Alan Pardew’s unlikely lads.

toonsy

Pardew puttung the lads through their paces.
Alan Pardew is yet to impress some, which is harsh in my opinion but everyone is entitled to one I guess.

Judging Pardew is tough at the minute as this isn’t his team.

The right time to judge him is after the summer and beyond, way into next season. He’ll have his own team and will have been able to put his own stamp on the way we play and so on. However, it hasn’t stopped me being impressed with what he has done so far.

There isn’t much difference in terms of results between Chris Hughton and Alan Pardew, but what I will say is that despite the injuries and lack of players that Pardew has had at his disposal he has matched the points rate we achieved under Chris Hughton earlier on in the season. However, comparison isn’t the point of this article. It’s the lack of players that I want to focus on.

When Andy Carroll went we lost a big part of the team. We got a big fee for him but that wouldn’t have mattered one bit if the gamble of selling Carroll had backfired and we slipped into the relegation mire. It’s thanks to some fantastic performances from some unlikely lads that we aren’t involved that relegation battle. It’s that last line that I want to concentrate on.

Everyone loves Kevin Keegan, well almost everyone, but he had his flaws whilst he was manager of Newcastle United. Tactically, especially first time around, we tended to know one tactic – attack. It was great to watch and nearly got us to the title, but it ended up bringing us nothing. Keegan’s strongest suit was instilling self-belief into players and making them perform beyond their ability, which is something I believe Alan Pardew also has the ability to do to an extent.

Take Leon Best for example. Widely condemned as a failure and looking like heading out on loan under Chris Hughton. Change of manager, give the lad a chance, partly because the player himself was asking and partly through necessity after the Carroll sale admittedly, and we get six league goals in nine league starts (10 appearances) as a result. It would have been easy to include Best at the time, but giving him the confidence to do it on the pitch is not so easy.

Steven Taylor is another example. People scoffed, including me, when Pardew was banging on about Taylor and England and how he needs to live up to his early career expectations. I’ve been critical of Taylor in the past, but these last two performances, in which he has scored two times, have been superb. Maybe Pardew’s influence has helped him to up his game?

You can even look at some of the young players if you like. The majority of them have come in and have looked decent, or exceptional in the case of Shane Ferguson. It’s widely reported that Pardew is heavily involved with the the younger players and often attends their games and training sessions, which will give them a bit more belief in my opinion.

One again, a lot of this has been through necessity, but it’s easy to play a player and let them get on with it. It’s a whole different affair to play a player and to get them to perform. Pardew has done that in the main, and long may it continue!

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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125 thoughts on “Alan Pardew’s unlikely lads.”

  1. Brilliant article, Toonsy! Agree on every point.

    I wasn’t happy with AP a few weeks ago – his stats were terrible, he’d been awful in the January window and talked some utter bobbins at every opportunity.

    But partly due to an up-turn in results, and partly because I think I’m understanding him better, I’m now more comfortable with him being in charge.

    Best of all, he’s managed to take the incredible achievements of Hughton and build on them rather than starting afresh with his own stuff. Couldn’t really ask for more.

    Now, Alan – go display some mastery in the window, please!

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  2. One thing I have a lot of admiration for is the way Pardew has turned so many of the faithfull into fully supporting him in such little time.

    Fair play in my book.

    Saw something which made me chuckle in this article too:-

    http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/7581/6/exclusive-pardew-newcastle-targetting-gascoigne-esque-players

    Fantastic quote –
    “As preparations for the summer transfer window continue Pardew admitted that he is looking to bring some stardust to St James’ Park.”

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  4. Agree toonsy. Taylor was terrific against Chelsea. I am impressed with Pardew. But he need to get this transfer window correct to succeed.

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  5. Pardew has done good and have a more confident outlook on the future than with Hughton. I cannot forget that display away to West Brom it was too bad and Hughton did nothing all game to change things. Lets hope we can turn that result around on Sunday.

    if Jonas out a start for Lua Lua. Wide right. Would like to see it.

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  7. Moreno – when Pards called me last week I told him I was too old to play but happy to sit in the Directors box 🙂

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  8. Moreno, Stardy we also read that Pards is after bringing some Gascoinesque players in.

    Do you fit the bill Stardy?

    I’d hazard a guess you do as you’re sure to have a dressing gown, a fishing rod and a stash of lager in the fridge!

    😉

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  9. Stardust – all those who never believed your inner contacts within the club can jolly well eat their words now! 😀

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  10. App @ 6… nice touch including SBR in his acknowledgement – seems like a thoughtful sort of guy

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  11. Toby – while I can see the reasoning behind some optimistic views of what Pardew is doing – it rankles me that a number of fans say he will go on to be better than Hughton.

    Chris provided a full season unbeaten at home, had a rock solid mentality right through the squad. He only did great things for our club, his chance to achieve greatness was taken from him so we will NEVER know what Chris would have done only was he HAS done.

    It upsets me that a man who has done so much for us is thrown into the bin with the Roeders, Kinnears, Daglishs of the world. We as fans should never dismiss what Chris has done nor negatively speculate on what he would have done when all he had achieved previously was great things – against all odds – for NUFC

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  12. Moreno

    You clearly don’t know Herr von Stardust, he’s a legend in his own lunchtime!

    I wouln’t be surprised if he’s working hard to bring some peace to the world – he’s sure to Blair’s right hand man!

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  18. N’Zogbia, whose frustrations spilt over last week into a training-ground punch-up with team-mate Andy Carroll

    Shay Given’s proposed move to Manchester City

    Injury-jinxed Owen may be sidelined for six weeks

    Barton was yesterday ruled out of action for two months

    wow so many bad news in one article

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  19. one more…Meanwhile, Kinnear said he had been offered the chance to stay in charge until 2012.

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  20. Stardy you and Worky should try to get counselling to help you’s cope with the loss of hoots 😀
    Toonsy very good read and find mesel agreeing with most of what you say 😉

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  21. I’ve been a critic of S Taylor at times, but forget the goals, he has been terrific defensively the past two weeks.

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  22. Always surprised me Dave after Wanky stole and deceived the money from bloggers he treated them as he did – at any moment if anyone had made a criminal complaint he would have been locked up 😯

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  23. Lesh –

    “In addition ‘Athletic’ makes one think of the Greeks. How splendid” 😀

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  24. Stardust I asked you about this the other day but no reply, what’s all this about Wanky Tissue stealing the donations???

    Zog keen to come back then, what’s everyone think? I wasn’t too up for it at first, but if Wigan go down and he says he wants to come to us, I wouldn’t mind seeing us part with 7mil or so for him. He’s certainly premiership proven…

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  25. Also Dave – to be fair I find the poster that I have of Hoots on my bedroom wall helps ease my pain 😆

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  27. Devon – Never saw you asking the other day – sorry fella – it was probably one of the big things that made everyone lose trust in him (plus countless lies that he told about many are now all exposed)

    Briefly – he posted on the blog he needed help to keep the site going for server upgrades but due to financial difficulty and illness he didn’t have the cash.

    He raised almost 500 – but site hosting shouldn’t cost more than around 100 a year, so he then took the remaining money for himself.

    On being captured after being confronted he claimed that he spent the money for repairs to his own computer, and claimed all previous years hosting (even though he had gained advertising revenue) etc etc – he then after a while tried to hide behind Hugh who he said – thought it was OK – but as we all know that was a distraction, it wasn’t Hughs place to say that – it was each contributor.

    So in essence he asked bloggers to donate to keep the site going on the pretence it would be used for ongoing updates and took the money himself when he got more than he was probably expecting.

    So in reality he had questions to answer criminally.

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  28. Now then Batts – see you have your stirring spoon at the ready 😆 he did you for 50 fella didn’t he?

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  31. @starship

    I hate to say it but I agree with you about Hoots. The only reason I agree though you heard me saying those opinions in the pub and you’ve copied. Well done! 😆

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  34. Batty – you still stalking me? Can’t believe you were texting me sweet nothings – I’m straight fella – so if you don’t mind I will dump you in public 😆

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  36. Stardust, what an absolute f*ckwit, always thought it he was a bit of a Knob’ed but just thought he was arrogant and socially incompetent. Didn’t know he was a bleedin’ crook!

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  37. @stardust
    Liar
    You certainly aren’t straight !
    You mince. 😛

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  38. Stardust – nice post at 11; totally agree. I’m convinced that AP’s success has been possible largely because of what CH set up before him. Doesn’t matter what CH could have done from that point; what he did is enough to earn my undying gratitude and respect.

    I don’t see why it has to be a one-or-the-other thing either; I’ve already said that I’m very impressed with the way AP has managed to continue to build from those foundations. Not an easy task.

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  39. Bloody hell, can’t believe Jonas is out for Brom, typical we find out he can play class as an attacking mid in the centre and now even he gets injured

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  40. Hadn’t realised it was that much Dave – its the greatest though – the Times has the Rich List – Wankys donation list “The Mug List”- and you’re on it 😆 😆 😆

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  41. Gutted about Jonas – what a revelation he was on Sunday.

    On the up-side, his recent elegy about Jose suggests he’s keen on a stay, although it may be dependent on Jose staying.

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  42. LOL at comments 26-30.

    Batty goads Stardust into providing the explanation and Stardust delivers in detail. 😆 😆 😆 well done lads

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  43. Just heard that Shola’s been selected for the Nigeria squad.

    Good on ya Bambi! 😀

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  44. Gazza has just been spotted in Byker heading towards the Inferno with 4 tinnies of Fosters, a pack of cumberland sausages and Jack Daniels barbeque sauce.

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  45. Moreno – I wouldn’t be surprised if Gazza was the one that started it! 😆

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  46. stardust – you need to get a life mate. i donated a pony but i dont feel aggrieved in the slightest – i did it to keep the blog going. ffs – it was only cos i enjoyed the craic. let it go mate – let it go.
    the only thing i didnt get – and when it all seemed to go to pot was when he called somebody (big dave?) a racist. I dont think i ever saw an apology – which was all it would have taken

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  48. MDS lol – it looks like that fella but honestly I was typing the answer as Batty put that lol – but I do look like a little lap dog 😆

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  49. Bobby9 that link you posted of the possible new away kits looks a lot like an ivory coast kit 😯
    Maybe to convince a couple Ivorians to come in ❓

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  52. hard to argue against anything in the article, he has done a good job so far pardew but ashley must back him this summer. Not overly keen on some of the stuff he says in media , wat he said about routledge is just an example. Has anyone ever bought tickets online for newcastle game? It says if tickets r booked 72 hours before game they need to be collected at ticket office. Anyone know how reliable this is? Have a feelin be a sell out game so cant chance waitin til sun for tickets

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  53. Johno…aye just book them then take the credit card ya booked them with to the collection booths on the day, it nae botha 😉

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  57. incidentally lads, and this is waaaaaaaaayyyyy off topic, but I’ve just finished my dissertation 🙂 Celebrations in order, let’s just hope the mighty Toon sign off with a win this weekend to make it the perfect end to my degree! And thanks Toonsy for the blog, this has provided me with hours and hours of glorious procrastination!

    HWTL

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  58. Dr. Devon-

    Congrats on finishing your dissertation, mate! That’s massive!! What was the subject matter? What’s your doctoral degree in?

    On topic- I wouldn’t mind seein us give Zog another crack. He’s been immense for Wigan, but if I’m honest, I don’t see Wigan goin’ down. I think they’ll just barely nick it, and if they do, I’m sure they won’t be keen to lose their best player…

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  60. O’Hurley it’s not a doctorate just plain old Bachelor of Arts Honours, but it’s called “African Fiction and Joseph Conrad: Postcolonial Revisions of Heart of Darkness.” I do a literature degree, although I won’t go into it too much as it’s about as far from football as you can get and I don’t wanna **** anyone off! Although Dr. Devon (Dr Tolkien in the real world) has got a very, very nice ring to it! Think I might crack on with a PhD now 😉

    The idea of Zog coming back is certainly growing on me, especially since he’s expressed an interest in it. The only thing is, Whelan would hate to sell his best player to Ashley, reckon he’d only come at a reasonable price if they went down. Also, the relationship between him and HBA could either be incredible (best of friends) or awful (fall out, either/both of them engineer moves away)… hopefully, if he came, it’d be the former!

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  61. Well done Devonmag but don’t bore us for too long. 😛

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  63. Hmmm, it seems that the fans are largely content and satisfied with our club at the minute, and rightly so after a decent season.

    I’m sure Fat Ash is planning how to get us all baying for his blood as we speak :mrgreen:

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  65. Big moment in life that Devon fella. Consider your options though. I’m thinking of going back to do a phd. Only 28 but my jobs *****.

    Would love the zog back in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Think we could see tiote and gosling holding and a very fluid front 4. Really excited by possibilities.

    Would anyone also take Gardner from brum? M Johnson from shitty and bentley?

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  67. I’ve actually come around on wanting zog back. He seemed a bit of a lazy player with us but has come along way with Wigam. He also seemed like he didn’t want be here but i’m not suree I blame him as we were a mess at the time. If he wants to come back and the fee isn’t insane I’m all for it. He would give us an attacking option that we need. Could do wonders alonside Ben Arfa.

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  68. Real sign Altintop on free

    Real Madrid have signed Turkey midfielder Hamit Altintop on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, the La Liga side have announced on their official wesbite.

    Mourinho strikes another cheap deal again. 😯 😯

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  70. Went up to Newcastle today and had a look around and seen Jonas and got a picture with him :mrgreen:

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  75. Johnotoon, it’s a really good move on their part. I really think it would be worth us putting a full 3 mil on him and see how he adapts, hopefully backed up by talented midfielders

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