) Coca Cola League One at St Mary's on 10 April, 2010 (Photo by Rob Munro) Photo via Newscom" /