... is Alan Pardew getting a little carried away with himself?
On Tuesday he hit out at the local press for building everything up when things go well - and dragging things down when the go badly.
Yet, three straight wins (and let's be honest, only one decent performance v Chelsea) and suddenly Pardew wants recognition from the world.
He says he is building Newcastle United into a Champions League team - and has insisted that he has no problem in Yohan Cabaye talking with ambition.
Pardew has played down Cabaye’s comments earlier in the week when he expressed a desire to play in Europe’s top competition.
And let's not forget Pardew said in May "Thank GOD we are not in Europe next season."
So has the penny dropped, and after taking stick for his total lack of ambition, is he geared for a major step forward?
Alan Pardew: “Yohan wants to play in the Champions’ League and who wouldn’t. I want that.
“Ask me that question.
“Yes I do, and we want to build to that here.
“We need players like Yohan Cabaye to get us there.
“ For him to express that ambition is no problem.
“On Fabricio Coloccini the pangs of home were pulling on him last season.
"What he said this week is not big deal. We just want to keep him playing well here.
“Both of them have been outstanding players for this football club, and we need outstanding players if we are to make and impact at the top of the division.
"Sometimes you know when they are abroad they get asked questions that are slightly loaded, that have slightly different connotations to them.
"We have geared Yohan up to have a fantastic World Cup. He's in great shape at the moment. We think he is one of the best payers in the league.
"As far as Colo is concerned, he is our captain and it is well documented that last year the pangs of home were pulling on him.
"But he's a professional, a professional player here he's been brilliant for us. The only reason I am commenting now is just to let our fans know there is no big deal.
"I think the media are always looking to upset you when you're winning and we just want to stay where we are. We are in a good place."
Pardew - In Or Out? YOU VOTE!
Three wins, but are we riding our luck? The question we ask - is Alan Pardew the man for Newcastle United? PLEASE VOTE!
ESPN FC: "The debate over Alan Pardew's suitability as Newcastle manager won't go away even after three consecutive victories.
Many of those who have watched Newcastle's wins over Chelsea, Spurs and Norwich still hold concerns about how the side are playing -- Tottenham had 20 more shots against Newcastle than Liverpool did when they beat the Magpies 6-0 late last season."
Twitter Search -
@johnregan51 'I support Pardew. Can't understand the haters. We have not had many better managers in last 50 years'
@nufcfans 'I strongly disagree with anyone calling for AP's head. It's fickle and impatient'
Both very strong statements in favour of the manager. There were plenty of anti-Pardew tweets to choose from, including:
@halliday_9 'I've never spoke to anyone who likes Pardew, that's the truth'
@lewisa_NUFC 'we have a very good team that is currently winning in spite of Pardew'
So we ask you to vote - is he the man for Newcastle United?
http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk/interactive/voting_polls.asp
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday November 30
15:00 Aston Villa v Sunderland
15:00 Cardiff City v Arsenal
15:00 Everton v Stoke City
15:00 Norwich City v Crystal Palace
15:00 West Ham United v Fulham
17:30 Newcastle United v West Brom
Sunday December 1
12:00 Tottenham v Man Utd
14:05 Hull City v Liverpool
16:10 Chelsea v Southampton
16:10 Manchester City v Swansea City
Tuesday December 3
20:00 Crystal Palace v West Ham United
Wednesday December 4
19:45 Arsenal v Hull City
19:45 Liverpool v Norwich City
19:45 Man Utd v Everton
19:45 Southampton v Aston Villa
19:45 Stoke City v Cardiff City
19:45 Sunderland v Chelsea
19:45 Swansea City v Newcastle United
20:00 Fulham v Tottenham
20:00 West Brom v Manchester City
We have FIVE copies of our new book "Magpies In Europe - Harvey To Pardew' to give away in our new competition.
Simply answer these three questions:-
a) Joe Harvey
b) Kevin Keegan
c) Kenny Dalglish
2) We played Benfica last season. What country are they from?
a) Spain
b) Greece
c) Portugal
3) When we beat Barcelona 3-2 in the Champions League which NUFC player scored a hat-trick?
a) Alan Shearer
b) Tino Asprilla
c) Shola Ameobi
Send your answers to: Kevnumad@fsmail.net
The competition will run until December 2nd - winners will be announced on December 3rd).
IDEAL FOR CHRISTMAS
MAGPIES IN EUROPE -
HARVEY TO PARDEW
Although NUFC are not talking to the Chronicle or Sunday Sun ... we are!
And the full story is expected to be in newspapers this week.
The official new title is "Magpies In Europe - Harvey To Pardew" and is an up-dated version of "From Antwerp To Zurich" - which includes the 14 Europa League fixtures we played last season.
The 280-page book features match reports from the 134 European matches Newcastle United have played, starting with the memorable 4-0 win over Feyenoord in 1968 on our European debut.
Included are stats and the figures you would expect, but also each away fixture has the remarkable experiences of individuals who travelled to watch the matches.
Introduction by "Big Bad" John McNamee, part of the Fairs Cup winning team of 1969.
It is a fascinating history that every Newcastle United fan will enjoy.
And with a limited print-run, make sure you order a copy.
Mail order: Send a cheque for £10.45 made payable to K.Fletcher to:
K Fletcher, 5 Dunelm, Sacriston, Durham DH7 6NU
Include your own address.
ON SALE NOW AT:
M&M City News; 140 Northumberland St, Newcastle NE1 7DQ.
The Flower Shop, Spennymoor, Co Durham.
RRP: £10.95
if you want to order, contact us:- Kevnumad@fsmail.net
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NEWCASTLE UNITED 2013/14
PREMIER LEAGUE
NEWCASTLE 2 NORWICH CITY 1 (Remy, Gouffran)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye (68' Anita), Gouffran (83' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (74' Cisse), Remy.
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
TOTTENHAM 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (85' Obertan), Remy (75' Cisse), Shola Ameobi (60' Anita).
Subs: Coloccini, Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 CHELSEA 0 (Gouffran, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote (53' Anita), Gouffran (85' Obertan), Shola Ameobi (62' Cisse).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Tavernier.
SUNDERLAND 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Debuchy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Dummett, Santon, Sissoko (45' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran (86' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Remy (70' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 LIVERPOOL 2 (Cabaye, Dummett)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Cabaye (78' Sammy Ameobi), Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko (45' Dummett), Remy, Ben Arfa (78' Anita).
Subs: Cisse, Elliot, Obertan, Dummett.
CARDIFF CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye (86' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Sissoko, Remy (71' Gutierrez), Cisse
Subs: Anita, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
EVERTON 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cabaye, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa (46' Williamson), Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Anita (69' Cisse), Ben Arfa (46' Cabaye), Sissoko, Gouffran, Remy
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY 3 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy (86' Tiote), Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (62' Gouffran), Anita, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cisse (73' Marveaux), Remy
Subs: Williamson, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ben Arfra, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Anita (74' Tiote), Cabaye (88' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Remy (63' Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, S Taylor, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 1 FULHAM 0 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita 65' (Cabaye), Marveaux 74' (Remy), Shola Ameobi 65' (Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 0
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita, Marveaux 66' (Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi, Cisse 72'
Subs: Gosling, Bigirimana, Elliot, Vuckic, Dummett
MAN CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Sissoko, Tiote, Gouffran 45+4' (Dummett), Ben Arfa 65' (Sammy Ameobi), Gutierrez 44' (Anita), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Obertan
LEAGUE CUP
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2 (AET)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara (45 Dummett, 80 Ben Arfa), Anita, Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko, Shola Ameobi (66 Cabaye), Cisse
Subs: Remy, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 2 LEEDS UTD 0 (Cisse, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gouffran (90' Vuckic), Anita (80' Gosling), Tiote, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Cisse (71' Obertan).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Bigirimana, Alnwick
MORECAMBE 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi)
Elliot, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Good, Dummett, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux 88' (Sissoko), Vuckic 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi, Gouffran 71' (Ben Arfa)
Subs: Santon, Anita, Alnwick, Streete
Newcastle United Fixtures
Saturday November 30
17:30 Premier League
Newcastle United v West Brom
Wednesday December 4
19:45 Premier League
Swansea City v Newcastle United
Saturday December 7
12:45 Premier League
Man Utd v Newcastle United
Saturday December 14
15:00 Premier League
Newcastle United v Southampton
Saturday December 21
15:00 Premier League
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United
Thursday December 26
15:00 Premier League
Newcastle United v Stoke City
Sunday December 29
13:30 Premier League
Newcastle United v Arsenal
Wednesday January 1 2014
15:00 Premier League
West Brom v Newcastle United