Newcastle United Premier League 2014/15 Prediction: Remy Cabella Key to Preventing Alan Pardew Sacking

Last season

Premier League: 10th

FA Cup: Third Round

League Cup: Fourth Round

Top Scorer: Loic Remy (13)

Summer's work

At the time of writing, no Premier League team has been more active in the summer transfer window than The Magpies. Nine new players have arrived in the off-season, the highest profile of which have been Remy Cabella – a belated replacement for Yohan Cabaye – and Dutch duo Siem de Jong and Daryl Janmaat. Newcastle's recent success in the market means much should be expected of lesser-known additions Ayoze Perez and Facundo Ferreyra, while Emmanuel Riviere begins the campaign as the chief attacking threat. For once, major departures have been limited but Shola Ameobi will be missed after 17 years at St James' Park.

Manager – Alan Pardew

To suggest that Alan Pardew begins the new season battling against waves of unpopularity is an emphatic understatement. Amid Pardew serving a record-breaking seven-match ban for head-butting Hull City's David Meyler, Newcastle lost 11 of their final 15 league games to plummet down the division and come within a whisker of finishing outside a top half which they occupied for much of the campaign. Upon returning to the touchline, Pardew's every move was met with boos from the Toon support, who staged a mass walk-out during the final home game of the season against Cardiff City in a protest against current operations at St James' Park.

Key player – Remy Cabella

Six months on from the sale of Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle's painful search for a replacement has seen them return to France to bring in Cabella from Montpellier. Following a season where goals and creativity came at a premium, particularly after Cabaye's departure, Cabella will be responsible for setting the tone in midfield alongside the increasingly reliable Cheick Tiote. Already a favourite with supporters following an impressive pre-season, the 24 year old is expected to combine guile with metronomic passing and will quickly become the fulcrum of the Toon midfield.

Expectations

Though Pardew begins the season under immense scrutiny, his relationship with owner Mike Ashley should ensure he is given time to convince that last season's problems were sparked by the departure of Cabaye, and not by his own deficiencies. Newcastle's success-rate in the transfer window suggests they shouldn't be classed as relegation candidates having added depth to a wafer-thin squad but little time will be allowed for settling in.

Prediction

Impressive recruiting should save Pardew for another season. 8<sup>th.