His usual excuses of too many European and cup fixtures don't hold water anymore ... because we have had a European-free campaign and our cup exploits have been pathetic (at best!).
So why are his players "drained", as Pardew says?
Drained because of what?
Chelsea have played 12 more games than us this season, and Man City a staggering 17 games more, so why does Pardew feel his players are "lacking energy"?
Lacking HEART more like!
This bunch of French mercenaries went into hiding long before that midweek fixture against Everton, and there two out right now who should ask questions of themselves - Remy and Debuchy.
Are they REALLY injured or taking a month off?
The reports I'm hearing suggest there's a rabbit off with those two, who are eyeing the World Cup in the summer.
Cabaye went on strike (before leaving), Marveaux took six months before he decided he was ready for Premier League competition (and has hardly made the effort since), Amalfitano wouldn't get into Scotswood WMC Sunday League team, Mbabu (what happened to him?), Ben Arfa simply doesn't want to play for Pardew ... and don't even start me on Obertan!
The Magpies were second best from start to finish as the goals flowed for Southampton at St Mary's Stadium.
United boss Pardew started the game with Hatem Ben Arfa and Papiss Cisse in his starting XI.
However, he subbed the French playmaker after a lack of impact in the first half.
When asked about Ben Arfa, he said: "I am not really going to talk about individual players in the team.
"Although I touched on Davide Santon it was because he wasn't fit to start.
"We collectively have to take responsibility that we were not good enough.
"For all of our fans that have travelled down here all this way and all the way back I am afraid that isn't good enough.
"We were second best.
"We just didn't look like we had any energy at all for the game.
"Maybe the midweek game, I don't know, had something to do with that.
"But it definitely wasn't us today."