The Alan Pardew ‘dynasty’ is certainly off to a lousy
start. Having signed an almost unprecedented eight-year deal in September, his Newcastle
side can now be found nestled between a flailing Aston Villa, and a Sunderland
side so tentatively taking its first steps to an overdue recovery. The Northern
club have found Premier League life this season an almost intolerable mess of
minor ups, and consistent downs. Out of the League Cup, and with their best
striker beetling off to Chelsea earlier in the week, today marked a new, bitter
low for the beleaguered Alan Pardew as his side were roundly beaten by a decidedly average Brighton side in the FA Cup.
It marks the 16th successive away day for
Newcastle without a win this season, a staggering statistic for a side still in
European competition, and who are (albeit not so much anymore) considered by
many to be a top 6 team. Yet, the writing is not as yet on the wall for the
Newcastle boss, and mutterings are still at a bare minimum. Sure, the pundits
and sceptics are already seeing Pardew as a man without a paddle, but the media
storm usually whipped up around such managerial tightropes has not materialised
as most expected. Does this not seem a little odd? With Di Matteo sacked for
losing a handful of games, and Redknapp ditched by Tottenham for nothing more
than a change of emphasis, surely Mike Ashley’s mind must be on pastures new?
There is still however real faith among the echelons
of St James Park for the Londoner, and they are evidently not ready to begin
sharpening the axe next to the chicken hutch. A dynasty takes time, and perhaps
that most valuable of commodities is still on Pardew’s side.
Speaking after the 2-0 loss today, the Newcastle
boss blamed the youthful line-up, and Shola Ameobi’s red card in the second
half. But he was also blunt in his acceptance of the position he finds himself
in, saying, “We need to sustain ourselves in the Premier League. We want to stay
there but we are in danger…”
Danger is correct. Having conceded 15 goals in their
last four games, gone is their reliance on the defence that gave them the solid
foundations to finish 5th in the league last year. Injures are also taking
their toll, with Ben Arfa in and out of the side, and with Yohan Cabaye, Steven
Taylor and ‘Mr Hard Working’, Jonas Gutierrez joining the Frenchman on the
side-lines, Newcastle have been without some of their best players for many parts
of the season.
But their position has now reached crisis point. How
will Newcastle get out of the thick mire they find themselves in? Well, to
quote the old phrase, Rome was not built in a day; and a re-imagining of
Newcastle FC will not happen overnight. Pardew is attempting to infuse guile
and technical ability with the hard graft and work ethic that typifies the
Northern club. A big project, and even though Newcastle were undoubtedly the
surprise package last year, the pressures of extra European games this season
has put strain on what is still a relatively new-look side.
Pardew will look for solidarity within the spine of
his team. The likes of Tim Krul, Coloccini, Gutierrez and Cabaye will have a
big say in how their overall season pans out. Pardew is staring into the gaping
maw of a relegation scrap now, and we have seen some big casualties over the
years, lost into the financial abyss of the Football League. It may mean an
enormous pay-out of compensation from Ashley if he feels change is needed, but
Pardew may have to find a way to build his dynasty just a little bit faster if
he wants to remain the unchallenged king of the roost.
Links: BBC Sport, TeamTalk.com, http://images.icnetwork.co.uk
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