10 Worst Decisions Alan Pardew Has Made As Newcastle Boss
2. Promising That Andy Carroll Wouldn't Be Sold
On his first day in the Newcastle hot seat, back in December 2010, Pardew fatefully proclaimed that Carroll would not be sold in the forthcoming January transfer window. This wasn't just a throwaway remark designed to placate an indignant supporters in the aftermath his contentious appointment as successor to Chris Hughton. It was a promise he committed too and a dangerous one at that. But as we already know, just over a month after making this pledge, Carroll traded his beloved black and white no.9 shirt for the red of Liverpool while Mike Ashley pocketed a mind-blowing £35 million for the Geordie striker and illustrated to us where the lines of authority were drawn at St James' Park. Pardew's reputation took a damaging hit as a result and established his position as a consenting subordinate to Ashley and his regime while the ramifications of his broken promise signalled the first fracture in his relationship with Magpies fans which has since developed into a irreparable chasm. True to type, however, Pardew sought to absolve himself of blame afterwards, saying: What can I say? We didnt force anybody to leave."
