Spread Betting: Liverpool is the value in Pardew’s debut

Alan Pardew has his first game in charge of Newcastle tomorrow against Woy’s Weds.

Despite being at home and with the return of captain Kevin Nolan, scouse nutter Joey Barton faces a late fitness test and first choice CBs Coloccini and Williamson are suspended. Throw into that the fact the Newcastle players are reportedly livid at the dismissal of popular manager Chris Hughton, former Palace player Pardew doesn’t have an easy day ahead.

Admittedly his record as a manager is debateable. Some eyebrows were definitely raised after he got the boot at Southampton. Fans were disappointed as many credited him with overseeing the first stages of their impressive comeback. Rumours persisted, however, that the players were not too happy with him. Whether this was chairman Nicola Cortese’s cover story, Southampton fans will know better than I.

He also had a turbulent time at West Ham, overseeing their worst run for over 70 yrs. After Carlos Tevez left, he seethed that Pardew couldn’t handle big name stars and played him totally out of position, resulting in the diminutive Argentine not scoring in 13 games. The worst spell of his career.

All this leads me to wonder how he’ll handle a clearly unsettled Toon dressing room. Star striker Andy Carroll especially seems to have been affected by the change. Not to mention that a poll saw only 2% of Newcastle fans want him in as manager.

It doesn’t look like a good start so far.

But what of this new manager syndrome that we hear of so often? Well, statistically, it rubbish. No one has presented any evidence that it exists, consistently. If it does, then its contextual. For example, if my Mrs was managing Man Utd, she’d pick players with the nicest legs and the best hair. Replace her with Sir Alex and yes, things will probably improve. But to replace a manager considered to have done a very decent job with one with, at best, mixed reviews? Nope. Sorry.

Liverpool are without Stevie G on Saturday, but so what, feels like he’s not played like he can for some time now. I’m beginning to feel that 12 yrs of box to box sprinting and crunching tackles have taken in out of him.

Fernando Torres is available however, but where his head will be I don’t know. He’s just become a dad for the 2^nd time. Awww.

Overall, despite an horrible start to the season, The Red’s have a very good record against the Geordies. Last 5 results 3-0, 5-1, 3-0, 3-0, 1-2.

I’m not going to be tipping up the overs/total goals however, as I feel a buy of Liverpool’s supremacy at 0.5 offers more upside to what could be a horrible day for the barcodes.