Newcastle vs Manchester United preview - Fergie too good for comparison - Pardew

Posted Wednesday, January 04, 2012 by PA

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew admits Sir Alex Ferguson has simply been too successful to be considered the benchmark for his managerial colleagues.

The 70-year-old Manchester United manager will take the reigning Barclays Premier League champions to Tyneside on Wednesday night having seen arch-rivals Manchester City fail to take advantage of their slip-up against Blackburn on New Year's Eve by losing at Sunderland the following day.

Pardew and his players are determined to send them packing as they attempt to bounce back from defeat at Liverpool to keep pace with the top six.

However, Pardew insists aspiring to match Ferguson is a task too far.

Asked if the Scot is the benchmark for all other managers, he said: "He isn't really because he's just ridiculous.

"Something like 50 trophies - you just can't possibly imagine getting yourself into a position to win that many.

"But in the terms of the way he handles his club and the way he runs his club, he is a bit more fortunate than a lot of us because he has a lot of power there and he has earned that power.

"That's what we all aim to do."

Ferguson's longevity has given him an iron grip on his club, a fact he demonstrated on Saturday when he left England striker Wayne Rooney out of the side following a Boxing Day night out.

But it is behind the scenes at Old Trafford where he wields an influence of which most of his counterparts can only dream.

Pardew said: "As a manager, that's a decision [the Rooney decision] I would have to make, I can make those sort of decisions.

"It's bigger decisions - transfers, the way the club plays, the emphasis on what the style of the club is going to be and being able to dictate that rather than having a general manager or a director who wants to influence that.

"I'm lucky here in that I have got a bit of a free hand. I have got no general football manager here.

"I haven't earned the power that Alex has got, of course, yet, but I am one of the few lucky ones."

Rooney, who is understood to have been fined for incurring his manager's wrath, is expected to return to the starting line-up and he could be joined by Rio Ferdinand and Chris Smalling as United attempt to bounce back from their shock 3-2 home defeat by Blackburn.

Asked about the Rooney situation, Pardew said with a smile: "I don't think it's going to last for our game.

"Those scenarios happen on the training ground and managers stand by their decisions.

"They have had injuries, for sure, but I am well informed that there will be a few back for this game, and I am not surprised by that.

"Alex knows it's a tough game, coming to Newcastle, so I expect to see a few of the more famous names on that sheet.

"But when you look at their squad, they have still got the biggest and best squad in the division, and that's why they are the champions."

Pardew has a minor doubt over former United midfielder Gabriel Obertan, who has an infected toe, but is expected to make the squad.

Phil Jones may have been critical of United's performance against Blackburn but he is still loving life at the summit.

Despite that shock defeat, United remain on course to top the mini-table covering all five games of the festive period.

Having been given a reprieve by City's shock defeat at Sunderland, the Red Devils will stay in the thick of the title battle if they have better fortunes than their neighbours when they head to the north east.

To enjoy such experiences is one of the major reasons why Jones left Blackburn last summer.

Whilst helping his hometown club secure their top-flight status on the final day of last season represented a fulfilling achievement he will never forget, Jones concedes it is far better to be involved at the other end of the table.

"I am excited," he said. "I am loving it. It was a nice feeling to get out of trouble with Blackburn on the last day of the season.

"It is an even nicer feeling knowing you are at the top of the table with a fantastic chance of winning the English title."