Interviews

Pardew's first interview

ALAN Pardew's initial approach will be to free his new team from "self doubt", he told WBA TV in his first interview as Albion Head Coach.

The 56-year-old, who has 108 Premier League wins to his name, joins the Baggies 16th in the table and will take to the Hawthorns dugout for the first time against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The clash with former club Palace, who he took to an FA Cup Final in 2016, marks the start of a seven-game run of fixtures in December - something that Pardew says is "not a bad thing" for an incoming gaffer.

But his first job as Head Coach will be to bring an air of confidence back to an "honest" group of players.

"I think the initial approach is to try and free the team up from self doubt and try and bring something new to the game plan," said Alan.

"I think they're a good group of players - there's some real talent in there. I want to pull out of it as much as I can and get some positive results. The busy schedule is not a bad thing for a new manager.

"Everything that I've been told about this group is that they're a real honest dressing room. I think that's a really good thing for a manager to walk into. I'm really looking forward to working with them. I want to hopefully bring some excitement onto the pitch and therefore into the stands."

The former LMA Manager of the Year - an accolade Pardew scooped for leading Newcastle United to a fifth-placed Premier League finish in 2012 - is delighted to be back in football after an 11-month absence.

"When you've been used to working in the Premier League it's a drug that you need to have again if you've had it," he continued.

"I'm very lucky to become West Brom's manager. It's an opportunity for me that I want to take and hopefully make this group of players and this club proud. I'm hoping that I bring the right dynamic to this club.

"What I want to bring is a way of playing that has a bit of a mixture to it, that can go direct if it needs to but also be able to play and retain the ball, have some thought and measure of what we're trying to achieve. It's important that the game plan is clear and that the players believe in it."

The man helping Pardew drive his philosophy will be "right-hand man" John Carver, who will take the role of First Team Coach.

"For me, John knows exactly the principles and culture that I want to develop at a football club. He makes sure that's delivered," said Alan.

"You can't always be there as a manager so you need someone who's your right-hand man who you trust absolutely 100%. I think the players will enjoy working with him."

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