Like you I'm guessing, I have been reflecting on our second successive away win built on a clean sheet with a dominant midfield and a play-for-ninety minutes attitude. Apart for the obvious recovery from the disappointment of losing three in a week prior to that, we have re-asserted ourselves when we needed to and done what most people thought was beyond us. We are back in the hunt and chasing down West Brom and Bristol City for the second automatic promotion spot. So, what's different and who deserves credit?First off, we have to acknowledge the efforts of the players. Nicky Weaver arguably had his best game so far at St. Mary's and commanded his defence to another clean sheet yesterday at City. Sam Sodje has been the main change in our Achilles Heel position this year at Centre Half. Jon Fortune would appear to look happier too playing alongside him. Grant Basey has come into the game too in the last three matches and done very well at left-back. He's obviously still learning the game but has already shown maturity and speed of learning. His elders and more experienced colleagues may find it hard to get back into the side at this rate of progress. Danny Mills has been the most consistent player of the season so far.
Thomas has been making a visibly greater effort since returning (still need more) and although we've been playing five across midfield at times, they have mostly continued the decent performances we've come to expect (or very decent in Reid's case). Big Chris has shouldered the burden of loan striker like Darren Bent did for most of the past two seasons and Luke Varney has shown his maturity as well in responding to his sidelining by playing with determination and focus when called upon to joined the fray.
For me, however, the biggest difference has been Alan Pardew's management. His reaction to all of our performances so far this season has been just about perfect. He reads the game brilliantly and judges the mood as well. He knows when to hold and he knows when to go. After the early season defensive bloopers he shared the supporters views and urged improvement. When there was none he acted by getting Sodje at the last minute. For me Curbs would have commented about bringing fresh faces in and then done nothing. He made no bones about the poor performance against QPR but avoided blaming individuals and instead took his share of the responsibility and directed the focus on our need to recover in the next two tough away games. He stood up for the players he's recruited and showed them faith. Curbs might have looked for other explanations and expressed concerns about the next two matches.
Having started 4-5-1 at Southampton Pardew's plans were rocked by the unfortunate dismissal of Semedo but he held his nerve and encouraged his side to hold possession and play in the Saints' half. This is a complete reverse of what Alan Curbishley would have done in the last few seasons as Charlton manager. He would have tried to shut up shop and take a point. Inevitably we would probably have put up a good showing but ultimately been beaten. Curbs would have used all of his defensive substitutions and Varney would only have come on for Iwelumo. At 0-0 with a minute on the clock, our lone forward would have been back in our box winning headers or at best hanging on the half-way line with the intrsuctions to head for the corner flag should he get the ball. Pardew's optimism won out here because we finally got our reward for being bold as the front two combined for the winner.
A similar tale for the City game too. Curbishley would have become concerned midway through the second half when City finally got a spell of pressure and cretaed some chances. He would have seen the threat to his point and we would have seen a defensive substitution as we retreated back to defend the draw. The point was obviously still in Pardew's mind but he was judging the game based upon our showing and could see we were holding own own despite City waking up and he held his nerve in pressing forward. He had changed already at half-time to a more attacking formation and it was working well, so why change it. I am sure we would have held on and deservedly claimed our point if we hadn't scored, but fortune favours the brave.
The players he brought in aren't Premiership quality but we paid Championship prices and Darren Bent's sale funded the lot. Buliding a complete squad from scratch with limited funds and competing pretty much from the off is a remarkable achievement. It owes everything to Pardew's knowledge and judgement of players and of this division. Maintaining that challenge and overcoming set-backs are the really hard parts and that comes from having the management skills and personality to re-organise and re-motivate your team.
Yes, I am an unashamed Pardew fan. It's hard to argue against the evidence. Long may it continue.
