Hatem Ben Arfa (now retired?)

[Hanshithispantz]

I think he played like 60 minutes+ 2 or 3 weeks in a row after returning from injury. If it took him 6 months further to go from that to playing 90 minutes without 3 week break periods I'd be very suprised.

 

Plus he said he was fit during that time and Pardew was telling us he wasn't playing because 'his stats weren't right'.

[Mick]

We might still have had Ben Arfa if we'd binned Pardew when we should have.  Ben Arfa wasn't perfect but that's the only reason we were able to get him and I think his imperfactions are part of who he is.  We rarely get players as good as he was so it's a pity we got him at a time when we had an abortion of a manager.

 

Anybody who didn't appreciate what he could do on the pitch should follow another sport because they know nothing about how football should be played.

[Hanshithispantz]

http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=39573&season_id=141

 

Here's his appearances from that season. He actually played 70 minutes against Forrest in the cup on the 20th September, then was coming off from the bench for a few games until October 23rd (again in the cup against Blackburn), on the bench the next game, started the next 2 league games (70 minutes against Man City where I thought he looked really sharp, and then 80 against Man Utd where I don't think he was in the game much). All that seems pretty standard practice for easing a player back into the side.

 

It continued (worse than that I think) for a further 3 1/2 months or so, during which time he scored 3 goals (including THAT goal against Blackburn).

[Chrisjraby]

Still love the chunky bastard.

[mrmojorisin75]

if that picture is real seems like he balloons up pretty quick if not looking after himself, but on the other hand he also looks like he can get in shape when he gets going

 

i love him and i miss him - gutted we'll never see him in our shirt again, desperately hope he just turns up to a home game next season and sits for a bit crack with the fans

[Ronaldo]

Hatem is probably the most talented player I've ever seen pull on an NUFC shirt (I am only 26 though).

 

You're only two years younger than me, you must have seen Pedro.

[Dinho lad]

Neither did you, neither did anyone, because we never got to see. THAT IS THE POINT.

 

Why are the Ben arfa fans trying to make excuses for him at every opportunity, then?

[Dinho lad]

You still didnt know what his fitness levels were like to last the 90 odds minutes, though? Did you?

 

Because looking 'sharp' for the odd 20 minute here and there is not something to go on. That could be anything, like short term energy.

 

Nobody can tell whether his condition, cardiovsuclar or otherwise, was ready for regular football. (Unless you have access to his fitness stats, of course?)

 

 

 

Well done.

[Twinport53]

Neither did you, neither did anyone, because we never got to see. THAT IS THE POINT.

 

Why are the Ben arfa fans trying to make excuses for him at every opportunity, then?

 

Why are the NON Ben arfa fans trying to bash him at every opportunity, then?

[Dinho lad]

http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=39573&season_id=141

 

Here's his appearances from that season. He actually played 70 minutes against Forrest in the cup on the 20th September, then was coming off from the bench for a few games until October 23rd (again in the cup against Blackburn), on the bench the next game, started the next 2 league games (70 minutes against Man City where I thought he looked really sharp, and then 80 against Man Utd where I don't think he was in the game much). All that seems pretty standard practice for easing a player back into the side.

 

It continued (worse than that I think) for a further 3 1/2 months or so, during which time he scored 3 goals (including THAT goal against Blackburn).

 

I'm sure it wasn't all fitness issues with him, clearly teamworking, tracking back, etc was something Pardew wanted him to understand more. ( after all, that season we were mostly a team of keeping our shape and relying on individual brilliance.) Pardew is a cunt yes, but I certainly don't believe he preferred Obertan because he was technically better.

 

Not that I believe that Obertan's work rate is anything great or quality. And at the same time I don't think HBA's workrate was worthy the fuss by Pardew. (In the following seasons)

 

But in any case, I don't believe Pardews handling of HBA during that season was bad and I don't think it's the reason why it all ended the way it did.

[Dinho lad]

Neither did you, neither did anyone, because we never got to see. THAT IS THE POINT.

 

Why are the Ben arfa fans trying to make excuses for him at every opportunity, then?

 

Why are the NON Ben arfa fans trying to bash him at every opportunity, then?

 

That's a load of bullshit. Plenty of people have given objective  analysis about HBAs time here.

 

[Twinport53]

That's a load of bullshit. Plenty of people have given objective analysis about HBAs time here.

 

That's a load of bullshit. Plenty of people have given constructive analysis about HBAs time here.

 

We can do this all day bud, but either way, we all know he is/was a superb talent, and Pardew was his downfall. The over weight crap came around way after Pardew fucked him about.

[Mole_Toonfan]

Tracking back stuff is such bullshit if he wasn't tracking back why did people used to complain about how deep he was when he started his runs and that he'd give the ball away in dangerous areas?

 

Was he just doing it for a laugh?

[Twinport53]

Too fat to get forward.

[Robbo]

http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=39573&season_id=141

 

Here's his appearances from that season. He actually played 70 minutes against Forrest in the cup on the 20th September, then was coming off from the bench for a few games until October 23rd (again in the cup against Blackburn), on the bench the next game, started the next 2 league games (70 minutes against Man City where I thought he looked really sharp, and then 80 against Man Utd where I don't think he was in the game much). All that seems pretty standard practice for easing a player back into the side.

 

It continued (worse than that I think) for a further 3 1/2 months or so, during which time he scored 3 goals (including THAT goal against Blackburn).

 

I'm sure it wasn't all fitness issues with him, clearly teamworking, tracking back, etc was something Pardew wanted him to understand more. ( after all, that season we were mostly a team of keeping our shape and relying on individual brilliance.) Pardew is a c*** yes, but I certainly don't believe he preferred Obertan because he was technically better.

 

Not that I believe that Obertan's work rate is anything great or quality. And at the same time I don't think HBA's workrate was worthy the fuss by Pardew. (In the following seasons)

 

But in any case, I don't believe Pardews handling of HBA during that season was bad and I don't think it's the reason why it all ended the way it did.

 

Which one do you think he was better at than say... anyone in our squad?

[Nattfare]

Ben Arfa was kept on the bench for most of the season after we ended 5th. Pardew only threw him in around the 70th minute when we were 2 or 3 - 0 down.

When Ben Arfa couldn't turn things around on his own he had to carry most of the blame after the match.

 

Disgraceful treatment.

[Hanshithispantz]

Keeping our shape in some rigid 4-4-2 only really worked for the first dozen games or so, we went on a disgusting run after Man City broke our streak and it wasn't until HBA, Ba and Cisse were up top that we actually looked like a team capable of finishing in the top 4.

 

[Dinho lad]

That's a load of bullshit. Plenty of people have given objective analysis about HBAs time here.

 

That's a load of bullshit. Plenty of people have given constructive analysis about HBAs time here.

 

We can do this all day bud, but either way, we all know he is/was a superb talent, and Pardew was his downfall. The over weight crap came around way after Pardew fucked him about.

 

Well, if thats how you like to see it.

 

 

[Dinho lad]

http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=39573&season_id=141

 

Here's his appearances from that season. He actually played 70 minutes against Forrest in the cup on the 20th September, then was coming off from the bench for a few games until October 23rd (again in the cup against Blackburn), on the bench the next game, started the next 2 league games (70 minutes against Man City where I thought he looked really sharp, and then 80 against Man Utd where I don't think he was in the game much). All that seems pretty standard practice for easing a player back into the side.

 

It continued (worse than that I think) for a further 3 1/2 months or so, during which time he scored 3 goals (including THAT goal against Blackburn).

 

I'm sure it wasn't all fitness issues with him, clearly teamworking, tracking back, etc was something Pardew wanted him to understand more. ( after all, that season we were mostly a team of keeping our shape and relying on individual brilliance.) Pardew is a c*** yes, but I certainly don't believe he preferred Obertan because he was technically better.

 

Not that I believe that Obertan's work rate is anything great or quality. And at the same time I don't think HBA's workrate was worthy the fuss by Pardew. (In the following seasons)

 

But in any case, I don't believe Pardews handling of HBA during that season was bad and I don't think it's the reason why it all ended the way it did.

 

Which one do you think he was better at than say... anyone in our squad?

 

?

[mrmojorisin75]

Ben Arfa was kept on the bench for most of the season after we ended 5th. Pardew only threw him in around the 70th minute when we were 2 or 3 - 0 down.

When Ben Arfa couldn't turn things around on his own he had to carry most of the blame after the match.

 

Disgraceful treatment.

 

probably 99% of that is wrong

[Twinport53]

Well, if thats how you like to see it.

 

And you reckon he's shit, fat, doesn't track back, doesn't work for the team and has zero discipline.

[sbnufc]

Ben Arfa was kept on the bench for most of the season after we ended 5th. Pardew only threw him in around the 70th minute when we were 2 or 3 - 0 down.

When Ben Arfa couldn't turn things around on his own he had to carry most of the blame after the match.

 

Disgraceful treatment.

 

probably 99% of that is wrong

 

In 2012/13

 

(prem stats)

Played 19

Started 16

Sub on 3

 

Subbed on vs Liverpool (h) at HT, Newcastle 2-0 down

Subbed on vs West Brom (a) on 77 minutes, score 1-1

Subbed on vs Sunderland (h) on 63 minutes, Newcastle 1-0 down

 

Those 3 games came after he didnt play for 4 months (injury?). He started the games immediately after those 3, too

[Guest H09]

People criticising him for his weight but his lass might be a feeder

[Dinho lad]

Well, if thats how you like to see it.

 

And you reckon he's shit, fat, doesn't track back, doesn't work for the team and has zero discipline.

 

[Nattfare]

Ben Arfa was kept on the bench for most of the season after we ended 5th. Pardew only threw him in around the 70th minute when we were 2 or 3 - 0 down.

When Ben Arfa couldn't turn things around on his own he had to carry most of the blame after the match.

 

Disgraceful treatment.

 

probably 99% of that is wrong

 

Think I worded it wrongly perhaps. The season after the one we came fifth I mean. He was subbed a lot during that one if I remember correctly.