Basically, Alan Pardew is a tactical genius and we’re all so lucky to be alive in a time in which he plies his trade as manager of Crystal Palace.
Pardew didn’t exactly say as much following his side’s 1-0 victory over Leicester City on Saturday, but the former Newcastle United boss was quick to credit his two halftime substitutions — the players themselves, not his ideas — with changing the game, 0-0 at halftime.
[ FULL RECAP: Leicester City 0-1 Crystal Palace as Pardew’s golden touch continues ]
“They turned out to be very significant,” Pardew said in his post-game television interview (above video). “One in particular that was forced on me, because Brede [Hangeland] was the best player in the second half. … Yaya [Sanogo] at the top of the pitch cause a bit more havoc for us, and I felt we deserved to win in the end.”
Don’t look now, but Palace (13th place, 26 points) are really progressing nicely under Pardew, having won three and lost one in Premier League play since the former Eagles player returned to south London.