Should Alan Pardew have won the Manager of the Month award?

Alan Pardew is doing a decent job in terms of getting results at Newcastle at the moment.

While I'm always sceptical of giving praise like that in a matchday I think, slowly, Pardew is starting to win round a lot of people thanks to the results on the pitch.

NUFC currently sit in 4th place in the Premier league table ahead of the match against Wolves later. Depending on the result of the Everton v Liverpool lunchtime match we could find ourselves still occupying that 4th spot in the table, even should we suffer defeat. Surely that deserves some credit?

I don't mean credit amongst our own fans as I think the vast majority have been pleasantly surprised with how we've started the season. What I mean is a bit of credit from the outside, perhaps in the form of the Manager of the Month award?

That honour went to Harry Redknapp, but a quick look at the Premier League table has left me wondering just why that decision was made, especially when it was Alan Pardew who won the vote.

I suppose based purely on results Redknapp warrants it. His Tottenham team played three and won three in the month of September while Newcastle won one and drew two of their three matches from the month.

However a look at the table tells a different story. Put bluntly we are exceeding expectations so far and I feel that deserves to be rewarded. The top three are expected to be there and have spent a fortune to be at the top of the league. They are doing as they say on the tin.

Then there is an upset, a blot, a smear on the media fancied top four, and that smear is us. The very same people who tipped us to struggle now fail to recognise that, well, we aren't. Yes it's early days, but given the relative resources I'd say that there is a strong argument for Alan Pardew receiving some recognition.

Where are Tottenham again? Where were they expected to be?

Once again I see we are tipped to lose by just about everyone in the media this weekend. It's almost as though they are waiting for us to trip so they can preach about how right they were all along. Sadly, I've noticed that same trait from some of our own fans. Each to their own though eh?

In a way today will tell us a lot about this team. Can we go to a tough place and get a result? Can we play positively? The signs are good, but it's still early days. Credit where credit is due though. Up until the end of September all of the questions asked were answered.

And for that credit should be due to the players, and the manager.