In a season of drama, twists and surprises, Newcastle’s 5th place finish was as unpredictable as they come.
At the beginning of the 2011-2012 season many had pegged Alan Pardew’s men to maintain their status as a Premier League club for the second consecutive season. Following a 12th placed finish in their first year back in the top tier of English football, the Geordie contingent were hoping for the same outcome, if not more, the following year.
Before the season commenced, Newcastle endured a frantic transfer window, which saw the likes of Joey Barton & Kevin Nolan depart for QPR & West Ham respectively. Both were key to Newcastle’s promotion back to the Premier League, but the moves reiterated Pardew’s desire to implement his own philosophy on Tyneside.
New arrivals Demba Ba & Yohan Cabaye wasted no time adapting to Pardew’s ideology, with both playing an integral role in the Magpies opening 11 game unbeaten run. By this time Pardew’s men were sitting pretty in 4th, 3 points adrift of Manchester City in 1st.
Alan Pardew’s previous managerial record was far from great and the appointment of the former West Ham man baffled a few supporters, but he was making the Newcastle side a disciplined, organized outfit and with his signings which were taking the league by storm; it didn’t take long for his name to be sung amongst the terraces.
Having seen his Senegalese striker Demba Ba, produce some sublime individual performances and become the club’s top goal scorer for the season, Pardew looked to Ba’s fellow countryman Papiss Cisse, to reproduce the same form. Many found themselves using countless superlative’s to describe the effect Cisse had at St. James’, it was as if everything he touched turned to gold.
In a period in which saw the Senegalese striker score 13 goals in 14 games, including a contender for goal of the Premier League era against Chelsea. Cisse and his fellow team-mates fired Newcastle to within reach of Champions League football going into the penultimate game at home to league leader’s Manchester City. Unfortunately for Newcastle fans, the dream of European football didn’t transpire with the club just falling short of 4th place.
So the pivotal question is, can Newcastle replicate this season’s finish or perhaps go one step further?
The manager has made Newcastle a resilient team, patterned with a never say die attitude, which is always a good formula for a club. With the mentality that Alan Pardew has given his players, along with the abundance of talent they have in the locker room, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Newcastle can deliver once again.
It’s vital that the club refrain from selling any of their important players, particularly Cisse and Cabaye, because that then gives Pardew a foundation to build his team around. Especially if they have the resources to expand on the current crop of the players they have now.
For me, my major concern would be Newcastle’s strength and depth. If they are to establish themselves as a top 4 club and make themselves a force on the European stage, they will need to have a certain solidity amongst the players on the bench. The standard of the substitutes last year just didn’t match up to the current top four’s reinforcements which in a game where your looking to change the impetus, an impact player is required.
Although the coveted European places eluded Tyneside this year, all involved with the club can hold their heads high, having defied all odds and expectation throughout the course of the year. The club undoubtedly sprung one of the biggest surprises of the season and creating some history of their own. The future is surely bright for Newcastle United.
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