I was probably just a tad too young to fully appreciate the role that Pardew played in the destruction of expectation et al (I'd just turned 14 when he left for Palace ) making Bruce my most hated manager by some way. But as time has allowed there's been a bit of revisionism about him and all of it flat out wrong.
Pardew's shtick throughout 2012-13 scarred many of our fans and Ashley. After every shit result, performance, defeat and/or injury he'd blame it on the Europa League when was more than happy to only bring in Amalfitano and Anita in the summer before he started to do the 'its cuz of yewrup' to cover his own arse.* Many of our fans bought it and I think still do, in seasons gone by a few of our fans have said how they don't want Europa League or Conference League: Champions League or nothing so nothing is fine, and imo its due to those tropes and it all stems from Pardew and that season. Think also that Ashley bought it hence why we never overly strengthened in January from a moderate position of security (like bringing in Cisse in January in 2011-12), the ambition after 2012-13 was just to float from 17th-10th as Europe to the club then just like the cups ( ) only brought a risk of injuries therefore a risk of relegation and that sweet Sports Direct advertising.
*He's since brought up that the remit in summer 2012 was to keep the 2011-12 side together as the funds weren't there for improvement due to Ashley, yet would dedicate wins like the 2-0 one over Chelsea in 2013 to 'Mike'.
The only half decent thing I can say about Pardew is he's never gone down the road that the likes of Souness has done after leaving here regarding NUFC being tough to manage because of the fans and expectations etc etc when he easily could've done since he's left. Shame he just couldn't be positive about the club when he was actually its fucking manager.
