BlueStar Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Ben Arfa appears 'frustrating' sometimes because he's actually willing to push forward, try and beat men and put a ball in or have a dig rather than take the safe option of passing sideways or backwards. We need at least some players willing to risk failure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 We need to see him have an extended run of games to know truly how he is tbf. When he does start to get a little run together he looks on another level to anything else on the pitch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shays Given Tim Flowers Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 This is the guy who decided not to pass to Danny Simpson for an entire season. I don't think his decision making is as bad as its made out to be. I think if there is a good pass on he takes it. If there isn't he won't. It's hardly a big problem nor does it preclude him from being a good player. He does try to do too much sometimes but I think if the team moves away from their static play you will see him distribute the ball more often. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I don't think he's selfish or overly flashy. He wants the team to win and he works hard for the team - no doubt. It's a footballing maturity/decision making issue with the blind alley runs when he dribbles instead of passes. If his decision making was better and he could stay injury-free he would be a world beater Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 There's a difference between being Jermaine Jenas and the way he is atm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Not what i mean.... playing like a kid in school yard when you are a professional is not a good thing. Professional's are supposed to have things like decision making and tactical discipline, it is a weakness of Hatem tbh that he's not a very mature footballer. Don't get me wrong he's great but the fact he plays like a kid in a playground is one of the reasons he's so frustrating and joyful in equal measure and why he plays for us and not a CL club. Very true. If I said this people would moan and complain. I don't know how true this is TBH. It's not like he only plays for himself, doing loads of backheels and tricks and giving the ball away all the time. He just dribbles a bit too much, that's about it. And it's partly because he believes he can make something happen and partly because of the lack of good options around him. This thing about him being maverick and not a team player etc is often exaggerated IMO. He works his socks off too, and contributes defensively as well. He's our best player by a mile. My only "problem" with him is he is quite injury prone, but he wouldn't even be here if he wasn't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimburst Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 He's looking like he's put on a fair bit of muscle and a bit of fat too. Definitely doesn't look slow or like he's lost agility. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexf Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 starting to believe he has put on muscle/weight on purpose to that he is stronger physically and help avoid injuries? I've heard a few players say that before, not sure if it's true like or just an excuse for getting fatter but I've definitely heard others say it before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 probably on his way to a pie eating contest Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDT Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 So he's not fat then, brillaint news. Nothing to see here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexf Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 but what does he look like from the side Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Haris Vuckic Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 This is the guy who decided not to pass to Danny Simpson for an entire season. I don't think his decision making is as bad as its made out to be. I think if there is a good pass on he takes it. If there isn't he won't. It's hardly a big problem nor does it preclude him from being a good player. He does try to do too much sometimes but I think if the team moves away from their static play you will see him distribute the ball more often. :laugh: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nufc4eva Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Just let him do what he wants but don't just stand there and watch him amaze, if we move when he has the ball he will pick players out, he has shown his vision in last few games Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Haris Vuckic Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I only go to see Ben Arfa tbh. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nufc4eva Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I only go to see Ben Arfa tbh. I will now go to see Ben Arfa and Remy, Sissokho but I was in same boat. He's the only watchable player Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest VanBarduck Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 That picture is 5 months old. He's no fat get over it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLK Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Yes he sometimes tries too much when taking the entire team on his own or always trying to nutmeg and dribble past players but that is him and he is not the same player without him doing what he loves doing on the pitch. Players like him make the difference between drawing the game and winning it like he did last week against Fulham and like he has done before against Bolton and Blackburn. I certainly don't think we can win many games with 10 Ben Arfas in the team but having a one Ben Arfa always in the team can be the difference between 90 minutes of drawing/loosing or 85 minutes of frustration and weeks of joy afterwards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallowgate Toon Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 For all the talk of his decision-making, I thought he got it spot on in the second half. He mixed up his crossing and chose better times to run at the opposition. He's shown that when in a decent team (when we finished 5th) he makes generally good decisions. I hope that what we saw in that 45 vs. Fulham continues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLK Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I also think once Shola went off and Remy came on Ben Arfa moved few gears up and started to mix his moves more and made much better crosses and passing decisions. The whole team for god sake went few gears up after Remy replaced Shola. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHoob Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 People must realise that no matter how hard they try Shola will screw things up 99 times out of 100. Messi creating his chances wouldn't even help him out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cajun Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 'Ben Arfa see's football differently to us, he plays like he's a kid in the school yard' The rest play like Iraqis under Saddam Hussein. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedro111 Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 This lad can do whatever the fuck he wants on the pitch in my eyes. Couldn't give a fuck if he loses the ball alot. Hate it when the crowd get on his back if he has the ball for more than three seconds. He is an absolute magician. He is everything I want a footballer to be and if I was a footballer I'd basically want to be him. He is THE very definition of a flair player. It will kill me when he goes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ_NUFC Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 This lad can do whatever the fuck he wants on the pitch in my eyes. Couldn't give a fuck if he loses the ball alot. Hate it when the crowd get on his back if he has the ball for more than three seconds. He is an absolute magician. He is everything I want a footballer to be and if I was a footballer I'd basically want to be him. He is THE very definition of a flair player. It will kill me when he goes. Bang on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Killuminati Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 This lad can do whatever the f*** he wants on the pitch in my eyes. Couldn't give a f*** if he loses the ball alot. Hate it when the crowd get on his back if he has the ball for more than three seconds. He is an absolute magician. He is everything I want a footballer to be and if I was a footballer I'd basically want to be him. He is THE very definition of a flair player. It will kill me when he goes. this made me cum Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 :lol: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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