Maverick Hatem Ben Arfa became 'impossible' to manage, says ex-Newcastle boss Alan Pardew

Alan Pardew has admitted that Hatem Ben Arfa became 'impossible' to manage at Newcastle United.
Hatem Ben Arfa and Alan PardewHatem Ben Arfa and Alan Pardew
Hatem Ben Arfa and Alan Pardew

Pardew and Ben Arfa famously fell out during the last six months of their time on Tyneside, with the Frenchman eventually excluded from the first team and forced to train with the club's youngsters.

Ben Arfa was finally loaned out to Hull City by Pardew, signalling the end of his career at Newcastle, after the enigmatic winger's behaviour became too much for his manager to handle.

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But Pardew insists he 'isn't scared' by big characters, and says Emmanuel Adebayor - who he has signed for Crystal Palace - is someone he can get the best out of.

"As a manager you get different kinds of mavericks," said the 54-year-old. "You get a rebellious maverick, a maverick who can produce a moment like Yala Bolasie. And you get characters who are mavericks. They are all different.

"They all come with different ingredients and you have to make sure you hit the right buttons with them. I like to think I am old and wise enough to try and get Ade in a position where I am getting the best out of him.

"Some mavericks you can lose, sometimes it gets away from you and becomes problematic. (Hatem) Ben Arfa up at Newcastle became impossible.

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"It hasn't happened many times in my career and I don't think it will happen with Ade. He doesn't strike me as that type, he strikes me as a player that needs to have faith. I am expressing that to him at this time because I do believe in him.

"I like big players, big characters. They don't scare me, they don't frighten me. He doesn't scare me. I really like him. I think he is a good guy. (And) he does some good things that don't get talked about."