Alan Pardew's Lack Of Self-Awareness Is Astonishing

In the wake of last week's draw with Hull, Alan Pardew cut a resolute but unhappy figure, suggesting that he was being unfairly taken to task about his frustrating ability to pull excuses out of his head without consulting the realms of logic. Pardew played his part well - the put upon manager attempting to defend his beleaguered team in the face of unjust, unbalanced criticism from an emotional, trigger-happy crowd, but the criticism of his post-match techniques continues to be appropriate. After every defeat - and there have been a few - Pardew faces the press and gives what he thinks is an analytical response to his team's performance. But in almost every case, he ignores the specifics, sticks too closely to empty sentiments like "we was unlucky" or "we really tried", and it comes as no surprise that last night's defeat came with the usual soundbites. In an interview with NUFCTV - not the most objective source to be probing him inevitably - he started his defence with his usual string of empty cliches:

Well it was a tight game, margins were tight. The first goal was very important for both teams €“ they got it. Stoke have proved all season they€™re very difficult to break down when they take the lead. We really tried first half €“ thought we made some good moments €“ but we€™re lacking quality in the final third, I€™m not going to disguise that and that was exposed again tonight.

Notice the lack of specifics to the "good moments" - that's because they really weren't memorable. And as for the "we really tried" line, that typifies the manager's entire ethos; that industry is to be favoured over technical ability or flair. The fact that that is presented as some sort of justification for defeat will simply not wash with most Newcastle fans, particularly when they're aware of the talent of some of the players. At the end of the day it doesn't matter how talented a player, if they are fed the wrong instructions, set up the wrong way and made to train under inferior coaches who suck their ability out of them, no amount of "really trying" will impact performances positively. More concerning than his generalisms is his frank inability to judge what is wrong with the team, which is a sure-fire sign that he needs to go. His final assessment of the performance read thusly:

We€™re not really functioning well in the last third, everywhere else on the pitch we look okay €“ we looked more than competitive tonight but that€™s the area where you win Premier League games, the last third.

Surely he was watching another game? Yes, technically some of the play is okay, but it is an obvious exaggeration to say the team looked "more than competitive", since that implies superiority, and the best side won last night. And it isn't enough to say the final third is the only issue, particularly after saying the goal should have been defended better. Newcastle are a gifted bunch of players who are utterly rudderless. Playing two deep-lying defensive midfielders meant Stoke were allowed all of the ball in the centre circle and could play from there, and while at times the Newcastle midfield looked capable on the ball, they didn't look impressive and the movement of the team - which comes down to how they are coached - was woeful until Gabriel Obertan came on. So it's not just the final third, and it's not enough to sadly say "we really tried" anymore. The situation is getting beyond a joke.