Is Pardew The Best NUFC Can Manage?

Alan Pardew has won awards as Newcastle manager, but a popularity contest among the fans will never be one of them. Whether fair or not, he will forever be tarred for his association with Mike Ashley, as well as Ashley's decision to fire Chris Hughton in favor of Pardew partway through the 2010-11 season.

But over the last several weeks, I've been realizing something about (shockingly!) the Premier League's second-longest-tenured boss: on the managerial front, he may be doing as well as anyone could in Newcastle's current state. For a point in Pardew's favor, just look down the sideline tomorrow at the beleagured David Moyes.

How many Newcastle supporters would have jumped at the chance to replace Pardew with Moyes last summer? He had a lengthy record of success with the Toffees, certainly more than Pardew has produced in his own checkered history. Yet in his first season at Manchester United, with all of the world-class talent available at Old Trafford, Moyes finds himself below Pardew in the table.

I'm not suggesting that Pardew is a superior manager, just that he could well be better suited than Moyes - than anyone - for the challenging situation at this club. The thing that grates on fans the most, his cordial relationship with Ashley, has also allowed a surprisingly talented and deep squad to be assembled at Newcastle. It's far from perfect, but it's also far better than Pardew had to work with when he originally took over. Slow progress, but progress nonetheless. Compare that to the situation that prompted Kevin Keegan's departure in 2008, and you see how many managers would struggle to work in this environment.

And from day one, Pardew has been subjected to a level of scrutiny that would make most Premier League managers recoil in horror. (It can be argued that that's what happening to Moyes at Man U right now.) The popular Newcastle-Online message board had over 5,000 posts about Pardew, almost universally negative, before he'd even had his introductory press conference. Then he had the rug pulled out from under his promise to keep Andy Carroll in town, even as it proved to be the correct decision in hindsight. The following year, supporters grumbled about his negative approach and inability to incorporate Hatem Ben Arfa into the lineup - even while Newcastle was establishing itself in the top four!

Obviously, Pardew has his flaws, which have been rehashed and recapitulated scores of times in his three years in charge. But it's short-sighted to assume that a better manager would necessarily have any more success, at least as things currently stand. While I've been critical of Pardew in the past, even earlier this season, he genuinely does seem to be moving things in the right direction. Even if he refuses to play Yoan Gouffran up top one match, just to indulge me.

Lineups for Man U

In lieu of a full lineup post, here's my desired XI and what I think Pardew will actually go with tomorrow at Old Trafford.

Matt's XI: Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haïdara; Tioté, Anita, Cabaye; Sissoko, Gouffran, Rémy

Pardew's XI: Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon; Sissoko, Tioté, Cabaye, Gouffran; Ameobi, Rémy

Comments

[Beardsley's Love Child]

Could anyone else be doing as well as Pardew? That needs a caveat: ...and last as long as he has? Probably not but it also reinforces the point of why he is the 2nd longest-tenured-boss-in the Prem: he puts up with the shit thrown his way. So he's not the 2nd longest-tenured-boss-in the Prem because he's particularly good at what he does, but because he knows how to survive.

He's not great nor is he poor and there are far better options out there and far worse ones as well.

He's not a Bobby Robson, or a David Moyes, nor is he a Sam Allardyce or Graham Souness. He somehow manages himself and his image and his ego better than he does the team or the fans expectation for the team. He takes credit where its due for success but does not accept or admit blame when its due as well, and I think thats what bothers most about him. That and the bizarre line ups and subs.

So to answer your question: Yes, Pardew is the best we can manage At The Moment because he has the right balance of self preservation, desperation and arrogance to put up with all the shit going on around him. Any other manager of a higher caliber would have been long gone on their own accord thinking either the Toon Army or the management were completely insane.

[rob]

I agree with you on running a 4-3-3 tomorrow as opposed to a 4-4-2. The two striker attack works better when we know we can have the better of possession. The midfield gets overrun too easily and two players end up being isolated and unhelpful in defense. The 4-3-3 is just as much that as it is a 4-5-1 when you have guys such as Gouffy putting in full shifts on both ends of the pitch.

[Beardsley's Love Child]

Feckin unbelievable!!

Ok so who has two thumbs and will be eating humble pie about Pardew's team selection today...?

Me. And believe me I'll be feckin' grinning the whole time.

[geordiepat]

Pardew has survived three years in the eye of the biggest shit storm known to English sport. Media bans, unethical sponsorship partners, want-away players, Joe Kinnear - you all know the rest.

I rate him highly for us, I really do. Fans have been very quick to criticise his tactics and every move - but hand on heart I have nearly always understood the logic of what he was doing. In doesn't always work but I think he is moving us in the right direction. If Cisse's form had been anything other than abysmal last season, we might have finished 10th.. a blip but not disastrous.

Under Pardew we capitulated too easily against the 'big' clubs - but he has certainly reversed that trend of late. We are still too cautious at times - especially with one goal advantages but hopefully he can look to build on the current base and allow us to see out games with a bit more swagger.