The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Why it’s unlikely Alan Pardew will be given the boot at Newcastle United Posted: 14 Apr 2014 01:27 PM PDT But then this is not a normal football club, this is Newcastle United and Alan Pardew, well, he hasn't exactly got a normal job. It is amazing that Pardew remains in his job after three and a half years on Tyneside, but the fact that he does, suggests that until he starts shooting new born puppies on the touchline, he is unlikely to be moved on. Many pundits and fans alike are pointing to that infamous headbutt on Hull City's David Meyler as the moment that the club's season took a turn for the worse and where Mike Ashley should have cut Pardew lose. But if you look a little closer, there are many other instances prior to that debacle in March which under any other ownership, Pardew would have been shown the door. The relegation battle last season after finishing 5th the previous year, the 6-0 thrashing against Liverpool (he's still yet to keep his promise of sorting that one out) or his abysmal record in the derby fixture against Sunderland: one win in seven and not forgetting three straight defeats with two consecutive 3-0 defeats at home. At any other club, Pardew would have been shown the door. In fact, managers this season have walked for a lot less and had Pardew gone last summer, he could have had few complaints. But of course, he did not. There were rumours and an end of season meeting last summer when his job was reportedly on the line but nine months later he is still there and the credit of the 5th place finish two seasons ago has all but ran out. But despite the turmoil now engulfing the club, Pardew has a unique long term contract and the backing of the owner. Mike Ashley (pic, below) has shown time and time again that he cares little for the thoughts of the fans - Sports Direct Arena, Wonga and Joe Kinnear are all examples where the billionaire has brutally reminded the Geordie faithful of just who is in charge. And the fact that he chooses to stick by his buddy through all the atrocities listed above should worry Newcastle United fans. Firstly, sacking Pardew would mean Ashley admitting he was wrong and that is something he does not like to do. Secondly, it would mean giving into the fan's demands and again, Mike does not like anyone telling him what to do. Thirdly, as long as Pardew can keep the club in the Premier League then that is all Ashley cares about - he knows that he will still get the core support coming through the doors week in, week out. But then that revenue is only a sprinkling to what the TV money is worth. Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton and Alan Smith were all shown the door, along with the rest of the old guard like Andy Carroll, Steve Harper, Jonas Gutierrez and Peter Lovenkrands. It seems that anyone with any desire to speak out against the direction the club is taking, or anyone with influence or perhaps just affection and loyalty to the club and its fans, is out on their ear. And with the reports of Fabricio Coloccini telling Pardew exactly what he thinks of him after the defeat to Stoke City, Newcastle United fans should be very worried about what happens next. The reality is that Pardew's job is safe - even if the club drops out of the top 10. But it is clear that he has lost the dressing room and based on Ashley's past record, that is very worrying for the core of the team. It would not be a surprise if Ashley, in a Stalin-esque manner, simply sold on those voicing their concerns. With the likelihood of Hatem Ben Arfa, Sylvain Marveaux, Gabriel Obertan, Mathieu Debuchy, Shola Ameobi and Loic Remy all leaving in the summer, the club is in no place to get rid of those core players voicing their concerns. But if Pardew stays, then how can Coloccini remain at the club let alone as captain? And he is unlikely to be the only one unhappy with Pardew. Cheick Tiote and Tim Krul, arguably The Magpies' two best players, cannot be too happy at the lack of ambition at the club. However, there is also the argument that no matter how much your chairman backs the manager, if the gaffer has lost the players then his days are numbered. But then Ashley has never been one to stick to the "chairman's guidebook". At the moment Pardew is acting like a cornered animal and his attack on the local press is a sign of desperation, the next step would be to attack the fans which at any normal club would be his final act before being shown the door. But if he can keep Ashley on his side, Pardew may just get through this too. And if Pardew keeps a hold of his job, the ramifications on the playing squad could be huge. The likelihood is that he will still be here next season and the future of those voicing their concerns... well, they might be lucky enough to escape the graveyard of ambition and be moved on. – April 15, 2014. * Andrew Musgrove is a contributor to FTBpro.com. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider. |
| Rain interrupts Malaysian Open first round Posted: 14 Apr 2014 08:49 AM PDT Montenegro's Danka Kovinic beat Belgium's An-Sophie Mestach in two sets today before heavy rain caused the rest of the first round of the BMW Malaysian Open to be called off. All other first-round matches scheduled for today will be played tomorrow, including that of Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova, who won the tournament last year, marking her first and only WTA singles title so far. She will play against Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia. In the only completed match today, Kovinic, who ranks 140th in the world, easily defeated Mestach 6-4, 6-2 in Kuala Lumpur. Mestach ranks 127. Later in the day, Japan's eight-seeded Ayumi Morita had just begun her match against Lyudmyla Kichenok of the Ukraine, leading 1-0 in the first set when rain interrupted the game. The fourth singles match to be called off pitted Ons Jabeur of Tunsia against Italy's Giulia Gatto-Monticone. Former world number one Venus Williams of the US was expected to play in the tournament but has pulled out, reportedly due to a throat infection. First-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, who ranks 10th, will not play until later in the week. – AFP, April 14, 2014. |
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