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Hatem Ben Arfa (now retired?)


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  • 2 months later...

Ben Arfa remains something of a secret, an inner-knowledge only Newcastle fans know in England. I think other fans see him as just another flair player like Boufal, Taarabt, Bolasie etc. I don't think many realise he's one of the greatest talents to ever play in the premier league. 

Evra is given Nasri, Benzema and Ben Arfa - yet he's immediately swooning over Hatem. Rightly so.

 

 

Edited by Infinitely Content

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3 hours ago, Sima said:

The most technically gifted player I’ve seen play for us.

 

And that includes Beardsley.

He wasn't as gifted as Beardsley for me, though he runs him close.  There was no conspiracy against him, mind - that he didn't become one of the world's great players is down to him and his attitude.  HBA should've been a generational great - but he wasn't; he had moments where his obvious talent was apparent.

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Doubt I’ll ever see a player with such explosiveness combined with incredible touch and unbelievable awareness of the space around him. 
 

The way he could beat someone by just touching the ball perfectly into the few inches of space they couldn’t reach. 
 

Really would’ve been something if he could fit in a bit more and follow a few instructions. Incredible player. 

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I dunno if I've ever fallen head over heels for someone like I did for Hatem. Bruno probably the closest. They're quite comparable as players for me; not really in style but in how - when they arrived - we hadn't seen a player of such quality in years. 

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Only got to a handful of games during his time here, but when I did attend and he was benched I was agitated to fuck. I'd spend the whole of the second half muttering to myself 'put him on, you cunt'

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1 hour ago, duo said:

Ben Arfa under Eddie Howe :sweetjesus: he just needed the right man to guide him.  

 

Pretty sure Eddie would've hated him. :lol:

 

He came along 20 years too late, HBA & Keegan would've been a match made in heaven.

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  • 3 months later...
On 18/05/2025 at 10:57, Yorkie said:

I dunno if I've ever fallen head over heels for someone like I did for Hatem. Bruno probably the closest. They're quite comparable as players for me; not really in style but in how - when they arrived - we hadn't seen a player of such quality in years. 

 

I remember his debut as a sub v Blackpool. Didn't play long and didn't do anything particularly special, but you could just see with the way he moved and ran that he was going to be special. Then he had that first start at Everton and fuck. :lol:

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I start writing so many posts about how much I love HBA and how good he was, but always delete them as they become so unhinged :lol: Simply the best technician to ever play for our club. Up there with the very best the world has ever seen. That is me restraining myself.

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4 minutes ago, Conjo said:

I start writing so many posts about how much I love HBA and how good he was, but always delete them as they become so unhinged :lol: Simply the best technician to ever play for our club. Up there with the very best the world has ever seen. That is me restraining myself.

Ditto 

 

Most talented to play for us

 

big praise especially as we’ve had Beardsley Gazza Shearer Ginola Asprilla Waddle Green Isak etc

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Did do an Isak to force a move to us mind... :hmm:

 

Although he at least had the bollocks to turn up at the airport uninvited, rather than hide behind his agent. That grainy image of him at the baggage collection :lol: :lol: 

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34 minutes ago, Conjo said:

I start writing so many posts about how much I love HBA and how good he was, but always delete them as they become so unhinged :lol: Simply the best technician to ever play for our club. Up there with the very best the world has ever seen. That is me restraining myself.


Should’ve been Messi, Ronaldo and HBA for the best players of that generation really, the guy had no limits to his ability. 

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