If You Didn't Doubt Pardew ... Do You Now?

Last updated : 01 October 2013 By Footy Mad - Editor

Newcastle United never recovered from a torrid first half against Everton which saw them concede three goals, and there were another two offside, and 5-0 would not have flattered the Toffees!

kDavide Santon was caught on the ball to set up the first goal, and the less said about Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa the better, and it was no shock to see him hauled off at half time.

So we are back to Mike Williamson ... and he is expected to be handed a start against Cardiff City on Saturday after helping shore up Pardew’s back four after the break.

Midfielder Yohan Cabaye is hardly the fans' favourite these days after refusing to play in three games earlier in the season, but is there more to partnership with Pardew that we don't know?

Pardew backed his man at a time when other managers would have hung Cabaye up to dry - but after resting the Frenchman for the Leeds fixture - why didn't he start him last night?

Cabaye came off the bench for the second half and scored United’s first goal and suddenly Newcastle looked a half-decent team.

Pardew's idea to play one-touch Vernon Anita in the centre of midfield backfied in alarming fashion. The player is the last man you want on the pitch when the going gets tough, and how the hell he got ahead of Cabaye - only Pardew can answer.

His idea that Newcastle were a better team after replacing Hatem Ben Arfa won't go down well with the Frenchman, I'm sure.

Alan Pardew: “We were a different team in the second half after making two substitutions.

“There were nine players from the first half, and they were complete contrasts.

“We have to get rid of that inconsistency. We have to remind the players that we can’t have that at Newcastle.

“It has to be 90 minutes – a proper 90 minutes.”