As soon as Alan Pardew came under pressure, and with the Danish legend freshly out of his Swansea job, his was the name that came up most hotly with Newcastle fans. He has since taken a job with Qatari side Lekhwiya - where he is bound to be on a pretty penny - but he is an ambitious manager who won't stay in a job that doesn't test him for too long. Frankly, there are some concerns that Laudrup is not the genius he has been suggested as, since he inherited a very good Swansea side and made a few questionable signings, but his coaching ability is not up for question. He brought through some rough diamonds at Swansea, played attractive possession football and guided the side to an unlikely League Cup victory. And he was a major part of instilling the style of play that has gone on to be so successful under Garry Monk, with a focus on the basics of passing and movement that Newcastle badly miss.
