Pardew no longer in hiding
The grey hair is instantly recognisable, but the glasses are an amateurish disguise.The bloodshot eyes meanwhile tell a predictable story of pointless overseas scouting trips, rejected bids and unrequited late-night phone calls to agents.
When Charlton boss Alan Pardew was instructed by the club's Board to sign a creative central midfielder, his initial reaction was euphoric.
But when he was informed his transfer budget was just £500,000, the size of his monumental task was hammered home. Just eight weeks later, the physical impact is unmistakeable, yet no less shocking.
When underlings Parkinson and Kinsella were entrusted with first-team affairs at Dover Athletic, fans again expressed concerns for Pardew's wellbeing.
Suffice to say that few recognised the bearded figure sat pensively in the Main Stand, with one intrigued fan even whispering, "Isn't that Derek Hales?".
With less than three weeks to go until opening day, the painful reality of Championship football has never been brought home more clearly.
posted by New York Addick @ 1:50 AM
5 comments
Brilliant. When i got to the 'Derek Hales' bit I cracked up.
It would seem, under the circumstances, that his focus may well be of a defensive nature.
We could do with a bleedin faith healer!
I reckon its Dr Kish in very poor disguise.
Read today that Karadic was oft to be found in his local playing a gusle. So could it really be Reidy??
Pembury Addick
So Paul Scholes was interviewed in the Independent today (somewhat of a scoop, no?).
Worth reading, well, the last paragraph at least, where he names his all-time favourite XI...
Clearly a man of rare good taste.
We could do with Sweaty Balmer today (though do you remember how bad he was when he first arrived?).