West Bromwich fans were relieved to hear of the sacking of manager Tony Pulls some weeks back after watching him set-up his team in an ultra-defensive style playing a boring and labouring football and at the same time unable to get points. Yet what these fans did not realise was the appointment of a certain Alan Pardew some days ago? So who is Alan Pardew and is he an upgrade on Pulis?
Frankly the answer is a simple Yes and No depending on the context used. Having reached the FA Cup finals twice as a manager with the likes of West Ham and Newcastle, Pardew guarantees you plenty of entertainment but the problem lies in what sort of entertainment. With many controversies, the 56-year-old has worked wonders in some clubs taking Newcastle to a 5th placed finish in the 2011/2012 season with unknown players like Pappis Cisse, Demba Ba, Marveux , Yohan Cabaye and Hateem Ben Arfa as well as winning the Premier League Season Manager the same year. As if that wasn't enough the former Reading player took a newly promoted West Ham to finish 9th in the 2005/2006 season with mostly Championship players who won promotion with him the previous season .
Despite boasting all these records , Longeitivity s a word alien to the Englishman as he always hits rock bottom soon after reaching his heights with his previous clubs. Soon after finishing 5th in Newcastle, the Tyneside club went on a free fall finishing 16th the following season before he re-signed to take charge at Crystal Palace where he was sacked in December 2016 after losing eight of his last 10 games in South London. At West Ham the story was the same after he recorded the Hammers worst run in 70 years before his sacking In 2007.
With talent abounding in West Bromwich Albion despite the poor results of this season, Pardew is tipped to boost the morale and confidence of the club as the return to the winning ways of early last season . From James McClean, Matt Philips, Jack Livermore, Nacer Chadli, Jonny Evans, down to the veteran Gareth Barry, it will surely be an interesting adventure with the English man in charge. Having won only twice in 21 league games as well as having the 4th worst goalscoring record in the league , it should surely get better considering that Pardew is an attacking manager hence must help Venezuelan Salomon Randon and Robson Kanu rediscover their good form .
Only time will tell how the new union will end as season end will surely show a glimpse of what to expect.
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