Managers' chief condemns Pardew headbutt

Ah yes, the "Harden up" defence... Pardew's "headbutt" was hardly a headbutt at all. But Meyler didn't milk the situation or complain. It's the FA, the Premier League, and Newcastle Utd, amongst others, that have taken steps against Pardew. And rightly so, he has form for this behaviour and shouldn't have been obstructing Meyler in the first place. Even he has admitted that. If the FA were to excuse him for this then other managers might start citing it as a defence for their own actions "yes, I laid him out cold, but if you're to punish me then surely Pardew needs to be punished retroactively too...". As for Anelka, you really think that anyone taking offence at someone making an anti-Semitic, neo-nazi salute should "drink some cement"?

There are some darned good chip shops and curry houses in Shields! And Minchella's ice cream is excellent - although Rossi's from Southend (another regular haunt from my childhood, and relatives of that pony-tailed one from Status Quo) can give 'em a run for their money...

Like the Anelka incident, I feel the "victims" need to drink some cement. Only a headbutt in the vaguest sense of the word. Good theatre too.

Ha ha ha ha ha. Next you'll be saying all the best restaurants are there.

They just think it's flashier and trendier, in reality the really flash nightlife is all along the seafront in my hometown South Shields... ;)

Thanks for that mate! Had no idea Newcastle was flashier/trendier (am more familiar with the south and north west of England) but some things make more sense now (when I heard of the Geordie shore show I thought 'are they taking the p**s, is it satirical etc? then realised it wasn't). Hard for a non Geordie/English to differentiate the 2 and for us, especially since the Ginola years, its all about Newcastle when we talk about this part of England. Fair enough re Sessegnon. I thought he scored a few important goals when he was at Sunderland and he had become a favourite of the crowd (maybe a bit like Ben Arfa at Newcastle, classy goals but not much in between.)

Hello Nick, how's things? The two cities are culturally different: Newcastle can appear to be a lot more flash than Sunderland - it has the nightclubs, the bars, the shops etc. a more renowned university, a reputation for being a party city (have you seen Geordie Shore?). Sunderland, however, is often seen as the more industrial, less illustrious neighbour, although it's no coincidence that the club's badge used to include a ship - it was said to be a nod to Sunderland's superiority over Newcastle as the region's (perhaps the world's) premier ship-building city. The rivalry pre-dates the football teams (the cities took opposing sides during the Jacobite Rebellion), but for a long while it was pretty good-natured. My Sunderland-supporting uncle speaks of how he would often attend Newcastle matches to lend them his support on weekends when Sunderland were playing away, and in most famililes in the north-east you'll find a mix of supporters of both clubs. While the rivalry between the clubs and supporters can be fierce (especially when police horses are involved) I still reckon that for most part it's more civil than some other English rivalries. As for Sessegnon, he apparently made it clear that he didn't want to play for Paolo Di Canio, although if he'd hung around for a few more weeks he wouldn't have had to! He was infuriating in a red & white shirt though, capable of some brilliant stuff, but he could go missing for long spells. I haven't really followed closely what he's done since he left us, but I don't think he's done a great deal at West Brom yet. I think he's had a lot of injuries, so maybe PDC was right to let him go.

Hi Hardcore, Is there a big social/cultural difference between Newcastle and Sunderland? As an aside I know you needed the money but imo Sessegnon hasn't been replaced. I think he is one of the most under rated player in Europe. He was pure class in paris and he could have had a much better career imo. Maybe a bit dilettante dunno but always liked the player.

I can't excuse nor condone this behaviour but didn't the player push him out of the way and generally treat Pardew like s^^^.. Perhaps also that with disciplinary action the player who caused the disturbance should also be reprimanded to for starting the issue. Pardew's behaviour was bang out of order ,I dont believe he started the incident though, its similar to Muscat vs Kosmina and plastic chairs at Docklands .

I wondered if there was also bit of north-east rivalry boiling over in this incident: Meyler and Elmohamady (the other Hull player who was on the scene) are both ex-Sunderland players, and appeared to say something to Pardew. Some "bantz" regarding the recent north-east derbies, or Pardew's parlous position at St James' perhaps?

If Anelka got 5 weeks for the quenelle, surely Pardew will get 10 weeks + for what he did?! The headbutt itself wasn't really one but as a coach he should have known better. And I have to say well done Steve Bruce for not adding fuel to the fire (even the Irish player was pretty good too, many other players would have faked injury, rolled on the ground screaming etc).