In an interview with The Times today, former Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew, has spoken out about his time at the club.
Pardew was sacked by Crystal Palace at the back end of last year and in an extensive interview today, he speaks about his four years on Tyneside.
In typical Alan Pardew fashion, the 55 year-old goes on to defend his record with The Magpies:
“It gets documented that my first year is a great success then it kind of fades away,”
“That’s what people say about me. I could have arguments against that.”
“I thought I had come back well at Newcastle with the second team I built there.”
“I was unfortunate to lose that team to transfers, big players like Loic Remy, Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba.”
“My win percentage in the Premier League, when you consider the clubs I’ve been at and the budgets I’ve had, I know it’s healthy.”
“With buying and selling, I think I was in credit at Newcastle, not that the fans want to hear that.”
While Pardew makes some valid points, it was this sort of arrogance and stubbornness that wore down large parts of the Geordie faithful.
The ex-NUFC boss then went on to explain how his time on Tyneside made him stronger:
“I had to show a lot of resilience at Newcastle.”
“I soon realised you can’t always please people so you have to get about your job the best way you can.”
A sly dig at the Newcastle United fans perhaps? In fairness, he took a lot of stick, but he didn’t always help himself.
Finally, Pardew was asked about THAT dance after his Crystal Palace side went 1-0 up in the FA Cup final last year (a game they went on to lose!):
“I am quite forthright in my views and personality,”
“I am not shy. That’s documented.”
You can say that again, Alan!
Throwback to Pardew's dance after Crystal Palace took the lead last season during the FA Cup final at the Wembley. #ThrowbackThursday #MUFC pic.twitter.com/paq38iqeZC
— MUFC Chennai (@MUFCChennai) December 22, 2016
