It has never occured to you that many times when he has played he might have been low on confidence and maybe not always match fit? These things happen when you're not wanted from the beginning, and spend a lot of time on the bench. He was never a player that Pardew rated or wanted i guess. The few times when he looked like he was about to find form he got dropped, unfairly, only because other players who had been injured/suspended returned. If your manager doesn't have any belief in you, your not match fit, get dropped for no reason at times, and all this combined with being in a new league (in the beginning) and in a team that is as disjointed as you'll ever see, playing a type of football that you've never played before. No f***ing wonder you're not at your best and hide at times you weirdo!
I'm not saying he's top class or anything, what i mean is that he's better than he's been able to show many times.