Why are Allardyce and Pardew still seen as progressive?

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So, Sam Allardyce is given his cards yet again, this time at Everton. The fourth job in succession where he’s either been sacked or left via ‘mutual consent.’ Sacked in other words.

Alan Pardew was given the old heave-ho a few weeks ago, and incredibly West Bromwich Albion’s fortunes took a sharp upturn after he’d left.

What is difficult to understand is why the pair, and others of their ilk, continue to be seen as somewhat progressive and are almost the first port of call when Premier League coaching jobs are available.

Overlooking Allardyce’s penchant for a quick few hundred thousand which in itself is a thorny issue, to essentially bring in someone whose best years in management were almost two decades ago and expect them to perform miracles is asking for trouble.

He’s nothing but a saviour, and from the route one school at that.

His teams play as he did. Physically imposing, limited in their capabilities, but willing to battle all day long. Just the ingredients required if you’re in the midst of a relegation battle or need promoting from the lower leagues.

But a European push? Don’t make me laugh.

The Dudley-born former central defender likes to use ProZone and the odd sports science methodology to help get his points and tactics across, but he’s still the same old northern hoofer underneath the Emperor’s new clothes.

And yet, clubs are still falling for it. His agent must be on huge bunce because he’s the true miracle worker here.

Everton, like Crystal Palace, Sunderland and West Ham before them, now have to honour the outrageous contract that was negotiated whilst poring over what exactly they’ve paid him for, for the last six months.

Pardew is cut from the same cloth as Allardyce. Arguably, his last successful stint at any club came at West Ham, where he took them to the 2006 FA Cup final.

Only Steven Gerrard’s desire on the day took Liverpool to the promised land because for long periods, the Hammers were the better team in what has since been labelled the best-ever FA Cup final.

The following season, he took the Hammers on their worst run of defeats in 70 years, but somehow this was enough to convince Charlton Athletic to hire him just a fortnight after his dismissal in east London.

Charlton were in dire straits when he took them over, so their subsequent relegation can’t be pinned on him, but eight games without a win saw them in the Championship’s bottom three. Off he went again.

Southampton was his next port of call but player unrest and low staff morale, allegedly because of Pardew’s insistence at following outdated and unworkable methods, saw a swift exit.

Quite how he then went on to land one of the biggest jobs in the country – Newcastle United – is anyone’s guess… though they did also employ Allardyce!

A four-year stay wasn’t overly successful and neither did his stint at Crystal Palace where, finally, a chairman hit the nail on the head. Steve Parish said of Pardew “his style of football hasn’t and doesn’t work.” Hallelujah.

Five months at West Brom was more than enough for the Baggies, Pardew leaving the club at the foot of the table and 10 games without a win. Their relegation, despite Darren Moore’s best efforts, was ultimately down to Pardew.

Both Allardyce and Pardew are relics from the past, trying to make themselves relevant in a game that’s now far ahead of their level of understanding. Simply put, football has moved on. They haven’t.

There’s a reason why the pair keep being sacked from each club that offer them a route back, but perhaps their reputations are now so tarnished that everyone has learnt their lesson.

One can only hope.

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Do Newcastle fans regret Pardew exit?

With Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley admitting that a new appointment may not come until the summer – therefore leaving Newcastle in limbo for the rest of the season – are supporters regretting Alan Pardew’s recent departure as manager?

“Clearly my preference is to try to find someone to bring in now. However, if I have to wait until the summer for what I believe is the right individual, then I would rather wait. We’ve had about 80 applications. I hope by the end of this week I will have a better indication whether a decision can be made now or until the summer,” said Charnley.

Earlier into the new season, former Newcastle manager Alan Pardew found himself under intense pressure from his own supporters, who were demanding his sacking at the club. But he turned things around, and the boo-brigade appeared to have been silenced by an upturn in Premier League form.

However, the Crystal Palace position became vacant following Neil Warnock‘s sacking, and Pardew opted to return to his former club as a player to help keep the London side in the top flight, ending his four-year association with the Magpies in the process.

Since his exit at the end of December, Newcastle are winless in their last three Premier League games, while being eliminated from the FA Cup by bottom-of-the-table Leicester City. As for Crystal Palace, the Eagles have won back-to-back league outings and an FA Cup win since Pardew’s arrival, with only four points separating the two sides in the league too.

Newcastle are slowly sliding down the table, and they are keeping the supporters, players and staff completely in the dark about any managerial appointment. John Carver is the caretaker at present, but if a new face comes in, it will mean a new style of play has to be heard and adhered to, which can often see a transition period.

For so many years Newcastle supporters were begging owner Mike Ashley to alleviate Alan Pardew of his previous position at the club, and now they are falling apart after getting their wish. The 53-year-old left the club in 9th place, but they have since dropped two places already since his exit.

There’s plenty of the campaign still to go, but the exit of their former long-serving boss is having an adverse affect to form in all competitions.

Is Newcastle’s recent form a flash in the pan or have they turned a corner?

Newcastle are currently enjoying a West Ham-esque resurgence, with the North-East side having won their last three games on the bounce in all competitions at home to Leicester City (1-0), away to Tottenham Hotspur (2-1) and most recently, away to last season’s double winners Manchester City (2-0 in the Capital One Cup).

Manager Alan Pardew was quick to credit himself for the turnaround, cheekily reiterating that he “knows what he’s doing”, somewhat jokingly to the supporters.

But the 53-year-old knows he cannot rest on his laurels for long as the Newcastle manager, as things can change very fast. Only earlier this month, supporters were vehemently protesting against him, demanding that the club owner Mike Ashley removes him from the club.

Impressive results in their last three games have considerably risen morale around the team. The players will be believing in themselves and their manager, and the fans will certainly be on side if United continue winning.

After hosting an inconsistent Liverpool side next weekend at St James‘ Park, the Magpies will have four games that could see them picking up points – West Brom (away), Queens Park Rangers (home), West Ham (away) and Burnley (away).

Players such as Gabriel Obertan (3 PL starts, 1 goal, 1 assist) and Papiss Cisse (2 PL starts, 4 goals) have finally come into form, while goals are being spread around the team. Every player is pulling together, and their recent resurgence looks far  more of a team growing in confidence, rather than fortunately picking up results.

Their 1-0 win against Leicester City was as ugly as they come, but in getting the result, it transformed the Newcastle side to fight back in their following game against Tottenham, coming from behind to win at White Hart Lane. Their victory against Manchester City was even more convincing, with the Magpies fully deserving of the win.

But even prior to the upturn in performances, the form of Newcastle hasn’t been as bad as supporters were making out this season, as the Toon Army had only lost three from their first seven – the same amount as Liverpool and Everton at the time. It was a lack of wins that was more publicised, but now they have finally picked up a maximum three points, results should be easier to come by without the anxiety.

Alan Pardew’s side are now just one win away from 8th-placed Manchester United in the table. This month, their form in the Premier League is rivalled only by West Ham United (3 games, 3 wins). Good home form is considered the basis for a successful season, and United have lost only to Manchester City at St James Park so far.

Confidence is at its highest for almost a year. The players have dug deep for their manager to get results, and there seems to be no reason why they cannot build on it, especially with a favourable run of games to come. The entire squad are pulling together in the right direction, which could well soon see Newcastle back into the top-half of the table.