When Alan Pardew arrived at St James Park just over 12 months ago, not many Geordies or football fans in general would have expected the North East club to do as well as they have. The Toon Army enjoyed their first taste of victory in eight games on Boxing Day after a 2-0 win at struggling Bolton Wanderers.
Before their baron spell, Newcastle had been on stunning form that left them sitting in the Champions League places and unbeaten in the league. The manager at the newly named Sports Direct Arena has got to take a lot of credit for the turnaround that has been made by the sleeping giants since he took the reins from the likable Chris Hughton.
Just a month after Pardew arrived; owner Mike Ashley sold star man Andy Carroll to Liverpool for around £35m on the final day of the transfer window which made it impossible for the former Reading and Southampton manager to replace him before the summer. However, the team continued to impress and climb the table, even with a depleted, striker-less squad. This summer the big ego’s of Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton were told they can leave and were replaced with the signing of the season Demba Ba and the highly talented playmaker Yohan Cabaye who have both been in scintillating form for the Magpies who currently sit seventh in the Premier League, three points off of Europe.
Due to summer sales, Pardew is yet to make a noticeable dent in the £35m profit made from Carroll last January and so surely he is entitled to use that money to improve the squad next month to keep their good season going as we enter the business end. Pardew has done wonders under the unpopular Ashley and should be rewarded with the finances to take the club back to the big time and possible European football over the next few years.
Letting the former West Ham manager loose on the transfer kitty would not be a gamble if his history is anything to go by. While at Upton Park, Pardew had a reputation of bringing in lesser known players and turning them into quality pieces of business for the club. For example Nigel Reo Coker arrived in East London under Pardew for under half a million pounds and was eventually sold for over £8million to Aston Villa just a few seasons later. Other impressive transfer returns include players such as Matthew Etherington, Marlon Harewood and Bobby Zamora which will make pleasant reading for the Toon owner and has created good relationships between manager and players of the years.
With Demba Ba missing for a month while at the African Cup of Nations along with highly rated midfielder Cheick Tiote and a long term injury to captain Steven Taylor, signings are crucial for the Magpies if they are to retain their top half position. Pardew has reiterated over the past few days that he will not jump into needless transfer deals and that signing a striker is unlikely.
A rejected bid for West Ham defender James Tomkins reported last week may be the start of a frustrating six weeks for the Toon boss who may not get the full backing from the demanding owner and may start to see the league position slump if they are not careful.
Two tricky games against Liverpool and Manchester United are followed by some very winnable matches against the likes of QPR, Fulham, Aston Villa, Wolves and Blackburn that could define the impressive season that Pardew and Newcastle have had until now.
Follow me on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard
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