10 Worst Decisions Alan Pardew Has Made As Newcastle Boss
9. Flagrantly Alienating Hatem Ben Arfa
Although Pardew stopped short of verbally pinning the blame on Ben Arfa for Newcastles damaging tailspin in 2014, actions will always speak louder than words.
The gifted but ultimately flawed French attacker was an underserving victim of Pardews desperate scrap for dressing rooms allies in the midst of our excruciating run of 14 defeats in 19 Premier League games. It was rumoured some senior players in the Magpies squad were unhappy at Ben Arfas continual selection in the team given his aversion to carrying out his defensive duties a fact the Magpies boss sought to manipulate that to his advantage.
Twice the pair exchanged heated words following the losses against Manchester United at St James Park and then away at Stoke, the scene of what is looking likely to be his final appearance for Newcastle. On both occasions Ben Arfa was limited to small cameos when the game was already gone. Prior to that double reverse he was hauled off at the break against Southampton after a half in which he barely touched the ball.
Pardew might not said it but he made his point loud and abundantly clear, never more so than when selecting Dan Gosling ahead of the 27-year-old. Ben Arfa was his scapegoat without just cause instead of harnessing his mercurial talents when we needed them most and the Toon faifthful werent swallowing it, not one bit.