Newcastle United have not enjoyed the best 12 months in their history.
Relegation was avoided by a margin of four points last term after a disastrous second half of the season under John Carver, while 2015/16 has not yet produced the upturn in fortunes that was expected, with Newcastle — now led by Steve McClaren — down in 17th place after only two wins in 13 matches.
The club have numerous and long-standing issues, but it is tempting to conclude that the last year would not have been quite so difficult for Newcastle had their former manager, Alan Pardew, not left for Crystal Palace in January.
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Although he did a good job in trying circumstances at St James’ Park, he was not the most popular figure among the Newcastle supporters, who accused him of being nothing more than owner Mike Ashley’s puppet in the dugout.
Pardew is therefore unlikely to receive a warm reception from the away end on Saturday when his old club travel to Selhurst Park to take on his current employers.
If 2015 has not been kind to Newcastle, it has been for Pardew.
The former midfielder, 54, guided Palace to their first top-half finish in the Premier League, with his side producing some of the most exciting football in the division.
Palace have also begun the current campaign well, with Pardew a much calmer figure on the touchline than the man who was banned for pushing linesmen and head-butting players while in charge of this weekend’s opponents.
They are unlikely to admit it, but some Newcastle fans may secretly wish they had not been so vocal in their criticism of Pardew, given how badly things have gone since he left.
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