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It's interesting that you mention Nile Ranger, because after everything that happened, after he was thrown out of the squad for not showing up for training or for being late, Pardew publicly told us that he was going to give him a chance. We also had Yohan Cabaye who refused to play for us then walked straight back into the team. IF Ben Arfa and Marveaux have bad attitudes then there's still a staggering case of double standards at the least. Cabaye was arguably our most important player, but I would have still had Ben Arfa on par as one of the most important. Ranger wasn't worth his salt as a footballer either, so it's not like it was Pardew overlooking someone like Suarez and giving him a chance. Ben Arfa in particular was dropped immediately after being in excellent form. The exact series of events was: Played away against Man City (4-0 without Cabaye)- Subbed for Shola Ameobi after 65 minutes Played home against West Ham (0-0 without Cabaye) - Our main threat throughout Played home against Fulham (1-0 Cabaye returns on 65 minutes) - Scored and was easily the best player on the pitch Played away against Aston Villa (1-2 Cabaye starts) - Scored one, Gouffran scored from his saved shot and he generally took the p*ss out of Villa. Probably the best individual performance from last season, alongside Krul vs Spurs. Played home against Hull (2-3) - He didn't track a winger, that put in a cross for Aluko to score a ridiculous goal Played away against Everton but was shunned to the left wing (3-2) - He didn't play particularly well and was subbed at half time for Cabaye. Benched away against Cardiff (1-2) and didn't come on. Played home against Liverpool (2-2) with 10 men - He played well and was subbed for Shola Ameobi on 78 minutes. Played away at Sunderland (2-1) - I don't remember anyone's performance from that Benched home against Chelsea (2-0) and didn't come on. Benched away to Spurs (0-1) in a match I would say is the luckiest for us that I've ever seen. We didn't see him again until he got 10 minutes at 1-1 at home to Southampton. He then got 10 minutes against Palace and scored a pen. Started home to Stoke (5-1) - Stoke had 2 players sent off but Ben Arfa was the best player on the field, getting an assist, winning a pen, hitting the bar and the post. Benched home to Arsenal and didn't come on. It's indefensible. Whichever way you want to look at it, we had and have significantly worse options than Ben Arfa that are used much more, that do less and are forgiven. Ben Arfa hasn't tracked back in a match, he's been moved to another position and then subbed at half time. He then gets 10 minute cameos to 'do something' then he starts, runs riot, then gets benched. It's laughable. That bit in bold is effectively the only mistake that he was allowed for the entirety of last season, whilst Shola, Gosling and (towards the end) Gouffran were afforded every amount of being s*** and would start the next match. Pardew supporters and anti-Ben Arfa-ites are much like the Tea Party supporters in the US: facts, evidence and figures be damned, their 'beliefs' are all that matter. I'm so tired of repeating the same stats to these people that I applaud KI simply for having the patience to regurgitate them for the umpteenth time. I no longer have that patience and just want to slap them. Give it a rest. If you'd read my post properly you'd see that I'm not in favour of Pardew at all. I know, I know, I was simply demonstrating that it's a shared symptom. I get what you're saying! But I'm neither a Pardew supporter, nor am I against Ben Arfa, I'd just rather a fully fit and well applied Ben Arfa.

Thank you!

It's interesting that you mention Nile Ranger, because after everything that happened, after he was thrown out of the squad for not showing up for training or for being late, Pardew publicly told us that he was going to give him a chance. We also had Yohan Cabaye who refused to play for us then walked straight back into the team. IF Ben Arfa and Marveaux have bad attitudes then there's still a staggering case of double standards at the least. Cabaye was arguably our most important player, but I would have still had Ben Arfa on par as one of the most important. Ranger wasn't worth his salt as a footballer either, so it's not like it was Pardew overlooking someone like Suarez and giving him a chance. Ben Arfa in particular was dropped immediately after being in excellent form. The exact series of events was: Played away against Man City (4-0 without Cabaye)- Subbed for Shola Ameobi after 65 minutes Played home against West Ham (0-0 without Cabaye) - Our main threat throughout Played home against Fulham (1-0 Cabaye returns on 65 minutes) - Scored and was easily the best player on the pitch Played away against Aston Villa (1-2 Cabaye starts) - Scored one, Gouffran scored from his saved shot and he generally took the p*ss out of Villa. Probably the best individual performance from last season, alongside Krul vs Spurs. Played home against Hull (2-3) - He didn't track a winger, that put in a cross for Aluko to score a ridiculous goal Played away against Everton but was shunned to the left wing (3-2) - He didn't play particularly well and was subbed at half time for Cabaye. Benched away against Cardiff (1-2) and didn't come on. Played home against Liverpool (2-2) with 10 men - He played well and was subbed for Shola Ameobi on 78 minutes. Played away at Sunderland (2-1) - I don't remember anyone's performance from that Benched home against Chelsea (2-0) and didn't come on. Benched away to Spurs (0-1) in a match I would say is the luckiest for us that I've ever seen. We didn't see him again until he got 10 minutes at 1-1 at home to Southampton. He then got 10 minutes against Palace and scored a pen. Started home to Stoke (5-1) - Stoke had 2 players sent off but Ben Arfa was the best player on the field, getting an assist, winning a pen, hitting the bar and the post. Benched home to Arsenal and didn't come on. It's indefensible. Whichever way you want to look at it, we had and have significantly worse options than Ben Arfa that are used much more, that do less and are forgiven. Ben Arfa hasn't tracked back in a match, he's been moved to another position and then subbed at half time. He then gets 10 minute cameos to 'do something' then he starts, runs riot, then gets benched. It's laughable. That bit in bold is effectively the only mistake that he was allowed for the entirety of last season, whilst Shola, Gosling and (towards the end) Gouffran were afforded every amount of being s*** and would start the next match. Pardew supporters and anti-Ben Arfa-ites are much like the Tea Party supporters in the US: facts, evidence and figures be damned, their 'beliefs' are all that matter. I'm so tired of repeating the same stats to these people that I applaud KI simply for having the patience to regurgitate them for the umpteenth time. I no longer have that patience and just want to slap them. Give it a rest. If you'd read my post properly you'd see that I'm not in favour of Pardew at all.

Yep thought about it, and then considered the contrary evidence that shows Pardew to be a complete and utter mug and have come to the conclusion that it's his fault. He's a shit manager and a vindictive arsehole and he's managed them both horrifically. I've gave my reasons before for why he's mismanaged them both, as have others. My point is, or at least should have been, that maybe it's just a combination of the two at a really unfortunate time? Pardew being a stubborn cunt and Ben Arfa and Marv not applying themselves correctly. Under a different manager there'd be a different outcome, and maybe if they applied themselves properly for the club and the shirt from day 1 and every day since then, a different outcome again?

Again, behind the scenes Ben Arfa could have a dreadful attitude to training etc. He clearly doesn't look after himself as a professional football player does, and what example does that give to the players being left out to accommodate him? Of course he's our most talented player, by an embarrassingly long way, but talent alone shouldn't get him in the team. The fact is both Marveaux and Ben Arfa are capable of offering something to the team. For them to be marginalised in this way has to come back to the manager. A manager's primary concern must be getting the greatest number of points from the games available. It is hard to justify his actions in the light of this. Again, I'm not trying to justify Pardew's actions in any shape or form. I just wanted, for my own fucking sanity, to look at it a different way. None of us are football managers, it surely isn't as easy as picking your best XI on paper.

Still struggling to get over the £11m for Ross McCormack. Bet Cellino was wanking into his lucky purple hanky.

I'm inclined to agree with this. Pardew does seem the type to hold a grudge, being that he is, as I said earlier and have said numerous times in the past, a cunt. However, back to the Ben Arfa issue - regardless of Pardew's cuntness and stubborness, Ben Arfa must have done something wrong in the first place to be left out at any point, thus being the one to blame in the first instance. Imagine Steven Taylor showing up looking overweight and not seeming to give a shit but still getting games, we'd be calling for him to be dropped straight away (well, in actual fact, he could be the fittest mother fucker in the universe but I'd still have him nowhere near the first team but I'm trying to make a point...). Ben Arfa is supremely talented so we see his situation as harder to accept than if he was a Gosling, Taylor, Perch, Williamson character.

Where's this quote from?

As fans, of course we want to see the likes of Ben Arfa, aside from Pedro I can't think of a more naturally gifted player we've had. Certainly in my lifetime. I'm not condoning leaving him out, nor do I want him to be a 'defensive winger', I just think maybe there are certain things we don't know behind the scenes that's all.

If you'd read my post properly you'd have seen I haven't defended his anything.

Again, behind the scenes Ben Arfa could have a dreadful attitude to training etc. He clearly doesn't look after himself as a professional football player does, and what example does that give to the players being left out to accommodate him? Of course he's our most talented player, by an embarrassingly long way, but talent alone shouldn't get him in the team.

Fair point, but maybe these two knuckled down in training. They certainly delivered on the pitch too and who can actually blame them for wanting out? They probably signed on the premise of playing attacking football and challenging at least on some fronts.

Before the abuse comes I'm not a Pardew fan, far from it, but have any of you actually wondered if maybe Marveaux and Ben Arfa just have an incredibly poor attitude and so haven't earned a first team place based on reputation and ability alone? There was a time when Pardew visibly cherished Ben Arfa, there must have been a reason that went pear shaped? I know it's easier to blame Pardew for being a cunt and a poor tactician, but maybe Marv and Benny are just too laid back and not showing enough effort. Like I said, Pardew is a cunt, I'm not doubting that, but these guys need to take some of the blame. Marv seems injury prone and downright lazy on the pitch, Ben Arfa is in poor shape physically. It's an idealistic point of view to expect the other 9 or 10 players to carry the flair players, however much we want to see them on the pitch. On a lesser scale talent wise but a grander scale cunt wise, look at Nile Ranger, he was a cult hero here at first, we wanted him to get game time but he barely did. As time went on it became apparent that he was just a bell end with a horrible attitude. You need to maintain a happy squad, not just one or two happy flair players. I'm not condoning anything Pardew does but we don't know the full story.

Dragging our heels with this aren't we? "Spend your money on a season ticket instead..."

I do like seeing English/British players playing abroad. Far too often there's that dreadful, media led insinuation that the Premier League is the only worthwhile league in the world. My point partly underlined by Clive Tyldesley's embarrassing call on Friday night when James Rodriguez was about to take his peno and Hulk was offering advice to Julio Cesar. Surely as a football commentator you should know certain aspects of European football, especially when commentating on the fucking World Cup. Not as if Rodriguez was an absolute newcomer.

That's fucking embarrassing from the club. Olivier Kemen's name spelt incorrectly and a picture of Adam Campbell, calling him Adam Armstrong...

Will Hughes signed new contract at Derby. Not sure when the last time we were linked was but thought it was mildly relevant to mention.

Anyone else think Charnley approaches negotiations the same way Alan Partridge does with our shitty lowball offers? "Nine million? No, nine and a half...te...teee...teeeelll you what, tell you what, it's nine and a half million pounds"

Took ages on my phone, knew what was coming the whole time. Still laughed. Bravo

Toure Sanchez Song Keita Mascherano Affelay

:lol: super

When did Madrid do that? Negredo 2009 Raul 2010

That's a beautiful black and white trim like.

Aye, just read this on Guardian RSS feed at work. Apparently a £3.5m buy back clause. Bargain if true, he's improved massively in Spain.

His Instagram video :lol: