Benny

Pardew deploys long ball tactics when he thinks they're needed (although why he thought he needed to play that insipid **** against QPR I have no idea), I wouldn't say he's that kind of manager as such. His issue with playing Ben Arfa appears not to be related to that aspect of footballing philosophy, but work rate off the ball and playing for the team.

Pardew believes every man in the team should do their part for their mates and defend as a unit, no lone wolves however talented they are. He appreciates Ben Arfa's brilliance as much as the next guy but he's not giving him a permanent place in the team until he learns to play as a cog in a well-oiled machine when defending. His obvious pleasure with what he saw from Benny against QPR would indicate that he thinks he's learning and this might well mean regular places in the starting line up in future.

I think Pardew has managed him very well.

 

fair enough but it just seems hba has something against our philosophy hopefully one party will adapt though

 

i think he's really managed benny well but what i don't get is that benny puts in 10 times the effort of shola for the team and tracked back and went after lost balls alot against qpr

 

He better start next week, that's all I bloody know!

 

It isn't working though bar Man U and Stoke. We handed Liverpool a game the other week by playing hoofball which they lapped up. We also gave it a good go yesterday of throwing the game to QPR before Cabaye's injury forced a change. What has got us where we are this season is playing football on the deck. The whole unbeaten run was based on it. We dominated possession in those games. Our squad is ill suited to direct football. It only really suits Shola and that's because he doesn't like movement. I love Pardew as much as the next man but this current hoofball is an error in my book. The turnover of squad has nothing to do with for me. We played a mixture under Hughton and I think he was slowly trying to get us to play more (likes of Cabaye targetted before Pardews arrival, signing of Benni etc). Pardew came in saying he wanted to continue that process, but for me since we had a tricky time he has just gone to plan B all the time.

 

We were all saying that after the Blackburn game!

 

True... I've got a feeling it's gonna be a bit of 'maybe next week... maybe next week...' for a while

 

tbh it might be a lot like santon...gradually integrated into the team and see how successful thats been!

 

That's my point. His work rate and defending improved hugely against QPR, and Pardew was happy to recognise that in his post-match interview.

 

With all the expectation heaped on Benni, that's really quite understandable. Especially after the injuries.