Tsunami Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 If hba was so bad defensively, I'd love to see actual evidence of the goals that we conceded that were his fault. I genuinely can't think of many, yet certain people like to make out as if he was some defensive liability. His failure to track back led to 2 goals at home to Hull where we should have been 3 or 4 up inside 20 minutes. His tracking back was an issue and teammates do not like others not pulling their weight (as they see it) no matter how good they are. In his last season where he was picked (usually as sub) he was thrown on when we were chasing games or started against sides where his weaknesses would be shown, Southampton away being a good example. Ultimately he wasn't professional enough. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Absolute fucking shite. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 I really want to argue but don't have nearly the energy. He had his flaws but should've been the first name on the teamsheet, in an attacking role, every week - because he was a matchwinner. His professionalism or will to win never seemed below 100% when he was on the pitch, even if he did make errors. He was the least of our worries but Pardew scapegoated him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 The thing that strikes me is that I think of Ben Arfa as a very passionate player, but one with a brittle mentality. Man manage him well and he would probably walk through fire for you, man manage him badly and he would just give up, as churlish as that behaviour is. The club full well knew this to be the case when they bought him (we wouldn't have been able to if he wasn't damaged goods mentally), which makes it even more frustrating that we put a Neanderthal in charge of managing him and a number of other highly talented players over the past few years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 The thing that strikes me is that I think of Ben Arfa as a very passionate player, but one with a brittle mentality. Man manage him well and he would probably walk through fire for you, man manage him badly and he would just give up, as churlish as that behaviour is. The club full well knew this to be the case when they bought him (we wouldn't have been able to if he wasn't damaged goods mentally), which makes it even more frustrating that we put a Neanderthal in charge of managing him and a number of other highly talented players over the past few years. Until the last season Pardew did a good job keeping him going, but ultimately ran out of patience and found it easy to sacrifice hba when colo put the pressure on him to do so. The reason hba isn't at this club isn't down to Pardew, just like cabaye hba didn't really have too many bad things to say about him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interpolic Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Quite often he was in a team of 11 (ELEVEN!) players and was one of only 2 or 3 attacking players FFS. In that case, I'd rather he conserved his energy for attacking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teasy Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 The thing that strikes me is that I think of Ben Arfa as a very passionate player, but one with a brittle mentality. Man manage him well and he would probably walk through fire for you, man manage him badly and he would just give up, as churlish as that behaviour is. The club full well knew this to be the case when they bought him (we wouldn't have been able to if he wasn't damaged goods mentally), which makes it even more frustrating that we put a Neanderthal in charge of managing him and a number of other highly talented players over the past few years. Until the last season Pardew did a good job keeping him going, but ultimately ran out of patience and found it easy to sacrifice hba when colo put the pressure on him to do so. The reason hba isn't at this club isn't down to Pardew, just like cabaye hba didn't really have too many bad things to say about him. He probably didn't want to have a go at Pardew because he just thought it would look bitter and instead just wanted to move on. I saw with my own eyes how badly he was treated on the pitch and Pardew absolutely did have a big part to play in him going. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottledDog Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 The thing that strikes me is that I think of Ben Arfa as a very passionate player, but one with a brittle mentality. Man manage him well and he would probably walk through fire for you, man manage him badly and he would just give up, as churlish as that behaviour is. The club full well knew this to be the case when they bought him (we wouldn't have been able to if he wasn't damaged goods mentally), which makes it even more frustrating that we put a Neanderthal in charge of managing him and a number of other highly talented players over the past few years. Until the last season Pardew did a good job keeping him going, but ultimately ran out of patience and found it easy to sacrifice hba when colo put the pressure on him to do so. The reason hba isn't at this club isn't down to Pardew, just like cabaye hba didn't really have too many bad things to say about him. Without knowing what went on behind the scenes I still feel Pardew should have played him a damn sight more, and certainly not subbed him anywhere near as ofter as he did (that hurt like hell). That said, in terms of man management, I think that's not an unfair assessment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teasy Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Its no good motivating a player if you're only going to misuse him on the pitch and scapegoat him at every opportunity to save your own skin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Its no good motivating a player if you're only going to misuse him on the pitch and scapegoat him at every opportunity to save your own skin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggs Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 I'm not surprised some of the players liked Pardew given they could do whatever the fuck they wanted to when he was there Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Hatem Ben Arfa's apparent weight issues shown during a recent friendly match have been explained away by Nice. (1/2) Get French Football @GFN_France 7m7 minutes ago The player wore a data tracker to measure fitness levels during the match, making it seem like he had a large stomach. (2/2) (Nice Matin) Get French Football @GFN_France 4m4 minutes ago The Nice Matin article uses this photo to validate their claims that Hatem Ben Arfa does not have a weight problem: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 WHAT A CUNT Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbnufc Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Data tracker? On his gut? :lol: Did he eat it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 He ate a MacBook Pro. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buzza Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Just watched a load of youtube videos on him. Really just hit me, I'm not sure I will never see a talent like that again, was incredibly lucky to see him live a couple of times, specially the shitty blackburn game where one wondrous piece of skill made 52.000 people rant about 10 seconds of football for weeks (ever)! Boo hoo hoo... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaKa Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Ben Arfa at Newcastle. Right place. Wrong time. Simple as that really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinport53 Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Just watched a load of youtube videos on him. Really just hit me, I'm not sure I will never see a talent like that again, was incredibly lucky to see him live a couple of times, specially the shitty blackburn game where one wondrous piece of skill made 52.000 people rant about 10 seconds of football for weeks (ever)! Boo hoo hoo... After I jacked in my season ticket, the home game against Bolton was one of the only I have been to since. THAT goal makes me shiver when I think about sitting in the Gallowgate watching him come flying through the centre of the pitch. Love the fat little bastard me Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sho Time Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 When he scored that goal I went ballistic in the pub and cleared me fatha's pint all over him, he was ready to fucking lamp me all over and then he seen the replay and started jumping up and down close to tears. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanji Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 That goal versus Bolton...by god, that little turn he made, that extra touch to skin 2nd guy, the touch again to bait the CB, then the little flick over the fucking guys leg to just place it...He was sensational man. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shays Given Tim Flowers Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 It's the flick over the player on the 18 yard box that gets me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sho Time Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 It's the flick over the player on the 18 yard box that gets me. Yep, David Wheater with all his ugliness couldn't even darken the absolute beauty that was that chip. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinotheprehistoricgeordie Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I was close to the corner flag when he scored the goal against Blackburn in the cup. Simply the best thing I've ever seen in football. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I prefer the Blackburn one, shame there's not better footage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Venkman Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Everything about the Bolton goal was glorious, particularly given how anti football we were for 80 mins prior. It'll be a long time before I see an NUFC player score another as good as that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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