The Year that was 2011

[Christmas Tree 4843]

My Year with Newcastle --- Simon Bird

 

There is nothing like Newcastle United to get us veering from downbeat and pessimistic, to enthusiastic and full of hope.

 

 

This week Alan Pardew summed up 2011 as a "fantastic" year, adding: "It's more than I could have hoped for in terms of where we are."

 

As Newcastle sit comfortably in the top seven, it is hard to disagree.

 

 

The Geordies have genuine talent in their (still quite thin and vulnerable to injuries) squad. They have a system of play that is organised, has a bit of everything - pace, aggression, deft skills, and team work.

 

And off the pitch progress has been made. The club is starting to pay for itself, the wage bill is under control, and the finances are healthy. (We'll come to why, and the drawbacks later)

 

 

Only 12 months ago Pardew had just taken charge of United with a popularity/approval rating that one local paper poll had at 2pc. A re-vote this month had it up at 98pc.

 

But the route Newcastle took to get to this position has been the usual rollercoaster.

 

 

When I report on how 2012 goes, it may well depend on how the club deals with some of the shocks and themes that 2011 also threw up.

 

Perhaps it was a blessing that Pardew got the difficult stuff out of the way in January last year. He had his fingers burned, and reputation as a straight talking boss tarnished, by the Andy Carroll saga last January.

 

 

He repeatedly denied that Carroll would be sold, in strong terms. Only for Carroll to be sold. "Won't make the same mistake again," he now reflects.

 

Mind you, a year on, few people would argue against the feeling that Newcastle got the best end of the deal in banking £30 million in cash and £5 million in future extras from Liverpool for their home grown striker.

 

 

Naturally the money was squirreled away with the pledge it would be reinvested, on the proviso that it won't be spent not all on one player, and not just in one transfer window, and er, they may chuck in the wage costs too!

Anyway, in Carroll's absence other players came to the fore and on the last day of the season United were 3-0 up and cruising to a creditable top ten finish, until they chucked away the win (and Mike Ashley's top ten bonus worth thousands to all members at St James's Park stadium and training ground staff).

 

 

To make it worse, Sunderland leapfrogged into the top half.

 

Early in the summer there was concern as skipper Kevin Nolan was swiftly sold for £4million to West Ham - after demanding a five year deal. Joey Barton stepped up his goading of owner Mike Ashley and MD Derek Llambias by opening his now world famous twitter account.

 

 

Behind the scenes Pardew was plotting to change his team from "functional, likely to score from set pieces and hard to beat" to a more "fluid and mobile passing side."

 

In came Yohan Cabaye, who has proved another bargain at £5million. Arsene Wenger has since allegedly wondered why he wasn't flagged up as a cheaper alternative to Mikel Arteta.

 

 

Demba Ba also arrived quickly in June, a free transfer. His 11 league goals make that look a bargain too.

Barton was out the door too, after one tweet too many winding the club up, and a bust up at a friendly against Leeds.

 

 

By the time the season arrived Pardew has reshaped the squad and it looked decent, especially with local derby win at Sunderland in the second game raising spirits and confidence.

 

At one point in October, United sat in second place briefly, and kept pace with the likes of Chelsea as the goals and the wins flowed - helped by a fantastic defence.

 

 

The current position is well deserved but they need to kick on to maintain it after a poor run, hindered by injuries to the previously excellent Steven Taylor.

 

Off the pitch naturally there were moments of anger. Namely the night United announced the St James's Park was no more. From midnight it was being called the Sports Direct Arena.

 

 

The business logic was sound. Newcastle are searching for a new shirt sponsor and it looks more lucrative if you throw in the ground renaming too, for more cash. The emotional and historic logic rightly dictated a furious reaction. Fans pledged to keep calling it St James's Park. A couple of months on, the name on the side of the stadium in Barrack Road remains St James's Park.... for now.

 

With January approaching Newcastle and Pardew will be grappling with old issues.

 

To sell or not to sell. Cheik Tiote is attracting interest from Chelsea and Manchester United - a profit of £16.5million could be made is he is sold. My feeling is that he will be, either now with United banking the usual mid-season madness price premium, or the summer.

 

 

Fabricio Coloccini has yet to sign his new deal. If someone offered £10million for the 29 year old would United turn it down even though he is hugely influential and a world class centre back? Liverpool sending more cash the way of Tyneside?

 

Young keeper Tim Krul has made position his own - a big summer call to drop Steve Harper that it appears Pardew got correct. But Krul is also now attracting envious eyes. Will Chelsea see him as the replacement to Petr Cech?

 

 

At some point Newcastle have to make a decision. Do they ward off all offers and try to cash in on their best start for years to get a top seven finish and the chance of European football?

 

Or do they accept a fate as a mid to lower table team and simply cash in?

 

 

The year has seen progress. But the same old issued are vexing Tyneside fans as this time last year.

Edited December 22, 2011 by Christmas Tree

[CleeToonFan 1]

Once I saw our recent form summed up as "comfortably" in the top 7 I stopped reading.