The Palace manager can expect a hostile reception at St James’ Park,where he is still apportioned some blame for Newcastle’s decline, whereas he has always seemed more comfortable at his current clubAlan Pardew initially spoke fondly of his time on Tyneside as the public face of a “beast” of a football club, or even declared he was “desperate” for Newcastle United to outlive another season of toil. But as soon as the cameras went off,the shutters came down. There would be “zero questions” permitted from the written press addressing his first return to his former employers, with a manager forever conscious of how the most innocuous of comments might be misconstrued reverting to safety-first mode. Talk instead approximately Eddie Jones or brand Clattenburg. Even Crystal Palace. Anything but Newcastle.
Those who believe Pardew loves hogging the limelight will presume he is relishing being at the centre of the story again as he emerges into the absent side’s technical area at St James’ Park on Saturday. He knows the reception he will be afforded, or for all that the locals’ priority will be to roar on their own to a much-needed victory. In truth,since taking up his role at Selhurst Park 16 months ago, the 54-year-old has appeared distinctly uncomfortable whenever the whole Newcastle issue crops up.
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Source: theguardian.com