Alan Pardew’s eight-year deal is looking dodgy, the non-return of Michael Owen and is the writing on the wall for Reading already.
Talk of the Toon
When Alan Pardew was handed a monster eight-year contract at Newcastle back in September, even he said he was ‘shocked’ by the deal, though not so shocked that he wasn’t able to pick up a pen and scrawl his name.
Now though that deal, incredibly, looks even more ludicrous than it did back then. Since Pardew put pen to paper the Magpies have won just four games, drawn five and lost seven. It would be facile to put the drop in Newcastle’s play with the manager getting super comfy in the dugout but it can hardly have helped.
True, injuries to key men like Chieck Tiote, Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa have taken a toll, as has the Europa League, but there is a distinct lack of cut and thrust to Newcastle this season. After five defeats in their last six, can they rediscover it against another team looking for a morale-boosting win, Manchester City?
Out of Europe and now six points behind United in the Premier League, Roberto Mancini needs to steady the ship. The Geordie boat is rocking too. It may not be pretty, but Saturday’s early kick-off could be the best game of the weekend.
Breaking News: Michael Owen is still a footballer
Now better known as a pundit, Twitter addict and horse owner, Michael Owen is, apparently, still a footballer. He has clocked up just 53 minutes in four substitute appearances this season for new club Stoke but all that was set to change this weekend, against Everton.
“I am healthy and raring to go,” Owen told the Liverpool Echo this week.
“It depends on me now to stay fit and perform. I have to wait for the opportunity but hopefully I can take it when it does come. I’ve had muscular problems which have probably come from not having a solid pre-season.
“But that’s gone.”
However his gaffer, Tony Pulis, said different yesterday. “He needs another couple of weeks of full training, another game or two first before we chuck him back in,” Pulis said in his pre-game presser. Ah well.
We remain skeptical that Owen, who turns 32 today, ever plays regularly again but if Pulis can get the former England man, or any striker for that matter, into some form, they could have a really great season.
Stoke have scored just 14 goals in the league this term. Only rock bottom QPR have scored fewer (13). That the Potters are in the top half is a testimony to their defensive solidity. A decent striker could see them seriously challenge the top four. Whether that man is Owen is still in doubt.
Meeting of the damned at the Madejski
Under the spotlight: Arsene Wenger
While Newcastle and Man City should be tense on Saturday afternoon, the Monday night game between Reading and Arsenal will be even more of a nial biter. Reading are only off the bottom by dint of QPR’s uselessness and if Harry coaxes a first win out of the Londoners against Fulham on Saturday, they will leapfrog Brian McDermott’s men.
Arsenal are, as you will surely know, in deep trouble. The Capital One Cup exit to Bradford was just the latest ignominy to befall the Gunners this season, one that is rapidly becoming the worst in living memory for many fans.
Their league position is still not bad (seventh at time of writing), but the underlying form is woeful. Whoever emerges with a win here (and it was 5-7 when they met early in the season in the Capital One Cup remember) will be grateful. Being the loser on Monday doesn’t bear thinking about for either fanbase.
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