Newsletter

Get your daily update and weekly newsletter by signing up today!

News

Alan Pardew Guilty Of Stretching The Truth Again

11 years ago
Share

I have long since given up on Alan Pardew’s tenuous grip on reality.

Since the arrival of Joe Kinnear as his boss you can hardky blame the man for feeling like he is losing the plot when he has that idiot looking over his shoulder.

However, the pre-season has increasingly brought his ever more desperate comments to the fore.

After Newcastle were soundly beaten 3-1 by Mickey Mouse Portuguese club Rio Ave who play in front of two thousand at their domestic league home matches, Pardew came out with comments such as Newcastle had bossed the game, by far the better team, plus I counted at least 8 players who the manager reckoned had had great games.

(To feature like Jim on the website/magazine, send in your letters/articles to contribute@themag.co.uk)

The second and final game  of the Portuguese pre-season was against Pacos de Ferreira and this is what Alan Pardew had to say afterwards;

That was a terrific performance to get a draw against a Champions League side who, let’s not forget, finished just behind Benfica last season.”

Hmmm, well – it kind of depends on what you mean by ‘just behind’?

This is how the top of the Portuguese League table looked at the end of the season just gone (points then goal difference);

78 (+56)                Porto
77 (+57)                Benfica
54 (+13)                Pacos De Ferreira

Pacos de Ferreira did indeed finish only one place behind Benfica but a bit like in Scotland before Rangers self-imploded, outside of the top two is nowhere, as the 23 point gap behind Benfica shows.

I don’t set great store by friendlies whether we win or lose but I don’t like our manager treating us like fools.

As for the comment about it being great getting a draw against a ‘Champions League side’, there are ‘Champions League Sides’ and then there are ‘Champions League sides’.

Pacos de Ferreira have NEVER played any Champions League match in their history and their upcoming Champions League qualifying tie will very likely be their first AND last.

Apart from also only playing in front of a couple of thousand every home match (their capacity is only 5,000), the recent league finishes in a league of only 16 teams have been; 11th, 6th, 15th, 10th, 10th, 7th.

To put into further perspective, Maritimo who were really really poor when we played them in the Europa League had qualified for that by finishing with 50 points two season ago. In the season just gone, Pacos got 4 more and ended up as a ‘Champions League side’.

Trying to make out as though this was great opposition is crazy and doesn’t do Alan Pardew any favours.

It is like saying Welsh side TNS or Irish club Cliftonville are ‘Champions League sides’.

At least the manager stopped himself short of saying the Ameobis could be a top class forward line…didn’t he???

Cracking new BT Vision deals on offer, take advantage now – click HERE

Share

If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk

Have your say

© 2024 The Mag. All Rights Reserved. Design & Build by Mediaworks