Three years ago Newcastle United were embroiled in a relegation battle with rookie coach and Tyneside legend Alan Shearer handed daunting task of keeping a struggling side in the Premier League.
He lost that battle and the giants fell to the second tier of English football for the first time since 1993.
Fast forward to 2012 and one man is leading the charge to become the latest fans favourite and have his name written in Geordie folklore. When Alan Pardew took over from Chris Hughton midway through last season, it is fair to say the reception was not entirely positive with only 5.5% of 40,000 fans who voted in a Sky Sports poll in favour of the new boss following his recent sacking from League One Southampton.
Many were angered at the board’s decision to remove the manager who got their side back to the promise land of the Premier League at the first attempt and bring in a manager who was yet to hit the heights in the top flight.
However, Pardew has now become a leading contender for the Premier League Manager of the Year award after performing miracles with Newcastle United this season. A strong start saw the Magpies unbeaten in eleven matches and sitting third in the table. Was a return to the glory days perhaps on the cards?
In truth even the staunchest Geordie supporter must have believed that despite this superb start, the fixture list would take its toll and Newcastle would settle nearer mid-table as the season wore on.
But that fatal blip in form simply never came. Despite a tricky December with only one victory on the board from six games, Pardew’s men bounced back in style, battering reigning champions Manchester United 3-0 at St. James’ Park for their first victory over Sir Alex Ferguson’s side for over ten years.
It quickly became apparent after that match that European football could be on the cards once again with Coca Cola Championship trips to Plymouth Argyle or Scunthorpe United a dim and distant memory.
But Newcastle fans should not stop their dreams there. With Tottenham stuttering at just the wrong time, Arsenal’s defence always a cause for concern and Chelsea facing a hectic run-in, a UEFA Champions League spot could definitely be achieved with just a two point gap between fifth placed Magpies and the top four.
No matter how the season finishes, for me Alan Pardew has to be named the manager of the season. To turn an average Premier League mid-table side into serious qualifying material for the Champions League is a truly remarkable feat. Yes Paul Lambert and Brendan Rodgers should also be commended for keeping their sides in the Premier League, but in unearthing unproven talent in Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, the Magpies are all set for more success and European challenge in the near future.
The Pardew legacy is certainly going to be an exciting one.
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Mr Pardew,
Please calm down and dont get too ahead of yourself, in doing so will leave cracks in the work you’ve done, gerrard hollier did well at liverpool, few years down the road everything crashed!!, why because he stopped listening!, everyone can make mistakes,if we get europe this year its because of the effort everyone at the club has put in, yes even the translators! 🙂
The toon Army