Alan Pardew has admitted that he doesn’t know if Jak Alnwick is good enough to do the job in the approximately seven games he will have as the Newcastle goalkeeper, before either Rob Elliot or Tim Krul can return from injury.
There’s a short answer to that question – we will find out very soon.
Jak Alnwick – Newcastle United goalkeeper
Alan Pardew, who today was named Manager of the Month in the Premier League for November, has been interviewed and he’s talked about Jak, who Newcastle must now rely on, because we are not allowed to sign a goalkeeper on an emergency loan.
This is what the manager has said about young Jak:
“I think Jak knows this is a real game changer for him,” “He’ll have, roughly, seven matches in goal and it’s a great opportunity.”
“Although he’s very young to be Newcastle United’s goalkeeper Jak is confident he can do the job,” “Let’s hope he can. The ball is very much in Jak’s court.”
“Who knows, after five or six games we might be kicking ourselves that we didn’t give him a new contract earlier. It might have been cheaper. Jak’s a humble guy. He’s got no delusions of grandeur but he believes he’s ready.”
“If I’m honest, I don’t know whether Jak’s good enough yet.” “But what can I do?”
The news behind the scenes is that Alan Pardew has been impressed with the way Jak has trained this week, but of course there’s nothing like the real thing – the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
So Jak will be between the sticks at the Emirates tomorrow afternoon, in a game that is being televised live around the world.
We wish Jak all the very best – and it’s simply a great opportunity for the 21 year-old and he knows it.
We don’t know whether he will be good enough – but we certainly hope so.
Howay The Lads!!
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11 comments so far
optimistic prime
Dec 12, 2014 at 11:05 PM
Comment #1Another show of faith
optimistic prime
Dec 12, 2014 at 11:07 PM
Comment #2Today lesson from the manager has been how to inspire and give players confidence.
Cabellas not ready and I don’t have a clue about Jak.
Awesome preparation on all fronts.
IrishGeordie9
Dec 12, 2014 at 11:27 PM
Comment #3What do you call a deer with no eyes ?… No idea.
What do you… Oh, it appears I missed out on the jokes. Phew, I dont like being down to that level… Its all abit alien to me.
Anyway, regarding Newcastle vs Arsenal, I think with everything that has happened to us in terms of injuries and suspensions I believe that realisticaly, we should be losing this game. Arsenal have just had a great result against Galatasary and that will have fired them up perfectly for this game, im not saying we cant win because as we’ve proven we are more then capable of pulling off shock results, im just saying that we shouldnt be beating Arsenal at the emirates due to our injuries and suspensions. I mean, our record there doesnt exactly fill me with hope. Having said that the optimism in me says a 2-2 draw. The realism in me says 3-1. Obviously I hope its the former.
Dulcinera
Dec 12, 2014 at 11:28 PM
Comment #4Its funny how people find reasons to slate Pardew in the most ridiculous ways.
Pardew is being purely honest in stating the He doesnt know if Alwinck is good enough for toon due to never having played 1st team footie and that Cabella isnt ready for PL yet, which we can all see from our own eyes is the truth, yet some expect him to come out and lie and place false enthusiasm in the players which amounts to lying to the fans, which i have more a problem with than being truthfull.
Footballers should not be molleycuddled and praised when they have shown or produced nothing to deserve that faith. Why should Pardew come and say Alwinck will be brilliant and Cabella is ready for the pl And is amazing? Thyeve done nothing to prove this
beermonkey
Dec 12, 2014 at 11:31 PM
Comment #5prime
a show of faith would have been a start
but I don’t know if he is good enough
has he not seen any of the under21s matches does he not like to be informed of any up and coming youth players on the books
answer to this must be no this is why its been such a surprise that some of these youngsters have done so well
he has never watched them
g.s.tooner
Dec 12, 2014 at 11:33 PM
Comment #6I feel like another way of looking at it is that he’s telling jak that the opportunity is his for the taking, which for a young player who needs to prove himself is the best motivation he can get. You cant say pardew isn’t good at getting the best out of his team. None of his players have a bad word to say about him.
IrishGeordie9
Dec 12, 2014 at 11:38 PM
Comment #7Dulcinera
I understand your view and agree partly, I wouldnt view Pardew lying to us to help instill posative things into Alnwick’s and Cabella’s heads as a bad thing. Saying what he has said is going to make the fans more conscious for the game and doubtful, and the players will feel like the manager doesnt rate them. Personally I dont think there is anything wrong with Pardew saying this, or pardew telling a white lie because everyone man manages differently. If Pardew told a white lie I would be happy because I would know that He has fired them up appropriately for games and if he is saying that they are good it will only help there confidence. They will perform better.
Having said that I also agree wiyh what you said about him telling the truth because that will make them want to play well and prove themselves which will also make them play better. I personally dont think that there is anything wrong with what has said.
jimmysmith
Dec 12, 2014 at 11:38 PM
Comment #8Well, he can watch the under 21s all he likes, and get updates constantly from his staff, but if a player isn’t obviously showing, then you would have your doubts. I could have done a job in the under 21s, but wouldn’t have lasted 5 minutes in the EPL, much less at a packed St James, in his favor though he’s come in and done well, but Pardews is just saying it as it is, and it is a concern.
Dulcinera
Dec 12, 2014 at 11:53 PM
Comment #9Irish
I have a problem with ANYONE telling a white lie to instill confidence in anyone. The truth is all that matters to me and the truth is truth and there is no grey area . There is a fine line between being brutally honest and being borderline arrogant, and arrogance is what most toon fans associate with Pardew. But I don’t undersand this.
Jose Mourinho is the most arrogant man in the business and yet regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time. I dont think Pardew even comes close to this type of arrogance despite what some on here think
Mister tuff constantly likes to refer to Pardew making some kind of quotes regarding to a dinner party in which Alan calls himself “the king” even though he has no disputable PHYSICAL FACTS pertaining to whether this conversation even took place at all. He merely takes quotes attributed to someone online as FACT.
runheed
Dec 13, 2014 at 9:00 AM
Comment #10Hello? I’m going back in time to see if anyone was here a little while ago..
Ericles
Dec 13, 2014 at 2:49 PM
Comment #11Typical of the muppet Pardew! What a way to inspire confidence in Jak? For a fact Pardew we KNOW you are not good enough!