JOHN CARVER has described some of the criticism levelled at Alan Pardew prior to his departure as Newcastle manager as “harsh”, and praised the way in which his predecessor dealt with the sustained abuse that was hurled in his direction.

Having worked alongside each other for almost three years, Carver and Pardew will line up in opposite dug-outs tomorrow when Newcastle travel to Crystal Palace.

Pardew left his position at St James’ Park in December, having been the focus for regular supporters’ demonstrations, which included an organised online campaign under the ‘Sack Pardew’ banner, for more than half a year.

Carver sat alongside Pardew at a number of matches as a large section of Newcastle supporters called for his head, and the current interim boss, who was forced to apologise after he remonstrated with fans at Southampton last September, feels that some of the criticism went too far.

“I thought some of the treatment he received was harsh,” said Carver. “I don’t have a problem with people protesting as long as it’d done the right way, but if it affects the team, then that’s the only thing I object to.

“I know for a fact that if I was sitting in the stands paying good money and I wasn’t very happy, then I’d be saying something. Every manager is going to take some criticism. Alan was no different, but he was honourable and he stood up to it.”

Pardew has conceded that his relationship with the supporters deteriorated rapidly in the final year of his reign, and his decision to move to Selhurst Park was influenced, in part, by a growing acceptance that he would never be able to turn things around.

He has been greeted like a long-lost son at Crystal Palace, in part because he has guided the club to four wins from his first five matches, a marked contrast to the way in which he was received during his final days on Tyneside.

To his credit, he never allowed his frustration to boil over into an open revolt against the fans, something Carver admires given the pressures he was under.

“It was tough, and I’m not sure there’s many people out there who could have dealt with it like he did,” he said. “His personality helped him to deal with it, and that in turn has helped me be a little bit stronger and more thick-skinned.

“How he dealt with it is invaluable to me. I learned a lot from it, and it can only stand me in good stead in the future.

“He taught me that it’s important not to be around the training ground all the time – you need to spend a bit of time with your friends or try to make time for a round of golf. It’s about not believing everything you read in the newspapers, not listening to the radio and not watching the TV.

“Yes, watch football matches, but don’t get yourself tied up reading online blogs and things like that, which was something I did when I was at Toronto, and it does affect you psychologically. It was all valuable information I got from him.”

The pair have spoken on numerous occasions since Pardew returned to South London, and are due to be reunited at Newcastle’s team hotel later this evening.

Pardew has taken former Newcastle analyst Ben Stevens with him to Selhurst Park, and is sure to be well prepared for tomorrow’s game. Whether he is ready for the reaction of the travelling supporters, however, remains to be seen.

“I’m not expecting or hoping for anything,” said Pardew. “We had some great times together. It was not so great the last year, but on the whole my experience there was great.

“I thought I did a good job and walked out with my head held high, and so I’m looking forward to the game. I’ve still got all my staff there and my players, and they’re close to my heart.

“It will be strange because after four years of living every part of that football club and that city, good and bad, it’s emotional. It will be a slightly different game for me.”

Tomorrow’s game is bound to be interpreted as an opportunity for Pardew to get one over on his former employers, and Carver concedes that what happens in the technical areas will be as closely monitored as anything that is happening on the field.

The interim boss, who held clear-the-air talks with Remy Cabella yesterday after criticising the midfielder’s furious reaction to being substituted at the weekend, continues to regard Pardew as one of the best managers he has ever worked with, and can even envisage a day when his predecessor takes charge of his country.

“Alan can definitely be a future England manager because he has the temperament,” he said. “The England manager gets criticised by everyone. He only has two competitions he can win - the World Cup and Euros - and they’re only every two years. There would be big pressure on, but he could deal with it.

“He didn't talk about it, but me, Woody (Andy Woodman) and Steve Stone would have a laugh and joke about it. We'd say, 'Do you think he will take us to England with him?'”