Pardew signed on as Toon manager and he was thrown to the wolves at the press conference - ALONE - as Ashley and Derek Llambias didn't have the ball to stand by his side.
If ever there was a time to think: "What the f*** have I got myself into?" ... THAT was the moment.
Today, as Tyneside comes to terms with losing it's biggest home-grown star since Gazza, Pardew was pushed out to face the press ... once again ... ALONE.
Where was Ashley? Where was Llambias?
Pardew had to pick up the pieces and try and make sense of it all.
But the classic quote from him had to be ...
Alan Pardew: "Were we going to pay an overhiked price for a lesser product than Andy Carroll? No!"
So why try and buy Charles N'Zogbia?
Is he suggesting N'Zogbia is better than Carroll?