Obertan refused to go on?

Don't beleive it for a second.

pardew doesn't put up with **** from his players, especially his fringe ones, but he made a point of saying something nice about Obertan after the match.

I expect what happened is more like:

Pardew tells Oberrtan to get ready to come on. Oberetan begins to strip down. Pardew changes his mind. Obertan has a bit of a strop and stops stripping down. Press see him upset and not coming on: add 2 and 2 and get some odd number.

 

Course he ****ing didn't. You could see Pardew on the phone to Stone saying BIGI. Obertan was stripped ready to go on but Pardew phoned the bench and they put Bigi on instead

 

This.

Gael and Gabriel, sound very similar on a noisy phoneline.

Gael Bigria,- Gabriel...

 

Pards has publically denied it. I for one believe our manager over ESPN. Especially as they continue to employ Steve 'I used to play for Real Madrid' McManaman

 

Agree with this. Obertan doesn't strike me as someone who would start throwing his weight around and saying he wouldn't go on. Besides it's not in his interests; he's not a member of the squad that is automatically going to be picked for the first team so when he gets his chance he needs to take it, not throw it back in the manager's face. Agree completely with Freddd's assessment that he was probably a little peeved to be told he was going on and then being told he wasn't.

One thing that does worry me is that having had limited media attention last year, we are now seeing a few stories about players having strops, wanting to leave, having their heads turned etc (true or otherwise) and I do wonder whether this is reflective of a genuine disquiet in the dressing room or whether it is entirely media hype. Probably a bit of both I guess. I do feel slightly concerned that things are not as they were in the dressing room which may explain some of the lackadaisical performances were have seen so far this season.

 

We've gotten off to a slow start. Several players have had disappointing performances. Results have been indifferent. The ones who are playing aren't happy with their performances. The ones who aren't playing are unhappy watching players picked in front of them who aren't doing the job. It creates the beginnings of dissension.

3 points and a decent performance against Norwich though and I think all that will be forgotten. Everybody starts looking forward. Players become happier with their games. Their team mates become happier with them. The players on the bench accept that the ones being picked deserve their place, and jsut start hoping for a chance to join them.