Pardew proffers plaudits: 8/10 for the season, says the manager
Posted on May 18th, 2011 | 20 Comments |
Alan Pardew thinks we’ve had a good season, as do most fans. We’re a newly promoted side and it looks like we’re heading for a mid-table finish and may even sneak into the top 10, which is not to be sniffed at.
Pardew said:
“Including Chris’ time as manager here, you would have to give it an eight.”
I presume he means out of ten, although he doesn’t actually say. If he means eight out of a hundred then that’s not so good! Personally, I always score things out of 11 so that you have a mid-point rating at 6/11, but then again I’ll be the first to admit I’m weird.
Anyway, Pardew continues:
“In terms of the expectations and the amount of finance that was spent in the summer, the fact that we lost Hatem to a broken leg, that we sold Andy Carroll, yes, I would give it as high as that.
“Possibly. If you looked at our squad, you would have to say on paper, it didn’t look the strongest for the results we have had, and that’s a great thing.
“But we need to carry that over into next year and hopefully be stronger.“
Yes indeed. All eyes will now be on the summer squad strengthening as we prepare for the 2011/2012 season. Most Toon fans are realistic – despite the media’s cynical attempts to paint us otherwise sometimes – so maybe a top half finish is a fair aim for next season. Top 8 would be nice but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves and build up too many expectations. There is, after all, supposedly a 5-year plan to establish us as European contenders.
Pardew seems to have enjoyed his time at Newcastle (except perhaps for the Andy Carroll transfer situation) and commented thus:
“I can only talk from my personal fulfilment as a football manager at a great club, and it has been fantastic on that front.
“I have really enjoyed it. People have been tremendous and the players and the squad and the staff here – I have got to be honest, I think we have pulled above our weight and long may that continue.”
I more or less agree with him there. We have finished better than I would have said at the outset as I was thinking that we might have found ourselves in a relegation dogfight, but I suppose I should have had more faith in my team.
Hopefully we can finish on a high against The Baggies and settle back to watch the summer transfer deals with interest.
Why don’t you get back into bed. Summer, Buddy Holly, the working folly. Good golly Miss Molly and boats. Hammersmith Palais, the Bolshoi Ballet. Jump back in the alley and nanny goats.
Incredible that the difference between a whole season being 8 or say 4 is at this point about 5 points. One win and a couple of draws. Not much.