In Praise of Pardew

You can’t help admiring the way Alan Pardew has conducted himself as manager of West Ham United. The patience and resilience he showed from the outset as he strove to convince sceptical fans that he was the right man for the job. The skilful way in which he has constructed a team capable of taking on the best in the Premiership. And above all his determination to protect what he has called “the integrity and history of the club” in the face of a prospective takeover bid.

That determination was evident in the way he resisted the temptation to draft 22 year old Argentinian World Cup stars Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano straight into the side to face Aston Villa at Upton Park. Pardew knew that they would need time to settle and he also knew that it was important to keep faith with the players who were there before them.

It all adds up to a combination of sound, mature judgement and a genuine feeling for the tradition, the style and the soul of West Ham United. And it does him great credit.