When the chronicle of Alan Pardew’s career at Newcastle United is eventually written, there will be one conclusion: he never hid. Even during the toxic depths of September, when derision rained down on him from the away end at the Britannia Stadium, when the banners made grim reading, Pardew almost always patrolled his dug-out, transmitting instructions and encouragement to his players. So he could be permitted a quiet smile, a feeling of vindication even, at four wins on the spin, at the sight of a Newcastle fan making full use of his Hallowe’en outfit by turning up at St James’ Park brandishing a slightly ghoulish banner declaring “Pardew – back from the dead”. For all the euphoric headlines, it needs noting that St James’ has not suddenly been transformed into Shangri-La. Newcastle rode their luck at times against Liverpool; Moussa Sissoko could have been dismissed for a filthy challenge on Joe Allen while Daryl Janmaat should have walked for clattering Mario Balotelli. Off the field, the sad, unnecessary rift between Mike Ashley and the Geordie faithful remains because the owner views the club as a business venture while supporters see it as an emotional adventure. As for Pardew, Newcastle fans have also neither forgotten events over the past couple of years nor forgiven Pardew for his touchline excesses and some execrable performances by the team. Yet as the supporters poured out of the club shop, clutching their “Newcastle For Life” bags, it was impossible to escape the sensation that the club felt more together now, more Newcastle United. The Toon Army deserves praise for continuing to report for duty in their tens of thousands, backing the team but not the regime. Ashley is due credit for sticking with Pardew when most chairmen would have dismissed a besieged manager, responding to public clamour. All hope momentum builds. Pardew and his players earned a success slim in margin but huge in significance. Fabricio Coloccini led by example, subduing Balotelli. Paul Dummett stuck manfully to his task of shadowing Raheem Sterling. Yet the mastermind of this victory was Pardew, whose decisions defined the destiny of the points. He gave Mehdi Abeid his first taste of the Premier League and the midfielder responded with a commanding performance, relentlessly hunting the ball and launching occasional counter-attacks. Pardew’s substitutions also ensured the game turned Newcastle’s way. Standing a yard in from the touchline, Pardew’s body language charted the flow of the game. He immediately showed his frustration at a Jack Colback set-piece not working, and soon it was Abeid taking corners, fluffing one but otherwise curling in some threatening deliveries. He acted quickly when required. When the right-sided Gabriel Obertan pulled up lame after 23 minutes, Pardew used the break to talk to his players, passing on more advice. Janmaat listened intently, asking his manager a couple of questions and nodding at the answers. In his mini-summit, Pardew also addressed Sammy Ameobi and Colback. Abeid was also called across, being shown some scribbled instructions in Pardew’s note-book. Receiving the bulletin from his medical staff on the far side that Obertan could not continue, Pardew slipped into overdrive. These are precious seconds for managers, when their team could be vulnerable. His first move was to signal to Rolando Aarons to get ready. It took two minutes to get Aarons on, so Pardew told Sissoko to switch momentarily from his position just off Papiss Cissé to cover the right. Newcastle kept their shape, resisting Liverpool’s attempts to exploit their numerical advantage, until Aarons was ready. Pardew ordered him to work the left while Ameobi was pushed right. Pardew was so absorbed in the changes, and how they settled, that he did not even notice poor Obertan being wheeled away on a stretcher behind him. What could have been a demoralising setback for Newcastle, losing such an in-form player, was mitigated by Pardew’s authoritativeness. Intensely involved in the game’s fluctuations, and his need to respond at times, Pardew still had some moments of levity, including an exchange of jokes with Brendan Rodgers, his old youth coach at Reading, after a questionable offside call. Pardew took offences against his players personally. He appealed loudly when Allen fouled Cissé, prompting the fourth official Lee Mason to make another of his shuttle walks to have a word. When Liverpool got away with a foul throw, Newcastle’s manager again complained, but aware of the calls last season that he should undergo an anger-management course Pardew’s remonstrations were aimed more into the ether, rather than at Andre Marriner or the assistant referee, Darren Cann, running the line close to Pardew. Maybe Pardew recalled that Cann was a promising youth player at Crystal Palace during his own time there. Pardew seemed determined to stifle anger, turning inwards to the bench, turning to his assistants like John Carver to debate incidents such as when Aarons was brought down after darting between Allen and Steven Gerrard. He continued to cajole and coach, shouting “Steven, Steven” to get the centre-half Taylor to offer an option for Janmaat at a throw-in. Annoyed by Cisse’s failure to have more of an impact, Pardew began plotting his next move, turning to Ayoze Perez with four minutes of the first half remaining. He stood close to the substitute, talking intently to him, preparing him to come on for the second period. Pardew sent Newcastle out early, giving them a brisk warm-up with Perez joining in. Again, Pardew tried to keep the negative emotions in check, again turning away as Dummett was unfairly punished for a challenge on Sterling. The cameras lingered long on Newcastle’s manager. Pardew is a master of the look of disbelief, holding his hands out like a commuter finding that the last train to Durham had been cancelled. When Martin Skrtel escaped with a foot lifted perilously close to Perez, Pardew’s arms were out like the Angel of the North. He again sought to influence the game, making his final substitution, sending on Rémy Cabella for Ameobi after 66 minutes. Cabella seems the type of player who needs regular encouragement, often looking over to the bench after he came on, and Pardew was frequently talking to him, reassuring him. Cabella’s pacey movement began to stretch and distract Liverpool, freeing up space for Perez, who duly scored after 73 minutes. Cabella should have added a second, leaving Pardew holding his head in his hands. But Liverpool looked bemused by Pardew’s changes, partly because the club of Jackie Milburn, Malcolm Macdonald, Andy Cole, Alan Shearer, and Andy Carroll were now operating without a centre-forward. Pardew was again talking to Cabella, indicating him to run from deep at Dejan Lovren and Skrtel. Perez flew down the right. Aarons worked the left. Sissoko charged through the middle. With two minutes remaining, Pardew began fiddling with his watch. He was so close to an important victory in front of the St James’ jury that has bayed at him in recent times. He beseeched Perez to take the ball down to the corner flag and dig in there. When the final whistle came, Pardew permitted himself a brief punch of the air before seeking out Rodgers, shaking hands, and disappearing down the tunnel. Hearing the Newcastle fans celebrating wildly behind him will have sounded sweet indeed to Pardew as he headed to the dressing-room. There is plenty of work still to be done but the squad is deepening and the momentum building.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 10:19:17 +0000
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