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Newcastle cancel Christmas party ‘out of respect to fans’

Dirty Tackle

Following QPR's lead, Newcastle have decided to cancel their annual Christmas party out of a sense of shame for being a disappointment to fans this season. They've now lost seven of their last nine matches in all competitions and sit 15th in the Premier League table after finishing fifth just last season. Though QPR were in dead last with no wins to their credit when they announced their party was canceled, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew feels that their situation is "horrible" enough to warrant an absence of holiday cheer.

[Also: Lionel Messi hugged by a fan – during the match]

From PA Sport:

Alan Pardew told the Evening Chronicle: "It's out of respect to our fans and what we have served them this year. There's no party for us, and the same for the staff. That's how it should be.

"Trust me, there have been horrible things said about our group and our staff, but we are together, and we are fighting and trying to put it right.

"The fans have to realise this isn't just a game to us, it's our livelihoods and our profession. It pays our bills.

"Not only that, we have to have a certain pressure of entertaining our fans, who pay good money to come and watch.

"Looking at all those factors, we have not done enough this year. That's why I think it's right we called it off."

So Demba Ba will have to drink his syrup alone this Christmas and Fabricio Coloccini will have no one to decorate his hair. On the bright side, at least this gives owner Mike Ashley one less excuse to strip off his clothes in public.

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