It's unfair to judge him so early
I’ve seen people suggest he isn’t living up to his billing and that we should sell him in the summer, a notion I find to be ludicrous.
HBA is a player best described as a mercurial talent. A player gifted with ball skills not many players can hope to attain. He has the ability to beat five/six men like they aren’t there but then also the ability to be petulant and stand and not really do a lot. One thing people can’t say is he lacks ability.
Despite the chequered history and being known for the volatility I don’t recall too many moments of trouble with him. In fact the opposite, in interviews he’s shown a willingness to fight for his place and prove to everyone the talent he should be. A player top teams such as Lyon and Marseille let go due to attitude as opposed to ability showing a willingness to fight and prove himself. Sounds exciting to me?
I’ll be the first to admit that HBA has achieved a level of acclaim he hasn’t yet earned, he performed excellently in only his second game (first start) against Everton and looked like a player that would go on to help us move up the table with galvanising attacking play and mouth watering tricks and skills. But that as yet has failed to happen. Why? A serious leg break a game later stopped him playing for over a year. Many experts suggest it takes as long as the layoff to recover from serious injury, some are giving HBA less than 15 games.
No one can underestimate the impact an injury like that has. Psychological factors and fear of other challenges a reluctance to beat a man, none of this seems to affect HBA in fact it seems to have done the opposite, aware of his unfounded acclaim he seems to try too hard, desperation if you will to succeed. To me this shows strength of character yet also a naivety. With careful coaching and maybe a little word in his ear this will hopefully be resolved.
The injuries have also meant that HBA has yet to even play a full season in the Premier League and yet to have a full pre season to integrate and make a role his own. Many players from abroad find the first season difficult. Colo, Enrique, Nani, Evra and Vidic the list goes on. These players have been given time and have gone on to be some of the best players in their position in the League. The language seems no longer a barrier but it takes time to be used to the hustle and bustle of the English leagues. Again some write Ben Arfa off after less than 15 games.
Ben Arfa’s return to the side has also coincided with our most unsettled period of the season in terms of team selection, we began the season with the same side for nigh of 15 games to great success but as he’s returned we’ve suffered injuries, suspensions and the ACoN. This has also led to him playing several different positions; he has played up front, off the front man, in centre midfield and both wide positions. Not ideal for someone just returning from an injury.
As well as being an unsettled side Ben Arfa has yet to play in our strongest side, he reminds me of Solano in that he sees and makes passes other players haven’t anticipated making him look poor when in fact had the player been on the same wavelength would have been a clear goal scoring opportunity. No one can deny having Demba Ba and Cisse’s movement around the box is going to be easier for HBA to play with than the immobile Shola and eccentric Best?
The most ferocious criticism of Hatem has been after battling performances such as Blackburn on Wednesday. I can understand the criticism as he offers little in terms of battle and defensive qualities but surely anyone can see these aren’t the games he’s destined to excel in? I can guarantee however had he done nothing all game and then scored a goal like the previous Blackburn game he would have been heralded as the second coming.
Over the years we’ve had players such as Robert, Ginola and Asprilla who have the same mercurial talents and ability to change a game but they were afforded time and played a major part in the two most successful periods of certainly my era.
The sale of Ben Arfa I also feel would show other creative players that we look to approach that maybe their skills would not be appreciated at a club like Newcastle. If a renowned talent like Ben Arfa is struggling to fit in to our side why would they sign and similarly struggle to fit in. If we want to be challenging towards the top half of the Premier League we need players like Ben Arfa to compliment the hard work of our workmanlike side.
I find it perplexing that the fans who deride the likes of Shola for his lack of ability are not willing to give time and patience to player of Ben Arfa’s undoubted ability.
Patience is a word often uttered in football, but one that is seldom heeded. HBA needs patience. He does not yet deserve the praise many of given him but neither is he deserving of the condemnation that many also have. I don’t believe we can fairly judge Ben Arfa until the end of next season.
I will again utter that word… PATIENCE!
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Yes patience! So why are people screaming for him to start in every match?
There is no doubt that he has the talent, and I’m sure that a full preseason will do him a world of good too.
The question for me that AP has to answer is where does he fit into our best 11. Out wide, probably not, as part of a three striker system, probably, but then how do we set up the midfield, do we play without width, or who provides it.
I think that we are developing so well as a side that we no longer need him, because we can play 4-4-2 and win. However I want him, and I want him to a do well for us.
Absolutely spot on rorycn.
I find it hard to believe that some are shouting for him to play every game and some are now saying he should be sold.
The bouncing butterfly is shouting for him to play every game and at the same time is jumping round saying they should sell him.
It’s ridickerus ! Good job he’s the only one.
Troy just thought i’d quote you (or bobby)
Bobby Shinton number 9 says:
July 30, 2011 at 22:29
I’m still amazed alot of you believe that we actually intend to buy a striker.
It’s season ticket talk that’s all . It’s not going to happen unless Best is shipped out.
As for better than last season. We have lost our top 2 scorers and replaced with Ba and HBA. Unknown whether they can score enough.
HBA is not prolific and BA had a half decent spell at WHam but not someone who consistently scores a large amount per season.
Way weaker IMO .
It must be difficult for the lad; we’ve got players doing a fantastic job in deputising for some of our absentees and he’s barely getting a sniff. Our strongest formation at the moment is 4-4-2 and who, even from the “back up” list would make way for Ben Arfa? Guthrie has proven to be a great little player who can run a match from midfield and Perch has shown that he is a very capable CDM, a position I can’t see HBA filling happily, or particularly well. He’s unlikely to get the nod ahead of Cabeye or Tiote when they return, so is he going to have to wait for injuries to decimate the squad before he gets a good run?
I really like Ben Arfa and I hope we keep him, but we’re going to have to throw him a bone if he isn’t going to become unsettled and start agitating for a move. Hopefully, we get into Europe and he gets more time on the pitch, otherwise I fear we might lose him. Shame.
Poor Bobby got it wrong Troy.
I think this article should include Obertan with the patience point.
Although he’s had a few years in england he’s had very few games. Both HBA and Obertan should have a brighter season in 2012/13 if they’re shown the patience they deserve.
@liam
That was quoted yesterday by Liam and he was suitably sent packing .
We didn’t get the striker we wanted that’s why Pardew fell out with the board. He nearly walked out on the club over it.
Admittedly Ba came in, on a free. When I was referring to us not getting a striker in it was because I knew we wouldn’t spend the cash. We didn’t. Those quotes were made before Ba was signed for nixy. Nobody envisaged the impact the player would have, not even you Liam.
Quite literally, he’s a major reason why we are 5th and everyone’s predictions about where we would finish have been wrong.
Barfa has been a major disappointment but I’ve explained my views on him many times and in my previous post above our heads.
Now, do you want me to trawl thru and find out what you said about Ba after 2 or 3 games?
It’s easy to select the 1% of things that I’ve said are not accurate. What about the 99% of quotes I’ve got right.
Sorry the above was meant for Nobby .
The frustrating thing I find about those who seem to want to marry HBA is their view that if we win, we would have won by more if Ben Arfa was playing, and if we lose we would have won if Ben Arfa is playing. We’re 5th in the league for God’s sake! Oh right, sorry, we’d be nailed on for 4th if we started Benny, yeah?
Pardew picks a team he thinks will win, sends that team out, they win, and still some of our supporters moan?
This is crazy. Ben Arfa should obviously not be sold in summer, but nor should he be playing every game. Give the lad time, yeah, but does this necessarily need to be starting 11 for the test of the season time?
I didn’t agree with continuing with Obertan in the side when he was clearly struggling because it prejudices the fans against him before he’s properly found his feet – nor do I agree with doing the same with Benny.
Leave it with Pards – after all, if he can make a player of James Perch’s ability look a solid centre mid, imagine what he’ll do with HBA by the end…!
I just like to rip you sometimes troy. It gives a little bit of meaning to my otherwise empty and sad life
I’m just jealous really.
On a happy note… since Lawro is an absolute cheb-end i thought I’d give a link to a table of his predictions versus the current table. VERY interesting and it shows he know chuff all about footy:
http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Mark_Lawrensons_Predictions_2011-12.html
Also i’ve just nearly fell out my chair laughing at this picture
http://www.shiteseats.co.uk/post/17215038676/a-picture-of-shola-ameobi-in-a-tractor
Good article..its about finding a balance for his talent and place to suit that talent.
Upfront or on the wing is his two options. Upfront he will struggle as Ba & Cisse will be our main men. If Cisse is injured I’d expect Pards to play Shola or Best. If we play one up front Barfa might get a chance just behind the main striker.
On the wing we have Raylor / Ober / Marv who all work harder for the team so it will be dificult. He has a lot to learn for the sake of the team but its not all lost.
Dont get the comparisons with Solano, Solano matched beckham for assists and when B’ham left the Prem, Solano had the highest assists + he could get back to defend and was a constant grafter
I see Troy didnt read any comment about spoilng the threads last night and seems to enjoy ppl bickering – shame really that another article could be destroyed..
@nobby@Troy
I wouldnt bother with Troy m8, he’s never wrong and will never admit to being at fault
I posted a comment after he admitted the 3legends told him Tiote/Krul were already sold, he then said he had inside info from a club source
when he was pulled on this obvious contradiction he just ignored my posts until i stopped asking him about it.. he talks out of his bottom when it suits his arguement.
for the sake of the thread I wouldnt get embroiled in a bitchfest with him as he always wins..
I think that it’s very good that HBA does not fit into a 4-4-2 which is our current strongest formation.
What this allows us to do is toy with the formation mid-game if it is not working for us and lets Pardew put some new tactics in.
What it gives us is an extra dimension to what we had before and keeps the opposition 2nd guessing.
Nobby. I was tempted to right a similar one for Obertan but people seem to like him at the moment, a fickle bunch football fans, the reason I wrote this was people were seemingly jumping between start him and make him the centrepiece or sell him when all that’s really needed is patience. John t and prem, I don’t think at the moment it’s about trying to find a spot for him in the 11. His time will come for a main role. He needs eased in to get used to the prem. at the start of the season pards wanted to build the side around him but we’ve adapted to a better system. Ben arfa has the ability to find a role in it.
@Rorycn
Where would that main role be in your eyes. Right wing?
To my quote @14
Think about the QPR game. Although HBA was forced into the game by Cabayes injury when he came on he completely changed it and we looked a more creative side.
Now this doesn’t mean HBA should start every game. A well known phrase sums up my point perfectly.
“Horses for courses”
lol I keep waking up in Newcastle to glorious sunshine then hearing on the radio its -9 in some parts.
We’ve had one hour of weak snow while the rest of the country is white
I blame Ba and Cisse being so hot in Toon it fails to lie
http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16165447
Rorycn. I’m sure he will earn his place in the team, and add to our success. I’m just saying that at the moment it is not clear how he fits in. At the moment it looks like we have to accommodate him, which is probably not right. Next season with a preseason under his belt, and time to establish a different approach he should have a role. Agree with Nobby that at the moment it’s as a tactics changing sub.
Rorycn good read and Spot on lad, the thing that I find strange is that quite a few of the ones that are calling for Benny to be dropped etc are the same ones that are saying that the fans need to give Obertan time and a chance.
Completely agree Rorycn. It can’t be denied that he has fantastic ability, but at the moment he is paying the price for being outperformed by “weaker” players purely because the others come in and do the job while HBA floundered. You have to keep on top of your game to stay in this team in general and if your performance drops you can expect the bench to be waiting for you.
He’ll come good in time, he just needs that time and needs fans to curb their ridiculously high and unwarranted expectations of the lad a bit while he comes good.
Mark, at the moment I’d struggle to say. I would probably be wrong anyway. Thought Taylor would be a crap lb and perch wouldn’t be able to do a job in the middle. I think at the moment hed be better on the left wing as I’d be more confortable leaving Santon to defend on his own that Simpson. I could see him becoming a crap silva like at city, not a sleight he’s just not as good. The comparison with splano comes with vision as oppose to style. Splano used to play lovely balls inside full backs and centre halves that our players never read. I’ve seen similar with HBA.
Big ‘D’ meister @20
If some people are banging on about HBA then they need their heads tested. With HBA a lot of people either hang out his hoop or want to crucify him and both don’t help the player. A well structured come back is what the kid needs.
I mean “If some people are banging on about HBA BEING DROPPED’ then they need their heads tested.”
I love it. The bouncing butterfly has adopted Stardusts banter. Woo hoo hoo hoo.
Please ignore me in the future tigger. Your banter will dry up.
@nobby
Barfa doesn’t deserve his place in the team at this moment IMO
He needs to come on as sub and try and get his position back thru merit.
Certainly shouldn’t be sold like some have suggested.
@Toonsy
I agree with you wholeheartedly.
Scrub down time.
“SolanosTrumpet
February 7, 2012 at 20:34
Bobby Shinton number 9 says:
July 30, 2011 at 22:29
I’m still amazed alot of you believe that we actually intend to buy a striker.
It’s season ticket talk that’s all . It’s not going to happen unless Best is shipped out.
As for better than last season. We have lost our top 2 scorers and replaced with Ba and HBA. Unknown whether they can score enough.
HBA is not prolific and BA had a half decent spell at WHam but not someone who consistently scores a large amount per season.
Way weaker IMO .
Bobby Shinton number 9 says:
July 31, 2011 at 09:10
@Brisvegas
How on earth can you say that only Nolan left when talking about last season?!
Does England’s number 9 and local talisman not count?
We are weaker and can’t believe you can’t see it.
What do you reckon Troy? Time to admit that your negativity can be way off the mark?”
Woo hoo hooo! Nobby owned you in that post didn’t he Troy!
Please ignore me in the future tigger. Your banter will dry up
Wooo hoo hoooo
Toonsy @21
I would say we can say HBA is being out performed just yet. We have to see how he performs when he is playing with a higher quality of player around him.
Perhaps we’ll see his true ability now that he has some movement and confidence in the players ahead of him, and remember, he got most of his starts with Tiote and Cabaye missing, so we could see a whole new player with our full strength eleven out there.
Ps. I’m not saying he doesn’t need to personally improve a bit. But I know as a midfielder, I’d sh!t my pants with frustration if I had Shola in front of me.
Did anyone check out the Lawro post @10? Opinions welcome.
Since HBA plays for NUFC u’ve got a new fan and i just cant miss a game on TV…..What’s beyond me is how come A.P cant find a role for him just behind the 2 strikers: he can be the playmaker and help in the attacking job and the likes of TIOTE,CABAYE,….. do the defending one?! Just imagine HBA playing for Arsenal, Real MAdrid (He would be their missing link in the middle)…..
From Rwanda
@JJ
Not at all. That was all answered yesterday and they were sent on their way back home to their mushrooms.
The thing is with Benny I don’t think he will ever be the type of hard working tough tackling type of player, that some want him to be.
He is no different to Ginola and Robert in that they dont really do hard work and can be a bit hit and miss, but boy when they hit they entertain.
I just think we need our full strength team to allow Benny to do what he does best.
Wow!
the bouncing butterfly is fooorious with me today. I’ve really got to him. Woo hoo hoooo hoo hooo. 
Anyway, off to Corbridge for the day with Mrs Stavers for a bar meal and to search for my cow.
Enjoy.
Exactly Dave, that’s why I couldn’t understand people crucifying him after the Blackburn game. He’s never going to muck in and do loads of tackling back.
Bid D @ 35 correct! with tiote and cabaye there they can mop up anytime he does actually lose when he’s on a run and we’ve got decent strikers there to get on the end of his creativity.
JJ – But you can only play with the players you have around you, correct? In that instance, Ben Arfa has been outperformed. Sure he may fare better with better players around him, but when he had the chance he didn’t take it when others did. It says a lot when an injury to Ryan Taylor is what could let Ben Arfa back in
Also I’d like to play Benny on the left. His lack of team effort is exposed by having Danny Simpson behind him on the right so if/when Ben Arfa loses it the onus ends up on Simpson who can’t really defend which highlights it more. If he had Santon behind him it would be less evident as we would have someone who could defend behind him.
Best players on the pitch, if we could get it to work this would be davastating!
_____________________Krul_________________________
_________S Taylor____Coloccini____(new CB)____________
Santon__________Tiote______Cabaye______________Jonas
___________________Ben Arfa________________________
________________Ba_________Cisse___________________
Jonas plays basically as a wing back anyway. Santon does too. With Cabaye playing box to box, and Tiote sitting deep in front of three centre backs for cover it will allow Benny to stay up field and be creative.
Ba can drop a little deeper and Cabaye and the wing backs can push up to offer him support, and Cisse’s pace will keep the opposition defence deep and spread as he runs the channels.
Just and alternative to the solid 4-4-2 formation…
The thing is though this all sounds brilliant if we had a 12 man team… but we don’t. We have to have 11 so who do we drop? I assume everyone thinks obertan? If that’s the case where does our outlet on the right come from and our width? Do we play him on the wing?
As I said before i think it’s horses for courses with HBA and Obertan. When HBA plays he doesn’t play as an out and out winger and has a fluid role. If this is the case then Gutierrez would have to be more fluid and communicate with HBA so they can interchange and therefore we have balance between Right and left. We have the luxury of both wingers being comfortable on both wings so this is indeed a possibility.
Chris welcome. You may well be right in that is HBA’s role. However, a) he has to perform to justify it, and at the moment he is too erratic. This will improve. b) we have to change the team tactics to accommodate that role, which may happen when we can devote time to that. maybe in the international break next week. c) If we do change and he is injured suspended do we have back-up or just change back?
@Troy
no not furious m8 just a bit dissapointed after all that was said last night I wake up to
“The bouncing butterfly is shouting for him to play every game and at the same time is jumping round saying they should sell him”
ppl reading will assume youre either after a bite or ur telling the truth. I did once say If we could sell anyone for money it would be Barfa over say, Krul as i find it hard to put Barfa in a position. But I never said for him to play every game
telling porkies for no reason or to make ppl bite is a fine act you do well m8.
_____________________Krul_________________________
Santon_________S Taylor____Coloccini___________Cissoko
Guthrie_____Tiote______Cabaye
Ben Arfa
________________Ba_________Cisse___________________
Or this with the fullbacks offering width by pushing up? Its the only way I can see us fitting Benny in because I don’t like him on the wing, unless he comes on as an impact player.
JJ that looks good although i feel Cabaye would have his work cut out in midfield against opposition like Chelsea who typically play 3 in the centre.
Reet that’s me about to tee off catch you’s in a bit.
Be good
Toonsy, I think Raylor started on the right last game because we needed a defensive minded player to cover Bale, and with Cabaye missing we needed his set piece ability.
With Cabaye back, Benny is more likely to play.
This article has stirred up a tactics debate which is the best kind as no one is really right or wrong
jj is cabaye back for the spuds game? i thought he was banned for 3?
No, not back Nobby, I mean’t he’ll be back game after.
@the bouncing butterfly
As long as you know who the best is .
I will refrain from engaging with you in the future and craic onto others who take it in good jest .
Off to Corbridge . Ta ta .
Woooooooooo hooooooo hooooo hoooooooooo
Talk of getting rid of him is simply nuts!!
The player hasn’t been useless, he hasnt played terribly when he’s been in the team and he has shown against Blackburn just what he can do.
HBA is a player that needs developing, that’s all the coaching staff need to tweak his style of play to suit the EPL. I’ve said in the past that the lads decision making is poor and sometimes when he has the ball he plays with his head down, but that can easily be ironed out and given time to work with someone like Beardsley, I can see the lad coming good.
or we could go el loco
Krul
Saylor Colo Pieters
Santon Tiote Jonas
Cabaye
HBA Ba Cisse
———————Krul———————
Simmo——Willo–Colo———Santon(o)
——————-Perch——————–
——————–
HBA—->—->————-<—-<Gutierrez
————-Cisse—–Ba—————–
What the hell… shoddy site
Guthrie disappeared:
———————Krul———————
Simmo——Willo–Colo———Santon(o)
——————-Perch——————–
———————-
HBA—->—->————-<—-<Gutierrez
————-Cisse—–Ba—————–
Well i don’t know what happened there but nufcblog.co.uk doesn’t seem to want Guthrie to play
Prem 3-3-1-3? That IS crazy!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Gray_(footballer_born_1955)
Class editing in Early life section!
JJ – They are very similar teams to what I have wanted for a while. Would love to see Pards play them.
———————Krul———————
Simmo——Willo–Colo———Santon(o)
——————-Perch——————–
—————Guthrie———————–
HBA—->—->————-<—-<Gutierrez
————-Cisse—–Ba—————–
My Subs when we're winning 2-0 would be Gosling for Ba (70) Obertan for HBA (75) Shola for Cisse (85)
I’ll be the first to admit I’m a big Ben Arfa fan and probably did expect too much from him but I really don’t believe his tracking back is as bad as people make out.
He does get back and help out but its knowing whether to go tight or not, he’s kind of just there because he’s been told too and doesn’t know what to do, Simpson should be telling him which one to say on the opponents full-back or winger.
Dan4
I’d agree with that, he tries to get back. My biggest problem is his continuously trying to beat his man EVERYTIME and then then next two, when the simple pass in on for a one-two or something.
Like I said though, it may have just been a lack in confidence of the people he was playing with. Ie. Ameobi.
A fantastic find Nobby…well done!!
What people forget is, Hughton said along the lines of, ‘We shall have to fit him into a system that works’. But he was never a ‘luxary player’ or a ‘showboater’. I think it will take him time to get back to Everton away levels but it isn’t impossible.
What the he’ll is the matter with you people???!!!!
We are 5th in the league with the players we have and a 4-4-2 formation and you lot want to change the whole set up just to get HBA in?!
I’m seeing all kinds of random formations and even Santon in midfield?
You lot are off ya rockers!!
Benny has to fit in with our style of play, not the other way round.
I even read, play him on the left so that when he fucks up Santon can mop his mess up better than Simmo!! WTF … If he’s making mistakes and giving the ball and putting an unnecessary strain on our defence, surely he shouldn’t be in the team, not getting moved to the other wing coz the full back on that side is better.
We can’t afford to carry players
Sharpy
Did you miss the area where I said “alternate formation to the solid 4-4-2″, or the bit where I said “new defender signing” implying we could try a new formation next season depending on the players we have?
JJ – just looked again and Jonas is missing from that formation, suggesting Santon was a right winger and Cabaye a left wing. I see now your suggesting Santon right wing back and Jonas left wing back.
Yeah, that wouldn’t be too much of a change and may work against certain teams, plus if it wasn’t working it would take too much changing back to 4-4-2
It does seem strange to me that people some people have sniped Obertan yet worshiped Arfa but on the other hand people have pointed to Obertan being a better team player when he has clearly had more time to gel and play in the side. All new players need time, and this is essentially benny’s first season off the back of a horrific injury. The calling for him to be sold was surprising to me.
Redknapp cleared of all charges, Talksport are already saying he will quit Spurs and manage England in the Euros
Absolutely fantastic article RORYCN.
I actually wrote one not long back about the possibility of HBA leaving due to Cisse signing and the likelihood that his chances will now be even more limited.
I love this viewpoint, though. In my blog I didn’t doubt his ability, more so whether or not he will ever find his way into our team given that we are now almost certain to play 4-4-2 every week that will be headed by Ba and Cisse.
Robert, yeah, and Arry didnt say he was looking forward to getting back to managing Spurts
Rory, nice thread and comments, I see hba ending up on the left once he and Santon have had there 1st season acclimatsing to prem
Great article. Help us keep ourselves grounded for the lad
This article is now 3 deep but just wanted to say it’s the most well written thing I’ve read on here. Congrats.
Cheers lads.
Come on HATEMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!
ben arfa ,? he is the best impact player of the premrier league ! out best and shola ! ba and cisse are better to inderstand ben arfa impact ! thank for the real lads ! not for the the ayattollah ‘s newcastle fans !!!!!!!!!!!!!wiat and see…….
I can see him being sold unfortunately. He’s apparently trouble in dressing room, bad trainer and the one problem player left at the club. Told that this week by an important staff member of nufc who shall remain nameless.
hahaha, repeat from beginning.
…actually Rodzilla, seeing as we’re travelling backwards in blog-time, I’d guess we’re both gona end up in Dreamland. Who knows though, it’s GAAADA be WOITH A SHAT!!!!
………
Nice one Zhanlini, everyone back te Rory’s.
neetneet
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