It's Taken Pardew Long Enough To Know

Alan Pardew has apologised to Jonás Gutiérrez and says that he must take some of the blame for his winger's subdued performances. Pardew has deployed Gutiérrez in a central midfield role, when many of the fans knew as early as the first week of the season that it was not going to work. Alan Pardew: “Yeah, and I think that (his new position) perhaps that hasn’t helped him. “I take some criticism for that. I’ve played him narrower a little bit, and I think he’s got a fair argument to say that I should be playing him in position. “It’s something I’m working on with him, he’s an important player for us and an important character in the dressing-room. “They’re important players, your big players. “You’ve only got to look at Jonás; he signed a new contract last year, he was fantastic last season, an unsung hero in a lot of ways, balancing us up, taking us up the pitch, giving us a rest, and he has not been at his best. “He’s had an injury he’s played with, we think he’s a lot better going into this game and I thought he improved significantly in the second half against City. “I thought he looked more like his old self. We need him to play well.”     Source: Newcastle United Mad

Source: FOOTYMAD