Do we play better football under Pardew?

With little gossip going on at the moment it gives us a bit of time to ponder some other, perhaps deeper, aspects of football and Newcastle United.

Now this article is mainly spawned from the fact that the bulk of the players we have been linked with are technical players, flair players if you like, with an eye for a pass and the ability to do that something that little bit special. Time will tell if we can get those players to replicate it in the Premier League, or indeed if we sign them at all, but if we do I would say that it's a pretty safe bet that the style of football at St James' Park will improve.

This summer should signal the next level of our Premier League evolution. Last season was all about survival whereas the upcoming season the aim, quite rightly, will be that little bit higher both in terms of results and league position, although the two generally tend to go hand in hand.

There is more to it than that though. Us NUFC fans are a special breed when it comes to football. We tend to want to see football played in the right way with a bit of technique and ability as opposed to a more direct style of play such as what Sam Allardyce tried to instill on Tyneside. He didn't last long...

I think, results aside, that the type of football that we play will be the making or breaking of Alan Pardew. Obviously results are the most important thing, but it's also important to get those results by playing in the right way, especially at home. I'm not saying we should be cavalier in every home game, but I feel that under Chris Hughton we paid the price for not being positive enough at home sometimes.

Of course as a manager you can only work with what you have at your disposal, and lets face it, our current lot are hardly flair players are they? Hard working? Yes. Willing to put in a shift? Yes. Known for their tricks and flicks? No, not really.

Mind you, I do think that the arrival of Pardew has seen us improve the type of football we play, although perhaps some of that is down to the fact that we no longer had the option of lumping it up to Carroll as an outlet. I also think Pardew has generally been more positive at home, which is why we've lost only twice at St James' Park under him. There is still room for improvement though.

That is where this summer comes in, and where this transfer window becomes vitally important for the success of next season. It sounds simple doesn't it? In actual fact it's a delicate balance of building on what we already have available to us and complimenting it with the 'X-Factor' that these flair players can bring.

That is what we are all waiting to see. It's all well and good being linked with the Cabaye's, the Gameiro's, the Gervinho's and N'Zogbia's of the footballing world, but it's another thing getting them through the door and signed and sealed as Newcastle United players.

That is what I'm waiting to see - whether or not it happens.

P.S - As mentioned yesterday when I was rattling on about dates for your diary, the official release date for the Premier League fixture list has been tracked down. They will be released exactly two weeks today on Friday 17th June at 9am.