I think it’s fair to say that not many current NUFC players can ignite the imagination quite like Hatem Ben Arfa can.
He is the shirt seller, the money generator, the player who people pay money to go and see. He is a maverick capable of single-handedly changing a game, as witnessed against Everton earlier on in the season, and he can pull out all the tricks to keep the crowd on their feet. But he is also injured, and has been since September.
Ben Arfa will be back on Tyneside on Monday as he continues his recovery from the callous tackle that Nigel de Thug dished out earlier on in the season. A ‘tib and fib’ break was diagnosed which has left Hatem out of action for such a long time and has left Newcastle fans wondering what could have been.
Still, the road to recovery is nearly complete and fans can once again look forward to seeing the French wing-wizard in action. Did I say wing-wizard? Apparently not, according to Alan Pardew who talked to L’Equipe and gave quite an insight into the exact role that Hatem Ben Arfa will have in the team.
“Next season?” Pardew pondered. “He will play a central role in our attacking line. I want to use him as a playmaker, a number 10, just behind one forward. I am convinced he is able to score between 10 and 15 goals a season.”
Well at least with Wayne Routledge gone he won’t have to worry about who to give the number 10 shirt to!
On a more serious note, it does kind of quash those little formations that crop up that have Ben Arfa out on the wing. Apparently playing the free role is Benny’s best position, and it’s the one that he came here to play when he first arrived from Marseille. Personally, I can’t wait to see him back in action and I’m keeping everything crossed in the hope that the injury hasn’t ruined him.
If Benny is to play the number 10 role then he will need a striker who he can feed off. None of our current strikers are up to that task in my opinion so we’ll need to go shopping for a new one that can score goals and set up chances. I scoffed at the rumour the other day, but someone like Mario Gomez or Andy Carro…. Oops. Mario would do. It’s unlikely, but it’s just an example.
I won’t bore you with the rest of the interview as you’ll probably have read it yourself, but if you haven’t it’s basically about getting Benny back in a routine and taking it easy with him etc etc. The usual stuff pretty much.
The real titbit is the plan to play Benny where he can be at his creative best, and the thought of that excites me.
However, without without wanting to be the harbinger of doom, I just can’t get my head around this planning for next season malarkey. Not yet anyway. First and foremost we need to ensure that we are in a league in which we will actually see Ben Arfa pull on those black and white stripes. Call me cynical, but I very much doubt he would hang around as we trekked to places like Scunthorpe and Doncaster.
So while it’s nice to see that the club are looking ahead, I would urge them not to look too far in front and focus on the job in hand. It could all change come 5pm however and we could all breath just that little bit easier if we manage to tame the Wolves this afternoon.
Until then though, everything should be on hold.
About toonsy
A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.
benny will be **** hot through the middle..
replacment for joey prehaps
hitman(Quote)
I’m on hold
Brisvegas(Quote)
So he will play behind 1 striker? Maybe my fluid 4-3-3 formation ideas aren’t as daft as ppl thought?! Can’t wait to see the kid back, would rather it was next season though. Take all the pressure off, a full pre season under his belt. Maybe a few mins at the end of a game to get the feel of tackles and get over that mental block so he is over and kind of fear of tackles ready to kick start next season in 6th gear with the no 10 on his back
Raffo(Quote)
I honestly cant wait for him to come back, I don’t think people realise how good Ben Arfa actually is. He will destroy teams if he plays behind the striker.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
I cant wait to see Benny back like, I think hes the kind of player we need if a push for europe is what Ashley is wanting over the next few years. I hope that he is the player he was before the injury like, you see it happen all to often, look at Alan Smith, since his leg break he couldnt even play as a striker anymore
milkman1993(Quote)
By all accounts he might be the only player we have left by next season.
Brisvegas(Quote)
What about Perch bris? 😆
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Can’t wait to see him back hopefully this season if he is 100%
toon1892f(Quote)
AndrewNUFC – he’ll be off fishing.
Brisvegas(Quote)
🙄
raffo(Quote)
D’oh! He’ll be off fishing for a new contract
Brisvegas(Quote)
Something wrong with your eyes, raffo?
Brisvegas(Quote)
something wrong with mine – I have to close one to see properly.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Lol
raffo(Quote)
Bris, get a patch 😉
I am going to get Ben Arfa on my shirt, first time I have ever done it
Moreno(Quote)
Why not just get his name written on the back, Moreno. Much easier to walk around that way.
Brisvegas(Quote)
bris 🙄 😆 😆
batty(Quote)
Would a Carroll / Ben Arfa partnership have even worked? With Carroll we just got it out to the wings to put in a cross but with HBA dare I say we will play a lot more football! HBA can be our Messi!!
pearceet(Quote)
I hope Ben Arfa turns out to be the player you believe he is.
We’ve only seen him play 2 and a bit games and only one of those was he outstanding.
However, I recall Jonas being hailed as the buy of the season when he first came and had a great debut against Man Utd.
All we’ve seen since are snippets of class.
I’m hoping, like all of you, that Ben Arfa turns out great but I feel some of you are getting too excited before knowing how good he actually is. 😕
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
aye bobby 😕
batty(Quote)
bobby and get that little rat oot of his hole 🙂
batty(Quote)
what do you think Nora? ❓
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
whats your views on Ben Arfa, Nora?
People getting too excited before they’ve really seen him perform.?
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
I saw him perform once – or was that Lou Reed?
Brisvegas(Quote)
booby yes i think they are ,we havent seen enough of him
batty(Quote)
Speaking of Lou Reed, butty, I’m playing Frank Zappa as we speak.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Kiss my aura, Dora
Brisvegas(Quote)
bris you need some sleep lol
batty(Quote)
Not mush point in slipping now. Gotta stay awake for the game. It’s ok, I;ve got a bottle of whisky. We’ll see it thru.
Brisvegas(Quote)
alryt lads im using an ancient tower 4 me pc and its not shown the write up about pardews plans for ben arfa!! wots the crack like? is he back this season or just gna sav himself 4 next season??
Army69(Quote)
Looking forward to the match t’night. Howay the lads.
New cass ell new cass ell new cass ell.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Whooa, got some visitors.
Brisvegas(Quote)
we need HBA back soon, and playing perhaps a subs/cameo roll in at least a couple of the home games. Hopefully he will make the difference to help us get the 6 points in the bag we so badly need…
Mario Gomes to the toon…howay man, FC Bayern will want more than 35 mill, plus he’s cack anyway…a right lazy player, wouldn’t fit in at the toon at all… 🙁
Munich Mag(Quote)
Laugh…I nearly got the beers in !!! 😀 😀 😀 😀
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/apr/01/fulham-michael-jackson-statue-fans
Jimmy Osmond on Barrack Road….gotta be done !! 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Agree with BS9 @19, he was great v Everton(tho not our best player) and I think people are expecting too much of the lad after having seen very little off him, and most of what people have seen has been in another league. Give the lad time to get fit and adjust to life in a new country with a different style of football and see how he does before we start calling him the next “great thing”
richietoon(Quote)
Munich…win today and we’re safe, trust me I’m a doctor 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Bobby everyone knows Ben Arfa is class, wasnt long ago he was hailed as one of the best upcoming talents in the World – fair enough he lost his way, but thats why he’s with us.
Jonas was unknowed when he joined so I wouldn’t be comparing him to Ben Arfa who is a France International.
Anyways im going to the game shortly… 🙁
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Andrew..I wouldn’t say unknown he was an Argentinian international and probably as well known as Benny if not more 😉
Why sad about going to the game, it’s my last one so the lads are gonna put on a show for me 3-1 the Toon 😀
richietoon(Quote)
BS9 @ 19 – I get what your’e saying that people shouldn’t get their expectations too high, but Ben Arfa is in a whole other league than when Jonas came. Ben Arfa has been one of the more coveted young players in europe. I mean top clubs in europe has had their eyes on him. I am in no doubt that he will deliver and especially now that we know he is going to play in the middle where he can do the most damage. But we will still have to give him time to settle, as he is coming off major injury, as well as not having played much in the squad.
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
****. Andrew beat me to it. I write too slow. 😛
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
Don’t think bobby is saying the lads not class, more we havnt seen enough of him to justify the acclaimation and pressure fans are putting on him already after seeing next to nowt of him in Newcastle colours. There are plenty of players who are class abroad but don’t make it here and vice versa. We all know he has the ability but let’s temper our expectations and give him the time to settle in and achieve the levels we all hope he can 😉
richietoon(Quote)
For 5 million quid HBA was a risk worth taking, and without doubt he has the potential, just hope that after his injury he can reproduce his magic. At the same time, I think the majority of fans seem to be on his side, and will give him all the time in the world to get himself right..
Richietoon, enjoy the game big man, last home game for a while for you. Hope the toon go out with a bang and you have a game which you can look back on 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
Richietoon…I trust you…you’re a doctor…. 😆
Give it lowdy for me mate, we need the points, lets get stuck into them. A noisy crowd, and three well deserved points will do nicely !
Munich Mag(Quote)
AndrewNUFC…if you’re going to the game why the sad face mate ?…fear the worst ?…give it lowdy and cheer the lads on to victory !!
Munich Mag(Quote)
Cheers Munich, the mother in law won the battle to get my sky dish in Alicante, don’t think it will be up in time for the Villa game tho 😥
richietoon(Quote)
I’ve a feeling the crowd wil be quite and nervy unless we get off to a flyer 🙁
richietoon(Quote)
Where’s El toro and Roy C these days ❓
richietoon(Quote)
Rich – I reckon it will be loud for ten minutes, then it will get nervy if we don’t go ahead.
toonsy(Quote)
aye 10 min then I’ll tell wor lass to shut up 😆
richietoon(Quote)
richietoon…you’ll need to find yourself a watering hole somewhere in Alicante…male bonding with the locals and all that 😆 …get them all supporting the toon !
Munich Mag(Quote)
we don’t get the result i want today i and i will be a mardy little fecker and my family will have to leave me alone for days
Jobey07(Quote)
Munich..aye, there’s a small residents bar on the ground floor of the flats 1 euro a beer, that’ll do for starters 😀
richietoon(Quote)
Rich – Ten minutes and I have to tell your mrs to shut up 😈
toonsy(Quote)
Jobey – Same 😥
toonsy(Quote)
@53 😆 😆 😆
nervy times at the moment, feels like a build up to the derby
Jobey07(Quote)
Munich aye im going, getting worried now.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Rich – Anyway, have a good’un today mate and I hope the boys give you a win to see you off 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy…cheers…..and if ya didnt have such a small one she wouldn’t spend 10 minutes complaining 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Aye 😀
“Is it in yet” 😳
toonsy(Quote)
Andrew….it’ll be fine mate, I have a good feeling………best not touch it on the metro tho, I’ll get arrested 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Nothing worse being stuck on the metro after getting beat.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Howay the lads
Brisvegas(Quote)
Andrew…..being stuck on the metro…and married 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Richie 😆
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2011/03/28/the-ideal-weekend/
Game one. West Ham v Man Utd.
Ideal result – Man Utd win 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Andrew enjoy today, am sure Dillin will be the ideal replacement for me…
…If Ranger scores!
dan4toon(Quote)
COME ON MANURE! do me a good turn for a fecking change
Jobey07(Quote)
I think thats the most realist result aswell like toonsy. Although knowing our luck the hammers will pull something out of the bag like
milkman1993(Quote)
Please Pardew play Ranger!
Im off now, lets hope when I return the mood is good on here.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Odd weekend this. Most of the fixtures you can pick a winner, which is strange. There’ll be some upsets for sure 😕
toonsy(Quote)
Andrew – Have a goodun 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Dan – Why are you not going? Too much time on your knees? 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Lets hope there is no upsets like, would make things easier for us like. Ive got my fingers cross for a Shefki Kuqi hat trick ;D
Even if he only plays 5 minutes at the end
milkman1993(Quote)
Penalty to West Ham FFS!
toonsy(Quote)
Your half right 😆
I fooked my knee the other week playing footy, missed Everton, Stoke and today, only the second game I’ve missed in 2 year at home and I hate it 👿
Will be making a comeback vs Man u though!
dan4toon(Quote)