ALAN Pardew insists he has no problem with Hatem Ben Arfa venting his frustration to the media.
The mercurial playmaker this week complained about his lack of first-team action this season, and Newcastle United’s “direct” style of play.
The interview, thought to have taken place without the club’s knowledge, seemed certain to harm the already frosty relations between Ben Arfa and his manager. In public, at least, Pardew is adamant that is not the case.
“I didn’t see anything wrong with his interview,” he said. “I don’t think any player at any football club is going to say their philosophy is the same as the manager.
“I didn’t when I was working with Steve Coppell (at Crystal Palace) but I still admired him and understood what he is about and learned a great deal off him.
“As you grow as a player you learn you can have a different kind of formula to win games. We have played to Hatem’s formula a couple of times and have done okay.
“When he plays in the side we have to pass the ball more and play it into him more. He will get his opportunity to show what he can do.”
Ben Arfa is a popular figure on the terraces, but has started just three games this season after missing the opening month with a pre-season ankle injury.
Too often, though, the French international has undermined his case with lacklustre performances when he needed to push it.
Demba Ba’s departure for the African Cup of Nations presents Ben Arfa with a potential opportunity. Senegal’s last group game is on January 29, but the final is on February 15, raising the possibility the Magpies could be without their top scorer for around seven matches.
If Ben Arfa was critical of Pardew’s style, the manager is pleased how his players have embraced different tactics for different games.
They approached Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Manchester United very differently to November’s 1-1 draw, exploiting the absence of Nemanja Vidic with a more direct strategy.
“I think we can change tactics, we have different strengths to the squad and we haven’t approached every game with the same game plan,” said Pardew (pictured below). “We have tweaked it and we will tweak it again on Saturday. You need good players to do that and a training ground with an environment where you can do it too. If you have disruptive influences or you don’t have a focus you can’t do it so you try and stick to a gameplan and hope the team carry it out.”
Yohan Cabaye is expected to be fit for tomorrow’s FA Cup third-round tie with Blackburn Rovers, having limped off on Wednesday with an apparent hamstring strain.
With Danny Guthrie not due back in training until Monday, Mehdi Abeid and Haris Vuckic are in contention to partner him in midfield. The Magpies’ manager refused to comment on James Tomkins, following reports that Newcastle are preparing another bid because the West Ham United centre-back has handed in a transfer request.
Yesterday Hammers co-chairman David Gold insisted: “We want to keep James Tomkins, we really do. I think it is fair to say he is not for sale.”
Ligue 1 side Dijon say they are prepared to sell Benjamin Corgnet in the summer but not now, despite a “very high” Newcastle offer for the 24-year-old midfielder. “We had a direct approach from Newcastle, but he is of the same approach as us and wants to continue to grow and play a full season in Ligue 1,” explained former Sunderland right-back Patrice Carteron, Dijon’s coach.
“We would allow him to leave at the end of the season. Newcastle’s offer was very high.”
The Magpies have denied any interest in Corgnet, who did not make his professional debut until he was 23 as he opted to train as an optician.
United fans will be able to get a free logo of new sponsors Virgin Money placed on their 2011-12 shirts if they visit any of the club’s retail outlets – subject to availability.
