Today is a chance to prove the point he makes often "European football takes its toll on your league position".
Well it does when you don't make a European campaign part of your season.
The fans miss the European adventure ... Pardew doesn't!
Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City are still pushing away at the top of the Premier League because they accept European football as part of the culture.
It's the minnows below them that struggle.
Spurs' league form has suffered this season ... but is that as a result of the demands of that Europa League campaign ... or having a new manager?
Pardew hates the Europa League with a passion, which is as good a reason as any to suggest he will NEVER be a half-decent manager.
Never "fighting on two fronts", he cannot fight on ONE!
We are third bottom of the Premier League, and there has been no Europa League this season, so what else can he blame?
Tottenham beat Greek side Asteras Tripolis 5-1 in the same competition on Thursday evening, so in Pardew's opinion, they will struggle today.
Let's hope (for once) he is right.
Alan Pardew: "I'm just focused on getting this team as high up the league [as possible].
"This team should be in and around the top 10, fighting for the top six or seven - if everything falls your way even higher than that, which happened to us before.
"But that feels a long way off at the moment.
"You try to plan and be thorough and test your staff and players to give your team the best chance of winning.
"Our planning and preparation have been thorough, and that's what you have to do."