The Chris Hughton era was prematurely thrown out the window in favour of what Alan Pardew could offer. Pardew was an experienced Premier League manager who, in the eyes of owner Mike Ashley, was the far safer bet to take Newcastle forward. What Ashley failed to ask – as he should have done on multiple occasions before the appointment – was whether Pardew was any good.
Newcastle’s chase for a top four spot, in which they eventually finished fifth, seems a long time ago, as if it doesn’t really belong with the current state of the club.
And in a way it was. The club have shot themselves in the foot more than once since then, failing to hold on to the very promising position that seemingly fell into their lap. Prior to securing Europa League football, no one would have bet on the club finishing where they did. Now, with the strength of the Premier League, there may be little hope of rediscovering that opportunity for a sustained ascent in English football.
The finger has been pointed at Ashley, rightly. He failed to back his manager in the transfer market and his since brought in a figure in Joe Kinnear whose heyday in the game precedes a large percentage of today’s fan base.
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But how long can fans and the media take aim at everyone else? Sure, the club are far from run perfectly, maybe even adequately, but it’s not really a hopeless state. Last January brought about a level of spend that should become the accurate definition of panic buying. Pardew knew the limits of his squad. There was no way, combined with the injuries, that he’d be able to successfully juggle European and domestic football. Fortunately Ashley saw the same and was persuaded to launch himself and the club into the market.
So what’s wrong with the team at present? Why are they incapable of beating rivals Sunderland who are in a horrendous mess? There’s not a whole lot wrong with the team – and that’s the worry. Pardew has failed to bring about a string of results that should match the quality in the current squad.
Yohan Cabaye was linked with a move to Arsenal; we all know how good he is. Loic Remy, despite being on loan, was previously coveted by teams higher up in the league that Newcastle. Hatem Ben Arfa is an international of fantastic ability. The team are hardly starved of quality and attacking promise.
You have to look to Ashley again. He has a limited grasp of football, why else would he employ Kinnear? But despite Newcastle not holding the financial capabilities of Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal, why are they not able to match those who are around them?
Southampton, for example, aren’t doing anything miraculous, they’re just being smart. They’ve brought in a forward-thinking manager who takes action when he discovers a problem. The excuse of small squads or injury plagues will only stretch so far. But Ashley doesn’t think like that, and it would be extremely optimistic to assume he’d look to the continent for someone to steady the ship.
Pardew is deserving of his critics. But the problem also lies with the fact that this is a landscape where he of limited scope is of no use to those at the top of English football. Clubs want foreign managers – or at least those who have adopted styles from the continental – because their approach is applicable to the shifting patterns of the game. They’re tactically astute and they know how to bring the best out of what they have – and not just from a man-management perspective.
Pardew may be relieved of duties off the pitch. But he’s far from doing a good or consistent job with the playing staff he has at his disposal.
Is Alan Pardew the problem at Newcastle?
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