Hatem Ben Arfa (now retired?)

[Shak]

In talks with Barcelona according to L'equipe

 

as much as i would like to see it he'll surely not play much there with the front 3 they have?

 

He definitely wouldn't be first choice like.

 

He'd be a hell of a backup if any of that front three get injured though. Plus with the amount of games they play they'd be wise to rotate the squad. Who'd be his competition for 4th choice forward?

[Fenham Mag]

Never mind them two clowns, never forget the utter morons amongst our fans who backed his expulsion and agreed that 'he just doesn't graft enough'.

 

Wankers

 

Also the ones who said he had a 'bad attitude'.

[Shak]

Idea for a programme called 'Free Spirits'. No, change that to 'Bad Attitude'!!

[Darth Crooks]

Him and Messi, man

 

http://www.b3takit.co.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/flanbase.png

[Pata]

Any chance he could play a bit deeper behind the front three? Would be ridiculous.

[Shak]

Play him in the hole behind the front three.

 

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/35/35710a127c22d554f0f09762e50603839d660fc503bc9ff7a98930e8fb42f37c.jpg

[Shak]

Fuck you Pata.

[Mole_Toonfan]

Any chance he could play a bit deeper behind the front three? Would be ridiculous.

 

As ridiculous as it would be I think it would be a better idea to play Messi deeper and Hatem as one of the forwards.

 

Ridiculous we are even discussing this though

[Pata]

f*** you Pata.

 

[Dave]

I'd stay at Nice if I were him. Never going to happen like.

[Wallace]

Hasn't there been suggestions that Barca need to sell one of their forwards because of financial issues?  He would certainly be a cheap option to help balance the books.

 

[Pata]

I'd stay at Nice if I were him. Never going to happen like.

 

If he was few years younger he would probably stay for another year, not now I guess.

[Fenham Mag]

I'd stay at Nice if I were him. Never going to happen like.

 

 

What? And turn down Barca

[triggs]

I'd stay at Nice if I were him. Never going to happen like.

Probably wouldn't move to Barca but would definitely be looking to move if I was him. He's 29 now and hasn't played for a really good team yet. Its probably now or never for him

[TaylorJ_01]

Yeah, he has one big move left in him I say. Got to try it if he feels he can.

[TaylorJ_01]

Fuck Pardew for wasting so many years of his life.

[Shays Given Tim Flowers]

It's really hard to think of a more perfect player for this club.

[Guest]

If they'd qualified for the CL he should stay at Nice, but he could easily go to a Lyon or Monaco, play Champions League football, and still be their best player.

[loki679]

He fucking loved it here aswell.  Really got the club and the fans.

[Yorkie]

I'm sure he'd have a great few years playing for Nice, but you couldn't blame him for moving if one of the giants came in for him.

[Dave]

I'd stay at Nice if I were him. Never going to happen like.

 

 

What? And turn down Barca

 

Exactly why it won't happen, but he's currently:

 

1. Playing every week.

2. For a good team.

3. Seemingly getting on with his teammates and manager.

4. Receiving international recognition for his performances.

5. Being hero worshipped by his club's supporters.

6. Enjoying his football.

 

All of that is at risk if he moves.

[Frazzle]

It's not a random rumour to sell papers IMO, there's definitely substance to it.

 

I'd stay at Nice if I were him. Never going to happen like.

 

 

What? And turn down Barca

 

Exactly why it won't happen, but he's currently:

 

1. Playing every week.

2. For a good team.

3. Seemingly getting on with his teammates and manager.

4. Receiving international recognition for his performances.

5. Being hero worshipped by his club's supporters.

6. Enjoying his football.

 

All of that is at risk if he moves.

 

He's still not guaranteed a place in the France squad at the moment and Puel is rumoured to be leaving Nice. Plus he wants to play Champions League, which Nice won't get.

[peder]

Rafa and Hatem!

 

Would have been an awesome combo!

[Kanj]

Any chance he could play a bit deeper behind the front three? Would be ridiculous.

 

Good lord, imagine that.

 

Buying a Ben Arfa Barca kit if this happens

[ads]

I'd stay at Nice if I were him. Never going to happen like.

 

 

What? And turn down Barca

 

Exactly why it won't happen, but he's currently:

 

1. Playing every week.

2. For a good team.

3. Seemingly getting on with his teammates and manager.

4. Receiving international recognition for his performances.

5. Being hero worshipped by his club's supporters.

6. Enjoying his football.

 

All of that is at risk if he moves.

 

As far as I'm concerned, these are the things Ben Arfa thrives on and needs in order to perform to the best of his ability. He's far too fragile to be a smaller fish in a huge pond at a club like Barcelona. He needs to feel loved and cherished. Idolised even.

 

That post match interview when he was playing for us (I forget the opposition) when he said something along the lines of "The fans say GO! GO! GO! and I can fly" - such enthusiasm and such joyful nature to his words, he needs that love to thrive on the football pitch.

 

The most frustrating thing about his time here for me, was those fans who lapped up Pardew's bullshit about his work ethic and how he didn't track back. Fuck that, man. When you're a kid growing up watching football, you don't give a flying fuck about defenders, clean sheets, tracking back. You want to see players like Ben Arfa running at opposition players, taking them on, putting them on their arse. Proper edge of the seat stuff. So what if he doesn't track his man, when you're lucky enough to have a player like that in your team you make the other 10 players do the defending, knowing that when he gets the ball, he'll make things happen.

 

For all the shit we put up with under Pardew, the heavy defeats, negative tactics, winless runs etc - his involvement in alienating Hatem from our club is the thing that will ensure my disdain for him for the rest of time.