Why Newcastle lost out to West Ham in Andy Carroll race

West Ham United's Andy Carroll. Photo credit: Adam Davy/EMPICS

Friday, November 9, 2012
4:20 PM

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has revealed that the deal to bring Andy Carroll back to Tyneside was stopped at board level.

The Magpies registered their interest, but there was no appetite from their counterparts on Merseyside to do business.

Asked if there was a point where he thought it might happen, Pardew replied: “Yes, I thought there was a possibility of it.

“We were in there because he brings something different to the table to what we have got and we could probably do with another striker.

“We were right in there, but unfortunately we weren’t able to get it done at board level.”

Newcastle will head into Sunday’s game having maintained their place at the top of Europa League Group D with a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Club Brugge in Belgium last night.

They trailed 2-0 after just 19 minutes - the first goals they had conceded in the group stage of the competition - but dug themselves out of a hole with strikes from Vurnon Anita and Shola Ameobi inside three minutes at the end of an eventful first half.

Ameobi, starting a game for the first time alongside younger brother Sammy, said: “We knew the game was still there for us.

“They did not have much possession, so we knew we could get at them. We were confident we could get back in the game

“Vurnon scored a fantastic goal. That gave us a lift, and to pop up and score the equaliser before half-time was a bonus.

“It was fantastic. The second half was anybody’s game. Both sides wanted to win it. It was quite a good game.

“We didn’t get the win, but we will take the point.”