Jonas Gutierrez has played at left-back; Yohan Cabaye played in four different positions in ONE match; and full-back James Perch has fitted in at midfield.
But it's all part of putting out a team that the boss hopes can still keep its shape and win matches.
Alan Pardew: "You have to remember that when you have had success, teams are going to come and nullify you and start working on ways to beat you, and you have got to keep asking different questions.
"Yohan Cabaye and Jonas had different roles last week, and they could have different roles again.
"But their application and attitude to them has been first-class, and that's why Jonas at left-back got man of the match against Norwich, because he attacked the job that was at hand.
"If my players do that and take that as a lesson, then we are going to be okay.
"We have won without Cheick for the last two weekends, and we won without him when he was away at the African Nations Cup.
"Actually, since he has come back, we haven't had great results with Cheick.
"I am not saying that as a negative because he is a massive player for us, but we can cope without him."