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Alan Pardew talks up Tottenham's title chances after 'irresistible' 5-0 win over Newcastle United
The Toon boss has praised Harry Redknapp's side, who dealt the Magpies a five-goal drubbing on Saturday evening, and has even tipped them to challenge the two Manchester clubs
11 Feb 2012 23:30:00
By Jay Jaffa at White Hart Lane
Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has praised Tottenham after losing 5-0 to Harry Redknapp's men on Saturday evening.
The Magpies manager believes Spurs are good enough to push for the Premier League title after their dominant display at White Hart Lane.
“Well, we had an absolutely cracking game at our place – the 2-2 game," Pardew told reporters. "And at that point we said they're as good as we've seen this year and we felt that coming into this game. They're definitely in the mix with United and City.”
Pardew was keen not to put a dampener on his Newcastle side, who currently sit in sixth place after an impressive season so far.
“What we showed today isn't a true reflection of us all season," he added. "You have to say Tottenham were irresistible at times.
“Some of the stuff they were doing, it was almost as if it was coming off for fun. Some of their interplay and movement would have caused anybody a problem today – any team. Unfortunately it was. [Emmanuel] Adebayor and [Louis] Saha were a real handful for us today.
“Certainly today I wish I had but I'm not sure if we're going to come under the circumstances we came under today. In terms of the start that Tottenham had, two quick goals, the team they've got, the sort of personnel they've got.
“The feeling in the stadium for Harry and the players feeling for wanting him to stay. It was unusual circumstances today and it was for sure Spurs' day. But we'll have our day, we'll have more days.”
Pardew was eager to state that a possible reason for Tottenham’s utter dominance against Newcastle could be related to the current England managerial vacancy, a position Spurs boss Redknapp is the favourite for.
“We talked about it in the room," he said. "They'll want to show they want their manager to stay. I think that was pretty evident. We had to cope from the start and we didn't. Two goals that we should have done better with.”
The Newcastle boss added: “I think it's just a decision Harry will make. He's going to get a phonecall, I should think – that's for sure and he'll make his own decisions. I'm not going to talk for Harry Redknapp but he's got a fantastic team here – he really has. They were a problem for us, the team on the pitch and the subs.”
Pardew admitted that some of the blame for his side’s defeat lays with himself, revealing that his choice to play a very offensive side proved to be fatal.
“Some of the blame today lays with myself with the selection," he added. "[We] probably played too many offensive players today and against a team that were not only a very, very good side but a team that had a bit of extra bounce in their step after what happened with their manager this week. Two-nil down in five minutes was a real issue for us.
“The positives for us were the second half where we didn't lose our head. We didn't go kicking them or getting someone sent off by being stupid.
“We were a little more disciplined in our tackling and in our covering and we threatened the goal as well. In that we can have something to lean on. But perhaps we had too many key players missing today against a very good Tottenham team.”
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The Magpies manager believes Spurs are good enough to push for the Premier League title after their dominant display at White Hart Lane.
“Well, we had an absolutely cracking game at our place – the 2-2 game," Pardew told reporters. "And at that point we said they're as good as we've seen this year and we felt that coming into this game. They're definitely in the mix with United and City.”
Pardew was keen not to put a dampener on his Newcastle side, who currently sit in sixth place after an impressive season so far.
“What we showed today isn't a true reflection of us all season," he added. "You have to say Tottenham were irresistible at times.
“Some of the stuff they were doing, it was almost as if it was coming off for fun. Some of their interplay and movement would have caused anybody a problem today – any team. Unfortunately it was. [Emmanuel] Adebayor and [Louis] Saha were a real handful for us today.
“Certainly today I wish I had but I'm not sure if we're going to come under the circumstances we came under today. In terms of the start that Tottenham had, two quick goals, the team they've got, the sort of personnel they've got.
“The feeling in the stadium for Harry and the players feeling for wanting him to stay. It was unusual circumstances today and it was for sure Spurs' day. But we'll have our day, we'll have more days.”
Pardew was eager to state that a possible reason for Tottenham’s utter dominance against Newcastle could be related to the current England managerial vacancy, a position Spurs boss Redknapp is the favourite for.
“We talked about it in the room," he said. "They'll want to show they want their manager to stay. I think that was pretty evident. We had to cope from the start and we didn't. Two goals that we should have done better with.”
The Newcastle boss added: “I think it's just a decision Harry will make. He's going to get a phonecall, I should think – that's for sure and he'll make his own decisions. I'm not going to talk for Harry Redknapp but he's got a fantastic team here – he really has. They were a problem for us, the team on the pitch and the subs.”
Pardew admitted that some of the blame for his side’s defeat lays with himself, revealing that his choice to play a very offensive side proved to be fatal.
“Some of the blame today lays with myself with the selection," he added. "[We] probably played too many offensive players today and against a team that were not only a very, very good side but a team that had a bit of extra bounce in their step after what happened with their manager this week. Two-nil down in five minutes was a real issue for us.
“The positives for us were the second half where we didn't lose our head. We didn't go kicking them or getting someone sent off by being stupid.
“We were a little more disciplined in our tackling and in our covering and we threatened the goal as well. In that we can have something to lean on. But perhaps we had too many key players missing today against a very good Tottenham team.”
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
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