Pardew’s Been ‘East Ended’.

Pardew says he has been ‘East Ended’ and that he might not have been a Hammer, but he is now:

‘When I was growing up, I saw West Ham as a good footballing side that didn’t win as many games as they should. Sometimes, they were accused of having a soft centre. We will always try to play in the right way and have a go, but anybody seeing my team play wouldn’t ever say it had a soft centre.’

Adding: ‘I say to friends ‘I have been East Ended a little bit here’. Sometimes someone will say to me ‘you’re not a West Ham person’. I wasn’t but I am now. Some clubs have fans, we have fanatics’ added the 44-year-old. It’s related to the club being in a predominantly working class area in a part of town that has always been run down. We have a lot of ‘money people’ at our club who are now in the City, they’ve come from humble backgrounds and like every other fan here, if they see a load of fancy dans running around, they ain’t having it. That’s the East End way. That’s fine.’

He is also the first to admit he is still learning as a manager. ‘At Reading, I was accused of not paying enough attention to senior players and it was justified criticism. You always want to be there for the younger guys but the older guys are entitled to ask ‘what about my experience?’ I have learned to listen more to them. When I started out in management, I would be aggressive and rude with my players ? ‘what do you think you’re doing?’ That sort of manner. I think I manage people better now.’