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Warm weather break goes pear-shaped for Alan Pardew

6 years ago
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Alan Pardew looks to be presiding over a disaster at West Brom.

The Baggies supporters were so relieved to escape the Tony Pulis style of football, they have largely been restrained in the criticism of the former Newcastle United chancer, despite a nightmare since he arrived at The Hawthorns.

West Brom have only won one Premier League match in the three months since Alan Pardew arrived.

A record of only one win in 13 PL matches leaving them rock bottom on 20 points, seven points from safety and odds on favourites to be relegated.

When Alan Pardew was at Newcastle, the subject of mid-season warm weather breaks was never a popular one with the fans.

With the very public Mike Ashley policy of not trying in the cups, it always ensured that Newcastle never got beyond the fourth round of the FA Cup which presented repeated opportunities to have these breaks.

Despite West Brom having reached the fifth round of the FA Cup, the Baggies have still flown off for a mid-season break in Barcelona.

However, it appears to have ended with disaster, as The Sun published an exclusive claiming that four senior players had allegedly stolen a taxi after a night out.

West Brom have now released an official statement confirming that there has indeed been an incident involving a quartet of senior players, with disciplinary procedures likely to follow.

Rafa Benitez recently gave his own opinion (read below) on whether these warm weather mid-season breaks were a good idea.

The Sun:

‘Four West Brom players were quizzed by cops after allegedly stealing a taxi to get back to their hotel after a night out.

‘Police were called after the footballers were said to have driven off in the cab from a McDonald’s drive-through and abandoned it outside their luxury five-star Spanish hotel before going up to their bedrooms.’

West Bromwich Albion Official Statement:

‘The Club can confirm that four senior players were involved in an incident during this week’s mid-winter training trip to Spain.

The Club has instigated its own investigation into the incident and the players will be subject to the full rigours of our internal disciplinary procedures.

Until such time as that investigation has been completed, the Club will not be making any further comment.’

Rafa Benitez talking about the idea of mid-season warm weather breaks to the Chronicle:

“Our idea is to train and keep the players happy with their families.

“Some people prefer to go away at this time of year.

“But when you are travelling away throughout the season in the Premier League and the cups and you are also training most days I don’t think players get the time to spend with their family.

“So if you can give them that time back it is much better for them.

“But then you can go there and it will be raining.

“The families may then get upset that the husband is away for one week.

“It’s about creating the right atmosphere for players and families.

“I think that is much better than just getting a couple of days in the sunshine.”

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