Pardew did a great job, you can't argue with him getting PL manager of the season.
To achieve 5th with the money spent, and team they put out is commendable.
Pardew struck lucky with Newcastle's early season fixtures ...... they managed to avoid almost all the big clubs in their first 10 or 12 matches.
By the time those top club fixtures came around, Newcastle had made a very decent start with an impressive points haul - which undoubtedly created momentum and confidence that continued right until the end of season.
Credit has to be given to Pardew and his staff though - they kept that momentum going.
Remember Charlton's astonishing start to the 2005-06 season under Curbs?
Apart from losing to Chelsea at home, we had a very kind early fixture list and played struggling teams week after week reeling in the points - and stayed 2nd in the Prem right until the beginning of November.
On the other hand, the season after (under Dowie), we had an unbelievably tough fixture list in early season playing all the top clubs match after match ..... and losing matches destroys team confidence.
Whatever we may think of Dowie, an easier fixture list to start with may well have resulted in a reasonable points haul and a mid-table position after 10 matches. It might have made all the difference that season.
It always feels like I am defended him, which I don't want to because I don't think Dowie was a great manager but we needed to stick with him. The reason we went down that season was sacking him too early and bringing Reed in as replacement. I remember that despite our position, there was still fight in the lads when Dowie left, but that all disapeared from Reed's first game. My theory is that Dowie would probably have been sacked when Pardew became available, but we would have had a few more points, and those points would have probably been enough for Pardew to keep us up.
Pardew lost the plot in the second Championship season, but it was a very tricky job with the club's financial position. It doesn't mean he is a rubbish manager as he is showing now. just maybe not such a good one faced with adversity. At Newcastle he hasn't had too many major problems to deal with yet.
I expected things to go wrong when Stephen Taylor was injured, but he still managed to keep the defence tight, with Mike Williamson in the back 4. Good defences to me are a triumph of coaching (e.g. Charlton's current back 4), it's fairly easy to be half decent with a RVP or Aguero up front.
Comments
By the time those top club fixtures came around, Newcastle had made a very decent start with an impressive points haul - which undoubtedly created momentum and confidence that continued right until the end of season.
Credit has to be given to Pardew and his staff though - they kept that momentum going.
Remember Charlton's astonishing start to the 2005-06 season under Curbs?
Apart from losing to Chelsea at home, we had a very kind early fixture list and played struggling teams week after week reeling in the points - and stayed 2nd in the Prem right until the beginning of November.
On the other hand, the season after (under Dowie), we had an unbelievably tough fixture list in early season playing all the top clubs match after match ..... and losing matches destroys team confidence.
Whatever we may think of Dowie, an easier fixture list to start with may well have resulted in a reasonable points haul and a mid-table position after 10 matches. It might have made all the difference that season.
Pardew lost the plot in the second Championship season, but it was a very tricky job with the club's financial position. It doesn't mean he is a rubbish manager as he is showing now. just maybe not such a good one faced with adversity. At Newcastle he hasn't had too many major problems to deal with yet.