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Hatem Ben Arfa (now retired?)

Dave

by Dave
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Chris_R

Chris_R

Posted
Posted

So much wrong with that Redknapp piece.

 

Firstly, Hatem Ben Arfa will get a great reception if / when he ever plays at St James' Park again, irrespective of writing a letter or not.

Secondly, Harry suggests that'll happen this season. It won't, because of his loan conditions.

 

Basically Harry, you're a fucking idiot and don't know the first thing of which you write.

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Mattoon

Mattoon

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http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-articles/fact-theres-guarantees-hatem-ben-arfa-will-sets-apart/

 

The arguments on Hatem Ben Arfa are never ending and varied but come from these two opposing viewpoints.

 

One is that you should have Ben Arfa in the team as he is likely to produce a moment of inspiration, while the negatives claim that his workrate and overall contribution is pathetic.

 

The problem is that like Chinese whispers, the truth gets more and more distorted the longer the arguments go on, especially for those who have it in for Ben Arfa and/or blindly support the ridiculous people we have running Newcastle United.

 

If you listen to them now, you would think you were lucky to get more than a jog out of Hatem once or twice a season.

 

The truth is that any flair player won’t produce week in week out over a whole season. You are asking them to do the hard things, create and score goals, plus in Ben Arfa’s case go on mazy dribbles that keep the opposition on the back foot.

 

The way the negatives talk, it is as though the alternative to playing Hatem is some sure fire winning plan. The truth is of course, it isn’t.

 

When players such as Anita, Gouffran, Obertan and others are on the pitch, there is a reason why the opposition don’t feel the need to double mark them.

 

Yes you have guarantees with these players (and with most of the rest of our midfield/attack) but those ‘guarantees’ are that they will be able repeatedly to pass the ball ten yards sideways or back, whilst also occasionally running forward ten yards before running twenty back and passing the ball/buck.

 

Ben Arfa always carries a threat, even when the opposition have possession, they know if they lose the ball and Hatem gets it, he will be away and towards goal, prepared to take on anybody in his way.

 

Any sensible manager would be looking to use this strength and have Ben Arfa as one of your two most forward players ALL of the time, thus stopping defenders feeling they can get forward without leaving the way open for a quick counter-attack. You don’t want your most threatening players close to your own goal, you want them as close to the opposition’s as possible.

 

(To feature like John, send in your articles for our website to [email protected])

 

Deluded fans will claim it is a ‘safe’ option to pick the likes of Anita and Gouffran but it’s not, if you have a team of players such as those (which sadly we pretty much do have now) then you are knackered.

 

Last season was only saved thanks to having Yohan Cabaye and Loic Remy to produce moments of magic. Cabaye’s workrate is excellent as well but it is his bravery in attempting and often succeeding in trying the unusual or creating situations that others don’t see, that makes him the threat that he is. Remy is the same threat but in a different way and it only works with him when he has that freedom to sit on the shoulder of the last man or be allowed to stay high up the pitch in the hope of a quick counter-attack.

 

If players like Remy and Ben Arfa are expected constantly to be covering their full-backs then you might as well not play them…

 

Which is of course the position that Alan Pardew has got us into. He claims that he’s never had so much creativity in the team, something that fans are struggling to see so far.

 

As I’ve said, the reaction of the opposition players tells you a lot about your own team, whenever Ben Arfa played he was double marked, he was a constant threat.

 

Just as the polar opposite, opposing players always leave Mike Williamson well alone and encourage Newcastle to give him the ball because he is a bag of nerves when he has it.

 

So now Ben Arfa has unbelievably been given away when we have this creativity crisis, we can look forward to at least half a season of Anita, Gouffran, Riviere, Sissoko, Obertan and the rest shuffling the ball ten yards back and forwards.

 

Decent piece but still a load of :anguish: in the comments section. Our fans are so fucking thick sometimes.

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Mr Logic

Mr Logic

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Posted

"Let's be honest here West Ham didn't want Tevez even when they had him. Alan Pardew was the manager and he pretty much refused to play him".

 

How agenda driven or spectacularly thick do you have to be not to hear a little bell going off there when you write that. Are all managers living in a little world of their own?

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ujpest doza

ujpest doza

Posted
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George Caulkin ‏@CaulkinTheTimes  42s

Rob Elliot on Ireland, #Nufc, new players & Ben Arfa. "I don’t want to just get the tag of being a No 2 keeper." http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/international/article4200613.ece … (£)

 

Anyone have a paid account to see what he says about ben arfa? My bet is pardew has wheeled him out as chief propaganda machine

His interview is in the journal.

he says HBA is a good player and a nice lad and any dispute was between HBA and the club.

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Chicken Dancer

Chicken Dancer

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"Invariably, the supposedly more difficult characters (Arnautovic) give you that spark that can change games, so you have to understand their issues, if they have issues, work around them and get the best out of them - that's what I try to do and my staff try to do.

"It's fair to say he came with a little bit of baggage, but we were probably exactly what he needed to get out of the environment he found himself in. German football, maybe because of a few episodes there, hadn't taken too kindly to him.

 

"He's come into an environment that appreciates him, appreciates what he can do for the team, and his personality is different and players enjoy being around him.

 

"It's not easy to come in and have an impact, certainly as a creative player. It's easier for defensive-minded players. When you are a creative player the onus is on you to win games and that's more difficult, but once he's got to grips with it, the second half of the season has been good for the team and good for him. In terms of his ability to cross on the run, he's one of the best I've seen."

 

Mark Hughes quote after we played them last season, on Arnautovic. Now I don't like the bloke at all, but that is how players like Arnautovic and Ben Arfa should be managed. Pardew is terrible tactically, but his man management is disgusting. His ego is so big yet he's done nothing in his life or career to warrant it. Just a horrible prick, hopefully he's squirming in the comfort of the dugout next home game.

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Flip

Flip

Posted
Posted

"Invariably, the supposedly more difficult characters (Arnautovic) give you that spark that can change games, so you have to understand their issues, if they have issues, work around them and get the best out of them - that's what I try to do and my staff try to do.

"It's fair to say he came with a little bit of baggage, but we were probably exactly what he needed to get out of the environment he found himself in. German football, maybe because of a few episodes there, hadn't taken too kindly to him.

 

"He's come into an environment that appreciates him, appreciates what he can do for the team, and his personality is different and players enjoy being around him.

 

"It's not easy to come in and have an impact, certainly as a creative player. It's easier for defensive-minded players. When you are a creative player the onus is on you to win games and that's more difficult, but once he's got to grips with it, the second half of the season has been good for the team and good for him. In terms of his ability to cross on the run, he's one of the best I've seen."

 

Mark Hughes quote after we played them last season, on Arnautovic. Now I don't like the bloke at all, but that is how players like Arnautovic and Ben Arfa should be managed. Pardew is terrible tactically, but his man management is disgusting. His ego is so big yet he's done nothing in his life or career to warrant it. Just a horrible prick, hopefully he's squirming in the comfort of the dugout next home game.

 

Worst part is Arnautovic isn't even half the player Benny is.

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KaKa

KaKa

Posted
Posted

So ...

 

Mark Hughes on Arnautovic.

 

Neil Warnock on Taraabt.

 

Both these managers, are more clued up than Pardew. Imagine the disgustingly unfortunate position we currently find ourselves in.

 

God help us.

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KaKa

KaKa

Posted
Posted

Arnautovic is quality. If there was any point to our footballing existence, I'd have him here in a flash.

 

He started off so poorly when he joined last season, and still has his ups and downs. He still looks shocking at times. But guess what, the manager sticks by him, because he produces moments of brilliance, and is a genuinely talented player, who is great when he gets into a rhythm. Our manager is a disgrace.

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Paully

Paully

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Posted

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-newcastle-united-star-lee-7747354

 

Lee Clark has revealed that Hatem Ben Arfa showed a courteous and respectful attitude after Birmingham City’s bid to take him to the Championship.

 

The Chronicle reported on August 30 that Blues chief Clark was keen on the playmaker and eager to offer him a spot in his Birmingham XI.

 

But Ben Arfa resisted the move and landed a loan deal to Hull City instead.

 

Clark, though, insisted he was serious about bringing Ben Arfa to the second city.

 

He said: “I contacted (first team coach) Steve Stone to find out about his availability. I then spoke to (managing director) Lee Charnley and asked about Ben Arfa to see if we could do anything.

 

“They came back to say that he wanted to stay in the Premier League but the player appreciated our interest and thanked us for it.

 

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t get that one done either.

 

“But if you don’t ask these questions then you are never going to know.”

 

 

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hazeyb

hazeyb

Posted
Posted

So ...

 

Mark Hughes on Arnautovic.

 

Neil Warnock on Taraabt.

 

Both these managers, are more clued up than Pardew. Imagine the disgustingly unfortunate position we currently find ourselves in.

 

God help us.

 

Both of those manager played as attacking players.  I believe its likely that they understand creative players better than Pardew because of this.  Pardew was a defender, and approaches each game as a defender,  he seems to think that if we defend then goals somehow magically happen.  Failing to spot that the players required to create that magic aren't going to be defending, and failing to provide that platform from the rest of the team for them to have the autonomy to produce goals. 

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