Who was the last team to be promoted and earn a UEFA Cup spot in their first season back in the EPL? Ipswich Town.
The current season should also be one where the EPL Manager of the Year MUST go to Alan Pardew of West Ham. Many would probably like to see Redknapp get it, but honestly, he owes his success at keeping Pompey in the EPL to Pardew. Excuse me? Read on.
Earlier on to me it seemed easy enough to suggest that Paul Jewell of Wigan should be that man this time around guiding his Latics to a top ten finish in their first ever run in the top tier. Wigan held a top 5 position for months before the bad run over the holiday period. Recently I've changed my mind on that with the success of West Ham in the league and FA Cup (they have secured their place in the final) and currently holding 10th in the league.
Pardew faced a tough decision prior to the FA Cup semifinal with a match on Saturday against struggling 19th placed Portsmouth then the quarter-final FA Cup match on Tuesday. What he did changed my mind.
Pardew rested almost half of his best 11 for the match against Portsmouth saving them for the FA Cup confrontation with Man City. Gutsy move considering that the Pompey match was a home game for the Hammers which they went on to lose 4-2. More than any other in the final run in, this win on the road was a gift of 3 points to Redknapp, but, for the Hammers and Pardew it was a good decision. That gift may have saved Pompey and Redknapp as they would have only a single point advantage over Birmingham heading to the final match had they not won this match with the Hammers.
Why was it a good decision by Pardew? Well, the FA Cup win over Man City 2-1 is your answer. Now Pardew and the Hammers will appear in the FA Cup Final as they will face Liverpool after seeing off Boro. That my friends is really why he sacrificed that league match with Portsmouth.
By appearing in the FA Cup final match they will be assured a UEFA Cup spot, win or lose, because Liverpool has already earned entry to the CL. So, West Ham will be granted a position in the UEFA Cup regardless of their finishing position in the league whether they win or lose in the FA Cup Final.
Call it backing in if you like but don't expect Pardew and the Hammers to play it that way. And don't be surprised if they go on to win it either.
Both Pardew and Jewell are straight-shooters, tell it like it is kind of guys with their feet on solid ground. Whichever is honored this year the EPL will have done itself proud. Win or lose in the FA Cup Final Alan Pardew is likely to be that man.
He will have done it the old fashioned way; he earned it.
