Alan Pardew’s joke about Harry Kane’s mum fell flat as he was given the cold shoulder by Teddy Sheringham during Sky Sports’ preview of Tottenham’s 3-2 win over West Ham on Saturday.
The former Crystal Palace manager produced one of the most awkward moments of the season so far in an attempt to exchange banter with fellow pundits Sheringham and Jamie Redknapp.
Former England striker Sheringham, who played under Pardew at West Ham, was making an appearance as a guest Sky Sports pundit to preview the Hammers’ midday fixture against Tottenham at Wembley, which was won 3-2 by the home side.
Conversation soon turned to Kane, who went to score twice to take his haul for the season to six from seven matches and 105 from 172 Tottenham appearances.
Pardew compared Kane to Sheringham, who had two spells at Tottenham during his distinguished career and is renowned as one of their outstanding players of the last 30 years.
“He’s very similar to Teddy,” said Jamie Redknapp of Kane. “Not blessed with blistering pace but an incredible football brain, someone who picks the right pass at the right time.”
Pardew was having none of it as he pointed out Sheringham’s flaws.
“He (Sheringham) didn’t have his (Kane’s) pace!” Pardew joked. “He (Sheringham) was as quick as Harry Kane’s mum!” Pardew added, pointing at the 51-year-old.
“Steady!” Sky Sports anchor Simon Thomas interjected, before Sheringham continued in his analysis of Kane without referencing Pardew’s joke, which went down like a lead balloon.
OPINION
It is not the first time that Pardew’s capacity for foot-in-mouth has been apparent on live television. Once castigated for claiming on Match of the Day that a tackle by Chelsea’s Michael Essien was akin to a rape, the former Newcastle and Crystal Palace manager’s cheeky dig at Sheringham shows he will continue to stretch the limits. Sheringham suffered a bit of a sense of humour failure on this occasion, opting to give his former manager the verbal cold shoulder rather than joke at his own expense, or offer a witty retort in return. But Pardew should also tread carefully in his new job as a Sky Sports pundit. The broadcaster are as conservative and straight-laced as the BBC when it comes to on-air banter.
