The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog, comes as Charlton Athletic slump to a home defeat to Sheffield United, and sack manager Alan Pardew.
Football: Alan Pardew - The Premiership Dream
So Alan Pardew and Charlton Athletic part company. With the club in the Championship relegation zone, and fans protesting outside the ground. the managers departure, was perhaps, inevitable.
When he was carving his reputation at Reading, Alan Pardew, was seen to be one of the brightest young managers in English football. A keen advocate of sports science, he had the managerial world at his feet. His managers notes, on the Reading website, were always fascinating reading.
His star was firmly in the ascendancy, when he guided West Ham United to an FA Cup Final, and respectability in the Premiership.
Then, during a difficult second season, came his sacking at Upton Park, followed by an uneasy spell at The Valley. Whilst, its difficult to pinpoint, why it all went wrong at Charlton, there was the feeling that Pardew, felt a sense of injustice at his treatment at Upton Park. That somehow, he had unfinished business to complete in the East End. That, perhaps, he should still be working at the highest level, testing himself against the worlds best.
Like Aidy Boothroyd and Ian Dowie before him, it would be a shame, if Alan Pardew, became just another manager, in the never ending football manager, merrry-go-round. Asked to improve under-performing Championship clubs, with high expectations.
Of course, as a working football manager, he will be keen to be back on the training ground. But it should be a project, that stimulates his hunger and desire. That brings out the best of his acumen. That reminds him, of why he wanted to become a football manager, in the first place.
When you have had a taste of life at the highest level, then you want more of it. Alan Pardew certainly has what it takes to manage at the top. The question now is, how will he get there?
