Archive for category: Chris Hughton.

Are the “Manager of the Year” awards a managerial kiss of death?

January 21st, 2013 | 19 Comments |

Alan Pardew - Premiership Manager of the Season.
A curse or a blessing?
Well not if your surname is “Ferguson,” “Wenger” or “Mourinho” perhaps, but for most, if not quite all of the others who won the award, it has seemingly been a ticket to disaster, despair, and possibly permanent career oblivion, or at least a prelude to a big dent in the manager’s CV.

In this story, I will take a look at many of the previous winners for whom the award seemed to be more of a curse than a blessing. So, lets take a look at the prevous victims of the curse, and also ask if Newcastle United’s very own Silver Supremo, Alan Pardew, might be another one.

Kenny Dalglish (Premier League Manager of the Season 1994–95).

Kenny Dalglish. When Kenny Dalglish won the Premier League “Manager of the Season” award for 1994-5, he was the golden boy of the football management world, just as he had been as a player in the years before that. With a little help from his most illustrious predecessor Bob Paisley, he had won three league titles, two FA Cup titles and four Charity Shields as manager of Liverpool. Moving on to Blackburn Rovers, he then took them to promotion, and even the 1994-5 Premiership title in their third Premiership campaign and it was for this that he received his award. (more…)


Norwich City vs Newcastle United match banter!

January 12th, 2013 | 177 Comments |

Norwich City vs Newcastle United.
Will Hughton be Pardew's executioner this afternoon?
Venue: Carrow Road, Norwich.
Date: Sat 12th January, 2013.
Kick off: 3.00pm.
Referee: Anthony Taylor.
UK TV: None.

Hello, good afternoon and welcome to our latest “match banter” for this afternoon’s “Battle of the Bird’s” as the Magpies travel to Norfolk to take on the Canaries of Norwich City.

City of course are managed by Alan Pardew’s predecessor at Newcastle, Chris Hughton, who was sacked in controversial circumstances back in December 2010. With Pardew currently in dire straits and Newcastle having the lowest points total after 21 games in their Premiership history so far, it would not be beyond the bounds of possibilty for Pardew to be sacked if the Magpies were to capitulate to Hughton’s Canaries. If that happened, the situation would not be without a little irony. However, Hughton has had a poor run of results recently too, with Norwich having lost four of their last five games. Two of these have been against daunting opposition (Chelsea and Man City), with one of the others, against West Ham, being rather controversial in terms of refereeing decisions. The other being a narrow 2-1 defeat at West Brom. Despite this though, the Canaries are still currently perched three places above the Magpies in twelfth with 25 points, five more than Newcastle. Our last game at St James’ Park earlier in the season resulted in a narrow 1-0 vistory to the Magpies though, with a 20th minute strike from the now dearly departed Demba Ba making the difference between the two sides. (more…)


NUFC have taken one step forward then two steps back under Pardew

December 12th, 2012 | 78 Comments |

Alan Pardew with Newcastle United shirt.
A bright new dawn for NUFC?
Many thanks to “ToonBano” from the Toon blog www.toonbano.com for his second guest blog here – wt.

Today is the two year anniversary of Alan Pardew’s very first game as NUFC manager, when we defeated Liverpool 3-1 thanks to goals from Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton and Andy Carroll. Just looking at the goal scorers that evening and the impressive overall performance, compared to who we have in our team now after another defeat at the hands of Fulham Monday Night, it’s safe to say things have changed a lot over that period of time.

Most people were confused and concerned as to why Alan Pardew was even in the dugout that night two years ago as Chris Hughton was doing a sterling job in our first season back in the Premier League after the ultimate humiliation of relegation. Which of course was thanks to him for rescuing this club from certain doom by getting us promoted at the first time of asking, even though he had no previous managerial experience at that point of his life. Most fans thought he was unfairly sacked and I was one of them. (more…)


Newcastle United vs Norwich City 15 minute MOTD highlights, interviews and report

September 24th, 2012 | 55 Comments |

Extended MOTD highlights of yesterday’s game between Newcastle united and Norwich at St James’ Park, Newcastle.

A sublime defence splitting pass from Hatem Ben Arfa, along with an excellent finish from Demba Ba in the 19th minute was the difference between the two sides. Norwich almost struck back on the counter after 27 minutes when Snodgrass’s head connected with Hoolahan’s left hand cross and the visitors would have scored had his effort not been headed off the line by Williamson. (more…)


Newcastle United vs Norwich City match highlights and post match interviews

September 23rd, 2012 | 27 Comments |

Highlights of today’s game between the Magpies and Chris Hughton’s Norwich City.

Newcastle United vs Norwich City extended highlights, post match interviews and report.

A rather uninspiring match from both sides, with Newcastle seemingly having difficulties getting started in both halves and Chris Hughton seemingly still tinkering around with his new Norwich side somewhat as he try to find the right balance. However, once again it was moment of excellence from Ben Arfa in the form of a brilliant defence splitting pass to in form striker, Demba Ba, who finished it off with his usual composure. Something which wasn’t the case with his partner in crime, Papiss Cisse. His wildly off target penalty, won for a push on Mike Williamson by Steve Morison in the area just before half time is currently troubling satellites in the upper atmosphere!

Post match interviews (more…)