And when he says "we have to be on our guard" ... what is he trying to say?
On our guard from what?
Tottenham will try and get Demba Ba, make no mistake, but it's all down to the ambition (or lack of it) of one man - Mike Ashley.
Alan Pardew: “You have to remember the environment we have created here (in the last 12 months).
“Under the environment here Kevin Nolan did really well. Joey Barton did really well – Jose Enrique did great for us.
“But new players have come in and done well in the environment.
“We’ve got an environment in which people can excel and do well.
“Do we miss the players who have left?
“Of course we do, we would love Enrique to be in the team, we would love Kev Nolan to be in and around the team and nicking us a goal – they were great players.
“Now we have different players.
“We have Cabaye having a tremendous first season, Santon has found his feet and looks a real promising talent and a future Italian international, but we have to be on our guard.
“We have had to work hard as staff.
“Graham Carr, Mike, Derek and myself, and all my staff under me, John Carver downwards.
“Everybody has done a terrific job.
“We just need to keep it going, that’s the most important thing, you keep going because any kind of slip of concentration, it costs you.”