Things To Look Out For This Summer Pt.2 - Aggro at Newcastle
StrumSolo > 16/06/2013, 21:59
Alan Pardew signed an 8 year deal at Newcastle last September. They'd finished 5th in 2011/12 and were at the beginning of what turned out to be a reasonably successful Europa League campaign. Of course the demands of that competition understandably had an adverse effect on their league form, and they weren't clear of relegation last season until a couple of weeks from the end.
I'm not the world's biggest Pardew fan, he's tactically naive and doesn't seem to know how to turn things round when results start heading south. His record in the transfer market at Newcastle has been excellent though. The likes of Tiote, Cabaye, Ben Arfa and Cisse have all come in for modest fees under his watch, and if they were sold tomorrow it would be with healthy profits.
Which is why the appointment of Joe Kinnear doesn't seem quite right. As director of football he'll have final say on transfers at the club. Seems odd, but fair enough. It's this quote that's far more telling though, "I'll sit down with Alan Pardew and talk to him about the strengths, weaknesses and what we need to be successful, I know I've got more knowledge than anyone at Newcastle as a football manager."
As a football manager.
I'd imagine 8 year contracts are quite expensive to break. So rather than sack him, maybe the board just thought they'd find the most difficult person they could to appoint as 'director of football' , and wait for Pardew to resign?
And when he does, Kinnear can be manager again. And Newcastle can get relegated, again.
Never a dull moment is it?