The beginning of the 2011/2012 campaign, not just in England but across the Continent - has thrown up pleasant shocks left, right and centre. With Newcastle United strutting their stuff 1 point off 2nd place in the Premier League, Levante - until recently jaw-droppingly heading the La Liga over in Spain and at the time of writing Udinese making the early strides at the top of Serie A it has clearly been a season opener full of shocks, surprise and an air of refreshing change to the European game.
In terms of life up on St James' Park; Alan Pardew knows his football, he's been around the block in the sporting terms, for Charlton Athletic and West Ham United, where he even reached a F.A Cup final 5 years ago whilst also showing he can handle to nitty gritty of a relegation scrap. Pardew really has steadied the ship since his appointment at the back end of last year. It has been far from a stroll for the Wimbledon born boss, replacing fans favourite Chris Hughton was never going to be easy for anyone, straight away it became clear he'd embraced upon a chariot of fire. Yet Pardew has stuck it out, reaped the rewards of transfer fees, spending wisely and conservatively, the results are paying off, one glance at the League Table proves it.
A bleak 2011 full of losses of 'Star' players as Andy Carroll, Jose Enrique, Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton all leaving the North-East to pursue other avenues. Defensive midfielder Yohan Cabaye - a mere penniless £4.3m coup from Lille - is already establishing himself as a cult hero up on Tyneside, his feather-like touch, eye for a long shot and crunch in the tackle brings the fans to ponder: "Joey who?". The real secret is of course up-top, with 8 goals in 10 games hitman Demba Ba in the goal sniff, Newcastle fans are in dreamland. After an impressive spell with West Ham at the beginning of 2011, United snapped at the opportunity, and are seeping the rewards, two hat-tricks already are the stats, power, pace and finesse are the reality of what could see Newcastle United again churn out another fine #9-esque centre forward.
No one can suggest that Newcastle have nothing but a 'solid' spine to their side, goalkeeper Tim Krul is an undoubted star, several memorable saves and excellent clean sheets so far this year have more than bulked up his case to be one of the League's hottest young goalkeepers. The two centre-halves are sturdy through and through, Steven Taylor has been at the senior level of the club for almost a decade now and knows the concept of defending for the side inside out, whilst his partner and new club captain Fabricio Coloccini is another real reason the Geordie fans have to celebrate. The Argentinean defender was once regarded as one of the best of his position in the game and after surpassing 100 games recently for The Magpies it appears he is now regarded as a central figure-head and has a very big Newcastle future.
The aforementioned Cabaye sits alongside another Toon cult-figure in Cheick Tiote in the central midfield position, the Ivorian will forever have a place in the heart of Newcastle history after that dramatic last kick of the game stunner against Arsenal in the 4-4 at St James' last year. It is really his sheer workload and persistence that have made him emerge as a firm fans favourite. With rumours of Manchester United and Chelsea sniffing around put to bed by a new six-and-a-half-year deal being signed in February, it truly shows his potential and what a coup the club made there yet again.
With the full-back section filled with the English solidarity of Danny Simpson and Ryan Taylor barely putting a foot wrong all term, whilst adding to the goal and assist tally themselves, Newcastle's squad seems complete, they can mix and match, they have a boss who is willing to do so and is clearly buying and thinking towards the future - happy, happy days.
Putting aside the individual brilliance what has most impressed me about this seasons Newcastle side is their new found 'grit and determination' to grind out those little 3 pointers that take them a long way. After Demba Ba's marvelous hat-trick away at The Britannia in late October, they were bought back to earth with what appeared to be a difficult task hosting tricky Everton at home the following Saturday. This 2nd game in 5 games clearly didn't have any adverse effect on their winning mentally though as despite flying into an early 2 goal lead, Jack Rodwell pegged them back just before the break and the remainder of the 2nd period was a real test of Newcastle's mettle, could they hold on to the three points in a sort of 'Manchester United way' of winning without playing to their greatest potential? Or would it be 'Crash bang!' run over and back to usual? Stick it out they did, many a Premier League side would've jilted under such pressure from a seasoned unpredictable side like The Toffees but the new found belief soaring through the veins of this squad is evident to all. The top 6, scratch that, the top 4 need to be very careful because this side look like they have all aspects in what is required to be successful in the Barclays Premier League. A thriving manager, solid foundation of English stalwarts to build their squad around and finally that bit of individual brilliance that'll set alight a cold, miserable winter night 0-0'er.
It appears that this fever of grinding out the gritty victories in the style of 'big-guns' is not contempt with infecting only English sides - a quick glimpse over to Spain not so long ago would of struck you with the spellbinding site of little Levante sitting proud above Barcelona and Real Madrid at the head of La Liga. It became clear to be after a bit of analysis just how similar both sides fortunes are - they both flirted around mid table last term, both run by a manager who has applied his trade in lower divisions and both attempt to use their own nation to bring sturdiness and stability to the club.
Much as Newcastle look to Ryan Taylor and Danny Simpson - Levante turn to experienced Spaniards Juanfran and Javi Venta, it is a recurring theme all through the side and without doubt a successful one. They also enjoy mixing relative Spanish youth along with know-how and experience in their midfield - once Valencia and Inter Milan man Javier Farinós adds that finesse whilst Malaga loanee Xavi Torres provides a very youthful midfield barrier.
A further mightily interesting link with Newcastle is that of not being afraid to go big on their main goal threat - although admittedly they haven't yet splashed the euros on fellow loanee Aruna Kone, the Ivorian's reputation certainly hasn't got the better of him as his move to the Ciutat de Valencia has provided him with that new lease of life he lost in Seville - that form he regularly used to show in Holland.
Their boss Juan Martinez is Pardew's age - give or take a couple of years and again like Pardew, it's his first real stint at managing top-half of a top division side. Given Levante's honeymoon seems to be now slightly drying up - although far from over - they now sit in 4th having taken 23 points from 11 games just 2 points behind Newcastle at exactly the same point. It appears both sides have the correct underlying idea about how to approach a year when not a lot is tipped for you, they are equipping themselves fabulously and fully deserve to be where they are.
You would have needed to have been living in a bubble for the last couple of years if the emergence of Crawley Town FC has not caught your eye-line, there is no excuse as their fine FA Cup 5th round run last year was halted by non other than Manchester United at Old Trafford, nevertheless the 'Money-bags' of the Conference kept going and secured winners spot by early April. Okay, you may be saying spending £500,000 and storming the Conference is not saying much - but this incredible sides beginning to life in the Football League just makes their story better and better - quite an achievement.
Their purchasing of Conference class acts Matt Tubs - who went on to score 46 goals in all competitions and big haired Argentinean Sergio Torres have continued to shine for the side, whilst club captain and experience figurehead Pablo Mills has been a great credit and really the given the side that sense of leadership through the transitional state it's in the middle of.
After another unprecedented beginning to their campaign, they sit amazingly in 2nd spot, 2 points behind early leaders Southend United - there is absolutely nothing to say Crawley won't be able to finish this year inside those top 2 spots, the financial is there, their loyal and deserving Manager Steve Evans is clearly continuing to keep his sides feet on the ground - as well as getting the best out of the players that served him so so well last time out. They do have the added pressure of investment that comes - just as Manchester City do far above them, much of the English footballing supporters have their eyes glued on them, the press have their knives out ready to brand them a 'rich flop' yet the fairy-tale continues. To achieve mid-table obscurity in this, their first year in The Football League would of equaled a resounding success but to see them striding along with League 1 relegated leaders is immense - long may it continue and hopefully, just hopefully they are treated well in the first few rounds of The FA Cup again, so the whole of English football can again sit up and notice their success on a National scale.
Mine and I'm sure a lot of other's money is on them achieving great things in the coming years, to perhaps achieve promotion again - and then really attract the calibre of players in League 1. The sky really is the limit!
It appears that this fever of grinding out the gritty victories in the style of 'big-guns' is not contempt with infecting only English sides - a quick glimpse over to Spain not so long ago would of struck you with the spellbinding site of little Levante sitting proud above Barcelona and Real Madrid at the head of La Liga. It became clear to be after a bit of analysis just how similar both sides fortunes are - they both flirted around mid table last term, both run by a manager who has applied his trade in lower divisions and both attempt to use their own nation to bring sturdiness and stability to the club.
Much as Newcastle look to Ryan Taylor and Danny Simpson - Levante turn to experienced Spaniards Juanfran and Javi Venta, it is a recurring theme all through the side and without doubt a successful one. They also enjoy mixing relative Spanish youth along with know-how and experience in their midfield - once Valencia and Inter Milan man Javier Farinós adds that finesse whilst Malaga loanee Xavi Torres provides a very youthful midfield barrier.
A further mightily interesting link with Newcastle is that of not being afraid to go big on their main goal threat - although admittedly they haven't yet splashed the euros on fellow loanee Aruna Kone, the Ivorian's reputation certainly hasn't got the better of him as his move to the Ciutat de Valencia has provided him with that new lease of life he lost in Seville - that form he regularly used to show in Holland.
Their boss Juan Martinez is Pardew's age - give or take a couple of years and again like Pardew, it's his first real stint at managing top-half of a top division side. Given Levante's honeymoon seems to be now slightly drying up - although far from over - they now sit in 4th having taken 23 points from 11 games just 2 points behind Newcastle at exactly the same point. It appears both sides have the correct underlying idea about how to approach a year when not a lot is tipped for you, they are equipping themselves fabulously and fully deserve to be where they are.
You would have needed to have been living in a bubble for the last couple of years if the emergence of Crawley Town FC has not caught your eye-line, there is no excuse as their fine FA Cup 5th round run last year was halted by non other than Manchester United at Old Trafford, nevertheless the 'Money-bags' of the Conference kept going and secured winners spot by early April. Okay, you may be saying spending £500,000 and storming the Conference is not saying much - but this incredible sides beginning to life in the Football League just makes their story better and better - quite an achievement.
Their purchasing of Conference class acts Matt Tubs - who went on to score 46 goals in all competitions and big haired Argentinean Sergio Torres have continued to shine for the side, whilst club captain and experience figurehead Pablo Mills has been a great credit and really the given the side that sense of leadership through the transitional state it's in the middle of.
After another unprecedented beginning to their campaign, they sit amazingly in 2nd spot, 2 points behind early leaders Southend United - there is absolutely nothing to say Crawley won't be able to finish this year inside those top 2 spots, the financial is there, their loyal and deserving Manager Steve Evans is clearly continuing to keep his sides feet on the ground - as well as getting the best out of the players that served him so so well last time out. They do have the added pressure of investment that comes - just as Manchester City do far above them, much of the English footballing supporters have their eyes glued on them, the press have their knives out ready to brand them a 'rich flop' yet the fairy-tale continues. To achieve mid-table obscurity in this, their first year in The Football League would of equaled a resounding success but to see them striding along with League 1 relegated leaders is immense - long may it continue and hopefully, just hopefully they are treated well in the first few rounds of The FA Cup again, so the whole of English football can again sit up and notice their success on a National scale.
Mine and I'm sure a lot of other's money is on them achieving great things in the coming years, to perhaps achieve promotion again - and then really attract the calibre of players in League 1. The sky really is the limit!
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