Hatem Ben Arfa (now retired?)

[Ikon]

:lol: :lol:

[jukeboxromeo]

Some people just don't get it and they never will, it's quite sad really. Ben Arfa was never a world beater, but he was still the most talented footballer we had and when played correctly (ie on the right and starting every game) he lived up to expectations. The fact he was capable of the sublime means he'll always be revered by those who have a soul.

 

It's even harder to take when you've been banging on about this for about 3 year whilst he's been chronically mismanaged, shamelessly robbing us of many amazing memories, replaced by the odd Gouffran tap in, Ameobie's heavy breathing and Obertan tripping over his own feet.

 

He was "chronically mismanaged" at Lyon and Marseille too under better managers. At what stage does HBA take responsibility for himself and his action?

[Hanshithispantz]

Do you think we'd have more points if he was in the team?

 

Definitely, he's the type of player we have needed in this slump - someone who can make something out of nothing.

I just fail to understand why he is loved on here when in reality compared to others, he has contributed very little and made an arse out of his own career.

 

There is no doubt he's a talented footballer.

 

Because the way he plays is highly likely why most of us fell in love with football and the kind of football we dreamed about

 

Unless of course you dreamt about Gouffran running 15 yards and then passing the ball 10 yards to Colback?

 

I can totally understand that and as I have said, I loved his moments of magic.

But the reality is, a lot of the time he did not show up.

 

Sterling has been hammered on here recently for not showing up certain games, similar player, similar attitude.

That isn't the reality though, it's something you're just saying to suit your agenda whilst ignoring the mitigating factors behind why his form may have been up and down.

 

Sterling is a good point, although I don't think he's capable of anything close to the ridiculous things Ben Arfa could pull off. We're football fans, we'll make stupid, hypocritical comments about other players from other teams, you could look hard enough and you'd find people slagging off Eden Hazard and Diego Costa for not turning up, actually scratch that, you could click on the Messi thread and see people saying the same things about Christiano Ronaldo

[Wullie]

Do you think we'd have more points if he was in the team?

 

Definitely, he's the type of player we have needed in this slump - someone who can make something out of nothing.

I just fail to understand why he is loved on here when in reality compared to others, he has contributed very little and made an arse out of his own career.

 

There is no doubt he's a talented footballer.

 

Because the way he plays is highly likely why most of us fell in love with football and the kind of football we dreamed about

 

Unless of course you dreamt about Gouffran running 15 yards and then passing the ball 10 yards to Colback?

 

I can totally understand that and as I have said, I loved his moments of magic.

But the reality is, a lot of the time he did not show up.

 

Sterling has been hammered on here recently for not showing up certain games, similar player, similar attitude.

 

So Sterling wouldn't get in our side either?

 

What did you think of Laurent Robert?

[Hanshithispantz]

Some people just don't get it and they never will, it's quite sad really. Ben Arfa was never a world beater, but he was still the most talented footballer we had and when played correctly (ie on the right and starting every game) he lived up to expectations. The fact he was capable of the sublime means he'll always be revered by those who have a soul.

 

It's even harder to take when you've been banging on about this for about 3 year whilst he's been chronically mismanaged, shamelessly robbing us of many amazing memories, replaced by the odd Gouffran tap in, Ameobie's heavy breathing and Obertan tripping over his own feet.

 

He was "chronically mismanaged" at Lyon and Marseille too under better managers. At what stage does HBA take responsibility for himself?

Honestly don't start, you have absolutely no clue about his treatment here, you couldn't possibly.

[SEMTEX]

Do you think we'd have more points if he was in the team?

 

Have I not already responded and answered that?

We'd have more points if Shola was in the team rather than Riviere. Doesn't mean Shola's the worlds greatest and underrated player.

 

Anyway, very few people realistically think he's the "Worlds greatest", but they think that we need players like HBA, that are capable of greatness at times. Whether they're the most consistent, or the hardest worker in the world, isn't always the most important thing.

 

He's revered on here more and more every day because he represents exactly the kind of player we need, and every day that we're forced to watch Ryan Taylor marshall our midfield, we will pine for some magic in the form of Hatem Ben Arfa.

 

Completely agree that should he have been with the team this season we'd have more points.

Completely agree that he's the sort of player we need (when he shows up).

 

But there are plenty of other players out there, of similar style who actually perform on a more regular basis (that NUFC could attract).

 

Fact is, he doesn't play for us anymore. Why cry over spilt milk? He's gone and not coming back.

Why are we not crying that Shearer isn't playing anymore? All those goals we could have had this season.

Bring back Alan!

 

If I want to cry over spilt milk I will cry over spilt milk. That's not really your decision to make. To me HBA is a player that we gave away that could make a huge difference to our team. With most players at least there was some financial incentive to lose them (not that we see the money), with HBA, we just gave him away.

 

[Wullie]

Do you think we'd have more points if he was in the team?

 

No, he would have thrown a wobbly just like he did at Lyon and Marseille and refused to play and put in a transfer request.

 

Hasn't he got about four French titles?

[Figures 1-0 Football]

Do you think we'd have more points if he was in the team?

 

Definitely, he's the type of player we have needed in this slump - someone who can make something out of nothing.

I just fail to understand why he is loved on here when in reality compared to others, he has contributed very little and made an arse out of his own career.

 

There is no doubt he's a talented footballer.

 

Because the way he plays is highly likely why most of us fell in love with football and the kind of football we dreamed about

 

Unless of course you dreamt about Gouffran running 15 yards and then passing the ball 10 yards to Colback?

 

I can totally understand that and as I have said, I loved his moments of magic.

But the reality is, a lot of the time he did not show up.

 

Sterling has been hammered on here recently for not showing up certain games, similar player, similar attitude.

 

So Sterling wouldn't get in our side either?

 

What did you think of Laurent Robert?

 

Not once have I said I do not want HBA in our team.

All I have done is point out that he never fulfilled his potential and repeatedly gave nothing performances but is still carried on here as the saviour of all.

 

If people mention his name in a slightly negative manner on this forum they are shot down, it's ridiculous.

[jukeboxromeo]

Some people just don't get it and they never will, it's quite sad really. Ben Arfa was never a world beater, but he was still the most talented footballer we had and when played correctly (ie on the right and starting every game) he lived up to expectations. The fact he was capable of the sublime means he'll always be revered by those who have a soul.

 

It's even harder to take when you've been banging on about this for about 3 year whilst he's been chronically mismanaged, shamelessly robbing us of many amazing memories, replaced by the odd Gouffran tap in, Ameobie's heavy breathing and Obertan tripping over his own feet.

 

He was "chronically mismanaged" at Lyon and Marseille too under better managers. At what stage does HBA take responsibility for himself?

Honestly don't start, you have absolutely no clue about his treatment here, you couldn't possibly.

 

;D ;D ;D His treatment? Was he chained to a wall during training sessions? Then thrown in a dark room for 2 weeks when he didn't track back?

[joeyt]

Bolton fan talking about Ben Arfa?

 

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02189/newcastle-bolton_2189219b.jpg

[Wullie]

Do you think we'd have more points if he was in the team?

 

Definitely, he's the type of player we have needed in this slump - someone who can make something out of nothing.

I just fail to understand why he is loved on here when in reality compared to others, he has contributed very little and made an arse out of his own career.

 

There is no doubt he's a talented footballer.

 

Because the way he plays is highly likely why most of us fell in love with football and the kind of football we dreamed about

 

Unless of course you dreamt about Gouffran running 15 yards and then passing the ball 10 yards to Colback?

 

I can totally understand that and as I have said, I loved his moments of magic.

But the reality is, a lot of the time he did not show up.

 

Sterling has been hammered on here recently for not showing up certain games, similar player, similar attitude.

 

So Sterling wouldn't get in our side either?

 

What did you think of Laurent Robert?

 

Not once have I said I do not want HBA in our team.

All I have done is point out that he never fulfilled his potential and repeatedly gave nothing performances but is still carried on here as the saviour of all.

 

If people mention his name in a slightly negative manner on this forum they are shot down, it's ridiculous.

 

And Robert?

[Hanshithispantz]

Do you think we'd have more points if he was in the team?

 

No, he would have thrown a wobbly just like he did at Lyon and Marseille and refused to play and put in a transfer request.

 

Hasn't he got about four French titles?

And left the country with an adoring fanbase from both clubs It's almost as if there's some kind of reason for it.

[Hanshithispantz]

Some people just don't get it and they never will, it's quite sad really. Ben Arfa was never a world beater, but he was still the most talented footballer we had and when played correctly (ie on the right and starting every game) he lived up to expectations. The fact he was capable of the sublime means he'll always be revered by those who have a soul.

 

It's even harder to take when you've been banging on about this for about 3 year whilst he's been chronically mismanaged, shamelessly robbing us of many amazing memories, replaced by the odd Gouffran tap in, Ameobie's heavy breathing and Obertan tripping over his own feet.

 

He was "chronically mismanaged" at Lyon and Marseille too under better managers. At what stage does HBA take responsibility for himself?

Honestly don't start, you have absolutely no clue about his treatment here, you couldn't possibly.

 

;D ;D ;D His treatment? Was he chained to a wall during training sessions? Then thrown in a dark room for 2 weeks when he didn't track back?

Aye, all of that. Also he was consistently placed on the bench/out the squad for 2-3 games at a time whilst we played the likes of Ryan Taylor in his place. It's been said hundreds of times before though, the salient fact is as someone on the outside you have absolutely no fucking clue what you're talking about.

[Wullie]

Bolton fan talking about Ben Arfa?

 

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02189/newcastle-bolton_2189219b.jpg

 

Completely changed the game on Boxing Day at the Reebok too, and scored the winner. But I'm supposed to believe a Bolton fan who says we've been better off with Gouffran.

[Figures 1-0 Football]

Do you think we'd have more points if he was in the team?

 

Definitely, he's the type of player we have needed in this slump - someone who can make something out of nothing.

I just fail to understand why he is loved on here when in reality compared to others, he has contributed very little and made an arse out of his own career.

 

There is no doubt he's a talented footballer.

 

Because the way he plays is highly likely why most of us fell in love with football and the kind of football we dreamed about

 

Unless of course you dreamt about Gouffran running 15 yards and then passing the ball 10 yards to Colback?

 

I can totally understand that and as I have said, I loved his moments of magic.

But the reality is, a lot of the time he did not show up.

 

Sterling has been hammered on here recently for not showing up certain games, similar player, similar attitude.

That isn't the reality though, it's something you're just saying to suit your agenda whilst ignoring the mitigating factors behind why his form may have been up and down.

 

Sterling is a good point, although I don't think he's capable of anything close to the ridiculous things Ben Arfa could pull off. We're football fans, we'll make stupid, hypocritical comments about other players from other teams, you could look hard enough and you'd find people slagging off Eden Hazard and Diego Costa for not turning up, actually scratch that, you could click on the Messi thread and see people saying the same things about Christiano Ronaldo

 

It is reality though, HBA has been passed from team to team for a reason - some of which the public will probably never know.

All I am saying is a player of his quality has the potential to be playing for a top team, but he isn't. There are clear reasons why on the field and apparently reasons off it too.

 

I'd rather have him in our team, but he isn't.

I'd rather watch him than Ameobi trying to mount the back of somebody, but I can't.

 

If we live in the past we just all become bitter and twisted.

The way I view HBA (which may be different to yours) is a quality player who for one reason or another never met his potential.

 

Our current players are getting hammered for "not giving their all", HBA frequently didn't give his all.

[SEMTEX]

Some people just don't get it and they never will, it's quite sad really. Ben Arfa was never a world beater, but he was still the most talented footballer we had and when played correctly (ie on the right and starting every game) he lived up to expectations. The fact he was capable of the sublime means he'll always be revered by those who have a soul.

 

It's even harder to take when you've been banging on about this for about 3 year whilst he's been chronically mismanaged, shamelessly robbing us of many amazing memories, replaced by the odd Gouffran tap in, Ameobie's heavy breathing and Obertan tripping over his own feet.

 

He was "chronically mismanaged" at Lyon and Marseille too under better managers. At what stage does HBA take responsibility for himself?

Honestly don't start, you have absolutely no clue about his treatment here, you couldn't possibly.

 

;D ;D ;D His treatment? Was he chained to a wall during training sessions? Then thrown in a dark room for 2 weeks when he didn't track back?

Aye, all of that. Also he was consistently placed on the bench/out the squad for 2-3 games at a time whilst we played the likes of Ryan Taylor in his place. It's been said hundreds of times before though, the salient fact is as someone on the outside you have absolutely no fucking clue what you're talking about.

 

He's just a rando Bolton fan who logs in every blue moon on the wind-up. He's probably just bored because their mickey mouse season is over and he knows [current shite bolton clogger] isn't fit to lace HBAs boots.

 

[Figures 1-0 Football]

Do you think we'd have more points if he was in the team?

 

Definitely, he's the type of player we have needed in this slump - someone who can make something out of nothing.

I just fail to understand why he is loved on here when in reality compared to others, he has contributed very little and made an arse out of his own career.

 

There is no doubt he's a talented footballer.

 

Because the way he plays is highly likely why most of us fell in love with football and the kind of football we dreamed about

 

Unless of course you dreamt about Gouffran running 15 yards and then passing the ball 10 yards to Colback?

 

I can totally understand that and as I have said, I loved his moments of magic.

But the reality is, a lot of the time he did not show up.

 

Sterling has been hammered on here recently for not showing up certain games, similar player, similar attitude.

 

So Sterling wouldn't get in our side either?

 

What did you think of Laurent Robert?

 

Not once have I said I do not want HBA in our team.

All I have done is point out that he never fulfilled his potential and repeatedly gave nothing performances but is still carried on here as the saviour of all.

 

If people mention his name in a slightly negative manner on this forum they are shot down, it's ridiculous.

 

And Robert?

 

Very similar to my views on HBA.

Class player who hid quite a lot when he couldn't be arsed.

Loved watching him (as I did HBA) but others have gave more to NUFC than either of them.

[Hanshithispantz]

There's seemingly an issue with his personality, or his work rate in training, or something else behind the scenes we're unaware of. I'm not really seeing how this translates to Shola Ameobi and Obertan starting games of football ahead of him though.

 

We'll always live in the past as there's fuck all in the present to cheer about, the same as 90% of other football fans really.

[jukeboxromeo]

There's seemingly an issue with his personality, or his work rate in training, or something else behind the scenes we're unaware of. I'm not really seeing how this translates to Shola Ameobi and Obertan starting games of football ahead of him though.

 

We'll always live in the past as there's f*** all in the present to cheer about, the same as 90% of other football fans really.

 

My point is that is wasn't just Pardew and Bruce who saw this. It was all of his managers in France too.

 

The risk of it all going wrong was always high, even when you first signed him. Having someone like Pardew in charge made it even more likely.

[Figures 1-0 Football]

There's seemingly an issue with his personality, or his work rate in training, or something else behind the scenes we're unaware of. I'm not really seeing how this translates to Shola Ameobi and Obertan starting games of football ahead of him though.

 

Completely agree.

I'd rather have a half arsed HBA over most of our current players, but the point I was making is we don't have that option anymore.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Do you think we'd have more points if he was in the team?

 

Definitely, he's the type of player we have needed in this slump - someone who can make something out of nothing.

I just fail to understand why he is loved on here when in reality compared to others, he has contributed very little and made an arse out of his own career.

 

There is no doubt he's a talented footballer.

 

Because the way he plays is highly likely why most of us fell in love with football and the kind of football we dreamed about

 

Unless of course you dreamt about Gouffran running 15 yards and then passing the ball 10 yards to Colback?

 

I can totally understand that and as I have said, I loved his moments of magic.

But the reality is, a lot of the time he did not show up.

 

Sterling has been hammered on here recently for not showing up certain games, similar player, similar attitude.

That isn't the reality though, it's something you're just saying to suit your agenda whilst ignoring the mitigating factors behind why his form may have been up and down.

 

Sterling is a good point, although I don't think he's capable of anything close to the ridiculous things Ben Arfa could pull off. We're football fans, we'll make stupid, hypocritical comments about other players from other teams, you could look hard enough and you'd find people slagging off Eden Hazard and Diego Costa for not turning up, actually scratch that, you could click on the Messi thread and see people saying the same things about Christiano Ronaldo

 

It is reality though, HBA has been passed from team to team for a reason - some of which the public will probably never know.

All I am saying is a player of his quality has the potential to be playing for a top team, but he isn't. There are clear reasons why on the field and apparently reasons off it too.

 

I'd rather have him in our team, but he isn't.

I'd rather watch him than Ameobi trying to mount the back of somebody, but I can't.

 

If we live in the past we just all become bitter and twisted.

The way I view HBA (which may be different to yours) is a quality player who for one reason or another never met his potential.

 

Our current players are getting hammered for "not giving their all", HBA frequently didn't give his all.

 

That's bullshit

 

HBA always wanted the ball and always tried things, it didn't always work BUT it was certainly more successful and exciting than the utter dross that was played instead of him

[Wullie]

It would be no different to if Perez started getting randomly dropped after great performances behind Riviere and played out of position, people would want him in the team. From there, others claim it's an "unhealthy obsession"

 

Not really. I just want him in the team because the alternatives are fucking rank. That goes for Yanga-Mbiwa and Santon too. It also goes for Sissoko, and Janmaat, and Krul. I think they should be in the current team = "obsession"

[Figures 1-0 Football]

It would be no different to if Perez started getting randomly dropped after great performances behind Riviere and played out of position, people would want him in the team. From there, others claim it's an "unhealthy obsession"

 

Not really. I just want him in the team because the alternatives are f***ing rank. That goes for Yanga-Mbiwa and Santon too. It also goes for Sissoko, and Janmaat, and Krul. I think they should be in the current team = "obsession"

 

I see your point, but in 3 years will MWM have a thread on here still going because he's the saviour of our football club that we let go? No.

HBA gets so much afforded to him because he is the best flair player we've had in a long time.

 

It's a bit like pulling a tidy lass on a night out, your standards are raised and you're moody when you can't have another when you next go out.

That is HBA and the chat on this forum.

[SEMTEX]

So the issue is that flair players get more attention than centre backs?

 

Reckon you're just going to have to deal with that one like.

[Figures 1-0 Football]

So the issue is that flair players get more attention than centre backs?

 

Reckon you're just going to have to deal with that one like.

 

That isn't the issue at all, MYM was just the first name to come to mind.

My issue was with HBA's work-rate and half arsed appearances but being classed as a hero on here whilst others with a similar work-rate are absolutely battered.

 

Being good at football doesn't make you immune to critics.