Alan Pardew wants Andy Carroll and Joey Barton on straight and narrow

Alan Pardew is keen to embrace a short-passing, creatively attacking style at Newcastle United but to make it succeed he must get the best out of two potentially awkward customers. Andy Carroll and Joey Barton are integral elements of Pardew's new team but barely a week into the job the manager recognises he faces a sizeable challenge keeping them on the straight and narrow. Neither are exactly angels of the north. While Carroll's recent brushes with the law are well documented, just this week Barton received a formal letter from the Football Association "reminding him of his responsibilities" in the wake of a rude gesture he made towards Liverpool's Fernando Torres last Saturday. Pardew regards the talents of Newcastle's key striker and principal midfielder as perfect showcases for his football philosophy but accepts both players must be carefully managed. "I can think of a couple of hairy ones, so to speak, I've had to deal with before in Danny Mills and Ben Thatcher," said the former Reading, West Ham, Charlton and Southampton manager. "With little disciplines I'm going to set an example and Joey and Andy need to understand that's what we want to see from them. "I hope I can keep them both on the straight and narrow, I really hope so, but it isn't going to come from me, it's going to come from within them." If Carroll's problems have tended to be of the off-field variety, Barton frequently courts controversy on it. "These type of players play the game with a pace and a passion and at a level that sometimes tips them over the edge," said Pardew, whose side visit Birmingham tomorrow. "What you've got to be is honest with them and, at certain points, say: 'That is wrong and I don't want to see that.' It's a drip feed effect and that's what I'll do with Joey on the training ground. "I've only been here a week but Joey's attitude and everything about him so far has been excellent. Everything has been spot on and he was one of the best players when we beat Liverpool. "Andy's a terrific lad; he's a level-headed boy with a big future in front of him. It will be a case of him at times making mistakes and admitting to that and learning from them."