Newcastle's best bitter

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has taken a sideswipe at unnamed members of his former West Ham squad for making his life 'very difficult'.

Pardew, who was responding to a question regarding yesterday's sacking of Andre Villas-Boas by Chelsea told reporters that the Portuguese manager's situation was similar to his when succeeding Glenn Roeder at West Ham nine years ago.

"I have a lot of sympathy for him because that is a really, really talented coach we have lost in this country," said the man formerly dubbed as 'Pards'.

"He has had to take on a club there with a lot of senior pros and probably had a very, very difficult job.

'When you are in a transition year like that - and I have been in it because I was at West Ham when I inherited a lot of senior pros who had just been relegated - it is very, very difficult.

"They made it difficult for me and one or two of them have apologised since - and so they should."

Who could he possibly mean?
Pardew's over 30s at West Ham in 2003/04.

Goalkeepers: David James.

Defenders: Rufus Brevett; Christian Dailly; Andy Melville*.

Midfielders: Don Hutchison; Rob Lee; Kevin Horlock; Niclas Alexandersson (loan).

Forwards: Brian Deane*.

* Senior pros purchased by Alan Pardew.