Pardew: Beware of second season syndrome

ALAN PARDEW has challenged his Newcastle United side to target a top-10 finish in next season’s Premier League.

But while he relishes this period of transfer to-ing and fro-ing, the Magpies boss has warned his players to be wary of ‘second-season syndrome’.

Newcastle finished 12th on their return to the top flight.

But Pardew knows motivation for the new campaign will have to be replenished.

And after what he predicts will be a “bit of a turnaround” this summer, the former West Ham United manager knows from bitter experience that a star-studded squad is no guarantee of success.

“I like pre-season – I think it gives you a chance to unify the squad and assess exactly what sort of impact you’re going to have,” Pardew said.

“But the best possible squad doesn’t always mean success.

“The six strikers I started my second year in the Premier League with West Ham were Carlos Tevez, Bobby Zamora, Marlon Harewood, Teddy Sheringham, Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole.

“Going into a Premier League season, if we had that here, it would be happy days.

“But I lost Dean Ashton a week before the season started, and he was going to be the starter.