Pards thinking gone awry I stuck my neck out when I blogged Friday afternoon about Alan Pardew's coaching and managerial ability. I thought briefly about holding the article back and posting it this week, but then again premeditated writing is not really what a blog is about. But then munch, munch, munch.... what's that? Me eating my own words.

Never mind, it would have been easier to write it after the Preston game, but my view is a long term one and that is the point.

Tomorrow night though is a real test for Pardew. He is up against a very experienced manager, who would have taken away valuable lessons from The Valley 3 weeks ago and we are in Wales. That has nothing to do with it of course but 417 hardy Addicks in blustery Cardiff on a Tuesday night is not an easy place to go. I bumped up the numbers by the way to include the players, subs and Pards and Parky!

I will say this again. I am a huge Pardew fan, however last week I thought his thinking went a bit awry. I kind of always got what he was trying to do, even if it didn't work. 4-5-1 works for this squad, period. We have the players that can make it work, and the brain-power and the quality. Then Pards inexplicably changed it at half-time on Tuesday. And things did not get better, it got worse.

Since half-time on Tuesday he has replaced quality and skill with workmanlike cogency. Holland has a place in the squad, Ambrose I'm not sure about but the fact is I don't think we have a good enough midfield pairing to play just two in the middle, let alone force Varney and Iwelumo to work together up top. Reid needs to roam, and will do so whether we like it or not. Semedo is perfect at providing a second coating of the defence, and my does it need it. He's also an intelligent player who so often instigates our short patient passing game, allowing Reid to look for the ambitious ball and ZZ to push forward whilst the wingers stretch the pitch sideways.

Sure change the players but until we find a front pairing that can collaborate together and a midfield two that provide both defensive protection and offensive support, lets stick to 4-5-1.

With apparent injuries to Sam and Thomas I would have no hesitation in playing either Varney wide right or Moo2kil. And what about Martin Christensen? Plus if Pards wants to rest Semedo again, I would think Bougherra could do a good job as the holding midfielder. Racon I believe is an attacking midfielder so he could take ZZ's place, although I wouldn't drop the boy personally.

Also in front of 400 staunchly passionate Addicks, what about starting McLeod up front? Even though Iwelumo just won the Championship player of the month, clearly Saturday was after the voting booths shut. I would have him on the bench.

Meanwhile Chicago Addick will be sat at his desk tomorrow afternoon pretending to work whilst frantically surveying about 20 Internet Explorer windows opon on his computer trying to track down what is happening in Wales.  ¶ 20:02