Alan Pardew participated in a 90 minute phone in on Radio Newcastle tonight, and below are some of the random notes that I took from various points that he tried to make.

I am sure there will be a link to the interview on the Radio Newcastle website at some time soon, so you can go on and have a listen for yourself.

On having the Andy Carroll money to spend:
"If we get over the line (and avoid relegation) we will get the chance t spend that money"
What happens if we don't?

"We don't want to make the mistakes of previous regimes in terms of signings."
A valid point. Even more terrifying that the mistakes of previous regimes have been the mistakes of this regime - Jimenez Wise, Xisco etc.

"I am not a sound bite for Mike and Derek"
I am not sure I believe him on this one!

"We want to challenge for Europe and trophies."
Excellent! Finally a statement of ambition from someone at the club!

"In my time here we have at times gone too gung-ho because the crowd drive the players on and that has stopped us from closing games out."
Ahhhh, so it is the crowd that are responsible for that - not your tactics? I see. And away at 5under1and?

"We came up against a side who were better than us on the day"
On the home defeat to Everton

"It is important for the fans to understand that we are not going to bring in players straight away."
We understand. We also understand that is why the club left it so late in the day to sell Carroll.

"The Man U game falls on the back of a semi for them and that is good for us."
Nice to hear a bit of optimism!

"It is very important on Saturday that the fans make the atmosphere positive."
I agree with him, but if they don't?

"We had the opportunity to challenge for a European spot this year if we could have kept players fit."

"The fans will see the level of Mike's commitment in the summer."
RRRiiiiighhhtt. We also aren't selling any of our best players.

Then:

"Next year we can target a top 12 position."
OK, hang on a sec. As you say that we are 11th. You reckon Ashley is going to splash the cash and add to the squad, then next year you are targeting a position one below where we are now?!

On the FA Cup (no mention of Stevenage):
"They (The FA and Premier League) are pulling in opposite directions, just like that earthquake."

He placed a lot of praise on Jose though ruled him as a serious doubt for Saturday. He also re-affirmed that no talks had taken place about a new contract. Perch is likely to replace Jose instead of Ferguson, God help us.

Hatem Ben Arfa will return to training on Monday.

Pardew praised the atmosphere generated by the fans in the 2nd half of the Arsenal match and rightly so - it was one of the best I've ever known. He also praised himself for the comeback.

He praised his own record for signing players at West Ham, naming Nigel Reo-Coker, Bobby Zamora and Matt Etherington as examples. This worried me.

On the Carroll sale (which was the most discussed subject):
"I was very disappointed and hurt"

"There are 1 or 2 players in the Championship who would do very well here, if we could attract them."

"Graham Carr was the main instigator in Cheick Tiote coming in."
Was this a dig at Hughton who recently claimed responsibility?

He again retold his story about bumping into a middle aged fan at a petrol station in mid-winter, claiming that the fan was decked out in full Newcastle kit - top, shorts and socks.
I have lived on Tyneside all of my life and have never ever seen such a thing. Utter rubbish.

"The focus of the team slipped because of our 2 week break." Ahead of the Stoke game. When we have 3 games in a couple of weeks the results have generally been poor because "the players are too tired".....

"If I was a fan here, would I be jumping up and down about Mike Ashley? Probably not."

In another bizarre twist, Pardew then went on to talk about how amazing Ashley's Sports Direct factories are and said he wished the fans could see them?!?!?!

Asked about Hughton, he said:
"I've got great respect for Chris."
Not that great considering he waited in the wings for his job for a couple of months, though he was hardly going to say anything else.

Mike Ashley was described as "A straight talker" not that any of us would know.....

On Shane Ferguson he said "his time has come before his time." and again hinted that Perch was ahead of him in the pecking order. Does anyone know if Pardew has any sort of record for developing youngsters or has he never managed to stay at a club for long enough?

On Routledge:
"I felt we was going to get a replacement. In hindsight I'd have liked him to stay."

All in all it was a dull interview and I suspect that the NUFC media team moderated the questions as it was all too soft.

Pardew came over as a decent enough fella and was quite honest - especially about his own failings to date. In my opinion he also sounds like he is not the sharpest tool in the box and managed to contradict himself a number of times.

Reading through Twitter and text messages from friends, 'honesty' was probably the word most used. Does honesty from a manager win you football matches? It doesn't look like it at the moment.

Lets hope he stops tinkering with formations and playing players out of position and we stay in the top flight where we belong - maybe then 'Pards' can splash some of the Carroll cash on a couple of Reo-Coker's and Etherington's.

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