If we were to quickly review what Alan Pardew has done in his first few weeks on Tyneside, we’d say he has stabilized the Newcastle defense, and worked to ensure Newcastle are even more deadly at set plays.
John and Alan – a terrific shot from yesterday
So that’s not a bad beginning for Alan, and he’s been very smart not to change things big time, right at the beginning, but kept the momentum going.
Other experienced managers have been guilty of that this season – Gerard Houllier, Roy Hodgson and Avram Grant to name but three, and their clubs have struggled mightily – but not Newcastle.
Pardew told the Evening Chronicle today:
“You can’t disguise the link with Sir Bobby and JC – and nor would I want to.”
“He was here alongside Sir Bobby during those great years. And those are the years that we want to bring back.”
Once Bobby Robson was sacked for only being 5th in the Premier League in late August of 2004, Newcastle finished in the following positions, with points secured and the managers during the season:
2004-2005 12th 43 Souness 2005-2006 7th 58 Souness, Roeder 2006-2007 13th 43 Roeder 2007-2008 12th 43 Allardyce, Keegan 2008-2009 18th 34 Keegan, Kinnear, Hughton, Shearer
That’s not good reading, in fact it’s depressing, and shows the decline of the Newcastle United club once Bobby Robson left – sorry – was sacked.
And it’s only been since a year last July, when Chris Hughton took over a completely devastated club that was on its knees, that Newcastle have been on the march back to where the great Bobby Robson had left the club.
And whatever happens to Chris Hughton from now on, he’ll be remembered and revered for the fantastic job he did for Newcastle United – make no mistake about that.
Chris did the really hard part – getting the club back into the top tier at the very first attempt, after all those supposed experts were predicting (hoping?) the club would sink much further down the leagues. just as Leeds United had done previously.
Alan Pardew has picked up the baton from where Chris left off, and seems to be doing some good and sensible things at Newcastle.
After all he just signed up John Carver yesterday, which cannot be bad, and Alan talked about what the new Assistant Manager can do to move the club forward:
“The great thing is that John can help guide me and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes of the past.”
“The fans can trust him with the team because he is Newcastle United through and through.”
And one very interesting thing is that Pardew says that Carver was the very first person to be offered the position.
That’s after we had reports of Chris Powell, Phil Parkinson and Peter Taylor being closely linked with the job – in fact Peter Taylor made a statement he had turned the position down, so that’s very odd.
Alan continued:
“I wanted to take my time. But John Carver fits in perfectly with what we have here – I couldn’t think of anybody better.”
“He was the first person that we offered the job to, despite all of the names.” “There are various reasons why we did that.”
“But once JC left Sheffield United, he was the obvious choice.”
But we don’t care whether John was the first or the 50th coach offered the job, we’re just pleased that Alan has brought in John Carver, who is a huge favorite with Newcastle fans.
Alan now has as his right hand man – a coach who is Newcastle through and through – just like the rest of us.
Comments welcome.
17 comments so far
cyprus
Jan 19, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Comment #1Maybe u give him too much credit. This is still CH’s team, although, like u say, to his credit he has not rocked the boat much. What I do like about him is that he has given fringe players a chance, something CH was averse to doing.
Magpietillidie22
Jan 19, 2011 at 2:13 PM
Comment #2Well no, its not CHs team really, CH’s team would include the buys that are now seeming a complete waste of money.
CH inherited our team
GeordieGerman
Jan 19, 2011 at 2:14 PM
Comment #3I think John Carver was the first one to be offered the job, but he turned it down first time round. I maybe wrong?
cyprus
Jan 19, 2011 at 2:19 PM
Comment #4Magpie at 2, yes he inherited most of the team, but he handled it for over a year, so it makes it his. And he was able to lift the spirit as well. I don’t want to sing his praises here as this article is about the new management team, which admittedly has been doing well. Look at what Dalglish is (not) doing at Liverpool. And, as a few may remember, he was sxxxe as a manager fior us
boater
Jan 19, 2011 at 2:46 PM
Comment #5dalglish brought hamann, speed, dabizas, given, solano, pearce, ketsbaia and andy griffin to the club.
Some stinkers too.. carl serat, guivarch, rush, andersson and the unbearably frustrating pistone.
Then there’s JD tomasson who was a class finisher just moved too young then got played out of position all season.
hitman
Jan 19, 2011 at 2:52 PM
Comment #6carroll oot the spuds game
http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20110119/carroll-out-of-spurs-game_2281670_2270859?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
kevymartins
Jan 19, 2011 at 2:53 PM
Comment #7Hitman i was just gona post that…buh you got there first 😉
Toonmania
Jan 19, 2011 at 3:12 PM
Comment #8it seems as though SWP move to Fulham has hit a stumbling block as they are only willing to pay £55 to £60,000 of his wages, hmmmm not sure he would get any more from newcastle he’s not worth it, i would rather have Adam Johnson
arcarius
Jan 19, 2011 at 3:16 PM
Comment #9SWP is a joke, I’d rather have Routledge back, enuff said
Hahaha, Adam Johnson can literally walk into any of the top 4’s starting line up and he’s the future of England already, so what does that tells you about our chances of getting him? Even on loan?
Lets be realistic guys 😀
cgrizzly87
Jan 19, 2011 at 3:22 PM
Comment #10Celtic have released Kapo, and I have a sneaking feeling we will sign him ala Pancrate, to replace Wayne as our back up right winger.
That is exactly the type of thing I have come to expect from fat Mike!
Toonmania
Jan 19, 2011 at 3:23 PM
Comment #11nice to dream though 😀
Birts
Jan 19, 2011 at 3:25 PM
Comment #12Crap day for news like, and I have raced home for this !!!! what ever happened to the take over news that people were posting yesterday
Toonmania
Jan 19, 2011 at 3:29 PM
Comment #13Birts,
thats take over news has been hanging around for a couple of weeks now, i’m not really sure what to believe of it, infact i don’t think i believe any of it and sometimes better the devil you know
Birts
Jan 19, 2011 at 3:31 PM
Comment #14Just looking for news toonmania especially since WR went yesterday just hoping on that taarabt to be coming the other way mate
stestickle
Jan 19, 2011 at 7:32 PM
Comment #15What about that kid from Norway who supports the toon cant remember his name think it was something like petr skelberg or something he is out of contract this summer i think might be worth a shout and would fit in with young cheap and some potential and might also play both side not sure
stestickle
Jan 19, 2011 at 7:42 PM
Comment #16no got the name wrong just checked up it,s Per Ciljan Skjelbred right footed.
korn8
Jan 19, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Comment #17Thats right, stestickle. He plays for the norwegian club Rosenborg and have supported Newcastle since he was a kid.
This article ( http://www.tv2sporten.no/fotball/tippeligaen/everton-newcastle-og-west-ham-sjekket-skjelbred-3268228.html ) confirms that Newcastle(alongside W. Ham and Everton) had scouts watching him in the Champions League matches against FC København.
I suppose Newcastle will try to get him as a free transfer player, but he is borned in Trondheim and have always played for Rosenborg, i doubt that he will leave Rosenborg for nothing. I would be surprised by that to be honest, Ciljan is known as a fair guy and i doubt that he will leave Rosenborg for free.
I feel certain that he can become a good player in the premiership. Lets hope he comes to Newcastle if thats the case 🙂