Paully Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Agree with Ronaldo that Robert is better than Ben Arfa. They are too very different players but SBR found the magic formula to make Robert perform consistently. Tbh I think HBA would have struggled to break into that team. Harsh to compare players when one was allowed to attack and play his natural game and the other was nullified and made to track-back IMHO Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemtizz Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 And under 2 very different managers also. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foluwashola Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Hatem might have all the talent in the world but Robert was twice the player he will ever be. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teasy Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Totally different players, if you need a player to score a free kick, rattle one in from distance or provide a cross its Robert. If you need someone to dismantle a stubborn defence with some dribbling magic its Ben Arfa. Personally I think its hard to say one was more naturally talented than the other without being specific about the kind of talent you're referring to, they were both more naturally gifted than each other in different ways. Though I'd always prefer to watch Ben Arfa play because he gets involved more than Robert did and is just electric, while Robert was basically just moments of magic with a sudden goal/assist with nowt in between. As far as getting in Sir Bobby's team, it would have been hard to remove anyone permanently from that side because they worked so well together. But he'd certainly have added something different to the squad and played plenty of games. Hatem might have all the talent in the world but Robert was twice the player he will ever be. Had far more impact, due to actually being allowed to play his natural game, but nowhere near twice the player. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Robert was twice the player he will ever be. True. Hatem's got special talent but Robert consistently turned draws and defeats into wins, against top teams as well. No substitute for that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cf Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Robert was twice the player he will ever be. True. Hatem's got special talent but Robert consistently turned draws and defeats into wins, against top teams as well. No substitute for that. Defeats into wins? I don't understand this concept. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sempuki Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Shame he couldn't have hung on a few more weeks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Robert was twice the player he will ever be. True. Hatem's got special talent but Robert consistently turned draws and defeats into wins, against top teams as well. No substitute for that. Robert on one side and Solano on the other man. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 No, but he'd be undroppable, even by the standards of this idiot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 the initial point with ronaldo was who was more gifted as it happens, i firmly believe that to be HBA but concur that robert produced so much more with us due to the reasons stated Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
huss9 Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Robert had leaders around him on the pitch who demanded performances from the players. nowadays you cant even look to the captain for leadership or inspiration. imagine speed, shearer, lee, venison and the like in this team. it was cabaye who led us to 5th, not pardew. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Logic Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 No, but he'd be undroppable, even by the standards of this idiot. He'd have been dropped as quick as any other who doesn't put a defensive shift in, moments of magic wouldn't make up for that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Varadi Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Robert was worth his place for his set pieces alone - best corners and free-kicks I've ever seen from a toon player. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Robert was never twice the player of Ben Arfa like When given the chance Ben Arfa was incredible in a Newcastle shirt, it's easy to forget when he was being dropped either side of his stand out performances for no apparent reason like. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TruToon94 Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Thank f*** this t*** wasn't playing yesterday. Imagine the damage he could have done if he he'd been on the pitch not tracking back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugazi Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Robert's set-pieces alone would mean he'd be a guaranteed starter, even if there'd still be nee fucker to get on the end of them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatwax Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 No way would Pardew have played Robert. He'd go on about work rate and earning a place and blame all of the many, many defeats on him not tracking back. Plus Robert would tell Pardew where to stick it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klaus Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Robert conistantly whipping free kicks into the box with pace and accuracy, but with Willo still being the target Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Even Lua Lua could take a set piece. We had Shearer, Speed, Dabizas and O'Brien's big nose to aim for in those days as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 He would be told to float them. Pretty sure Cabaye's freekicks and corners were low and hard for about half a dozen games, Ba nodded one in right on the keeper. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexf Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Souness dropped Robert and so would have Pardew. Anyway why do we need to get into silly debates about who was better. Both great talents with utter fucking wank managers proving their downfall Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Robert conistantly whipping free kicks into the box with pace and accuracy, but with Willo still being the target Too much pace and not enough float for Pardew's liking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Souness dropped Robert and so would have Pardew. Anyway why do we need to get into silly debates about who was better. Both great talents with utter fucking wank managers proving their downfall Exactly. Robert was constantly criticised by TV pundits as well for not tracking back, a lot of former players share the same mindset as Souness and Pardew. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pata Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 It's hard to compare them, both extremely talented but on different attributes. Robert also played under SBR while HBA was playing for the ultimate defensive cunt. Robert is easily the best striker of the ball I've ever seen for us while Hatem is arguably more entertaining to watch. Robert's stats are hard to argue against though. Anyway, two of my favourite players in our shirt in the past 15 years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallowgate Toon Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Hope he plays tomorrow. Looking forward to watching him again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now