IT WILL BE GOOD TO GET ON WITH SOME FOOTBALL Players so sorry over car ‘theft’
Embattled Pardew is hoping the FA Cup can provide some relief for crisis club Albion
same week as owner Guochuan Lai (above) fired Albion’s chairman and chief executive.
Their dismissal left Pardew’s future at the Hawthorns uncertain.
Barry, Livermore, Evans and Myhill were questioned by police after claims they stole a taxi from outside a Mcdonald’s at around 5.30am on Thursday and drove it back to their hotel.
Albion are also investigating, and Pardew admitted his job was not safe.
Asked if it was a club in crisis, Pardew, who had his wallet and phone stolen in Spain, replied: “We’re bottom of the league so I don’t know what word you want to use but that’s where we are, we’ve got to face that and deal with it. They broke a curfew and that’s unacceptable. I feel a bit let down.
“It’s been a tough week for us, tough week for me, tough week for everybody involved in West
Brom, not least our fans. When your chairman and financial director have been moved on you can’t be certain of your job, you just have to try and do your job and that’s what I’ll do.”
It is understood some players were unhappy about going on the training trip, which was Pardew’s idea, as it meant missing Valentine’s Day.
A statement from the four players said: “We would like to apologise to our teammates, the head coach, the club and especially the supporters.” SOUTHAMPTON manager Mauricio Pellegrino knows even winning the FA Cup might not be enough to save him from the sack.
Last season boss Claude Puel was axed despite leading Saints to the EFL Cup final and eighth place in the Premier League.
Argentine Pellegrino (right) can only dream of such giddy heights with his troops languishing in the bottom three heading into today’s clash at West Brom. Pellegrino, 46, said: “Anybody in our job isn’t fixed or safe – even the best manager in the world.
“I would like to improve this team and maybe at the end of the season we can draw some conclusions about that.
“My job is stressful because you need a lot of energy, you need focus but I enjoy my job. For me it is a big challenge at the moment.
“If you are in the job it is about feelings. When you win everyone is nice. We have to be conscious that opinion is part of our lives. Everybody has opinions about politics and about football.”
Pellegrino has warned misfiring £14million striker Manolo Gabbiadini he needs to get his act together.
The Italian has not scored since October and Pellegrino said: “Manolo has to be prepared.
“He has not had many chances but he is an important player for the club – and we need him.” ANGRY Alan Pardew has promised Southampton crisis club West Brom are “in the mood to play a game of football.”
The Premier League basement club have been shamed after four senior players broke a curfew on a boozy night in Spain where they allegedly stole a taxi.
Skipper Jonny Evans, Gareth Barry, Jake Livermore and Boaz Myhill were forced to apologise for the drunken escapade in Barcelona at 5am on Thursday.
West Brom have launched their own internal investigation to learn the full facts with a view to disciplining the stars.
Baggies boss Pardew admits the incident has even plunged his future into doubt after the club’s Chinese owners sacked the strugglers’ chairman and chief executive at the start of the week.
It is all far from ideal preparations for Albion ahead of today’s FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Saints.
Pardew admits with hindsight he wishes he had never even taken the players on the foreign trip.
But the quartet are available for selection today as Pardew is determined to reach the quarter-finals to give the beleaguered Baggies a boost.
A visibly annoyed Pardew said: “We’re in the mood to play a game of football.
“After the events of the last few days, any win is important.
“I’m going to try and put things aside and pick my best side to win the game.
“They are available selection because investigation is ongoing.
“We have to respond with a performance.
“I’ll be picking a strong side hoping to get a win. That’s more important than anything. I’ll play my strongest team to try and achieve that.”
Albion are without injured on-loan Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge after he was subbed injured just three minutes into Monday’s 3-0 loss at champions Chelsea.
Pardew wants to also end a run of three successive Premier League losses at Manchester City, to Saints in their previous home game and at Chelsea.
He added: “We need to make sure everything is geared to the 11 games we have left in the league and this little cup run which could turn into a big one. I’m confident we’re going to put in performances that gives us a chance to do that.” for the