5. Failure In The Transfer Market
January was a crucial period for Newcastle United. They had previously been walloped 7-3 by Arsenal and humiliatingly bested by strugglers Reading 2-1, two results which contributed to their downward spiral toward the drop zone at the turn of the year. By the end of the month, Pardew was
odds on to get the sack, and things looked mercilessly grim on Tynseside. To make matters worse, leading goal-scorer Demba Ba moved to Chelsea, sending the Magpies even further into the mire. It was up to Pardew then to galvanise the squad, grab them by the scruff of the neck and haul them to safety. With his chequebook in hand, he bought
Yoan Gouffran from Bordeaux in an attempt to restart the flow of goals that had been stunted by Ba's exit. Considering the Frenchman has scored but one goal since his move, it is safe to say that he has been a disappointing buy by Pardew, who so desperately needed to fill the gaping void left up front. Contrastingly, one-time target Loic Remy has been in inspired form for QPR, scoring five goals in nine appearances. That Pardew missed out on his signature is unacceptable - the urgent necessity to bring in a replacement striker was clear for all to see, and he should have pulled out all the stops to bring him to Tyneside. Yet he failed, and it has cost Newcastle this year. The fact that Demba Ba remains the club's leading goalscorer this season speaks a thousand words.