“Their work-rate has been phenomenal” says Pardew of Best and Lovenkrands
Posted on February 22nd, 2011 | 21 Comments |
The much commented upon sale of Andy Carroll to Liverpool followed, 15 minutes of football later, by a fractured cheek for Shola Ameobi left what some might consider to be a hole in our front line.
Best and Lovenkrands – aptly assisted by Ranger and Kuqi in substitute’s roles – have been tasked with plugging that hole until the summer when Pardew can (presumably) hire a striker or two in the transfer market.
I think it’s fair to say that a lot of fans were reticent – if not actually doubtful – about whether Best and Lovenkrands had the wherewithal to lead the line. The Birmingham game proved that they can at least both play together successfully and they got a goal a piece. In fact they were both firing on target back in early January against West Ham when Lovenkrands got a goal and Best got a hat-trick.
Alan Pardew has been praising the strikers’ work-rate, encouraging them to ‘stay strong’ and claiming that he himself must be patient. Pardew said:
“Their work-rate has been phenomenal and, as a manager, that’s all you can ask for.
“In some games, there hasn’t been too much created for them.
“But if they keep doing what they’re doing, the moments will happen in front of goal.
“Just look at the West Ham game when we won 5-0 and they benefited from some great service.
“They have to stay strong and, as a manager, I have to be patient.”
Best has recently gone on record as saying he had to continuously pester Pardew to be given an opportunity and he has a point. Strikers need more than a few appearances to prove themselves in my opinion. I don’t know if Best and Lovenkrands are what you might call Premier League first-choice strikers – maybe they are and maybe they’re not – but I don’t think they’re doing a bad job of filling in at the moment.
Incidentally I have a top tip. I am partially deaf and, as you’ll see shortly, a buffoon. My latent deafness is exacerbated by the fact that my ears block up and I regularly have to go and get them hoovered out by a nurse. The last time I was there the nurse advised that I might try putting warm olive oil in them to unblock them rather than having to visit her all the time.
So I set about with a pan and some olive oil to address my lugubrious lugs.
My top tip is this: when testing temperature, be aware that what is merely ‘warm’ to the fingers can be painfully scorching to the ear canal.
If you don’t heed this top tip then you, like me, may spend a considerable amount of time hopping around the kitchen trying to pour gallons of cold water in your ear to put the fire in your eardrum out.
I’m off to have a sulk now. Painfully.
:eek:
Agree that Besty needs a good run of games, and WILL get better. Well he has got his chance now, so hope he makes his point.
Of course supply is the key and it was good to see Jonas getting some crosses into the box. Hope he keeps it up.