• Premier League

Pardew to pick future penalty takers

ESPN staff
September 24, 2012
Papiss Cisse sent his penalty over the bar © Getty Images
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Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has confirmed he will not allow his players to decide who will take penalties following Papiss Cisse's miss against Norwich on Sunday.

Cisse was nominated by his team-mates to take a spot-kick against Norwich, only for the Senegal striker to blaze his effort over the bar, in a game that finished 1-0 to the Magpies.

"The players wanted to let Papiss score his first goal of the season, but that was not a wise decision as we need our best penalty takers stepping forward to give us the best chance of converting the chance," Pardew said.

"In the end, that miss could have hurt us as Norwich threw everything in our direction in the second half and it would have been a very different game if we had gone in at half-time 2-0. I want Demba Ba or Hatem [Ben Arfa] taking the penalties in future, that's for sure."

Meanwhile, Pardew reserved praise for midfielder Ben Arfa after he put in a fine display for Newcastle at St James' Park. Ben Arfa, 25, was in inspirational form once again as Newcastle ruined former Magpies coach Chris Hughton's return to Tyneside, with Pardew full of praise for a player who has added consistency of performance to the natural talent he has exuded this season.

"Hatem did some things against Norwich that were quite exceptional, but he is doing that week after week at the moment," Pardew said. "He is providing us with the invaluable X Factor all top sides have and the opposition just don't know what he is going to do next. He is in the form of his life and long may that continue.

"I looked at him up against some top quality players against Chelsea a few weeks back and he didn't look out of place at all. Hatem can do things not many others are capable of and it is great to have a player like that in your side."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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