Pardew: Hughes’ future is not my problem
WEST BROM manager Alan Pardew won’t allow sympathy for under-pressure Stoke rival Mark Hughes to enter his thinking during a potentially fiery relegation battle today.
Hughes could be sacked if Stoke lose at home this afternoon, but Pardew can’t afford to consider that with his team in the bottom three and without a win in 17 games.
‘I’ve got great respect for Mark, but he knows as well as I do that on the sideline he’s going to try to find every margin to win the game and so am I,’ said Pardew.
‘ He always played like that, committed for sure, and I always played like that. But not as good as him!’
Both managers are known for letting their emotions show in the heat of battle. Pardew, looking for a first West Brom win after replacing Tony Pulis, has had touchline rows with Arsene Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini and was banned in 2012 after shoving referee’s assistant Peter Kirkup.
Hughes shouted at former player Marko Arnautovic in last weekend’s 3-0 home defeat against West Ham and has previously failed to shake hands with rival managers after games.
‘Ninety-five per cent of the time you’re focused on your team and knowing what you want from your team,’ added Pardew. ‘There might be a tiny incident where you lose your focus for a little while. I’ve done that in the past as we know. Managers do that.
‘When I’ve seen Mark on the sideline he’s controlled enough. His focus is on his team and my focus is on my team. The media’s focus will be on the team that loses.’
Pardew has some money to spend in the January transfer window though could also lose skipper Jonny Evans to Manchester City. The Albion boss says having dropped into the relegation zone may prove a blessing in disguise.
‘It gives a bit of a reality check. I’ve encouraged the players this week not to hide from it. Let’s get out of it — and stay out of it.’
Hughes meanwhile, has insisted his c.v. is better than that of any potential candidate to replace him as Stoke manager. The board want to keep the 54-year-old but defeat today combined with terrace unrest could test that resolve.
Hughes has confidence his job is not on the line and believes his record at Stoke, Fulham, Manchester City, and Blackburn compares favourab l y against anybody.
The difficulty of finding a successor is a factor and Hughes ( left), who has only finished outside the top half once in nine seasons, backs himself to pull through.
‘Not in my view,’ Hughes said when asked whether there were prospective successors who hold better records.
‘I have proved ever since I have been a manager that I can pick up points. So that badge of “Never being relegated” that managers use, that is not something that resonates with me. I am more about getting up the table.’
In response to the suggestion that the visit by West Brom could be make- or-break, Hughes said: ‘I don’t think that’s where we are at. That’s not what’s happening here. The owners have been in the game a long time and understand it’s not an easy role.
‘They understand there are peaks and troughs and that what you have to do is support good people.’