I'm sure it wasn't all fitness issues with him, clearly teamworking, tracking back, etc was something Pardew wanted him to understand more. ( after all, that season we were mostly a team of keeping our shape and relying on individual brilliance.) Pardew is a c*** yes, but I certainly don't believe he preferred Obertan because he was technically better.
Not that I believe that Obertan's work rate is anything great or quality. And at the same time I don't think HBA's workrate was worthy the fuss by Pardew. (In the following seasons)
But in any case, I don't believe Pardews handling of HBA during that season was bad and I don't think it's the reason why it all ended the way it did.
Which one do you think he was better at than say... anyone in our squad?