Former Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has spoken after the Magpies’ fantastic Carabao Cup win on Sunday.
Head coach Eddie Howe has made history by becoming the first English manager to win a domestic trophy since Harry Redknapp won the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008.
Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak cancelled out Federico Chiesa’s late consolation goal to bring silverware back to Tyneside for the first time since 1969.
Newcastle United were sensational throughout the tie, attacking from the first minute and always looking the more likely of the two to find the back of the net. Liverpool only registered three shots on target throughout the game, including one effort which was neatly parried away by Nick Pope.
The Magpies have received messages of congratulations from far and wide over the last 24 hours, including from Newcastle target Anthony Elanga who messaged Isak after his performance.
Now, Howe has received some flattering words from Alan Pardew, who could not hide his delight for Newcastle and their fans.
Photo by Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images
Photo by Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images
Alan Pardew holds Eddie Howe in the highest regard
The beginning of Pardew’s time at Newcastle was successful, helping them qualify for the Europa League and reaching the quarter-finals of the competition. Sadly, the latter stages of his time on Tyneside were less memorable, with a poor showing in 2014 before he left for Crystal Palace.
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Pardew signed some gems at Newcastle including Moussa Sissoko and Papiss Cisse who went on to have good careers on Tyneside even after Pardew left.
However, the difference between a manager like Pardew compared to Howe is night and day. Howe has done a sensational job and unlike Pardew, has kept them towards the top of the table after qualifying for Europe.
That won’t bother Pardew in the slightest though, and that became clear when he spoke to TalkSPORT about Newcastle’s Carabao Cup win.
“It’s not often you get to a final and deserve and play well and win,” Pardew said.
“Sometimes you’re in it and it’s tight but they thoroughly deserved it. Great tactics from the boy and he’s now immortal, Mr Eddie Howe.
“(Newcastle’s trophy drought) goes back generations, to share that with your family and for everybody, going from my time at Newcastle, the passion and the love from the football club comes through in almost everybody you meet.
“The responsibility (of being Newcastle manager) is enormous because of the pressure you’re under.
“Obviously, the trophy thing, I remember when we got to the quarter-finals of the Europa League and the pressure that was on us to break that hoodoo but liked what Eddie had to do two years ago but they dealt with it so much better.”
Newcastle United can begin preparing for next season after Carabao Cup win
As Pardew said, it’s not very often that you go into a final and play with so much confidence and take the game to your opponent in a way which leaves them unable to fight back, but Newcastle did exactly that.
A big positive from the win is that Newcastle will play European football next season, with the Magpies guaranteed to play in the Europa Conference League at least.
With Europe locked in, it allows sporting director Paul Mitchell to put work on bringing his desired transfer target to the club in the summer.
A big bonus for Mitchell is that Newcastle can now lure a different crop of players in because of how much more attractive an option they look. Mitchell is free to spend for Newcastle in the summer. It’s important he now uses the new pulling power to his advantage.