Sport
PARDEW’S EAGLE’S WINNING FOR FUN AFTER DEMORALISING DROUGHT
What is it they say about buses; you wait ages for one and then three turn up at the same time? Well, the same can be said of picking up victories in the football industry and Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace have waited longer than most for a string of successful results.
In their most recent encounter, club record signing Christian Benteke netted in injury-time to maintain Palace’s three-match winning run and condemn David Moyes to a fifth defeat in just his sixth fixture as Sunderland boss. When your luck is out, it’s really out…
But for Palace, they are on the charge. After a torrid end to the 2015/16 campaign, the Eagles needed to get off to a good start this season and they’ve certainly done that. After six games, Pardew’s men are seventh in the Premier League – just three points behind the Champions League places.
With a tough run of fixtures coming up, a confidence boost was imperative. The Eagles won just two of their final 21 games last season; a poor run of results that almost saw Palace slip into the relegation battle. Fortunately, their positive start to the campaign was enough to see them secure their top flight status…
A trip to Everton awaits on Friday night and the Toffees will be raring to go after slipping up against Bournemouth last weekend. Ronald Koeman has brought the feel-good factor back to Goodison Park and Pardew will have to prepare effectively and thoroughly if the Eagles are to get anything from this weekend’s encounter.
Football is a funny old game – and Pardew is the master of being inconsistently consistent.
Wherever he has been, whether that is West Ham United, Newcastle United or Palace, his sides have gone on these incredible winning runs one minute but then go on to lose their next five or six games. But with the Premier League more competitive than ever before, the 55-year-old can ill-afford too many slip-ups.
Palace fans will be waiting with bated breath as the Football Association begin their search for the next England manager. Sam Allardyce was dismissed from his position earlier this week and Pardew is one of the leading contenders to take over at the helm.
The Eagles boss has been coy when linked with the role in the past and supporters will hope that he remains committed to Palace. For the time being, he appears focused on the Everton game on Friday night but that could all change if the media continue to link him with the role.
Like them or hate them, Palace’s resolve and desire is clear for all to see. The Eagles were one of the favourites to go down this year after their difficult spell at the end of the previous campaign but Pardew has gone about his business in a clear and concise way.
Crystal Palace aren’t one of the prettiest footballing sides in the Premier League but they are certainly capable of pulling out a performance or two when they need it the most. And whilst Pardew didn’t leave Newcastle with many friends, he looks settled at Selhurst Park for the time being.
Let’s hope all of this England speculation doesn’t play too much on his mind in the coming weeks – it could be detrimental to all parties…
