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Ahead of Sunday's televised game against Newcastle at The
Hawthorns, we caught up with Michael @tfeditor1892 from the
United fanzine
true faith and Ben @BonjourMonAmiNE.
They give us their views on Newcastle's season so far, Alan Pardew, the Baggies,
and more.
It's been a strange season so
far for Newcastle - the club didn’t have the best of starts and dissent
against boss Alan Pardew was growing by the match it seemed. However,
the last three weeks have seen you win four games in a row including
victories over Spurs,
Manchester
City and Liverpool. Why the sudden
turnaround?
Michael: Not sure there has been a
turnaround in honesty. We've played a very poor
Leicester side and then three sides struggling for form. We've
played a lot of football without the ball and we've been the plucky underdog in
all of those games. To be fair though, we have grafted harder then previously,
the tactics have been changed and with Goufrann, Williamson and Anita out of the
side, we've done better.
Ben: The
recent run has been one that no-one saw coming. As most managers do, Alan Pardew
claimed that the team just needed a win, but so far that has proved absolutely
correct. A settled defence has definitely helped, while many key players have
come into form at the same time, and injuries to Cheick Tiote and Papiss Cisse
have granted opportunities to a talented crop of youngsters.
Given recent results, what's the
current feeling amongst the majority of United support towards Pardew?
Michael: Suspicious and not
liked. He's Ashley's man and simply delighted to have the biggest job he'll ever
get. He doesn't challenge the owner for investment and seems to be pursuing his
own agenda. He's made promises in the past about signings but frankly nothing he
ever says ever happens.
Ben: Rather than win over the
fans, I'd say he's allowed himself a stay of execution. It is difficult to angle
for the manager's dismissal when he's defeating the Premier League's top teams,
but we've seen spells like this in the past, followed by horrible losing
streaks. There is also a feeling that Pardew happened across this winning
formula by fluke, more than anything else - Gabriel Obertan's form forced Moussa
Sissoko back into his natural position, while the club's wingers were posting
performances that meant that the inclusion of the ineffective Yoan Gouffran
simply couldn't be justified any longer.
The Albion support were angry
with the club’s policy of putting weakened sides out in the
Capital One Cup, a policy that contributed to them being knocked out at
Bournemouth. How seriously have United been taking the competition and
having now reached the quarter-finals is there a feeling you can go on to
win it?
Michael: Ha Ha Ha Ha.
Ben: Though weakened, the
line-ups sent out against Gillingham and Crystal Palace were strong enough to
impress, and duly did so. However, for the trip to the Etihad Stadium in the
last round, the team sheets could hardly have been more of a mismatch. United
lined up with a combination of outcasts and academy kids (the front two had a
combined age of 35), as
Manchester
City
started with Yaya Toure, David Silva and Edin Dzeko. In all honesty, I don't
think Pardew ever expected to get a result, but the players put in a phenomenal
shift and thoroughly deserved the victory. It will be interesting to see how he
sets up for the Tottenham Hotspur game now. At the quarter-final stage, fans are
suddenly dreaming of Wembley, but with Sunderland at home just a few days later,
the manager will be wary of a fourth consecutive Tyne-Wear derby defeat.
United spent pretty big in the
summer, one of the signings being Emmanuel Rivičre who came close
to joining the Baggies a few months ago. How's he done so far?
Michael: He's a trier. Doesn't look like
he's got a striker's instinct to me. Currently injured.
Ben: With Cisse and Siem de
Jong injured, Riviere spent the early part of the season playing up front on his
own - a role he clearly isn't suited to. Though starved of service in the
opening weeks, it quickly became apparent that he was struggling badly. Two
goals at Palace in the cup offered him a boost, but Cisse's return saw the
ex-Monaco man shunned to the bench. He made an impressive cameo at City last
week, but was then left out of the matchday squad on Saturday, and he's now
fallen behind Ayoze Perez and Adam Armstrong in the pecking order. He could have
a long journey back to Pardew's starting eleven.
Fans' expectations for the
season?
Michael: Mid-table mediocrity at
the moment. A couple of defeats and possible relegation struggles.
Ben: It really is impossible to
tell. Depending on how long this recent form can continue, United could end up
anywhere between 6th and 20th. Most would have settled for a top-half finish
before the start of the season, which could still be a possibility, but thoughts
will now turn to the League Cup - particularly if we can find a way past Spurs.
It's a competition that the club have never won, but that's surely got to end
one day.
Player of the season so far?
Michael: Fabricio Coloccini.
Ben: In terms of consistency,
Daryl Janmaat and Jack Colback have both performed well since their summer
moves, but Sissoko has been crucial as United have improved in recent weeks. As
with Yohan Cabaye last season, when the Frenchman performs, Newcastle perform.
Anyone been
particularly disappointing?
Michael: Mike Ashley.
Ben: Remy Cabella has yet to
justify his hefty price tag, but he is finally starting to show flashes of his
talent. Facundo Ferreyra still hasn't been seen, while Yoan Gouffran has
continued his 2014 form of simply offering nothing whatsoever.
Prediction for
Newcastle’s season?
Michael: 12th.
Ben: With results swinging from
one extreme to the other, I expect our record to average out over the campaign.
Mid-table.
Prediction for
Albion’s season?
Michael: 14th.
Ben: I was impressed with
Albion's transfer dealings in the summer, but didn't really know what to expect
from Alan Irvine. They've quietly impressed recently, and Saido Berahino
continues to progress at a rate of knots. Mid-table.
Premier League
Champions?
Michael: Chelsea.
Ben: Chelsea - they look
untouchable.
Relegated?
Michael: Burnley, Leicester,
Villa.
Ben: Burnley, QPR and
(hopefully) Aston Villa.
Prediction and
thoughts on Sunday’s game?
Michael: A score draw. West Brom always
give us a good game and there's not much between both sides in my opinion. Or
the managers.
Ben: It would be very like
Newcastle to come undone at the Hawthorns after such an impressive
spell. The visitors also have injury concerns, while Berahino will no doubt be
boosted by his well-deserved international call-up. 2-1
Albion.
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