A trip up north to Newcastle United awaits Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night and we’ve caught up with the Geordie-loving Marley Anderson, editor over at Newcastle News to get his thoughts on the match which is another big one for both sides…
So there have been two major exits from St James’s Park in the last couple of weeks, I’m guessing that saying ‘Bye bye Cabaye’ will be seen as a greater loss than saying ‘off you go’ to Joe?
Yep, definitely. Joe Kinnear rubbed everyone up the wrong way when he arrived the first time, so coming back was even worse. He went about everything wrong, no professionalism or likeability at all. There isn’t one Newcastle fan who was sorry to see him leave.
Do you think more could’ve been done to keep Cabaye or, having had his head already turned by Arsenal in August was it better to be shot of a possibly unhappy player?
With regards to the whole Cabaye leaving situation, I think the club absolutely 100% cannot be blamed for letting him leave. His head was turned every time a club made an approach for him and he showed no desire to stick with the club when there was a chance of leaving. We got a decent price for him and didn’t sell him to and English club, so fair play. I do blame them though for not getting a replacement lined up and “over the line” (a term I’ve heard too much of from Pardew) in time for the end of the window. Kinnear in particular should have had a man lined up since the summer who could step in immediately and soften the blow of losing a top player.
And how about Kinnear, what exactly was going on there? Why was he appointed and why did he do nothing whilst in position?.
Like I said before, he had no professionalism whatsoever. I think he was appointed simply because Ashley felt bad that JK’s heart attack ended his tenure as manager prematurely and wanted to give him another position at the Club. The problem was he was totally incompetent at negotiations and his knowledge of players was non-existant. We had Douglas, a big centre-back from FC Twente lined up on a free and JK pulled the plug saying he’d never heard of him! Kinnear was appointed at the start of the summer transfer window and less than a week later, he was on holiday…in the weeks where he should have been busy finding players and contacting clubs!
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So, given your last couple of results, on paper this looks a good time to play you. Is that fair or have you been better than that?
Yeah, it’s definitely a good time to play us. We’re missing Remy, Tiote, Coloccini and Gouffran, and are still learning to play without a midfield playmaker like Cabaye. Without those 5 we’re missing the entire spine of our team and all our goals. 4-5 weeks ago we looked a real threat, now I’m glad there’s such a gap between 8th and 10th.
How was your 1-0 win at WHL earlier in the season viewed in the Metro Centre and the Bigg Market? ‘Spawny’ pretty much sums it up in N17.
Ha! I don’t think “spawny” does it any justice to be fair. You came up against a goalkeeper who could be as good as he wants to be and he turned in a hell of a performance. Let’s not forget Yanga-Mbiwa, too, he made a ridiculous clearance from that free-kick that Krul saved under his own crossbar (that’s actually the best thing he’s done in a Newcastle shirt to date). The difference was the finishing. Remy tucked his chance past Friedel easily and the likes of Soldado struggled to beat an inspired keeper. But we defended OK and countered well, so I think it was a big game for us to win. 6) Don’t make me laugh with that one! I don’t know why people are even linking Pardew with England. Yes he’s English, so what?! Surely he knows more about the French squad than any other?! Seriously though…he’s tactically naive and his motivational skills don’t seem to be any good (look at his Derby record). He’s basically a yes man for Mike Ashley and he’s got an 8-year contract because he’s prepared to work under such a regime, whereas a large amount of self-respecting managers would have an issue. I genuinely give him credit when it’s due, but he’s nowhere near the standard for England management.
I’ve heard Alan Pardew touted as a candidate for the next England manager. Is that a possibility do you think? I always get the feeling that Geordies tend to only give him praise grudgingly?
Don’t make me laugh with that one! I don’t know why people are even linking Pardew with England. Yes he’s English, so what?! Surely he knows more about the French squad than any other?! Seriously though…he’s tactically naive and his motivational skills don’t seem to be any good (look at his Derby record). He’s basically a yes man for Mike Ashley and he’s got an 8-year contract because he’s prepared to work under such a regime, whereas a large amount of self-respecting managers would have an issue. I genuinely give him credit when it’s due, but he’s nowhere near the standard for England management.
Our English manager isn’t in the running for the national position as yet. What’s been your take on Spurs’s rather erratic season thus far?
It’s been a strange one for Spurs. I felt bad for AVB because I think he’d have been an excellent manager if he’d been given more time to build a squad. Before the game against Liverpool, no Spurs fan would have described it as “must-win”, but after the hammering, Levy made the – in my opinion – knee jerk reaction to sack him. I’m not sure about Sherwood either. I think you’re always going to finish top 6, but he’s not the man to take you to top 4.
Is there anyone on our team you’re especially scared of or are looking forward to seeing?
One thing Sherwood has done has revitalised Emannuel Adebayor. He looks as good as he’s ever done and his goal against Everton was nice. With our defence, I’d back him to cause problems. I’m a big fan of Christian Eriksen, too. Very clever, creative and nice to watch. I also like watching Nacer Chadli, purely because he’s useless!
Looking forward to the World Cup? Will Newcastle be well represented?
Yeah, we should have a few in the France squad! Debuchy and Remy will likely be there and Sissoko has a chance too. Cabaye will be there but not as a Newcastle player of course and Tim Krul should be in the Holland squad. No England representatives though…
And finally of course, a score prediction please?
Newcastle 0-1 Spurs. We haven’t scored too many lately and don’t look good enough at the back. Hoping for another Krul masterclass though!
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