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Hatem Ben Arfa

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gazza ladra

gazza ladra

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An Idiot’s Guide to Hatem Ben Arfa

 

http://www.tomwfootball.com/2010/09/22/an-idiots-guide-to-hatem-ben-arfa/

 

Alan Shearer’s extraordinary assertion on Match of the Day that “we don’t really know much about Hatem Ben Arfa” has rightly earned him plenty of criticism (although Jonathan Liew’s widely circulated piece for The Daily Telegraph undermined itself with some childish jibes about his appearance), but just how easy is it to dig up information about Newcastle’s latest Gallic dribble merchant? Football Further decided to investigate.

 

1. Wikipedia

Journalists are right to be wary of Wikipedia (as anyone who’s ever heard of the Wanky Balls music festival can testify), but a quick glance at Ben Arfa’s Wikipedia entry would at least have given Shearer cursory familiarity with his background. Potential factual inaccuracies notwithstanding, Wikipedia tells us: that Ben Arfa was born in the Paris suburbs in March 1987, to a Tunisian father and French mother; that he spent three years at the Clairefontaine academy (where he was filmed having a heated row with Abou Diaby); that he has played for Lyon and Marseille, contributing to five Ligue 1 title successes; and that he has represented France at every youth level up to the senior side. A picture is emerging.

 

2. Background information

 

Ben Lyttleton’s recent article for Sports Illustrated delves deeper into Ben Arfa’s character, highlighting the behavioural problems that have made him such a consistent source of controversy during his career to date and detailing how a succession of well-regarded coaches have failed to get the best out of him.

 

3. YouTube

 

A typical YouTube compilation, replete with obligatory hip hop soundtrack, reveals what kind of player Ben Arfa is: a nimble, technically accomplished, left-footed winger or attacking midfielder, fond of step-overs and nutmegs but occasionally prone to over-elaboration. Other YouTube videos showcase his vision and passing ability, while his goal for France in their friendly with Norway in August demonstrated how well he strikes the ball. It’s no substitute for watching him in the flesh, but it does at least provide a general idea of how he operates on the pitch.

 

So, three clicks, 15 minutes’ work and a fairly broad grasp of Ben Arfa’s background, reputation and playing style. And that’s even without the BBC’s extensive search machinery at your finger-tips (or a six-figure salary pricking your conscience).

 

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Dinho lad

Dinho lad

Posted
Posted

An Idiots Guide to Hatem Ben Arfa

 

http://www.tomwfootball.com/2010/09/22/an-idiots-guide-to-hatem-ben-arfa/

 

Alan Shearers extraordinary assertion on Match of the Day that we dont really know much about Hatem Ben Arfa has rightly earned him plenty of criticism (although Jonathan Liews widely circulated piece for The Daily Telegraph undermined itself with some childish jibes about his appearance), but just how easy is it to dig up information about Newcastles latest Gallic dribble merchant? Football Further decided to investigate.

 

1. Wikipedia

Journalists are right to be wary of Wikipedia (as anyone whos ever heard of the Wanky Balls music festival can testify), but a quick glance at Ben Arfas Wikipedia entry would at least have given Shearer cursory familiarity with his background. Potential factual inaccuracies notwithstanding, Wikipedia tells us: that Ben Arfa was born in the Paris suburbs in March 1987, to a Tunisian father and French mother; that he spent three years at the Clairefontaine academy (where he was filmed having a heated row with Abou Diaby); that he has played for Lyon and Marseille, contributing to five Ligue 1 title successes; and that he has represented France at every youth level up to the senior side. A picture is emerging.

 

2. Background information

 

Ben Lyttletons recent article for Sports Illustrated delves deeper into Ben Arfas character, highlighting the behavioural problems that have made him such a consistent source of controversy during his career to date and detailing how a succession of well-regarded coaches have failed to get the best out of him.

 

3. YouTube

 

A typical YouTube compilation, replete with obligatory hip hop soundtrack, reveals what kind of player Ben Arfa is: a nimble, technically accomplished, left-footed winger or attacking midfielder, fond of step-overs and nutmegs but occasionally prone to over-elaboration. Other YouTube videos showcase his vision and passing ability, while his goal for France in their friendly with Norway in August demonstrated how well he strikes the ball. Its no substitute for watching him in the flesh, but it does at least provide a general idea of how he operates on the pitch.

 

So, three clicks, 15 minutes work and a fairly broad grasp of Ben Arfas background, reputation and playing style. And thats even without the BBCs extensive search machinery at your finger-tips (or a six-figure salary pricking your conscience).

 

 

this is getting daft.... there are millions of football fans out there that are a bit like shearer when it comes to football abroad.

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Dave

Dave

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this is getting daft.... there are millions of football fans out there that are a bit like shearer when it comes to football abroad.

 

Being fair they're not paid lots of money to know about football and footballers though.

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gazza ladra

gazza ladra

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Shearer is paid a lot of money to know his stuff-- he's a pundit. And Ben Arfa signed for his club. It's not like Ben Arfa was still at OM--then, ok, he can plead ignorance. He's not paid to cover football in France.

 

I don't really follow football in France or the Netherlands, but when Ben Arfa and Tiote signed for-- hell, when they were linked to-- the Toon I made it my business to find out gratis.

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Optimistic Nut

Optimistic Nut

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Shearer is paid a lot of money to know his stuff-- he's a pundit. And Ben Arfa signed for his club. It's not like Ben Arfa was still at OM--then, ok, he can plead ignorance. He's not paid to cover football in France.

 

I don't really follow football in France or the Netherlands, but when Ben Arfa and Tiote signed for-- hell, when they were linked to-- the Toon I made it my business to find out gratis.

 

Exactly. Every time we're vaguely linked with a player, 5 minutes later on here you have someone with their Wiki page or some sort of link to their position, previous clubs, goalscoring record, Youtube link, etc.

 

Shearer just didn't seem to have a clue.

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Dave

Dave

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http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2010/09/25/andy-carroll-eager-to-link-up-with-hatem-ben-arfa-72703-27340536/

ANDY CARROLL is relishing the chance to link up with Hatem Ben Arfa as the Frenchman prepares to make his full Newcastle United debut against Stoke City.

 

Carroll, who tomorrow is up against the team which desperately wanted to sign him this summer, revealed he and Ben Arfa are already starting to show signs of telepathy in training and believes communication between the offensive duo is blossoming nicely.

 

:fwap:

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Hanshithispantz

Hanshithispantz

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"the Frenchman prepares to make his full Newcastle United debut against Stoke City."

 

Pretty certain he made his full debut against Everton like, what's Lee Rider going to tell us next week, "Andrew Carroll is looking to score his first goal in a Newcastle shirt against Wigan Athletic" and "Man have set foot on moon"?

 

Get with the times Lee.

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Mick

Mick

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"the Frenchman prepares to make his full Newcastle United debut against Stoke City."

 

Pretty certain he made his full debut against Everton like, what's Lee Rider going to tell us next week, "Andrew Carroll is looking to score his first goal in a Newcastle shirt against Wigan Athletic" and "Man have set foot on moon"?

 

Get with the times Lee.

 

It's his full home debut.

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Mick

Mick

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sounds like he could be the sort of nut that would say "i'm happy here so you're offer of £150,000 per week to play at eastlands doesn't intrest me"

 

He's passed over the chance of another possible Champions medal back in France to come here so you never know what he'll do.  I can't wait for the match and I don't know when the last time was that I felt like that in the Premiership.

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Guest Roger Kint

Guest Roger Kint

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God help the lad when his inevitable few average games turn up, the praise is way beyond what he has done for the most part, great first game but needs consistency. Just hope we back him regardless as he still is far better than the likes of Jonas

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