Hatem Ben Arfa (now retired?)

[SteV]

7 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

 

I think he got a pretty decent tune out of ASM, didn't he, despite him clearly not really fitting into his vision? 

 

They're different players anyway. HBA had four or five times the talent that Maxi did.

To a point, yes, and I’ve no doubt he would have been able to get similar, probably better, out of HBA.

 

But I don’t think Eddie’s in the market for ‘occasional brilliance’ (i.e ASM in that home game v Everton). That’s for mid-table teams. 
 

He needs high-level consistency.
 

Players like ASM and HBA, their brain just doesn’t work like that on a football field. They can go out with every intention of putting in the required workrate, and delivering the instruction that’s been asked of them, but they just can’t keep that switch flicked for the whole game. You drift for two seconds and someone’s ran off you or you’ve missed your part of the press, and you’ve fucked it for everyone.

[Elliottman]

Watched a great compilation on the train home the other day then immediately watched a Messi one right after. The similarity with their close control and centre of gravity was nuts. He really could have gone to the very top. Very chuffed I got to witness him for a couple of years. 

[GEFAFWISP]

9 hours ago, Infinitely Content said:

I love him. That piece of skill on the touchline against Man City in the 11-12 season is so beautiful.

Lack of Hull highlights.

 

Howe makes him world class, no doubt.

[TheBrownBottle]

3 hours ago, NSG said:

Bring a 25 year old Hatem into our team now under Eddie and he becomes a £150m player.

 

The most naturally talented player I’ve ever seen at NUFC.

There is zero chance Howe would sign a HBA, and less than zero chance he’d entertain him if he was already at the club.

 

Unless his habit of buying wingers who graft their bollocks off (while lacking a bit of guile) for mega bucks is all a cunning subterfuge, and what he really is after is sublimely talented but lazy players half-arsing their way to a weekly pay cheque.

[TheBrownBottle]

2 hours ago, James said:

Lookng back, the way Pardew handled him was the best almost any other manager did.

He was the perfect manager for him - he didn’t ask him to do any work, and picked him every week when he was fit enough.  Didn’t even blink when he looked completely uninterested against Sunderland.

[Guybrush]

Lazy is a strong word. At the risk of sounding revisionist, I'm not sure it was laziness that affected HBA, but disinterest. He was naturally above everyone else's level by such a huge margin, I think there was an element of 'Football? Completed it mate'.

 

Even now, he's pretty much left football entirely to compete in another sport where he's not yet the best. Armchair psychology fully in place, I think there's something in that. 

 

Could Eddie have got through to him and changed his mindset? Intensity is our identity and all that. Possibly. But, whether Eddie would want to is another matter. I certainly think it's a case of, if Eddie arrived and HBA is already in the squad, maybe he tries to get a tune out of him. I don't think Eddie signs HBA if offered the chance.

[Shays Given Tim Flowers]

I should think in the main Ben Arfa lost the confidence of managers because of his impact on club culture rather than on the field on matchday. Had he played in the 90's his attitude would have been indulged. 

[Loki679]

Mid to lower mid-table player.  Never had the mentality to be a top player.

[Big River]

I wish players like Hatem still existed at the top level. what an absolute legend man. add it to the long list of reasons why modern football is turd.

 

ps. ASM doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as HBA

[SteV]

7 minutes ago, loki679 said:

Mid to lower mid-table player.  Never had the mentality to be a top player.

Quite probably right, but he was definitely one of the best things about being a lower mid-table team for that time period.

[Shays Given Tim Flowers]

Top player whose attitude/appetite precluded him from playing for a top side.   

[AyeDubbleYoo]

27 minutes ago, loki679 said:

Mid to lower mid-table player.  Never had the mentality to be a top player.

 

Boooooooo. 

[NSG]

Genuinely think it’s a massive myth that he was lazy. 

[Likelylad]

9 minutes ago, NSG said:

Genuinely think it’s a massive myth that he was lazy. 

I feel like that. He was never going to kill himself running back. He was similar to Ginola/Robert from a tracking back perspective. 

[Lush Vlad]

1 hour ago, loki679 said:

Mid to lower mid-table player.  Never had the mentality to be a top player.

Never had the makings of a varsity athlete. 

[joeyt]

1 hour ago, Big River said:

I wish players like Hatem still existed at the top level. what an absolute legend man. add it to the long list of reasons why modern football is turd.

 

ps. ASM doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as HBA

 

Raphinha and Mahrez are the closest thing I've seen to him

[Mike]

1 hour ago, Big River said:

I wish players like Hatem still existed at the top level. what an absolute legend man. add it to the long list of reasons why modern football is turd.

 

ps. ASM doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as HBA

 

I though Cherki was going to be that. How's he doing at City?

[Mike]

1 hour ago, loki679 said:

Mid to lower mid-table player.  Never had the mentality to be a top player.

 

I will drown you in a teacup.

[LiquidAK]

The "Howe would've hated Hatem" takes are almost as boring as the PSR noncery. Just dream a little you beige fucks 

[Fak]

7 minutes ago, LiquidAK said:

The "Howe would've hated Hatem" takes are almost as boring as the PSR noncery. Just dream a little you beige fucks 

 

Potty mouth. 

[Loki679]

21 minutes ago, Mike said:

 

I will drown you in a teacup.

 

Showing @TBG how it's done

[Loki679]

22 minutes ago, Mike said:

 

I will drown you in a teacup.

 

Bet you'll microwave it first.

[Sean]

For lazy player see Alex Isak - gets to the 60 min mark and pretends he’s so knackered he’s unable to move. Don’t recall Hatem ever pulling anything like that.

[Yorkie]

Loving @LiquidAK's spice these days.

[80]

4 hours ago, Yorkie said:

 

I think he got a pretty decent tune out of ASM, didn't he, despite him clearly not really fitting into his vision? 

Yeah. ASM's issue was his body started exploding under the new pressure.

 

Which I think gets forgotten when talking about prospective Eddie hires - they have to be physically able to survive a lot.