The simple fact is, Alan Pardew should have walked out on Newcastle months ago. That's not a reflection of the "poor treatment" he endured at the hands of the fan base - no matter what Paddy Barclay claims - but because he simply wasn't up to the job. But, thanks to a mix of arrogance and pig-headedness, Pardew endured, ignoring calls for his head, dreaded votes of confidence and power reshuffles, and has guided Newcastle back to 8th place through sheer force of will (and with no small amount of good fortune). He is thick-skinned, arrogant to a fault, and happy to annoy the fan base by saying he'll entertain himself in times of hardship by polishing his Manager Of The Year award. And he's an expert at managing expectations for a fan base who want - and deserve - more than they are typically given. In short, he would be the perfect man to lead England. He has the demeanour to endure the extra criticism that tends to come with managing England, he has an army of fans in the Southern press (if they're so keen on him, they can have him) and he does eventually adapt with limited talent. England are the perennial under-achievers of the international world, and they need someone who will temper the expectations of the fans, accept the criticism of the press (who will talk about him a lot differently when he's in charge of a team closer to home), and who will do well with limited talent resources. He also loves the idea of English talent in his team, so what better a solution than that?
