The case for the prosecution
A lot can happen in four years, just ask Alan Pardew. From winning Premier League Manager of the Year in 2011/12, to having your very own website called www.sackpardew.com is a fairly spectacular fall from grace. So, is Alan Pardew’s tenure finally coming to an end?
Toon fans certainly hope so, but is this reaction justified? Well, let’s have a look at the stats. Newcastle currently find themselves in 18th place in the Premier League, with just four points from seven games. This poor form has been carried over from last season, with Newcastle only having won one league game in the past 15. Messrs Allardyce and Houghton, both of whom were sacked as Newcastle boss, could boast better records.
However, as Newcastle fans will tell you, Pardew’s record isn’t the only reason the club should get rid. His character has also been heavily criticised. From verbally abusing Manuel Pellegrini, to head-butting Hull’s David Meyler, Pardew isn’t the league’s most likable manager to say the least. It is well documented that sacking Pardew could cost the club up to £5 million as he is currently only two years into an eight year contract, and of course, a change would not necessarily guarantee a upturn in fortune. However, consider Crystal Palace last season – they were bottom of the league with three points when Ian Holloway stepped down in October, yet finished the season strongly in 11th place under Tony Pulis.
Newcastle United need to bite the bullet and make a change. The sooner they realise this, the better.
Followed by the case for the defence……
If you think Alan Pardew should be sacked you don’t like football. Yes, his recent record at Newcastle has been somewhat sketchy, but who really cares about results? Football isn’t about winning. Football isn’t even about football. Football is about personalities; questionable decisions; scandals; theatre, with a healthy dash of hubris to sweeten the taste. Pardew is the embodiment of pure football. He is the tragic hero of the Premier League, maligned by those blind to the truth. The humbled Edgar to Mike Ashley’s machiavellian Edmund.
What I especially love about Pardew is how seriously he appears to take his job. Whereas, say, Mourinho goes about his business with a wink and nudge, Pardew is (hilariously) without humour. In a league containing the aforementioned Mourinho, Pardew is still the Manager suffering the greatest delusion of grandeur. He strikes me as a Manager who, without irony, recites Kipling’s ‘If’ before a Capital One Cup fourth round tie against Shrewsbury Town. The image of him intoning into the perplexed face of Jack Colback warms my heart.
An article on Pardew’s merits wouldn’t be complete without a consideration of his misdemeanours. His ‘Controversies’ section on Wikipedia is 1/3 of the whole page. Does any self-respecting football fan look back on his head-butt on David Meyler with anything but fondness? Newcastle United is approaching utter entropy, and to Pardew’s eternal credit he has led by example: pushing referees and abusing OAPs. Has there been a more evocative sight this season than Pardew at Stoke, stoically staring, soaking in the lashing rain? That is what football is about. That is why it is Newcastle United’s duty to retain his services. For the people’s entertainment.
What I am trying to say about Pardew has already been said by Winston Churchill of Herbert Asquith (although I quote without irony): “[Pardew] remains sodden, supine, supreme.” And long may his reign continue!
Greg Whitaker & Freddie De Melo
Image courtesy of www.dailystar