To have any chance of keeping his job, Pardew must start to put things right against West Ham this weekend and finish the campaign strongly with a united squad behind him, although even that may not be enough to save him beyond the end of the season.
Having conceded a third goal against the run of play at the start of the second half on Saturday, several players visibly stopped trying, helping Liverpool to inflict Newcastle’s heaviest top-flight home defeat since 1925. The manager has taken ultimate responsibility for that abject performance, but there is no doubt his players should also be ashamed of the way they capitulated.
There were seven French players on the pitch when Newcastle fell apart against Liverpool and the discontent is hugely worrying for a team which still need one more win from their remaining three games to ensure they preserve their top-flight status.
The threat of disunity and discord means the club’s much-heralded success in the French transfer market is in danger of backfiring unless Pardew can unite his team and channel the anger in a positive manner ahead of the trip to Upton Park.
If the French players who make up the core of Newcastle starting XI are upset by accusations they are damaging team morale, Pardew will emphasise that the only answer they can give is on the pitch.
Newcastle are also in danger of losing playmaker Yohan Cabaye. The midfielder was privately keen to join Tottenham Hotspur last summer, but Newcastle refused to sell.
Cabaye’s form has dipped dramatically and he is expected to ask to leave in the summer so he can return to France with Paris Saint-Germain.
The return of club captain Fabricio Coloccini is a timely tonic for dressing room friction as he commands the respect of all the players, regardless of nationality or agendas.
The Argentine has been sorely missed during a 12-game absence with a back injury, but is expected to start against West Ham.
No comments:
Post a Comment