Newcastle United

Newcastle: Pardew talks about his first day as Toon boss

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Image for Newcastle: Pardew talks about his first day as Toon boss

Former Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has been discussing the beginning of his tenure as Toon boss.

Pardew was appointed as Chris Hughton’s successor on the 9th of December 2010 and stayed for just over four years.

Pardew, in that time, guided his team to fifth and also got to the quarter-finals of the Europa League before things turned sour, and he joined Crystal Palace at the beginning of 2015.

The former West Ham manager has spoken of how Joey Barton greeted him on his first day.

Was Pardew a good manager for Newcastle?

Yes, had a few great moments

Yes, had a few great moments

No, overall a bad four years

No, overall a bad four years

Barton apparently walked up Pardew and said, “Just to let you know me, and the players don’t want you here. We don’t think you should be here, and you need to know it.

Barton, who now manages Fleetwood Town, certainly did not mince his words!

What was Pardew’s response?

Well, the 58-year-old claimed that he liked what Barton had said and knew that he now needed to gain the respect of the senior players.

However, no matter what Pardew says, he can’t have liked Barton that much considering just six months later the former Everton man was released.

Barton was certainly a big character in the Newcastle dressing room and to greet Pardew like that it is typical Joey Barton really, but the players did not turn on Pardew, and he guided the club to a 12th place finish.

The club then got rid of the likes of Nolan and Barton and replaced them with Yohan Cabaye and Demba Ba.

This move worked fantastically for a season as Newcastle finished fifth, but soon after, players like Ba and Cabaye wanted out, and the club did not replace them.

This led to a toxic atmosphere at St James’ Park, and after Pardew nutted David Meyler, there was no way back.

Still, he remained till December of the following campaign and had gained some trust from the fans back, but as soon as Palace came calling, he could not resist the temptation to go back to London.

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