Cronky

Most of the players who stayed have benefitted from it. Kevin Nolan has scored more Premier League goals since March then Rooney has, and he's been in this league less time - how can that not be good?! Let's offer Man U a swap deal. They can only say no.

The article also says that he hopes to play his first game in two weeks. That's Blackpool. Hummmm...... there's a lot of 'I's and 'me's in those statements. The ending of that soccer net article sums up why Ben Arfa has chosen us, and why it might work. What Ben Arfa needs to realise though is that it's not just a matter of him finding the right club. He needs to adjust his own behaviour and attitudes a bit. He may find out the hard way. There's some genuine hard nuts in our dressing room and it may not end just with someone waving a fist in his face.

And he's coming to a team with a supporter base that bashes players after a couple of games, this worry me a bit. Seems like people expect this guy to come in and create hell going forward. I'm more worried about his relationship with his team-mates. He seems very immature. Hopefully the language barrier will mean he won't get into verbal confrontations sooner than he can suss out where he fits in. His statement 'I can't wait to show the fans what I can do' was a bit naive. He needs to show his team mates what he can contribute to them, if this is going to work.

Thanks for that, Parky, that's a good read, and makes a lot of sense in explaining why his career has failed to take off, and why he's had problems with team mates and managers. We might just be offering the right opportunity for him, so despite the risk, I'm optimistic that he'll adjust. I also think that Hughton is the right kind of authority figure for him. It was interesting during the transfer saga, we had his manager and his club president coming out with all sorts of sarcastic remarks, that didn't create a good impression. Somehow Ben Arfa's Dad was part of the drama as well and I wonder how helpful he was. Hughton I'd see as like one of those teachers at school who didn't shout or have a go, but who you didn't play up because you actually wanted to earn his respect.

Not really. The Keegan episode is what tipped criticism of Ashley (often justified) into hatred (irrational). I do feel that that is what fuels many people's reluctance to let this thing go. It was a cock-up, not a crime.

If I were a Villa fan, I would be very worried if that was the decision - not that I think it will be. MacDonald himself seems genuinely doubtful about whether he wants the pressure. You can't give the job to someone who's publicly stating that he's not sure he wants it. Besides, in the recent post-match interviews, he's looked and sounded a broken man. He actually looks unwell.

Just thought I'd widen the debate.

As I think Ian pointed out in another context, you can't heap all the blame on Ashley for the relegation, and then refuse to give him any credit for the revival. Managers are very important, and you have to look at their contributions as well. Hughton's hard work and good judgement have been a big part of our revival. Keegan's selfish behaviour and lack of commitment was a big part in our downfall.

Teams often take on the character of their managers, and with Hughton the word that keeps springing to mind with me is 'focus' - a word he often uses himself. He's not one to get distracted into the sort of melodramas that the media love to spin around the game. He just works his bollocks off and seems to be producing a pretty handy side. Our team now seems very focused as well. They'll keep plugging away, working hard through good times and bad, and they'll keep battling without getting involved in any niggly distractions. In that atmosphere, even Joey Barton can keep his discipline. It's interesting, because I think in Tiote and Ben Arfa, we've brought in a couple of players who can raise us up a notch. Hughton needs to get them to buy into what he's trying to create, which with Ben Arfa may be a challenge. But the player was very determined to join us, so maybe Hughton has already done that.

What's the point? Won't change a thing, he's practicing what I imagine he preaches to players like Barton, maintain your dignity. Instead let McCarthy make a prize pratt of himself by basically saying 'two wrongs make a right'. Yeah, I agree. Hughton rose above it, and therefore set the right example to his players. I think a little bit of Hughton's quiet dignity has rubbed off on Joey, and I'm hopeful that'll be the case with Ben Arfa as well.

I find the whole concept of 'forgiveness' a strange one here. They made mistakes, but there was no malicious intent. Shit happens. Just get over it.

I thought Routledge did very well today. That's the best I've seen him play for us. Very encouraging to be able to get a point at an away ground where the opposition was clearly trying to rough things up. Considering we've got Campbell, Tiote and Ben Arfa to come into the side, we should have a good season.

Referees will have to watch out for that. Clearly, there were team instructions go in hard on Barton, in the hope of getting a reaction.

The key question for me is - if Ashley was to sell the club tomorrow, would he be leaving it in a better state than when he found it? It's too early in the season to answer that, but in a few months' time, I think the answer will be a definite yes. As for what's happened in the past, I've never felt that he was entirely to blame, so the question doesn't mean much to me.

Weak challenge from Perch, I thought.

If this works, it'll work very well, and I'm now optimistic that Chris will be able to get the best out of this lad. We've not had the ability to hit teams on the break since the days of Bellamy and Dyer, and hopefully this signing will give us that extra string to our bow.

Not the worst idea to sign another young French lad at the same time as Ben Arfa. Quite possibly the Hughton grey cells at work here.

He'd be a decent loan signing, because the only other player we have for his role is Lovenkrands, and there's no question he's better than Lovenkrands. He's a skilful, clever player and a good finisher, but he's not particularly quick or strong. He produces brilliant moments which in the past have encouraged clubs to pay millions for him, but then he'll disappear for large parts of the game.

Do you seriously think not one of the hundreds of people on this thread at present would have noticed if it was? Pleeeeese God, let it be James Vaughan.

I'd have a guess at James Vaughan.

I don't think the peformance against West Ham helped them. They played so well then followed it up with a win away in Europe with their reserves, that it looked like it was MacDonald's job to lose. Another isssue is that there is not stand out candidates available right now. No-one seems to have snapped up Curbishley. At the very least, he'd be a safe pair of hands.

Having been the victims ourselves of a last minute manager walk-out, I'd say you need to get a permanent appointment fixed asap, or things will drift. I doubt whether Mr MacDonald is your answer. He looks completely shell-shocked.

I'm relatively sure top half of the table. We'd have a good squad.

No way I would send any of our young strikers on loan to league 2 clubs, got a feeling it's Ranger, that should be knocked back. I suspect they're chancing their arm and asking for Ranger - he's bound to have caught their eye. They were a bit shy of some muscle up front, and he'd do a good job for them. Ranger could play at a higher level though and there'd be a problem with wages.

Totally agree. The only position I can see Ben Arfa coming into is the one currently occupied by Nolan, either in rotation or as a replacement when Nolan goes 3 or 4 games without scoring. In games where we're more confident and attacking, I guess one of Smith and Barton could drop out. Deschamps did question Ben Arfa's stamina over a full 90 minutes. That could be his opinion on the player's application of course, but I would envisage Ben Arfa being subbed for Nolan after an hour or so, or being used as a sub for him. Nolan would offer more defensive solidity in certain games, or in certain phases of games, of course.