4: Getting fans to buy into Mike Ashley’s vision
Arguably Pardew’s finest achievement during his time at Newcastle is getting fans and boardroom operating on the same wavelength. Whilst Geordies won’t be buying Mike Ashley pints in the Grainger Market any time soon they are at least accepting of the man who came perilously close to ruining their football club.
Pardew has played a huge part in the dampening of hostilities often praising Ashley and chief executive Mike Ashley for the work they’ve done behind the scenes to secure transfer deals, putting the club in a healthy financial position and generally turning things around on Tyneside. The toxic atmosphere that followed Kevin Keegan’s high-profile departure and subsequent relegation hung around for a while as Ashley continued to make unpopular decisions including sacking Chris Hughton, selling Andy Carroll and several high-profile players along with changing the stadium name.
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But it’s that uncompromising businessman approach that has shaped Newcastle’s success with the club now challenging for a place on Europe’s top table. Performances on the pitch have led to fans buying into Ashley’s vision to make the Magpies a well oiled, self-sustaining business that provides a platform for the world’s top talent to showcase their abilities. Although they’ll loathe to admit it the Toon Army have come to regard the the owner as part of the furniture at St James’.
5: Meticulous scouting
The backbone of Newcastle’s success over the past two-seasons has been the reconnaissance undertaken by Pardew and chief scout Graham Carr. Gone are the days of marquee, off the cuff signings that became a prominent feature under Freddy Shepherds reign and almost plunged the club into financial ruin.
Relegation to the Championship forced Mike Ashley into a major rethink regarding the way the Magpies operate in the transfer market employing a stringent approach that limits Pardew to targeting players under the age of 26 and with a potential resale value. But arguably his best move was hiring Carr to oversee the talent spotting during Chris Hughton’s reign. The 67-year-old has become a Toon Army crown jewel over the past two-seasons unearthing players like Cisse and Cabaye through conscientious, painstaking scouting trips.
Carr, along with Pardew, leave no stone unturned on their European expeditions watching players for months, even years, at a time to ensure they are the right breed for Newcastle United. Such an approach has yielded magnificent results with several of the players Carr has lured to St James’ Park going on to play huge roles in the Magpies’ charge towards the top-four and Champions League qualification.
His scouting prowess will no doubt shape Newcastle’s future as they embark on their first European campaign in just over six-years.
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Click on Le Tissier below to see the Newcastle duo in his Team of the Year
