Never mind The Family - Pardew Wants His Pay-Off

Last updated : 03 October 2014 By Footy Mad - Editor

Alan Pardew: “I’m going about my business as I normally do.

“My family and friends worry about me a little bit, because it’s started to go past football media. That’s not nice.

“But that just makes me determined. It’s just the make-up that I have.

“I don’t worry about it or shy away from it.

“I haven’t shied away from it. I’ve been out and about, and I’ll continue to do that.

“I’ve had one or two interactions where fans have made their point.

“I’ve got no problem with that – that’s part of being a football manager.

“I’ve also had two or three fans who had wished me to come through it. I appreciate that.

“I’ve had a lot of support from within the game. That’s from board level to ex-players, and I want to thank them for that.

“It’s important that my resilience is the strongest of anyone’s.

“I think you have to understand that it’s my business. I love this football club.

“I think the players are feeling a little bit of the stress and the heat that’s on them. This is a young squad, and I need to help them.

“That’s what I’m going to do until such point as when I can’t help them anymore.

“We have a team that’s not quite functioning as we would like, but there is nowhere to hide.

“It’s like a boxing ring – there is nowhere to hide.

“People keep asking me are you going to come back? What are you going to do? Are you going to stay on the line?

“Well, I’m not going to hide and I don’t expect my players to hide. It’s about digging in at this point, and we need to do it as a team.

“If we can show that, something will fall our way.”

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Saturday October 4

15:00 Hull City v Crystal Palace
15:00 Leicester City v Burnley
15:00 Liverpool v West Brom
15:00 Sunderland v Stoke City
15:00 Swansea City v Newcastle United
17:30 Aston Villa v Manchester City

Sunday October 5

12:00 Man Utd v Everton
14:05 Chelsea v Arsenal
14:05 Tottenham v Southampton
16:15 West Ham United v QPR

Liberty Stadium - Swansea City

What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?

Away fans are housed in the North Stand at one end of the stadium. Up to 2,000 fans can be accommodated in this area, although this allocation can be reduced to 1,000 for teams with a smaller following. The views of the playing action from this area are excellent as there is a good height between rows and the leg room is probably one of the most generous of any stadium that I have visited. The concourses are spacious, with food and beverage outlets, plus a number of television sets, for pre-match and half time entertainment. As you would expect from a new stadium the facilities are good. Away fans are separated from home fans by two metal barriers, with a line of stewards and Police in-between. Interestingly, the main singing contingent of home fans, have, in the traditions of the Vetch Field, situated themselves along one side of the pitch in the East Stand, rather than at the South end of the stadium.

David McNeil informs me; 'As a West Brom fan on holiday in Swansea, I visited the new stadium for the first League game against Tranmere. The stadium is very impressive and the facilities inside the stadium are excellent. Large concourse and great views from the stands. The atmosphere generated by the Swansea fans was excellent throughout the 90 minutes and it will become an intimidating place just as the Vetch used to be. Pre-match entertainment was enjoyed by my kids especially the antics of Cyril the Swan. Great day out, would love to visit the ground again when West Brom play there'.

Tickets will not be sold to away supporters by Swansea City on the day of the match, so do not travel unless you already have a ticket from your own Club. It is also worth bearing in mind that the Swansea fans are passionate about their club and this can make for an intimidating atmosphere. Exercise caution around the ground.

Steve Griffiths adds; 'On the nearby retail park, there is a KFC & Pizza Hut – within 5 minutes walk. Opposite the stadium is a very nice chippy called ‘Rossi’s’. As well as the usual chips with fish, pies, sausages, etc.. they also do salads and jacket potatoes'.


Wind Street Swansea

Where To Drink?

Phil Weston a visiting Stoke City fan informs me; 'The Liberty Stadium is a lot more friendly than the old Vetch Field. Stoke fans were drinking in The Harvester and Frankie & Benny's just outside the ground and a couple of the pubs just up from the stadium'.

Otherwise it a choice of a drink on the way to Swansea, go into the city centre or drink inside the stadium.
 
Merv Williams informs me; 'There are a number of pubs on Wind (pronounced as winding a watch) Street in the centre of town, such as Yates, the Bank Statement and the No Sign Bar (the latter being listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Ask for Castle Gardens, and you'll see Wind Street'. Mick Clarkson a visiting Preston North End fan adds; 'After leaving the train station we proceeded up the High Street and went into the Full Moon public house. The locals both young and old were very friendly and we had a good laugh with all in there both before and after the game. Basic pub with pool table and Sky Sports and a Leeds fan for a landlord and excellent cheap beer'.

Alcohol in the form of Carling (£3.20 a pint) and Worthington (£3.20 a pint) are served within the stadium. The Club open the turnstiles 90 minutes before kick off, so that fans have the option to eat & drink within the stadium itself.

How To Get There By Car or Coach & Where To Park

Leave the M4 at Junction 45 and take the A4067 towards the City Centre (sign posted A4067 South). Stay on the A4067 for around two and half miles and you will reach the stadium on your left. Car parking at the stadium is for permit holders only and most of the immediate residential areas around the stadium now have 'residents only' parking schemes in place. However away mini buses and coaches can park behind the North Stand in a fenced compound, at a cost of £20 per coach and £10 per minibus. Don't be tempted to park on the nearby Retail Park as you may well end up with a ticket, or worse still, clamped for your trouble!

Away Fans Park & Ride Facility

Away supporters are being encouraged to use the Park & Ride facility located at the Felindre old steel works site, which is signposted off Junction 46, shortly after leaving the M4. The cost of parking there including transport by bus to and from the stadium is £6 per car. Away supporters have their own separate buses to and from the stadium, with the buses waiting outside the away stand at the end of the game to take supporters back to the car park. Simon Wright a visiting West Bromwich Albion fan adds; 'The park and ride is located in the middle of nowhere, but curiously has a high fence. Apparently the facility is also used as a park and ride for the DVLA so the fencing may be for the benefit of their staff. There are toilets on the site although they do look rather ancient. All the staff were friendly and the buses frequent. After the game has ended, the park and ride buses leave the compound with the away coaches for fairly obvious reasons. In my case, this meant a wait of around 20 minutes'.

There is also some street parking to be had. If coming from the M4, you pass the stadium on your left and continue straight on towards Swansea, then after going under a bridge, then there are a number of roads on the right, where on street parking is available. It is then around a 10-15 minute walk to the stadium. However, please note that after the game has ended the Police close the A4067 road running past the stadium, meaning that you can't go back up to the M4 that way. You need to instead go back up to the stadium and where the road is closed turn right at the roundabout onto the A4217. At the next roundabout turn left continuing away from Swansea City Centre. At the junction with the A48 turn right and this takes  you up to Junction 44 of the M4.

Andrew Bartlett a visiting Southampton fan adds; 'I intended to use the park and ride and followed the signs but found the site to be desolate wasteland with flooded potholes, not very inviting at all. Instead I drove on to the stadium and despite the dire warnings found free on street parking only a few minute's walk away and almost traffic free after the match. The level of security and large Police presence was completely unnecessary for such a low key game'.

Post Code for SAT NAV: SA1 2FA

By Train

Swansea Railway Station is on the main line route from London Paddington. It is about two miles from the stadium. Regular local bus services (every ten minutes: routes 4, 4a, 120, 122, 125, 132) and taxis (around £6) are available from the train station to the stadium. Otherwise if you have time on your hands and wish to embark on the 25-30 minute walk, then as you come out of the station turn right and go up the High Street. At the traffic lights turn right into Neath Road. Proceed straight along Neath Road and you will eventually reach the stadium on your right. Thanks to Tom Evans for providing the directions.

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VOTE NOW!

http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk/interactive/voting_polls.asp

David Moyes wants to return to management after being sacked by Manchester United in April, and he is currently top of the bookies list.

It's understood that the Scot would like to manage the Toon - despite their nightmare start to the season.

He's as short as 5/4 to succeed Pardew with BetVictor. Hull boss Steve Bruce is 11/2 while Tony Pulis is an outsider at 7/1.

United taken three points from their opening six games - their worst start to a season since 2003.

The Toon have won only five of their 26 league games since Boxing Day.

WHICH OF THE THREE WOULD YOU PICK?

Tony Pulis

Steve Bruce

David Moyes

PLEASE VOTE ...

http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk/interactive/voting_polls.asp

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Newcastle Utd Fixtures ...

2014/15 SEASON


  
Sunday August 17
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Colback, Anita (63' Obertan), Cabella, Sissoko, Gouffran (74' Aarons), Riviere (83' Perez).
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor, Abeid 

Saturday August 23 
ASTON VILLA 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Anita (70' de Jong), Colback, Cabella, Sissoko, Gouffran, Riviere (77' Perez - 90+2' S Taylor).
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, Abeid 

Tuesday August 26
LC GILLINGHAM 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Egan OG)
Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini, S Taylor, Haidara, Sissoko, Abeid, Obertan, de Jong (68' Perez), Aarons (60' Cabella), Riviere (86' Gouffran)
Subs: Anita, Ferreyra, Elliot, Dummett

Saturday August 30 
NEWCASTLE 3 CRYSTAL PALACE 3 (Janmaat, Aarons, Williamson)
Krul, Janmaat (79' Perez), Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Sissoko, Colback, Cabella, de Jong (79' Anita), Gouffran (67' Aarons), Riviere
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor, Dummett

Saturday September 13 
SOUTHAMPTON 4 NEWCASTLE 0 
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita (45' Tiote), Colback, Cabella (69' Perez), Sissoko (90'Ameobi), Gouffran, Riviere    
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor, Armstrong 

Saturday September 20 
NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY (Cisse 2) 
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote (85' Ameobi), Colback, Sissoko, Cabella, Gouffran (90+4' Perez), Riviere (69' Cisse)
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor 

Wednesday September 24 
LC CRYSTAL PALACE 2 NEWCASTLE 3 AET (Riviere 2, Dummett) 
Elliot, Janmaat (46 Haidara), Coloccini, S Taylor, Dummett, Colback, Abeid, Obertan, Armstrong, Ameobi (66 Sissoko), Riviere (80 Perez)
Subs: Anita, Ferreyra, Cabella, Alnwick

Monday September 29 
STOKE CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 0 
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Sissoko, Cabella (74' Ameobi), Gouffran (68' Obertan), Riviere (45' Cisse)
Subs: Anita, Elliot, S Taylor, Armstrong

Saturday October 4 
Swansea City v Newcastle United

Saturday October 18 
Newcastle United v Leicester City

Saturday October 25 
Tottenham v Newcastle United

Saturday November 1 
Newcastle United v Liverpool

Sunday November 9
West Brom v Newcastle United

Saturday November 22 
Newcastle United v QPR

Saturday November 29 
West Ham United v Newcastle United

Tuesday December 2 
Burnley v Newcastle United

Saturday December 6 
Newcastle United v Chelsea

Saturday December 13 
Arsenal v Newcastle United

Saturday December 20 
Newcastle United v Sunderland

Friday December 26 
Man Utd v Newcastle United

Sunday December 28 
Newcastle United v Everton

Thursday January 1 2015 
Newcastle United v Burnley

Saturday January 10 2015 
Chelsea v Newcastle United

Saturday January 17 2015 
Newcastle United v Southampton

Saturday January 31 2015 
Hull City v Newcastle United

Saturday February 7 2015 
Newcastle United v Stoke City

Tuesday February 10 2015 
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United

Saturday February 21 2015 
Manchester City v Newcastle United

Saturday February 28 2015 
Newcastle United v Aston Villa

Wednesday March 4 2015 
Newcastle United v Man Utd

Saturday March 14 2015 
Everton v Newcastle United

Saturday March 21 2015 
Newcastle United v Arsenal

Saturday April 4 2015 
Sunderland v Newcastle United

Saturday April 11 2015 
Liverpool v Newcastle United

Saturday April 18 2015 
Newcastle United v Tottenham

Saturday April 25 2015 
Newcastle United v Swansea City

Saturday May 2 2015 
Leicester City v Newcastle United

Saturday May 9 2015 
Newcastle United v West Brom

Saturday May 16 2015 
QPR v Newcastle United

Sunday May 24 2015 
Newcastle United v West Ham United

LEAGUE CUP - Ties to be played on September 23-24.

Chelsea v Bolton
Arsenal v Southampton
West Brom v Hull
Crystal Palace v Newcastle
Leyton Orient v Sheff Utd
Cardiff v Bournemouth
Sunderland v Stoke
Derby v Reading
Liverpool v Middlesbrough
MK Dons v Bradford
Man City v Sheff Wed
Burton v Brighton
Swansea v Everton
Shrewsbury v Norwich
Fulham v Doncaster
Tottenham v Nottm Forest

SKY SPORTS GAMES

OCTOBER

Sat 4: Aston Villa v Manchester City (5.30pm)

Sun 5: Chelsea v Arsenal (2.05pm)

Sun 5: West Ham United v Queens Park Rangers (4.15pm)

Sun 19: Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool (1.30pm)

Sun 19: Stoke City v Swansea City (4pm)

Mon 20: West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United (8pm)

Sat 25: Swansea City v Leicester City (5.30pm)

Sun 26: Burnley v Everton (1.30pm)

Sun 26: Manchester United v Chelsea (4pm)

Mon 27: Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa (8pm)

NOVEMBER

Sun 2: Manchester City v Manchester United (1.30pm)

Sun 2: Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur (4pm)

Mon 3: Crystal Palace v Sunderland (8pm)

Sat 8: Queens Park Rangers v Manchester City (5.30pm)

Sun 9: West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United (1.30pm)

Sun 9: Swansea City v Arsenal (4pm)

Sat 22: Arsenal v Manchester United (5.30pm)

Sun 23: Crystal Palace v Liverpool (1.30pm)

Sun 23: Hull City v Tottenham Hotspur (4pm)

Mon 24: Aston Villa v Southampton (8pm)

Sat 29: Sunderland v Chelsea (5.30pm)

Sun 30: Southampton v Manchester City (1.30pm)

Sun 30: Tottenham Hotspur v Everton (4pm)

BT SPORT GAMES

OCTOBER

Sun 5: Manchester United v Everton (12pm)

Sat 18: Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur (12.45pm)

Sat 25: West Ham United v Manchester City (12.45pm)

NOVEMBER

Sat 1: Newcastle United v Liverpool (12.45pm)

Sat 8: Liverpool v Chelsea (12.45pm)

Sat 29: West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal (12.45pm)