nufc4eva

Is "Ben Arfa better than Aluko?" jesus, they are fucking crazy. Hope we tear them a new one

Why? what did you do to him after the cpr to make you think you were gay?

Good to see he wants to improve and sees the areas he needs to be better in

We'll fucking smash them

I will give him credit when he does right things and slate him when he get's things wrong for more than a few games (I will accept him trying different things) At the moment he has done the right things in last 2 games and I liked the shape and everything on Saturday.

Out for game against us, well done Ashley Williams

I'm not to bothered if we leak a few goals to big lads as long as we score a few as well. It's the price we will pay for having ball playing defenders really and Benteke is quite a handful. We don't have a Shearer or Carroll to defend corners / free kicks or good defenders in air so will need to find other ways to sniff out their danger.

Exactly, you only have to look at so many players that have failed that have the talent but have not had the other side to it that makes them effective.

Feeling optimistic, this place has been upbeat last few days. We all know what's round the corner but hope to fuck we continue to do well and will blank out any impending doom that usually follows this club after a bit of optimism. If we beat these we would have 10 points from a possible 15, not bad at all with tough games against Cardiff, Everton and Liverpool to come.

It tends to be the only argument that matters when looking at top teams though. Messi and Ronaldo have the talent and execute it excellently, I would argue Ben Arfa has the talent but has lacked something, maybe mentally to make the most of it

I just hope he stays fit all season, will make a massive difference to us if he can continue the way he has played so far

Oh I agree I'm one of them I like that, hands up and just admit your wrong. Good stuff. I think I wasn't in same boat as some people thinking he is all that, this season so far he has looked the business. Love watching him, just think there have been far more effective players in the league and for all his talents he only shows glimpses at times. Now that may be the way we have setup or just that he doesn't always apply himself, and then there was his beer gut at back end of season. He's not done as much as Cazorla/Ozil/Walcott/Mata/ in the league in my opinion, even if you think Walcott is limited, he has still been more effective than Ben Arfa, albeit in a better team. Ben Arfa has all the talents to be up there with all of them and the rest, just doesn't always have that cutting edge that he has shown the last few games Walcott may have shown more in terms of his effectiveness, and done more because of where he is, but Ben Arfa is unquestionably the better player and the better talent. So much better it actually aches. More talent doesn't always equate to better player in this league. How good Ben Arfa would have been if he had gone to Man Utd when scouted at Lyon I don't know, but the fact is he ended up at a club like ours and not there. Walcott ended up at Arsenal probably because Wenger thought he was good enough. Why did Ben Arfa not? I love watching him etc, but am realistic and he is a flawed player. Nah, I'm not having that. The question was who is the better player, not who plays in the better team, under better circumstances. Purely going on what I see in them as players, Ben Arfa is a better footballer than Theo Walcott and by quite some distance. Ok then, in 2 seasons prior to this that Ben Arfa has been in our league Walcott - 22 goals and 18 assists Ben Arfa - 9 Goals and 9 Assists Better team or not from an effective point of view he has helped his team out more than Ben Arfa has (I include being fit). I don't necessarily like watching Walcott as a player but to say he's not as good (Despite the tricks and individuality) is wrong Neither of us are right or wrong. As far as I'm concerned though, Ben Arfa is the better footballer, which was the question asked. You could say that Walcott is more effective, which he is. But none of that means anything when you single it right down to the players as players. You look at someone like David May and say that they won more because he played for Man United and Blackburn, but was average. Walcott is more effective because he's fast and plays for one of the best teams in the league, with one of the best managers in the league. Player for player, away from their teams, Ben Arfa is comfortably better. Walcott couldn't do half of what Ben Arfa does, but we've seen Ben Arfa do what Walcott has done, in a team nowhere near as good as Arsenal's. Btw, I find Walcott frustrating to watch and do prefer watching Ben Arfa as more skillful and controlled in possession , just looking at how effective each are for respective sides

Oh I agree I'm one of them I like that, hands up and just admit your wrong. Good stuff. I think I wasn't in same boat as some people thinking he is all that, this season so far he has looked the business. Love watching him, just think there have been far more effective players in the league and for all his talents he only shows glimpses at times. Now that may be the way we have setup or just that he doesn't always apply himself, and then there was his beer gut at back end of season. He's not done as much as Cazorla/Ozil/Walcott/Mata/ in the league in my opinion, even if you think Walcott is limited, he has still been more effective than Ben Arfa, albeit in a better team. Ben Arfa has all the talents to be up there with all of them and the rest, just doesn't always have that cutting edge that he has shown the last few games Walcott may have shown more in terms of his effectiveness, and done more because of where he is, but Ben Arfa is unquestionably the better player and the better talent. So much better it actually aches. More talent doesn't always equate to better player in this league. How good Ben Arfa would have been if he had gone to Man Utd when scouted at Lyon I don't know, but the fact is he ended up at a club like ours and not there. Walcott ended up at Arsenal probably because Wenger thought he was good enough. Why did Ben Arfa not? I love watching him etc, but am realistic and he is a flawed player. Nah, I'm not having that. The question was who is the better player, not who plays in the better team, under better circumstances. Purely going on what I see in them as players, Ben Arfa is a better footballer than Theo Walcott and by quite some distance. Ok then, in 2 seasons prior to this that Ben Arfa has been in our league Walcott - 22 goals and 18 assists Ben Arfa - 9 Goals and 9 Assists Better team or not from an effective point of view he has helped his team out more than Ben Arfa has (I include being fit). I don't necessarily like watching Walcott as a player but to say he's not as good (Despite the tricks and individuality) is wrong

Oh I agree I'm one of them I like that, hands up and just admit your wrong. Good stuff. I think I wasn't in same boat as some people thinking he is all that, this season so far he has looked the business. Love watching him, just think there have been far more effective players in the league and for all his talents he only shows glimpses at times. Now that may be the way we have setup or just that he doesn't always apply himself, and then there was his beer gut at back end of season. He's not done as much as Cazorla/Ozil/Walcott/Mata/ in the league in my opinion, even if you think Walcott is limited, he has still been more effective than Ben Arfa, albeit in a better team. Ben Arfa has all the talents to be up there with all of them and the rest, just doesn't always have that cutting edge that he has shown the last few games Walcott may have shown more in terms of his effectiveness, and done more because of where he is, but Ben Arfa is unquestionably the better player and the better talent. So much better it actually aches. More talent doesn't always equate to better player in this league. How good Ben Arfa would have been if he had gone to Man Utd when scouted at Lyon I don't know, but the fact is he ended up at a club like ours and not there. Walcott ended up at Arsenal probably because Wenger thought he was good enough. Why did Ben Arfa not? I love watching him etc, but am realistic and he is a flawed player.

Don't forget James McLean. Na it's all about Mavrias now or some other no mark that they think is next big thing.

I'm one of them I like that, hands up and just admit your wrong. Good stuff. I think I wasn't in same boat as some people thinking he is all that, this season so far he has looked the business. Love watching him, just think there have been far more effective players in the league and for all his talents he only shows glimpses at times. Now that may be the way we have setup or just that he doesn't always apply himself, and then there was his beer gut at back end of season. He's not done as much as Cazorla/Ozil/Walcott/Mata/ in the league in my opinion, even if you think Walcott is limited, he has still been more effective than Ben Arfa, albeit in a better team. Ben Arfa has all the talents to be up there with all of them and the rest, just doesn't always have that cutting edge that he has shown the last few games

I'm one of them

I occasionally have mental thoughts

Hope he has a class season, love watching him play - although did think we should sell him if didn't get consistency. Have to credit Pardew, I think he has had an influence on him and managed him reasonably well from that point of view

Oh I think it would be good to retain same team for quite a few games, if an opportunity arises though we should drop Gouff in, maybe start him for Leeds match

I wouldn't mind seeing Gouff start a few up there and drop Cisse to bench for a few just to see difference.

Aye, he needs to get back to the goals like otherwise we need to look to replace him (Although as we can't get an additional striker, replacing him seems unlikely). I want first season Papiss back

He brought Sammy on when we were protecting a lead, pretty sure someone slipped him something before the game It was like the anti-pardew today, no Shola in sight and no shutting up shop, just sensible playing down the clock in their corner for last few mins. Looked dangerous on counter and heard Pardew saying to keep the ball and on ground. Played some nice simple stuff and stepped it up when required. I liked the shape we had today, still needs a bit of work but Cabaye in front of Sissoko and Anita may just work. Still think Cisse looked s*** though, needs to get back to scoring I think that is the perfect position for Cabaye tbh. He doesn't have the engine for box to box so that's Sissoko who will also go on his little runs, impressed with some of his balls for the forwards to run on to, Anita will play deeper keeping it smart and ticking over, Cabaye "defends from the front" as he likes a battle but he also has the quality to create or score goals. Potential to be a very good trio there but as you say it still needs work. Agree, always been potential in those players, maybe Pardew has finally understood their strengths, Sissoko in home games will bomb on more I reckon and hopefully Cabaye will just step back at that point to cover. Can't wait to see Remy when fully fit and think Gouff coming off bench will cause havoc. Was impressed how we went on to win at 1-1 because I really thought we would crumble at that point but we just kept going and controlled the game well When they get a better understanding with each other Cabaye and Sissoko can swap it up during a match which will cause the opposition troubles as they will be facing a different threat depending which player decides to sit and which player decides to go forward. Completely different players so if you are set up to stop Sissoko's runs but Cabaye is coming forward or if you have set up to stop Cabaye's passing/shooting and Sissoko is running at you... Aye, sounds good, you just know Pards will panic and change to 4-4-2 or defensive again at first hurdle - hope he can be brave and persevere, if we lose a couple of games heavily, so what as long as we are winning a few at same time. Who knows we may hammer a couple of teams

He brought Sammy on when we were protecting a lead, pretty sure someone slipped him something before the game It was like the anti-pardew today, no Shola in sight and no shutting up shop, just sensible playing down the clock in their corner for last few mins. Looked dangerous on counter and heard Pardew saying to keep the ball and on ground. Played some nice simple stuff and stepped it up when required. I liked the shape we had today, still needs a bit of work but Cabaye in front of Sissoko and Anita may just work. Still think Cisse looked s*** though, needs to get back to scoring I think that is the perfect position for Cabaye tbh. He doesn't have the engine for box to box so that's Sissoko who will also go on his little runs, impressed with some of his balls for the forwards to run on to, Anita will play deeper keeping it smart and ticking over, Cabaye "defends from the front" as he likes a battle but he also has the quality to create or score goals. Potential to be a very good trio there but as you say it still needs work. On paper, the two triumvirates (Remy-Cisse-HBA and Anita-Sissoko-Cabaye) make absolutely shitloads of sense and have massive potential. Each player's style compliments one another imo. Yip, he has just never played the middle 3 in the right positions, Sissoko deeper with Cabaye at the head of the 3 linking up midfield to attack will work, with Anita linking defence and midfield and Sissoko in between both. Ben Arfa and Remy opening them up and hopefully Cisse getting more chances and scoring a few. Need to look behind that first 11 and see what the choices would be when they are injured as Remy and Ben Arfa won't play full season, we certainly did not miss Jonas today and if Remy is out Gouffran or Sammy should be give the chance in the same formation. Marveux should replace Cabaye's position, Tiote in Anitas and not really anyone in Sissokos

Thing is if he just settles on this and then looks at the backups for those positions rather than changing formation all time it would be better, Cameos from Sammy for now would be good and then look at where Bigi would best fit in, same with Campbell