Have we improved under Alan Pardew?

toonsy

Hughton v Pardew.
A lot of other sites around the web seem to be clocking on to the fact that Alan Pardew has now been in charge for ten games, well ten league games anyway.

It is perhaps a bit harsh to judge him entirely, although it does seem that football chairmen seem to think differently these days and very rarely offer a new management appointment any real time to try and influence things, but the question I want to ask is whether or not YOU think Alan Pardew is doing a good job or not?

Now I’ve had this planned for a while to be honest, but I’ve had to change it a bit as I don’t want to be accused of copying anyone or stealing others ideas, so I thought I would start by looking at Pardew’s first ten league matches against Hughton’s last ten league matches to see if the comparison could give us any clue as to who is better.

I suppose the ultimate place to start is with regard to results. Hughton managed three wins, three draws and four defeats in his last ten games compared to Pardew’s three wins, four draws and three defeats. That gives Hughton 12 points to Pardew’s 13, and it could be argued that with games against Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Tottenham (twice) the current boss has had a tougher run of fixtures and that Pardew has managed to gain those results without the use of Andy Carroll is seven of those ten games.

Pardew 1-0 Hughton.

What about goals scored and goals conceded though? Who organizes the team better?

Well Hughton’s team scored 15 and conceded 18 in his final ten games which gives him a difference of -3. Compare that to Pardew who has managed to get his team to score 16 and concede 16 which makes him all square on the goal difference front.

So under Pardew we have scored more and conceded less in a ten game period, and Pardew’s run of games has been, arguably, tougher than Hughton’s.

Pardew 2-0 Hughton.

In the final days of Chris Hughton we had started to seen some indiscipline creep into the camp. Joey Barton was retrospectively banned for punching Morten Gamst Pedersen whilst Mike Williamson suffered the same fate for his ‘challenge’ on Johan Elmander of Bolton, so how do the two compare in the Premier League foul play stakes?

Well Newcastle racked up 23 yellow cards and one red in Hughton’s final ten games compared to 21 yellows and no reds in Pardew’s first ten league games. It’s not a major difference, but there is a difference all the same.

Pardew 3-0 Hughton.

How about match attendances? Who is the bigger draw?

Both manager’s had five home games in their respective ten game reference period, but it’s Pardew who has come out on top again. In Pardew’s ten league games there has been a total of 246,730 fans through the turnstiles at St James’ Park compared to Hughton’s 228,611. This gives Pardew an average crowd of 49,346 compared to Hughton’s 45,722.

In the interest of balance though, it’s worth pointing out that the fixtures that worked for Pardew in the first couple of examples could well be responsible for this, but it’s still an increase of 8% so I’ll have to give it to Pardew again.

Pardew 4-0 Hughton.

Now please don’t think that this is an assassination of Chris Hughton, because it isn’t. I was as shocked and dismayed as the rest when Hughton got the boot and still feel sorry for the bloke over the way it was handled.

Still, I always give people a chance to prove what they can do before writing them off, and that is what I have, and continue to do with Alan Pardew. You’ll see, or read, no knicker twisting from me about it, certainly not three months after the event anyway.

What I have done here is gather statistical data together to compare the two, and Pardew has come out on top.

The results could have been even more impressive when you consider that, as mentioned earlier, Andy Carroll hasn’t been available for seven of those ten games, Cheik Tiote hasn’t been available for three games, and now we have no Shola Amoebi either. Make if it what you will, but these are the facts.

What do you think?
[poll id=”5″]

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

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192 thoughts on “Have we improved under Alan Pardew?”

  1. Noodles and strings 😆

    I’m not discrediting Hughton or being a naysayer at all, but people need to stop mourning, wake up, and realise he is gone and we are doing much the same with regard to results. Actually, slightly better in fact.

    Hughton will always have a place in my little list of NUFC legends, but I’ll get behind Pardew now as he is the man in the seat.

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  3. Understand your sentiments Toonsy – the cut ran deep with the sacking of Chris for me, but it goes without saying I hope Pardew proves my gut feeling wrong – its just he makes me uneasy – but I am willing for him (and wanting him) to do the business (as no doubt Chris would)

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  5. Stardust we can have our differing opinions about Hughton, but like Carroll, it doesn’t really matter because he is history. We are NUFC, not Hughton or Andy Carroll United. Like it or not Pardew is the manager now, and I hope, in the long term, he proves you wrong. 🙂

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  8. Stardust – Like I said, and as you read at the time no doubt, I was just as angry and upset about Hughton getting the boot as anyone, but I moved on quickly as the players did.

    However, I’m not understanding why you are saying that there is an agenda in this article?

    Are we better under Pardew? Is a question.

    The poll, which is pretty even, is a straight-forward choice between the two.

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  10. Toonsy – Im not sure how you can accredit the success in the run since Pardew came to Pardew himself – it came from the mentality installed by Chris – as I explained above. It was epitomised by JB saying “The King is dead, long live the king”

    Make no mistake about it – what Pardew said at Half time in the Arsenal game worked brilliantly – but he didnt know how to handle the situation before that – just look at the Fulham game and first half.

    Trust is earned I suppose – and I cant do it yet – particularly as he lied (imo) when he got the job. First he had heard my ****!

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  11. Toonsy you could have done the poll comparing CH’s 1st 10 games Vs Pards would that be more fair ❓ ❓
    Instead of CH’s last 10 games after he has had a year or so to mould the team to his liking 😀

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  14. Stardust – The success is down to the players. They had a choice to whether work for Pardew or not bother. As has been demonstrated with the sale of Carroll, they aren’t robots and will have moments where they are feeling sorry for themselves.

    They didn’t do that after Hughton left.

    I’m sorry, but I’m not buying into the fact that Hughton built the team spirit all by himself. I never have done, although I’m not denying that he had a hand in it of course. There were too many player meetings which Hughton just let happen without him being there that makes me believe that the players are mainly responsible for what we see today.

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  16. Big Dave – I could have done, but it would have been with the same players against Championship (easier) opposition.

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  17. DJG – “and I hope, in the long term, he proves you wrong” – so do I!

    Toonsy “However, I’m not understanding why you are saying that there is an agenda in this article?” – to be fair fella it was just banter – but for an opinion poll to be fair – it doesnt need a 4 – 0 defeat for CH just before it. For example (devils advocate here) Lets imagine where most supporters would feel we would finish in the league after a heavy defeat or after slaying the mackems … kind of skews ones thoughts does it not.

    So for poo pooing Chris – I will blush for you 😳 – 😆 😆 😆

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  18. Stardust – I didn;t have Hughton down for a 4-0 defeat. That is what the stats say. I can’t change the stats as they are what they are.

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  19. Toonsy – as I said above – read Jim Collins – Good to Great (Also wrote on a similar vein in “Built to Last” – it separates out the different types of leaders – the CH type outperforms everyone time and time again – in the long run – they outperform markets time and time again.

    The defer all credit to those around them, empower and respect them, guide them, protect them, set them free – but ultimately make decisions and have the respect of all for not being afraid of others – that type of leader – the CH type – is stronger and wiser than them all……

    Its a great read (well if youre a boring git like me anyway)

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  20. I know this completely off topic and someone has probably already mentioned it before but i noticed Plymouth are in a lot of trouble, not only administration but maybe even liquidation 😯
    Even if Peter Reid is manager it’s a sad state of affairs for a club that showed us a lot of respect when we went up.

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  21. Stardust – So is ‘The Toyota Way’. Read that because that’s how I roll, it’s how I manage my workplace.

    There is more than one way to be a successful manager.

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  22. DAN sure toonsy will go on there blog and give them a kind word,yes they were good fans to us m8,not many left eh

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  23. I know, i don’t know much about the situation but every time that Peter Ridsdale pops up the clubs in financial trouble. 😆

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  24. Trouble is Toonsy – imo the stats arent as black and white as you sate – for you ignore the contribution to the collective CH made to the mindset of the players.

    They reacted as he had taught them imo – you simply give all credit to Pardew as he was the manager. Life isnt black and white like that – even though poor commercial managers would try and make some believe that for something to have value – it needs to be mearued and acreddited to someone.

    Intangibles are every bit as valuable as intangibles. Not everything should be measured to have value or accreditation.

    For example – happiness at work? Instilled professionalism? In your hypothesis all credit goes to the incumbent leader whereas many deserve credit for those intanibles – oh f me – I do sound like wankyticket dont I 😆

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  25. Stardust – “Andy Carroll isn’t good enough!”

    😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

    Stardust – “Mike Ashley is a loyal man who is running the club as good as I anyone I can remember”

    😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

    Your opinions are like Lehman Bros’ bonds – Worthless!

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  26. “toonsy
    Posted February 13, 2011 at 8:17 PM
    Stardust – So is ‘The Toyota Way’. Read that because that’s how I roll, it’s how I manage my workplace.

    There is more than one way to be a successful manager.”

    I dont say there wasnt fella – but one type is far more suited to the long term success of an organisation – it grows and flourishes even when they are gone.

    The companies to which I refer (on your fact based analogy) have outperformed the FTSE 500 year on year for almost 40 years!

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  28. Stardust – Well it’s a good job this is a football club and not a different business then isn’t it 😆

    End of the day, is Pardew reaping the rewards of what Hughton put in? Yes. But it’s also petty and childish to refute that he hasn’t done anything himself.

    The performances have improved under Pardew, as have the results, and that is with less players available.

    Really, as a fan, I couldn’t give a toss whether a manager slaughters kittens in his spare time, spends all his time in a whorehouse or whatever, as long as he is getting the team to play and is getting the results. At the moment Pardew is doing that.

    Now I see that Hughton’s previous games in the Premier League have been forgotten. Why? He could have built the team morale up then as he had what? Ten games? Why wasn’t there an appreciable difference after that? Why did it take a players meeting to sort it out after Leyton Orient? Why did senior player like Harper, Nolan, Smith organise it? Does this mean that Hughton actually benefitted from THEIR work?

    It all goes round in circles. Hughton benefited from that meeting, Pardew benefitted from Hughton who benefitted from that meeting etc…..

    The one constant in this, through Hughton and Pardew, are the ones that get little credit for instilling team spirit, and that is the players.

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  40. its a very good thing that he made a good start, a bad start would have destroyed everything. There would be carnage, the players would have been down, the fans on Ashley and Pardews back even more and it would have been a disaster, instead he made a good start, there was 50,000 plus last couple of games and the arsenal game shows how much difference the 12th man effect can have on a team! It’s all good on Tyneside at the moment!!!

    The possible outcome to a bad start in his first 10 games doesn’t bear thinking about!

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  44. Toonsy
    Works killing me at the moment mate! Gave it over to a friend only to find out the same is happening to him!

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  48. Toonsy “Yes. But it’s also petty and childish to refute that he hasn’t done anything himself.”

    Though thats what your stats too – I was arguing you couldnt split them – ie both are responsible for the success since Chris left – therefore the stats didnt matter? So the 4 – 0 to Pards was imo not fair?

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  49. Dave/Toonsy/anyone else

    How many points until people reckon we are safe? I know we should be aiming higher but it is still very congested from 9th to 18th really.

    Just 5 points in it and although we have a game in hand a couple of bad results and we MIGHT have a scrap on our hands. The nest few games are the key to this season and beyond!

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  51. Toonsy:
    If you really want to compare Pardew and Hughton, then its best to compare them on the basis of how the team plays next season…(Considering Pardew stays that long ;-))….

    Whose mistake is it that there are lesser no. of players in the club?
    Chris Hughton had convinced Mike Ashley to sign 3 players in Jan last season, even though we were in Championship and MA had invested 25-30 mn paying the club debts.
    Pardew has lost 3 players and signed an injured player….

    Well I have given credit to Pardew for not changing much around the club and would say he has done a good job on the field till now. But wouldn’t accept that Pardew is better than Chris Hughton on the basis of 10 games…. CH had spent 1 and a half years at the club, rebuilding this team….

    p.s. @Stuart79 “Your opinions are like Lehman Bros’ bonds – Worthless!” 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

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  52. Aye Batts – got to Workys doors for advice but the light was off – I looked through the window and saw Big Dave giving Worky a reacharound trying to get you back on his site apparently 😆

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  54. I think we’ll need 40 points this season. Everyone seems to be playing pretty well.

    I’m banking on home games against Wolves, West Brom and Birmingham.

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  55. Batty 😆 😆 well atlest it is out of fat ashes 😆 but then again maybe he was better off 😉

    pearceet I will feel safe when we get 42pts I think 40 might do but I would feel better at 42 and the sooner the better as I think if we hit that soonish we could kick on and try to climb further up 😉

    Toonsy are you thinking of getting a Toon crest the full size of your back ❓

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  56. Stardust
    Posted February 13, 2011 at 9:17 PM

    “Aye Batts – got to Workys doors for advice but the light was off – I looked through the window and saw Big Dave giving Worky a reacharound trying to get you back on his site apparently”

    😆 😆 😆

    We’re just going to go round in circles here. I reckon Pardew is doing well, better than Hughton would have done. You reckon Hughton would have done better. It ends there as it’s boring the **** out of me to be honest. Opinons eh?

    Neeraj – Using any form of comparison with last season is fundamentally flawed. The players brought in cost peanuts, and until now recently nearly all of them had been written off – Routledge and Best. Williamson is fine, but it’s only recently some people have got off Best’s back.

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  58. Big Dave
    Posted February 13, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    “Toonsy are you thinking of getting a Toon crest the full size of your back”

    Either a crest on my chest or a Magpie on my calf mate.

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  61. stardy on the ch thing he was jumping in and oot of bed with fat ash quicker than the prozzies ,kk left in goes clueless jokinear ill in jumps clueless shearer **** on in jumps clueless ,so what did clueless chris expect ❓

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  62. Dave – Aye, I’ll probably go back to the bloke who did the first two as he was good. Unless you want to come across and do it for us? 😆

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  63. Chris did a great job and i cant believe peoples memories are so short.

    Pardew has done ok in his first 10 matches, Didnt Souness go unbeaten in his first 9 or so ??

    Pardew has made 1 promise during his time here and already made to look a liar and an all round **** for his big talk about Carroll.

    See if Pardew can unearth a Tiote, Ben Arfa or Simpson in the summer, Im expecting Carlton Cole, Reo Coker and Konchesky…

    Hughton everytime

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  66. Is Pardew the long term answer? Nope. I have no doubt that he will be **** upon and thrown out the door in much the same way Shearer and Hughton were. Part of me believes this is why he is cheap to get rid of.

    BUT he could work out whilst he is here and continue to improve us and make us stable in the PL.

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  67. “Big Dave
    Posted February 13, 2011 at 9:24 PM
    Stardy I would rather tattoo me eyeballs mate”

    Aye youre right Dave – it was Worky giving you a reacharound after you had kissed, made up and pleaded with him to let Batty back on lol – when I was at the door all I heard was you say to Worky – “I’ll do anything if you let him back on Workybaby” and Worky said “Anything? closely followed by the noise of some kind of zipper coming down 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

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  69. CC – Aye that’s one thing that I’m critical of Pardew for – opening his gob.

    I very much doubt he had much to do with the sale and reckon he was reeling off what he was told about Carroll not going anywhere etc.

    The sad fact is that managers have little or no say in who comes or go at Newcastle these days, and history has proved that.

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  74. There’s probably only 2 managers in the Prem who have total say in who comes and goes.

    I don’t think Pardew lied about Carroll, I think he believed he wouldn’t be sold, that said he should know better as every player has his price no matter who he plays for.

    Imo he did lie about knowing about the job earlier but you won’t find a football manager anywhere that would have given a different answer to the one Pardew gave when asked the question.

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