? Manager wants to re-invest �35m paid for striker
? Pardew praises Joey Barton's attitude
Alan Pardew believes Andy Carroll's �35m sale to Liverpool on the final day of the January transfer window could ultimately prove a blessing in disguise.
"Financially, it puts us in a situation where we can look forward and re-invest that money wisely," said Newcastle United's manager. "For Andy, Liverpool's a club he felt was better for him at the time. I wish him well."
Pardew does not expect his defence to renew old acquaintance with Carroll on the Anfield pitch on Sunday. "My thoughts are, he isn't going play so there won't be a reunion," he said. "All the noises coming out of Liverpool are the sort of noises I would give out as a manager if he wasn't fit. I don't think he's fit."
One player scheduled to start is Newcastle's Merseyside-born, right-sided midfielder Joey Barton. It is two years since Barton was sent off at Anfield before engaging Alan Shearer, then the relegation doomed Tyneside club's manager, in an extremely acrimonious dressing room row.
Had Shearer remained in charge, Barton would have been on his way but instead he has stayed put at St James' Park, displaying increased maturity under first Chris Hughton and now Pardew.
"I made my mind up from the day I walked in that I'd take Joey at face value," Pardew said. "When you enter a football club reputations go before you. You've got to take stock of them but you've still got to give players the opportunity to see how they react under your management or guidance. I can't fault Joey under mine.
"Knowing Joey, that incident at Anfield in 2009 won't play on his mind; I don't think he'll forget it though."
Fabricio Coloccini has always been a model professional at Newcastle but three years ago there were serious questions marks against the Argentinian centre-half's ability to adapt to the Premier League.
This season has seen such queries erased. "Colo has been very, very important for us," Pardew said. "He's a player who can start proceedings in terms of getting the ball down and making the right decision on passing it from the back.
"Some of our good play has been started by Colo's passing. His defending is also very, very good and he's been one of our stars of the season. I understand what had gone on before with him but since I've been here he's been excellent."
Behind Coloccini, Tim Krul will keep his place in goal, despite the availability of Newcastle's erstwhile first choice, Steve Harper. "Harps is fit but Tim stays in the team," Pardew said . "He's been brilliant. He's got a chance to step ahead of Harps."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/01/andy-carroll-alan-pardew-newcastle
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