duo

The trouble is he never exceeds that level.

It's Williamson's man IMO. Coloccini rushing off and creating that huge gap is so painful to watch on the replay. Janmatt lost Silva but it was more to do with Silva being clever - on the whole was very impressed with Janmatt today.

That said we defo need someone more proven. i.e. Remy.

I disagree - I think he will.

I thought he played well - gave some nice touches….nearly got an assist with Cabella's chance, and a goal. He's the one player in the middle of the park who drives the ball forward. Season is early and if he sticks to the middle of the park he is going get better once the team settles in.

Did not realise he was that good a player. We nicely surprised by him today.

Looked lively.

To be fair to him he had no support. Lets see how he fairs with De Jong in the team.

this +1

I take it all back….Pardew is an idiot.

If this is true it's f***ing comedy hour. Christ... Would take the arrogance of Pards to a new level.

To be fair that was when he was joining on loan.

We're destined never to get this elusive striker.

It's all a rouse and he'll set him loose at the Man City game.

Agreed - very jealous. Goals win games so it's good business to spend on the best - £25mil is a good price for a player of his calibre and potential.

The lad was never given a chance.

Stoke - poor lad.

Bargain. Shame would have loved him back.

Madness.

And yet last season he played well and got dropped, came on in later games and gave the few sparks we had in attack, utter bollocks imo. He had 'moments' of brilliance when he came on but it was no where near his potential. Which was the frustrating thing - Imagine what a fit Ben Arfa could have done. I would agree but i don't think he's that unfit, which is really my stance on it. We'll just have to agree to disagree on that. I never thought he looked fit since he came back from his hamstring injury. I agree Pardew has managed him horrendously bad as he clearly is a player who needs to feel wanted. But he has always had full support from the fans and I think he owes us to be in the best shape he can be - yet from what I have seen he has practically hung up his boots. He is without a doubt one of the most gifted players I've seen play for Newcastle and I am annoyed that he is giving Pardew the excuse he needs not to play him. If he was fully fit and looked like he was chomping at the bit the pressure to play him would be enormous. Yet when you read about him coming back from holiday over weight it just takes the pressure off Pardew. And I for one am gutted about that. Therein lies the problem, "what you read" ie what the club and in particular what Pardew is saying about him. No he's not in peak physical form, but he's just come back, I bet he's nowhere near as bad as they're making out. Just another excuse to try and turn us against him and to ostracise him further from the first team. I know what i saw last season and it wasn't a fully fit Ben Arfa. And this season: http://i.imgur.com/rCGgOTo.jpg Come on - enough of the conspiracy theories.

Demba for £4.7 mil would have been worth a punt.

And yet last season he played well and got dropped, came on in later games and gave the few sparks we had in attack, utter bollocks imo. He had 'moments' of brilliance when he came on but it was no where near his potential. Which was the frustrating thing - Imagine what a fit Ben Arfa could have done. I would agree but i don't think he's that unfit, which is really my stance on it. We'll just have to agree to disagree on that. I never thought he looked fit since he came back from his hamstring injury. I agree Pardew has managed him horrendously bad as he clearly is a player who needs to feel wanted. But he has always had full support from the fans and I think he owes us to be in the best shape he can be - yet from what I have seen he has practically hung up his boots. He is without a doubt one of the most gifted players I've seen play for Newcastle and I am annoyed that he is giving Pardew the excuse he needs not to play him. If he was fully fit and looked like he was chomping at the bit the pressure to play him would be enormous. Yet when you read about him coming back from holiday over weight it just takes the pressure off Pardew. And I for one am gutted about that.

Ditto - never fit for a start.

And yet last season he played well and got dropped, came on in later games and gave the few sparks we had in attack, utter bollocks imo. He had 'moments' of brilliance when he came on but it was no where near his potential. Which was the frustrating thing - Imagine what a fit Ben Arfa could have done.

It is a year old picture I found the source from a news article dated Dec 2013 - yet it clearly shows he was out of shape last season. And he's come back this season no slimmer.