I'm sure I speak for most Newcastle fans when I say Chris Hughton is a top bloke and manager. Well done to Norwich for appointing him. The majority of our fans were devastated when he was sacked for no apparent reason by Mike Ashley. He did a fantastic job getting us straight back into the Premiership especially when our dressing room morale was at rock bottom following relegation and the club was in in turmoil off the pitch with Ashley trying to sell the club. Hughton did wonders to reunite the dressing room by building a strong bond with senior players including Kevin Nolan, Steve Harper and Alan Smith. Working closely with these players he managed to restore the team spirit that our promotion season was built on. He also hired our excellent head scout Graham Carr as well as making very good signings in Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Cheik Tiote and Hatem Ben Arfa. He deserved the chance to test himself in the Premiership but was cruelly denied that chance by our owner. Luckily for us Pardew has continued Hughton's grest work but we still miss him! The man is very humble, modest, hard working and a true professional. I wish him the very best of luck next season at Norwich (who will now be my second team!)
Many thanks for your kind words Robiatti, a fair summary. I felt that he was treated shabbily by Ashley although Pardew to be fair has done exceptionally well (surprisingly). I am sure that we on this board wish the Toon well for the new season, apart from when you visit CR of course next year.
Thanks for your kind words, if only the Ipswich fans understood football, but what can you expect when you see what they have to watch week in week out! Good luck next season, hope Pards can keep up the good work!
Thanks Thurnby. Yeah Pardew really surprised all of us last season, long may it continue. The only worry is what our un-predictable owner will do next. Good luck for next season apart from your visit to Newcastle!
Cheers, best of luck for next year with Hughton. For Ipswich fans read Sunderland fans, I suppose everyone has to have a poorer neighbour though, just so they feel better about themselves!
Great post, extremely valid point of view being a Newcastle fan. Newcastle and Celtic are allies we have picked up post season. Also hope Newcastle get Champ League next year, sick of Arsenal/Liverpool/Chelsea now I say now, I never was fond of them, good luck anyway
Youv'e got a gem of a manager at Norwich now lads. All Nufc fans were gutted when CH was sacked. Luckily for us Pardew came in and did a cracking job. Wishing you well except when you play us.
Just to give you a little insight into the manager you are getting (I posted this on our own board when one of your lads ventured over but thought I'd say it again) Basically we were all gutted when Hughton left, and as such one of our not606 boys wrote a letter with all of our names signed at the bottom just wishing him well in the future... Anyway couple of weeks later, the lad got a card in the post. It was a hand written thank you card from the man himself. The message he wrote spanned both inside pages of the card and was basically thanking the fans for their support, praising our club and our city and apologising for not being able to thank each person individually - this from a man who was effectively made redundant despite performing minor miracles at our club with little or no prior warning, less than a month earlier! He didn't need to do it, he didn't need to write so much, and he didn't need to mention any of the other names. But he did. That's Hughton in a nutshell...Also, have a look at the work he's done with the unions and with the anti-apartheid movement (impressive for a 'brain-dead footballer!') Finally, some of you may have seen we just signed our scout, Graham Carr (yep, Dad of Alan Carr!) up to an 8 year deal...Whilst he did the work bringing in the likes of Tiote for £3.5, Cabaye for £4.5, Ben Arfa for a reported £2, Santon for £4.5 and of course Ba and Cisse for £9m together, it was Hughton who brought him to Newcastle! Top man, and yes beefforhire - I can guarantee you more than one black n white clad Norwich fan next season!
...And also, expect him to look smart as a button on the touchline, when he was with us, his Dad told him off for wearing a tracksuit and its been strictly shirt and tie ever since...****, I love the man, I really do wish him (and therefore you) all the best!
He does come across as a very professional, top gent who loves football and is very good at it Norwich and Newcastle are full of pubs, gonna be some great games next season!
It just gets better! he sounds a really top bloke. Really appreciate the heads up Jesus, or were you just a very naughty boy?
Wow! The man just climbs higher and higher in my esteem, the only people that appear to not appreciate the man are all binners! Little green-eyed God I shouldn't wonder!
Top post JWAG, that's the impression I've read from everyone and to hear you anecdote about the card seems to sum up what everyone says about him. Not met one person who has a bad word to say about him. Regarding the Graham Carr bit, I live in Northampton who Graham Carr used to manager. He now has Colin Calderwood (ex Northampton and Forest manager) and Paul Trollope (Ex Bristol Rovers manager) as his background staff, amazing how many managers he can persuade to work as backroom staff. Just shows how many people respect in the game and want to work with him. May be irrelevant that last point but it probably speaks volume how good the backroom staff he has are. all the best next season anyway pal!
Only God can judge me...And he's a bit tied up with punditry, sitting next to Hansen and Linekar in the Ukraine!
