What more can be said that hasn't above. I get that HBA may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I watched a less talented footballer decimate teams on and off in Laurent Robert. Robert had no work ethic, no defensive capabilities yet started most matches for one of the games greatest managers.
Pardew has no idea how to handle people, not in today's world. I get that Pardew would appeal as a manager to the likes of Barton or Nolan - people who did half his job for him. But when you have scoundrels like Ben Arfa, you need to work out how to manage them effectively and Pardew has constantly failed. He cannot work out a system in any sense, he doesn't seem to know what to do other than have a defensive 4-4-2 and players like HBA will not work in that. The 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 or 4-2-4 type of formation would work to Hatem's strengths, but Pardew doesn't know how to do it. to a point, he doesn't have a team like Pellegrini, Rodgers or Mourinho has, so it's slightly more difficult to play front-foot football with less-than-World-Class players. But playing attractive footballer and incorporating/supporting your most creative influences is part of the game. Look at our creative players? Cabaye - gone. HBA - alienated. Marveaux - alienated. One swallow does not make a Summer, but when it's happening consistently the manager has to take the blame. The problem will not go away - whilst I care, you care, we take time to express our feelings and analyse the problem, the cnt who owns our football club looks at profts, advertising coverage and league placement only. He couldn't give a sh!t if we had Ben Arfa or Carlton Palmer on the bench, as long as his three boxes are ticked.
