‘Huge pressure’ – Former boss Alan Pardew assesses Crystal Palace’s situation after Arsenal banners

BY ANDREW MCSTEEN

Former Eagles player and manager Alan Pardew says that club co-owner Steve Parish is facing some difficult decisions after watching his old side lose 5-0 at Arsenal on Saturday.

The loss extended a Premier League run to just one win in their past 11 games, leaving the South London side three places above the relegation spots in 15th.

A lack of activity in the transfer market, frustration at a stalled Selhurst Park proposed redevelopment, mounting player injuries, defensively-minded football on the pitch and no apparent managerial succession plan are some of the factors which sections of the SE25 faithful believe are preventing the club from progressing.

And that feeling was evidenced at Arsenal with two banners unfurled towards the end of the game, one reading; ‘Wasted potential on and off the pitch. Weak decisions taking us backwards’ and another stating ‘No shared vision. No structured plan. Parish out. Yanks out’.

“I never expected that kind of demonstration from Palace fans,” said Pardew, who helped guide the club to an FA Cup Final in 1990 as a player and led the team as manager to the 2016 final.

“I’ve got a few friends who are season ticket holders there. That was that was kind of unusual for Palace fans to protest like that – it’s not like they’re in the bottom three or anything.

“Because they went out of the cup, maybe that’s where that stems from,” added the 62-year-old, in reference to the FA Cup Third Round loss at Everton on Thursday suffered by the Eagles.

“There’s no trophy again. It’s another sort of ‘dallying-down-the-bottom season’. What I mean is, all fans – even Coventry fans – dream of winning (something).”

In his first season in the hot seat at Selhurst Park, Pardew guided the club to their best-ever Premier League finish – 10th – with the side even appearing in the top five halfway through the following 2015-16 season, but a disastrous calendar year, which saw just six wins in 36 league games, saw the Wimbledon-born coach shown the door in December 2016.

That top-half finish in 2015 has eluded the club ever since, with Pardew realistic about what constitutes success for the club as it stands now.

“It depends how you view it. You could regard that as a success,” said the former midfielder about if a 10-14th place in the league this season will constitute success.

“The problem you always have when you’re in that sort of zone is who’s above you. The Brighton’s and Brentford’s of this world who have dallied up the top there a little bit have put added pressure on a club like Crystal Palace.

“Brighton in particular, being the local rivals, grinds a little bit, particularly [with] the players that they’ve bought and developed and sold on. The club looks like it’s in a healthy situation. Palace have not really sold anyone.

“Palace credentials are very much (being) in the game, fighting, making it difficult for the opposition. Obviously, you want to win, but you certainly put a performance in where you make it tough for the opposition, and they didn’t do that,” he added about the Arsenal loss.

“I wasn’t expecting the result. I do feel for Roy because he’s an honest (man), and he was brought in – really and truly, I think – this year to keep them in the Premier League. I don’t think there was any other expectations and now, suddenly, the expectation has changed and moved.”

With the current form of the club and no game until next Tuesday (30 January), plus the January transfer window open, it could represent an opportunity for the club hierarchy to change things, with Pardew uniquely placed to understand how decisions are made amongst Parish and his fellow, American co-owners, two of which he worked with during his time – Josh Harris and David Blitzer.

“There’ll be huge pressure on Steve Parish because the American owners are powerful in the background, they have the bulk of the shares and the influence,” explained Pardew about Harris and Blitzer, who have now been joined by fellow American John Textor along with Robert Franco as co-owners, or persons with ‘significant interest’ in the club, according to the Premier League.

“When I was there, I never actually knew where I stood with them. You knew where you stood with Steve (Parish), but that wasn’t necessarily where the power was.

“American ownership is quite ruthless. They want franchises, they like franchises. It makes sense because you don’t get any relegation and income comes every year, you can build. They don’t like this relegation thing. They don’t get it. Don’t get involved in any of that. That will be uppermost in their minds when they’re discussing this (situation).

“Steve is very much is in charge of the football matters. But when it comes to these type of decisions (manager), whether his influence is strong enough to take them out of the equation, to keep them at bay? I don’t know.”

And with Hodgson coming back this season after saying goodbye already and semi-retirement, combined with the unsettled, protesting fan base, does Pardew think Hodgson will step down?

“Well, only Roy could answer that,” said Pardew, speaking as television pundit for BeIN Sport on Saturday.

“The drive and the passion that he has at his age, 76, it’s amazing he still has that commitment.”