Fans, managers enraged at Pardew's appointment as Newcastle boss
The decision by the hierarchy at Newcastle United to appoint Alan Pardew as Chris Houghton’s successor at St James’ Park has attracted a wave of criticism from all quarters. It is the Newcastle fans in particular who feel that Pardew is not the right man
to keep their club in the top flight of English Football.
Chris Hughton was unceremoniously sacked by the now infamous Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, who has changed managers three times in the past five years. Toons fans are now worried about the stability of the club, and the prospect of relegation to the Championship
is ripe in the minds of many of the Geordie faithful.
According to an internet poll by Sky Sports, former Aston Villa manager, Martin O’Neil was the fans favourite to take over the reins at the club. O’Neil won a majority of 39.6 per cent of the votes. Ex-Ajax manager, Martin Jol came in second with 19.9 percent,
former Magpie player and boss Alan Shearer was third with 16.5 per cent. Alan Pardew meanwhile came in a distant fourth, with just 6.3 per cent of fans’ votes. Glen Hoddle, Alan Curbishley and Dave Jones were some of the other candidates who received votes.
Alan Pardew is well aware of the fans’ reaction to his appointment. The former West Ham United, Charlton Athletic and Southampton boss inherited the managerial position of a club that has been relegated twice to the Championship over the last three seasons.
It was former boss Chris Hughton, who managed to steer the Magpies back into the Premiership. Newcastle United currently sits in twelfth position, having acquired a total of nineteen points from sixteen games.
Pardew, who was handed a five and a half year deal at St James’ Park will face his first test at home on Saturday against Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool, a team slowly recovering from their own slump in form.
Newcastle have lost three of their last five matches, the most recent defeat being at the hands of West Bromwich Albion. They have managed to secure draws against an out of form Chelsea and Fulham. The Magpies most notable result was a one-nil win against
Arsenal on 7 November at the Emirates Stadium.
Ahead of this weekend’s fixture, Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson told reporters, “When a club changes managers sometimes, we all know that does produce an effect where they play a lot better, maybe than they'd done running up to it.” But he refused to comment
on the Houghton’s sacking.
Former Charlton Athletic player Danny Mills however, came out in defence of his former manager. Mills told the BBC that “Pards (Pardew) was very, very good, one of the best all around (managers), if you like.” He went on to describe Alan as being very good
technically. Although he didn’t think the managers’ record was fantastic, he believed Pardew was a good manager who deserves another crack at the Premier League.
The Sky Sports poll effectively summarises the Newcastle fan’s discontentment with Pardew as the team’s new boss. Managers and other members of the football community have also voiced their concerns, over what some deem to be a disastrous decision.
Sam Allardyce, a former Newcastle manager and current Blackburn boss, spoke about Pardew’s survival in the Premier League and believed that the Englishman’s poor record speaks for itself. Allardyce said, “It's a results game that you've got to keep the right
end of, and you will keep your job for as long as you want it if you get that right." It is crucial that Pardew gets a good result from the Liverpool game, otherwise the fans could prove to be a handful for the manager.
Tags: