Steven Taylor: Pardew's a tough taskmaster

Oct 16 2011 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

UNBEATEN in nine and flirting with the Champions League, sky-high Newcastle United are riding the crest of a wave as they welcome Tottenham to fortress St James’ Park this afternoon.

But Steven Taylor has learned not to expect smiles to go hand-in-hand with super performances – at least not where his popular boss Alan Pardew is concerned.

Hailing the United manager as the toughest taskmaster he’s EVER worked with, Taylor says perfectionist Pardew is simply never satisfied as he pores over the reams of data delivered during Newcastle’s high-tech preparations.

Indeed if you come back at the Toon chief with a counter-argument he usually has a stat to shoot any naysayer down immediately. It is a demanding way of doing things, but it says it all that in-form Taylor has never squeezed more enjoyment out of his football.

“The manager has shown faith in me since the day he came in. He sorted me out with a contract within a few days of arriving and that was a big confidence boost,” Taylor says.

“But to be fair he’s always on my tail, he’s at me all the time. It’s hard to make him smile! Sometimes when we get a clean sheet he might be happy for a little bit but he’s hard to please.

“He’s a very hard guy. He’s got high standards and he wants perfection in games and in training.

“That’s difficult of course, but we try our hardest to do just that. As a back four we’re working hard and he’s got us playing together.”

Taylor could point out that along with Fabricio Coloccini he has helped shore up a Newcastle defence that has been too often a thing of ridicule in recent years.

No team in the Premier League has shipped fewer goals than United and Taylor’s renaissance has been a key factor in Newcastle becoming a defensive force to be reckoned with.

But high standards come with the territory and Pardew will refer to one of three GPS analysis systems that track the players’ every movement to back up any point he makes.

“He’s got everything down to a tee with his stats and stuff. You can never cheat in a game,” Taylor explains.

“He lets you know, the stats are all there in the games and training and he will single you out if he needs to.

“He’s right – we can’t carry one person in this team.

“We’re a small squad and if one of the team isn’t doing and lets their mates down, then we’re going to struggle.” Leading the club to its finest start since 1994, it seems there are no flies on buoyant Pardew at the moment.