Alex Ferguson has talked about the tremendous job Alan Pardew has done at Newcastle, since he arrived in December of 2010, and he was rewarded yesterday with a new eight year contract, and his coaching staff also got long term renewed contracts yesterday.
Alex Ferguson – the best British manager ever
Of course Alex and Alan Pardew are good friends, and Alan often calls up the Manchester United supremo, as he did when he was offered the Newcastle job almost two years ago – and not surprisingly Alex said – take it.
It’s not an easy job managing a Premier League club these days, especially when you are in Europe, because you have to get the balance right between fielding a strong enough side to win the European games, while at the same time resting some of your top players for the league games – which is the bread and butter of success in England.
This is what Alex said today:
“The club has come on tremendously over the past couple of years under Alan Pardew.” “They were challenging for a place in the Champions League last season.” “They missed out, but are playing in the Europa League and enjoying a taste of the level that their history suggests should be a natural backdrop for the club.”
“They have a mid-table place this season and are a more streamlined outfit these days.” “But they run a tight ship, no doubt influenced by owner Mike Ashley, who has perhaps applied some of the principles that brought him success in the business world.”
“They will be all the better for that after a period of unrest and a revolving door for managers.” “They look a stable club to me now and could make a serious bid to qualify for the top European competition next season.”
“Alan got away with his risky selection in Madeira by coming home with a draw from what almost amounted to his reserve side.” “It’s always a gamble when you don’t make wholesale changes and if they don’t work you are embarrassed and left with egg on your face.
“But you have to back your judgement and aim to select sides that are as fresh as you can get them.”
Ferguson himself is now operating under tighter financial controls at the Old Trafford club under the American owners – the Glazer family – who also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers American football club.
The tighter financial controls are linked with the Financial Fair Play Rules (FFP) which are starting to come into effect for European football clubs.
Newcastle’s aim for the future is hopefully to build a side like Kevin Keegan built in the 1990s that can challenge Manchester United for the title.
But to do that we will have to rely heavily on Graham Carr and his scouting staff to spot top players who are still relatively unknown, because there’s no way Newcastle will pay out big transfer money for players anytime in the forseeable future.
Newcastle have done quite well in getting players like Yohan Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Cheick Tiote, Demba Ba, Davide Santon, Dan Gosling and Gael Bigirimana all in for a total of around £17M for those top seven players – that’s very good business by Newcastle.
It’s clear that Graham Carr is important to Newcastle’s future, which is why he got a new eight year deal with Newcastle in June.
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16 comments so far
MUTINYbyLEMONS
Sep 28, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Comment #1Promotion, top ten, top eight, top six, top five, top four. Yaaaaay the club is progressing. I’m loving it.
Tsunki
Sep 28, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Comment #2He he who is this Fegusomn character of which you speak, Ed? Speed over spellcheck there ha ha.
Rozzy
Sep 28, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Comment #3Toon linked with Seydou Doumbia according to talk sport. £16m bargain !!!!!
Kyo
Sep 28, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Comment #4We should have strengthened in the summer to place a top 4 challenge. We still have a chance if we are around the top 6 by January and buy some players then, otherwise I’m not sure if we will be getting Champions League football with our current players as they may want to leave before then.
bills-son
Sep 28, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Comment #5Fans on earlier commenting on Llambias talking about transfers and saying its about time the club informed fans are missing a big point – the club’s policy on transfers has been spelt out clearly for the past three years.
It’s dead simple – we won’t pay more than we think a player is worth. End of – whether its £1M, £2M or £3M more. Do that 2/3 times in a year and you could be paying another £5M-£10M out – which is another HBA, Cabaye or Tiote we could’ve signed.
rainrix
Sep 28, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Comment #6Fegusomn does actually look surprisingly like a Scandinavian surname, fergies norwegian cousin perhaps? 🙂
dave 1961
Sep 28, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Comment #7Alex and Alan Pardew are good friends, seem good friends too, i mean Obertan would you sell him to a good friend. no doubt the picture was taken after the Obertan sale.
cyprus
Sep 28, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Comment #8Nice words from Fergie, but also from Lambias and AP. In fact, AP recently changed his tune (e.g. ‘NUFC always play to win’ as opposed to ‘we must educate the fans’ {to accept mediocrity}- my addition-. An Lambias talking about Europe and the bright future is music to the ears. Hope it works out with Pards, it’s a risk this 8 year contract but it’s a sound idea. Now, let’s tie up HBA, Ba, Cisse and Tiote till their 50 bday and we are good to go
2_goal_tino
Sep 28, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Comment #9Anyone seen this?
http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,,16497_8115461,00.html
Good to see the South still think of us as delusional with exceedingly high expectations! Will that ever change?
mr.guilfoyle@hotmail.co.uk
Sep 28, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Comment #10bills-son, spot on bud
lesh
Sep 28, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Comment #11“They missed out, but are playing in the Europa League and enjoying a taste of the level that their history suggests should be a natural backdrop for the club.”
Europa League our natural backdrop??
Cheeky git!!!
wynsleap
Sep 28, 2012 at 11:31 AM
Comment #12bills-son – You say, “Do that 2-3 times in a year and you could be paying another £5 M – £10 M out – which is another HBA, Cabaye or Tiote we could have signed”.
Have to agree with those figures and the sentiment.
Unfortunately apart from Anita we DIDN’T spend those savings on other players like them. The nett spend in the last window after outgoing transfers was nil (or a profit?)
I don’t think any fan wants us to go out and pay WELL over the odds now for a player but a lack of genuine, sensible investment has come back to hit us hard taking into account our current injury situation.
Where is the value of £1-2 M saved then, when we are having to put out players who are not yet ready or good enough? A fall down the league as a consequence would lose that kind of League placement money anyway.
I think a touch of common sense where necessary should always prevail over this hardened, macho attitude of player purchasing.
one Tony Green
Sep 28, 2012 at 11:56 AM
Comment #13@2 Goal Tino That is because most Newcastle fans are delusional. Look at the comments on this page from Lesh calling Sir Alex a cheeky git for being honest. If there were more people like Bills-son on this site who give well thought out and reasoned posts maybe other fans would not think we were.
Munster Mag
Sep 28, 2012 at 1:54 PM
Comment #14Completely agree Wynsleap. Of course, one can also argue that our valuations of a player may be lower than the market’s valuation, but thats another story !
Lee Dodd
Sep 28, 2012 at 9:37 PM
Comment #15When We ALL look back we were in a hell of a state now we have moved up with a Strong Young Squad that is showing signs of even winning something !!!! Since when have we had a squad like this ???
karasu
Sep 29, 2012 at 4:34 AM
Comment #16Well, well, well. Ain’t Simon Jordan just stating the obvious most of the time in that Sky Sports video?
I don’t believe Fat Mike will give a record setting 8 year contract without any safety nets like termination clauses and performance clauses, being the businessman that he is. And obviously, a manager is only as good as his last game. Fans expectation will definitely be higher this time round.
Obviously the same for me, I will only believe in a manager that is a winner. But Pards has given me enough reasons to believe in him for a long time and so I shall believe in him for a long time.