Best Behaviour

Most people think that Alan Pardew was extremely unfortunate to be dismissed by West Ham United and he behaved with great dignity throughout a difficult time, resisting the temptation to be bitter and wishing the club, and his successor, the very best of luck.

By one of those strange quirks which seem common in football, he was very quickly appointed to succeed the hapless (and some would say hopeless) Les Reed at Charlton Athletic, the club managed so successfully for so long by Alan Curbishley, who had moved in at West Ham.

And curiously enough, one of his first challenges at Charlton is a visit to the Emirates Stadium, where he will once again come face to face with Arsene Wenger, for whom he has claimed he has so much respect.

Hopefully on this occasion he will take the opportunity to show it.