Former Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has said that the “unbelievable” Toon Army are not expecting too much despite admitting the pressure was difficult to manager at times on Tyneside.
The manager was in charge of the Magpies from 2010 to 2014 in a tumultuous period for the club, helping them to a fifth placed finish in one campaign before battling against relegation in his final season at St James’ Park.
However, despite being vilified by much of the Newcastle faithful as a lackey under the thumb of owner Mike Ashley, Pardew says that they are well within their rights to demand more.
Speaking on beIN Sports, as quoted on the broadcaster’s Twitter account, he said: “(Are expectations too high?) I don’t think so, you understand it and if you can’t understand it then don’t be Newcastle manager.
“It’s difficult to deal with at times, the emphasis of the media there is very much on Newcastle, there’s no other team in the city obviously, so it’s constant pressure but none more so than any other big club you look at around the world.
“You just wish more for them. That’s what I obviously wanted and what I still wish for them to have some sort of success because the fans are unbelievable. It just doesn’t marry, the relationship.”
Alan Pardew admits the expectations of Newcastle fans are sometimes "difficult to deal with" but they do deserve more.#beINPL #NEWHUD #NUFC ? HD11 pic.twitter.com/ccc4lEoFAU
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) February 23, 2019
Opinion
Pardew was in charge for one of the most exciting seasons in recent years for Newcastle fans and while he might have left under a dark cloud his achievements with the likes of Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba and Hatem Ben Arfa should not be forgotten. He obviously holds the Newcastle faithful in high regard, even if the feeling is not mutual, and he will not be the only neutral party who believe that the Toon Army are deserving of so much more than what they have had come their way. The unfortunate truth is that with Mike Ashley at the helm there is no ambition to push for silverware and Premier League survival – and the money that comes as a result – is all that matters to the British businessman. Pardew had to work under those conditions and knows how frustrating it can be and so he is understandably empathetic with those at St James’ Park.