Charlton Athletic apart, Alan Pardew has a decent managerial record. His 31% win ratio at Charlton was bettered at West Ham (41%), Reading (48%) and Southampton (53%), not to forget an F A Cup final with the Hammers. His failure at Charlton was all the more disappointing then, on the back of the disastrous Dowie and the inept Reed. However, what made him really unpopular at the Valley was his unjustifiably large ego.
That ego would appear to have cost him his job as he failed to see eye to eye with incoming Chairman Nicola Cortese at Southampton and he was outed after a decent first season with the Saints which included lifting the JPT trophy.
After only a few months away from the managerial hot-seat, he looks set to land a Premier League job at Newcastle United. Yes, the club that loves itself - a marriage made in heaven? I don't think so. The Newcastle job is a thankless task, as Chris Houghton has found out, but it's a good payer and, my friends, that is the special ingredient for Pards who has arguably made more money from being sacked than from working. I'll give him 12 months.
While his ego is always cited as part of the problem his problems are said to be located elsewhere in his anatomy. Playing away close to home has soured the dressing rooms.
ReplyDeleteCryptical I know but I'm sure readers will get my drift
'Tis the season of goodwill, but none the less, your 12 months prediction is very generous, Dave...
ReplyDeleteI'll go for 12 matches...
I would disagree with a decent first season at Southampton, given the resources he had available to him, even if he had not had the 10 point deduction he would still have missed automatic and finished below us. JPT does not make a good or bad season, its just a bit of icing on the cake.
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