Newcastle United’s roller coaster ride has now seemingly come to a halt or is stuttering to one. After finishing ahead of the then European Champions Chelsea in the 2011-12 season, it looked as if Newcastle were a side destined for further success. But, football isn’t always as easy as it seems to be. The sale of Yohan Cabaye to PSG last January shattered the back bone of the Magpies and after that, it all fell apart.
As time ticks on, circumstances present varying possibilities for Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew and the club itself. The season hasn’t started off at all well and all blame, as always have been heaped upon the 53 year old, graying head of Alan Pardew who has been at the epicenter of a mass scathing attack lately. Lying in the bottom half of the table, Toon fans hardly have had something to cheer for except for their latest 1-2 win against Tottenham and a 1-0 win over Leicester City, in which they scraped through with a help of a Gabriel Obertan strike.
It’s become a common sighting to witness Newcastle United faithfuls holding up a ‘Pardew Out’ banner in their bid to show the London born gaffer the door as soon as possible. Owner Mike Ashley hasn’t, thus far budged from his spot pertaining to carrying on with the man at the helm. Despite of a series of disappointing results and desperate persuasions from the fans. Alan Pardew and his club seemed to draw a similar, sorry figure every time they took to the pitch, either home or away. In some cases, by the look at Pardew’s face, it seemed as if he had resigned to the fact that they’d end up losing the game.
It’s needless to quote that their performances have been way below par but there have been signs of recovery here and there. There have been cases quite contrary to the above when the Toons witnessed encouraging comebacks against Swansea, Crystal Palace and Hull City. But the tempers flared and the banners fluttered and Alan Pardew was left in a spot of bother, as he’s now.
The Newcastle side is way too light weight as far as the current team in concerned. Jack Colback, who recently acquired an England call up is the only British lad in Pardew’s side. Others are French, Senegalese or Argentine and they’re the players who need to be a bit more powerful in their approach. Remy Cabella, the summer signing from Montpellier still has a lot of room for improvement. He’s got some decent amount of tricks up his sleeve and he shows them off every time he’s on the ball down the left but there’s no final product to all this.
Siem de Jong’s injury hasn’t aided them in improving the state of affairs. He could have been that paramount factor who would’ve ensured a respectable position. Alongside Jack Colback in the midfield, he can conduct things, dictate play and score goals.
Emmanuel Riviere’s start to season hasn’t been at all impressive. He has failed to score even once in a total of 7 Premier League appearances and that’s way short of what’s expected out of the former Monaco striker, who scored a total of 10 goals last season for the French giants.
Daryl Janmaat is a brilliant signing and his fee can well be dubbed as a bargain once he starts to deliver the goods. He’s been quite OK, but he’ s still below his standards.
The confidence isn’t there. They have some intent and the pace to frighten defenses. But lightweighted physicality and rock bottom confidence has failed to yield results. A torrid ending to the previous season has affected them and the aura around the club is way too negative. The fans are turning the tables on Pardew and want some drastic changes to take place which of course, won’t take place overnight.
They could gain just 10 points from possible 27. It just goes to show the extent to which Newcastle United have keeled over to and how wrong things have gone. Alan Pardew’s fairy tale won’t unfold again in the near future, or at least this season. But Newcastle fans need to sit patiently.
Their job is to support the club and stand by Pardew rather than going against him or shoving ‘Pardew Out’ banners on the TV screens. He may not be performing his job well but the team is in transition and some players till need to find their feet. The team needs to know the new signings well and it’ll take some time. If I’d been Mike Ashley, I’d disconnect myself from the world and carry on with Pardew until January or so.
The crop of players who were there last season still lack confidence and resolve. The negativity around the club needs to be sorted out first, much before the issues surrounding the team. The shocking part is that Newcastle have exceeded expectations in demurral situations at St. James. The home crowd, which was once regarded as the most passionate in the country seems to have turned against it.
The media won’t let him have a moment of peace but he has his work cut out big time. They have work to do and improve the sorry state of affairs. My message to the Toons out there will be – ‘Just hang in there, wait till January and watch your side improve’