Selling Perch is not a mistake, he is not quality. What will be a mistake is after Perch, Simpson plus a few fringe players have left, they are not replaced by better quality. So far and its early days our squad which was not strong enough in the 1st place is even weaker. All the local rags are doing are playing up the quality of existing players. If Ben Arfa gets through even half the games I'll be very surprised. Vuckic is another permanent injury and Ameobi is way past his best whatever that was. Amalfatino, Abeid, Simpson, Perch all part of last years squad and yet to be replaced.
AS for sympathy for Pardew, the man is a mouse and hasn't even squeaked.