Source: Northern_Echo
Pardew reflects on "great effort this year"
ALAN Pardew last night claimed Newcastle's final-day capitulation against West Brom should not overshadow a largely satisfactory season.[LNB] The Magpies threw away a three-goal lead to record a 3-3 draw with the Baggies, with Somen Tchoyi's last-minute header sending them crashing from ninth to 12th position.[LNB] Pardew's players were booed from the field at the final whistle, and fewer than 10,000 supporters remained in St James' Park to witness the traditional end-of-season 'Lap of Appreciation'.[LNB] It was hard to detect a feel-good factor as a result, but having won promotion from the Championship last season, Pardew feels it would be wrong to be too harsh on a squad that have generally performed above the expectations that accompanied them back into the top-flight.[LNB] "Although we're disappointed, we have to remember it's been a great effort this year," said the Magpies manager, who took over a team that were also in 12th position when he replaced Chris Hughton last December. "It's been a tremendous effort from this group of players and we can't get away from that.[LNB] "We lost (Hatem) Ben Arfa and Andy Carroll, and I think finishing in 12th position is probably about fair. But we need to build on that next season.[LNB] "I thought the game reflected our season in a way. We were brilliant at times, but rubbish at others. One minute we're great, but then another we might not look too much of a threat. I think that's the inconsistency that we need to eradicate, and quality players bring consistency to a club."[LNB] With on-field matters concluded for another campaign, Pardew will now turn his attention to a summer rebuilding project that will determine the extent of the club's ambition next season.[LNB] Jose Enrique is expected to leave for pastures new, but it is hoped Joey Barton will sign a new deal along with skipper Kevin Nolan, who has two years of his existing contract to run.[LNB] New signings will undoubtedly arrive as well, but having previously hinted at an imminent signing, Pardew now admits he does not expect to be concluding any deals in the early weeks of the summer.[LNB] "My priority now is to make sure the guys are seen off properly and their programmes are all sorted for the summer," he said. "We head into the summer looking for quality players to add to the group.[LNB] "I don't think anything is going to happen in the next couple of weeks. A lot of agents and players are manoeuvring at the moment, but most people are not going to be advised to sign at this point. We have to be in there pitching and battling away, and that's what we're doing."[LNB] It looked like Newcastle would be heading into the summer on a winning note when goals from Steven Taylor, Peter Lovenkrands and West Brom defender Jonas Olsson established a three-goal lead, but Tchoyi's second-half hat-trick left a sourer taste.[LNB] "It was a funny game," said Pardew. "We found ourselves 3-0 up, and I'm not sure we deserved as big a lead at that stage if I'm honest. We were seeing the game out, the crowd were enjoying themselves, and it didn't look as though there would be a problem.[LNB] "But we gifted them a goal and couldn't get back up to speed from that point onwards. We didn't look like we were going to penetrate them and I thought four or five of our players started to struggle because of the time they've had out.[LNB] "We started to really struggle towards the end, and I think that's a reflection of where we are with the squad at this moment. So many of our top players are missing."[LNB]
