tmonkey Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Not all players motivate themselves - someone like Ben Arfa with outrageous natural talent is all the more likely to go off the rails without the right people around him in both his personal and professional life. We've seen it numerous times with players, even greats - the ones that stick out in the mind like a sore thumb tend to be the Brazilian greats (fat Ronaldo, fat Ronaldinho, etc). However, none of this excuses what Pardew has done with NUFC and with Ben Arfa in particular last season. Playing a Shola Ameobi who could barely run only a couple of months ago (the exact same Shola who only clubs in China and Australia seem to be interested in), refusing to play 4-3-3, refusing to play Ben Arfa in a consistent fixed position (in a Pardew team that should always be on the right of the front 3), hanging him out to dry in an attempt to conceal horrendous levels of managerial incompetence, etc etc. Furthermore, the two issues may be connected - Ben Arfa wasn't fat at the start of last season, though he looked to have bulked up, and when he was ripping Aston Villa apart noone was complaining about his fitness. It's highly possible/likely that being demotivated under Pardew, on top of having zero chance of ever getting into the national side with Dechamps in charge, has led to him just thinking "why bother?" and binging his way through the spring/summer. Assuming he's still fat at the start of the season of course (otherwise this entire discussion will be utterly irrelevant). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teasy Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 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. 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. That pics from nearly 3 weeks ago. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiotes Witch Doctor Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 He doesn't look fat at all in that picture like, actually looks like hes packed on a fair bit of muscle, his stomach isn't fat either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Ahmed Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 I would much rather watch a fat (not really fat though) Ben Arfa play football than the headless chickens we have instead on the pitch, though they have a tackle in them hence they get picked Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
loki679 Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 You can say Ben Arfa should be looking after himself better without excusing Pardew for mishandling him btw. It doesn't have to be one or the other. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Exactly. Thought all along he's the first name I'd see on the team sheet but he doesn't help himself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicane Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Hatem is a beefcake tbh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shearergol Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Maradona was fat tbf. Mind, pardew wouldn't play him either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest firetotheworks Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 He's vindicated in falling off the rails a bit imo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 He's vindicated in falling off the rails a bit imo. He's not 16. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Varadi Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Pardew's treatment of HBA is obviously shocking but the chunky funster isn't doing anything to help himself either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest firetotheworks Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 He's vindicated in falling off the rails a bit imo. He's not 16. Irrelevant. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 He's vindicated in falling off the rails a bit imo. He's not 16. Irrelevant. Ironic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Pardew's treatment of HBA is obviously shocking but the chunky funster isn't doing anything to help himself either. This I think describes the situation well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveItIfWeBeatU Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Ben Arfa's claim that he put on 1.5 Kg of muscle and not fat will have quickly and easily been checked by the medical team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Ben Arfa's claim that he put on 1.5 Kg of muscle and not fat will have quickly and easily been checked by the medical team. Then the club fine will stand and will probably be made public knowledge soon enough. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bimpy474 Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 There's a story that Hatem turned down a new contract on less money and since then he's been treated like we've seen, the club and Pardew bullshitting in other words. I'm still of the opinion he's not unfit and the club are doing what they always do when they want their own way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveItIfWeBeatU Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Ben Arfa's claim that he put on 1.5 Kg of muscle and not fat will have quickly and easily been checked by the medical team. Then the club fine will stand and will probably be made public knowledge soon enough. If he is fined I doubt we'll hear about it from the club. Probably because making an official comment about a player being a problem doesn't help the club sell them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bimpy474 Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 There's a story that Hatem turned down a new contract on less money and since then he's been treated like we've seen, the club and Pardew bullshitting in other words. I'm still of the opinion he's not unfit and the club are doing what they always do when they want their own way. It's a strategy without a doubt. hence why he did the interview at the end of last season. Pardew is a weasel and wont have the balls to conduct himself properly I think the club and Pardew have shown how spiteful they can be, and Hatem and Marv have been treated disgracefully because of it. But imo Bigi is the one who has been treated even worse as a young lad, he hasn't done anything wrong yet Pardew is just ignoring the kid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toondave Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Don't see why it's so hard for some to accept the perhaps hatem has come back overweight or unfit or whatever. That isn't the problem, pardew keeping him out of the squad for New Zealand and generally excluding him is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bimpy474 Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Don't see why it's so hard for some to accept the perhaps hatem has come back overweight or unfit or whatever. That isn't the problem, pardew keeping him out of the squad for New Zealand and generally excluding him is. Why is it so easy to accept the club line, a club that has been vindicitve and lied so often, a manager who lies every time he opens his mouth are not lying and trying to make Hatem out to be terrible and the situation much worse than it is. Because he won't sign a new contract on less money ? I just know who i believe as it stands on past experience, Hatem has many faults, he is able to play, he would play, he isn't be allowed to by Pardew and the club. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 I'm amazed that some people are dwelling on the possibility that Ben Arfa may or may not have come back over weight. Even if he has, it's no reason to strip him of a squad number, stick him with the reserves and not take him to New Zealand, along with Marveuax who seems to have done everything right. Pardew and the club are making it look as if the player has caused his own disciplinary problems through being over weight because that's what they do, it's bullshit and it shouldn't be swallowed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 I'm amazed that some people are dwelling on the possibility that Ben Arfa may or may not have come back over weight. Even if he has, it's no reason to strip him of a squad number, stick him with the reserves and not take him to New Zealand, along with Marveuax who seems to have done everything right. Pardew and the club are making it look as if the player has caused his own disciplinary problems through being over weight because that's what they do, it's bullshit and it shouldn't be swallowed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bimpy474 Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 I still staggered anyone believes anything the club says or leaks to the press about any of our players. This club with this owner and manager would set up their own kin if it got them off the hook for something, they are pure rotten to the core scum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Easier to sell if a bid comes in if they're not half way around the world. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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