Southampton`s Alan Pardew could have blamed dense fog, bad luck or simply a poor performance for his side`s loss earlier this week. Instead he cited Colchester`s “poor gamesmanship” as a major factor in a narrow 2-1 defeat.
The Saints boss, whose side might have scaled the play-off positions by now were it not for a financially-imposed points decoction, claimed United pushed the limits of fair play by not employing a multi-ball system for throw-ins.
Sounding more like an embittered fan than manager, Pardew said post-match:”I am disappointed in lots of ways, I’m really upset at some of the antics and the poor gamesmanship around the ground – I thought the referee should have dealt with that.
‘There were hardly any ball boys around the pitch and they weren’t giving the ball back. At one point our keeper had to run 40 yards to get the ball as the ball boy just sat in the corner,‘ he added.
Responding to the comments, United manager Aidy Boothroyd – a close friend of Pardew`s – said a lack of money meant using the multi-ball system was not possible.
Is Pardew talking balls or does he have a point? Would Aidy have made a similar complaint if he perceived anything similar to have happened in a different game?
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Pardew=Very Bad Loser!!! To use the multi-ball system you have to gain permission prior to the start of the season – a time when Boothroyd wasn’t even at the club! Up the U’s!