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Opinion

Newcastle fans confront Alan Pardew at his home – Reports

9 years ago
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At his final pre-match press conference of the season, as well as talking about Palace playing Swansea, unsurprisingly Alan Pardew was also asked about Newcastle United’s relegation decider against West Ham.

The former United boss said many of the right things such as he hoped the club would escape relegation and asked the fans to get behind the team.

However, he also made a few pointed comments, including claiming some Newcastle fans had suggested it would have been an ‘easier season’ if he’d stayed, plus maybe surprisingly he actually came out and mildly criticised Mike Ashley for not spending money in the transfer market in January.

However, what especially caught my eye in the coverage of Alan Pardew’s press conference, was a throwaway comment in the Express’ piece.

Their reporter Nigel Clarke wrote this in his introduction:

‘Just before Christmas, Pardew was confronted on the front lawn of his home by angry Newcastle supporters who wanted him out of the club.

At the time they were 10th in the Premier League but Pardew was forced out and took up employment at Selhurst Park when Palace came calling.’

As I say, this was a throwaway line and seemingly not a desperate attempt to grab the headlines, yet this is the first time I have ever heard this claim.

What it does do though is feed into this narrative those outside the north east are desperate to get across, the idea that it is the Newcastle fans who are unreasonable and it’s their actions that damage the club.

In fact Alan Pardew went to great lengths to say that it WASN’T the supporters who forced him out of Newcastle United, more the fact that Palace wanted him (and allegedly trebled his money!). Plus as he is now saying – Mike Ashley wasn’t backing the squad in the transfer market, unlike his new club, where he was backed with half a dozen new signings in January with the best part of £20m spent in his first transfer window at Palace.

So did this confrontation with Newcastle fans on Pardew’s front lawn actually happen?

Anybody out there heard this before? Or maybe you were one of those standing on our manager’s front lawn? That is if this actually happened…

As for Alan Pardew’s press conference, here are a few of the (Newcastle United related) things he had to say:

“Since I have left I have had a few supporters suggesting that it would have been an easier season if I’d stayed. When you know a club from the inside, you understand its soul, Newcastle were very close to my heart. I loved my time there and only four or five games did the fans really show their anger and frustration.

“The fans have to get behind John Carver and his players against West Ham, the Toon’s future is in their own hands.

Transfer market:

“They didn’t capitalise on the position they were in when I left, didn’t involved in the transfer market when perhaps they should have.

“All things considered I believe this season has been a personal triumph for me, and I’ve showed I am a good manager.”

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