Post by Macmoish on Jul 20, 2011 6:51:41 GMT
The Sun/Steve Brenner - Booted in the teeth
ALAN PARDEW was kicked in the teeth when Yohan Cabaye saw his US visa KO'd over a dental row.
Newcastle boss Pards wanted his £4.8million new signing to get up and running with the Toon on their US tour.
But France midfielder Cabaye was initially refused entry to the States after being accused of not paying for some dentistry work completed there while he was playing for Lille.
Newcastle officials eventually got the ruling overturned - yet it was way too late for Cabaye, 25, to join up with his team-mates.
Pards, already without Joey Barton and Nile Ranger after both were refused visas because of their criminal records, said: "It was a minor incident involving a bill. He claims he paid it and they claim he didn't.
"It's one of those things but it became very frustrating.
"There was no talking them around and, unfortunately, the process was too long for us to rectify it.
"It would have been great to get him integrated with the group because he's a class act."
Pardew has not enjoyed an easy summer so far, with sections of the Toon Army grumbling over owner Mike Ashley's transfer business.
And, since arriving in America, it has not been all plain sailing either.
The soaring 95 degree temperatures are making everyone sweat while a baggage mix-up has left the squad with no shinpads ahead of their opening game tonight.
Pardew, though, is looking forward to unleashing new boys Demba Ba and Sylvain Marveaux against MLS side Sporting Kansas City, while also welcoming back fit-again Hatem Ben Arfa and Dan Gosling.
He added: "So far we are pleased with the business we have done.
"We want to do a bit more before the season starts but we have Gosling and Ben Arfa fit again, while Marveaux, Demba and Cabaye came in.
"With those names, I certainly think we have gone up a level. Now we need to keep the momentum going and bring in one or two more.
"We've definitely pushed on since the end of last year and have already been working on a couple of things out here, which have been well received by the players.
"We are a bit different to last year. We lost our captain and have four or five new players who need to know exactly how we play. This gives me the chances, being here, to do that."
www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3703957/Newcastle-boss-Alan-Pardew-was-kicked-in-the-teeth-when-Yohan-Cabaye-saw-his-US-visa-KOd.html#ixzz1ScrU9boe