Guest BlacknWhiteArmy Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 I actually think he covered quite a lot of ground. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 I read the bit about 'stats' as probably referring to his distance covered during time on the pitch. If that's a case why does Pardew want to play him number 10 role, a role renowned for it's lack of defensive application by almost everyone that has ever played it. Fuck knows, I just invisage that comment referring to how much work our players do off the ball. All season we've been closing down brilliantly, including on Saturday. Maybe he just doesn't believe HBA is giving enough and the tracking stats back that up? Even when selecting someone to play in the hole he's probably expecting that player to chase and harry the centre backs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlacknWhiteArmy Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 I disagreed with the idea originally, but with us nearly getting Maiga in, where would that leave Ben Arfa? We can't drop Ba and a £7m striker is a huge investment to be left on the bench. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cajun Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 I read the bit about 'stats' as probably referring to his distance covered during time on the pitch. If that's a case why does Pardew want to play him number 10 role, a role renowned for it's lack of defensive application by almost everyone that has ever played it. Hopefully it's more to do with keeping the ball but if we're only looking at stats and not the bigger picture it's a bit worrying IMO. Maybe Pardew thinks a number 10 is all well and good when you are confident and playing well but when you are in a bit of a slump it's better to have two physical forwards who will put the shift in and also add a bit more physicality to a weakened defence at set pieces. It's clear Pardew has defined Ben Arfa as a player who will play off the front man which is probably due to his cavalier style. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 I read the bit about 'stats' as probably referring to his distance covered during time on the pitch. If that's a case why does Pardew want to play him number 10 role, a role renowned for it's lack of defensive application by almost everyone that has ever played it. Fuck knows, I just invisage that comment referring to how much work our players do off the ball. All season we've been closing down brilliantly, including on Saturday. Maybe he just doesn't believe HBA is giving enough and the tracking stats back that up? Even when selecting someone to play in the hole he's probably expecting that player to chase and harry the centre backs. More than likely which to an extent is fair enough (when you're away / the underdog). I'd love to know what he makes of Obertan's closing down and that then because if his stats are good, they are purely by running around, never seen the bloke put a tackle in yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sifu Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 All sounds fair enough to me. That said I don't see what Sammy would have added differently to HBA when coming off the bench. Yeah, fair enough comments from Pardew tbh. Ben Arfa still should have come on though. I seem to remember Pardew saying a couple of months ago that Sammy was "defensively naive". This still seems to be case with Sammy so aye, pretty much agree with the latter part of your post, Ben Arfa would have been no different to Sammy (defensively anyway). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cajun Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 When exactly was HBA back and ready to play btw? My memory is shit. I do remember getting frustrated at the lack of game time Ba was getting at first and to be fair Pardew got it spot on. Ben Arfa has been out for a long time, then another set back. Hopefully Pardew is playing it exactly right again on this one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sifu Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 When exactly was HBA back and ready to play btw? My memory is s***. I do remember getting frustrated at the lack of game time Ba was getting at first and to be fair Pardew got it spot on. Ben Arfa has been out for a long time, then another set back. Hopefully Pardew is playing it exactly right again on this one. I hope so. (Ben Arfa was properly back and ready to play in September when he came on against Blackburn/made his comeback at Forest, wasn't really match fit until October/November). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pantu Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 I read the bit about 'stats' as probably referring to his distance covered during time on the pitch. If that's a case why does Pardew want to play him number 10 role, a role renowned for it's lack of defensive application by almost everyone that has ever played it. Fuck knows, I just invisage that comment referring to how much work our players do off the ball. All season we've been closing down brilliantly, including on Saturday. Maybe he just doesn't believe HBA is giving enough and the tracking stats back that up? Even when selecting someone to play in the hole he's probably expecting that player to chase and harry the centre backs. It's "envisage" I'll have you know Seriously though, it is. If Ben Arfa doesn't get at least a half against this pile of shite on wednesday I'm going to be very annoyed, he needs to be given time in games where teams are dropping deep against us and prepared to let us have the majority of the ball. Teams tire from all our pressing, but so do our forward players and I simply couldn't believe he wasn't given half an hour to try and change things on saturday, he wouldn't have worked as hard as Best in the second half (and I refuse to believe Shola works harder than him at closing down and tracking back) but he wouldn't have needed to, the pattern of the game had been established and was perfect for him to exploit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallace Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 I am sure the "moneymen" (as mentioned in that article) will order Pardew to start playing Ben Arfa soon otherwise how will they realise their 300% profit on him!!!!!!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 It's "envisage" I'll have you know Seriously though, it is. I've done that one a few times now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 I am sure the "moneymen" (as mentioned in that article) will order Pardew to start playing Ben Arfa soon otherwise how will they realise their 300% profit on him!!!!!!!!!! Tongue in cheek but I bet at some point questions will be asked from above. We'd do well to get our money back as it stands IMO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 I am sure the "moneymen" (as mentioned in that article) will order Pardew to start playing Ben Arfa soon otherwise how will they realise their 300% profit on him!!!!!!!!!! Tongue in cheek but I bet at some point questions will be asked from above. We'd do well to get our money back as it stands IMO. If nowt else he needs minutes to a) prove his fitness, b) get him in the shop window if he is not wanted. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lush Vlad Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 All sounds fair enough to me. That said I don't see what Sammy would have added differently to HBA when coming off the bench. Spot on. Sadly I think we're going to have to accept that he won't get gametime out wide. Seems mental though, severly restricting the chance of him playing. If we need a goal, Is Pards going to take off one of the strikers and put HBA on to play the #10 role? I doubt it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Like Obertan doesn't give it away just as much It's not like he always tracks back either, and when he does, don't put your money on him getting stuck in. Add to that, that he brings next to nothing going forward, Ben Arfa is due his chance. Some silly words from Pardew there. I don't care if Ben Arfa is not up to his best. As I said, he's due his chance, and he needs to play to get back to his best. Oberrun 1 assist and 0 goals in 16 games. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 All sounds fair enough to me. That said I don't see what Sammy would have added differently to HBA when coming off the bench. Agree with this, although I'm inclined to trust Pardew's judgement on it. If HBA doesn't show as much as Sammy in training, then unfortunately that means that Sammy will play above him... simple as that. Read what he said again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 All sounds fair enough to me. That said I don't see what Sammy would have added differently to HBA when coming off the bench. Agree with this, although I'm inclined to trust Pardew's judgement on it. If HBA doesn't show as much as Sammy in training, then unfortunately that means that Sammy will play above him... simple as that. Read what he said again. Why? Cause he was questioning what Sammy could have added that HBA couldn't...Then you drift into narnia "IF HBA isn't showing as much in training"...Isn't he? Has Pards said that? If he has I apologise. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Frankly I don't really care if HBA is eating mars bars behind the bike sheds and stealing Pards porn mags. He starts. He's more dangerous than Obertan. Guti and Best. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Frankly I don't really care if HBA is eating mars bars behind the bike sheds and stealing Pards porn mags. He starts. He's more dangerous than Obertan. Guti and Best. Tend to agree, some players are just special enough to be given a chance in actual games. FWIW I think he will come good, if he gets enough 30 minute slots he'll do something brilliant soon enough. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Frankly I don't really care if HBA is eating mars bars behind the bike sheds and stealing Pards porn mags. He starts. He's more dangerous than Obertan. Guti and Best. Tend to agree, some players are just special enough to be given a chance in actual games. FWIW I think he will come good, if he gets enough 30 minute slots he'll do something brilliant soon enough. He needs a run of games. I can't see how else he will come upto speed. I don't really buy into that bollocks either btw. A HBA at 80-90% is more dangerous than our whole side bar Ba. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The_Optimistic Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Who would you drop to put HBA in the side? Pardew has insisted that if he plays then his position will be up front playing off Ba or best? The Ba+Best partnership has generated enough goals to justify them two to keep their places. The only way to put HBA in the team is if Pardew wants to play him on the wing instead of Obertan, but he seems to have a lot of faith in Ober. I agree with Pardew that HBA best position would not be on the wing as I don't think he contributes enough defensively for the premiership. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Who would you drop to put HBA in the side? Pardew has insisted that if he plays then his position will be up front playing off Ba or best? The Ba+Best partnership has generated enough goals to justify them two to keep their places. The only way to put HBA in the team is if Pardew wants to play him on the wing instead of Obertan, but he seems to have a lot of faith in Ober. I agree with Pardew that HBA best position would not be on the wing as I don't think he contributes enough defensively for the premiership. Drop him into the side? I would build the team around him. Our CM's are good enough to hold the mid and get ball to allow HBA the free role. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 At the moment I would just drop Best. He doesn't deserve it really, but the overall effect would be to make us more dangerous IMO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Thinking about it further; if it is about yards covered etc then why play him against the 3 teams you need to chase harder than any others? Odd. Fair enough he was poor against Chelsea but against City he was involved in more or less all our decent play bar the goal. Saying that I was told by a source of a source that he was fucked in the summer so this could be ringing true. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Five o Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 I think Pardew is very stupid in the way he sees Ben Arfa. IMO you need to play the best players available, at any time. Obertan have been very up and down. Maybe Pardew should see this, and let HBA have a on the wing, maybe revert to a 433? As far as i see it, we have a squad who are more fit to play a 433. Use Tiote as the anchor, Cabaye and Jonas(or guthrie/Abeid/Vuckic/Gosling) in front. The have HBA at the left. Best as a target man in the middle, Ba to play off him on the right, more like a 2nd striker. If we manage to get Santon over on the right, he can use the space left behind by Ba to bomb forward. Jonas will provide great cover for Santon on his runs. Maybe to FM-tastic? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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