Hatem Ben Arfa is due back on Tyneside tomorrow, and that alone will hopefully boost the squad as the talented Frenchman continues his rehabilitation from the double leg break that he suffered back in September.
Hatem will pick up keys to a house that has been organised for him by the club on his return and he will begin the process of settling into life in what will become his new home. Belatedly of course due to his injury, but it’s better late than never and it didn’t stop Newcastle making his signing permanent in the January window.
Yesterday he spoke to Canal+ about a number of things, and as it was on French TV it meant that I was unable to watch it. However, a version of it has been transcripted in Foot Mercato which I am going to now try and translate using Google plus a bit of French knowledge from my school days to try and tidy up so we don’t end up with talk of how Ben Arfa like shopping trolleys when in fact he is trying to say that he likes cheese…..
Here goes….
Firstly, Ben Arfa spoke of the chance that the injury lay-off has presented to him. It appears that the injury has been a blessing in disguise for him as he has built bridges with his friends and family. Benny said:
“It is true that there was a setback. I could get closer to my friends and really think. I was no longer in the spotlight, I was really with myself. I could get closer to my family, my friends. I also got to travel a bit. This is a break that has made me better and I hope it will be a blessing in disguise. Only time will tell.”
It’s been explained to us by people like Graham Carr how positively our treatment of Hatem Ben Arfa has been viewed back in his native France, and it would appear that our ‘hands off’ treatment has struck a chord with Ben Arfa who is eager to repay the club for the faith shown in him. He said:
“The club gave me lots of respect, lots of love. I want to repay them and do a lot for this club because they have given me great confidence. For a human being, that’s huge. It touched me.”
Ben Arfa then went on to say that he didn’t hold anything against de Jong and accepted an apology from the Dutch thug, although he does feel that players need more protection from referees:
“I do not really understand English. But in his text, he told me about how he did not intend to hurt me and he was sorry. I told him it was okay, it was football.”
“Anyway, the problem is that there was no blame. I think people can get away with anything if there are no sanctions. I do not want to criticise the referee, but we still have a little more to do to protect players, and if he wants to tackle like this again then maybe he will think twice.”
As discussed by Alan Pardew the other day, Ben Arfa will be our roving number 10 and will have the license to be our creative force next season – a role that Ben Arfa is looking forward to by all accounts. He continued:
“This position is my preferred position. When the coaches put you on the wing, you adapt. But it is true that it is a job that I love because I can bring much to the group. It is a position that requires a lot of responsibilities. It is a position I like a lot but compared to the France team, we’ll see. It is another thing.”
That’s about it really and I apologise for the poor translation at times. I’ve tried to polish it up a bit but my French is not as good as my Spanish so all I’ve done is try my best.
We’ll have to wait and see whether or not Ben Arfa can return as the player he once was, although all the signs have indicated so far that he should be back and be as fit as ever. It’s a long road to recovery, but it will be worth the wait if he can reproduce his best for us.
Take it easy Benny!
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.
I wonder if he will try and learn english now, surely he will pick something up?
DJG(Quote)
er,guys…
rooney ban doesn’t do anything as he will still be available against NUFC due to the fact,Man utd has an FA CUP match right? 🙄 🙄
He will be ban for fulham and Man city FA CUP match.
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
yeah cheers for pointing that one out AoD…
DevonMag(Quote)
He always scores at SJP, Suprise suprise he’s just hitting form. 🙄
DJG(Quote)
its gna b a thriller against man utd 6-6 i rekn , harper with a hatrick
Army69(Quote)
Jez its like the uzi blog on here 😆 Djg he is just finding his form then he has a break then has to try to find it again mate I dont think Shrek is the No1 for manure anyway they have other player that can cause us just as much bother, but we can cope and I still think if we play the way we know we can we can give any team a run for their money 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Dont know if you’s seen this but looks like young Fergie will be ok for next week and it seems Jonas is will impressed with him >
http://www.teamtalk.com/newcastle-united/6852684/Toon-rookie-impresses-Gutierrez
Big Dave(Quote)
Evening Dave 😉
So funny listening to the legends, Sunderland fans saying there not going to the games after this…
…Well no change there then!
dan4toon(Quote)
Evening young Dan 😉 as you say no change there then 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
They all want Bruce out now 🙄
dan4toon(Quote)
I dont think they will get much better with Bruce in charge. Long may he be there! 😉
Josh-NUFC(Quote)
Dan he has done a splendid job for us but the job is still not finished as the deal was that he has to get them relegated 😉
I hope if they do get shot of him they give BSA the job 😆 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE think we should give womens footy a chance mate,sure toonsy would be up for the trainers job like 😀 😀
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/1039111/
icedog(Quote)
Ice you dirty Dog I suppose you are applying for the masseur job 😉 As for Toonsy he already has a squint he would end up being blind if he got that job 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE 😆 😆 😯
icedog(Quote)
Dave 😆
Over 80 million spent and where does it get you?
1 point behind a so called championship team as some of my Sunderland mates were calling us at the start of the season 🙄
dan4toon(Quote)
Ice what did you think of that nuget of a stat from Toonsy today about our wins 😉 😆
Dan money can buy you lots of things but it cant buy you class 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
DAN4 scum= mates you feeling all right,know we all have a cross to bare but thats going beyond 😐
icedog(Quote)
DAVE,heard hes on tablets,he has a squint you know,even said there is know way rooney would be banned today 😕
icedog(Quote)
no
icedog(Quote)
I don’t like those comments from Pardew claiming that he begged Enrique to play only for the Bull to withdraw to ‘protect himself.’
Sounds like Pards is getting ready to blame the player when Enrique leaves.
Free Scoring Smudge(Quote)
Ice I was really surprised he did get banned but it wouldn’t surprise me if he appealed it and got it dropped 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Ice, I just like arguing with them 😈
dan4toon(Quote)
FSS wheres the comments from, that he begged Enrique to play only for the Bull to withdraw to ‘protect himself. ❓
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE first ive heard that,would like to see a true quote like
icedog(Quote)
Cracking read this:
http://www.footballfancast.com/2011/04/football-blogs/if-it-had-been-joey-barton%E2%80%A6
I’ve seen nowt about Jose protecting himself. Strange considering he was willing the manager to play him at Stoke…..
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy that was a good article and hit the nail firmly on the head.
As I have said before he has done a lot of bad things in his life but has paid the price and done the time. So he shouldn’t be continually punished.
It is very close to me because I have done a lot worse when I was younger and I am glad that the people that know me and are close to me realise that I am not that same person anymore 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave, it was from the article that you posted!
http://www.teamtalk.com/newcastle-united/6852684/Toon-rookie-impresses-Gutierrez
Saturday’s game was so crucial to the Magpies that Pardew initially found himself begging Enrique to play.
However, manager and player between them eventually decided the risk was not worth it with the possible repercussions for the run-in.
Pardew said: “He was so close. I was trying desperately, begging him to play. But he wanted to protect himself – and quite rightly, because he still felt it.
Free Scoring Smudge(Quote)
Dave – Exactly. I was no shrinking violet myself like and I can only thank god that not everyone is as self righteous as some football fans seem to be and can get behind people despite the fact they may have made mistakes in the past 😉
toonsy(Quote)
FSS your silence speaks volumes 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE It is very close to me because I have done a lot worse when I was younger, and batty says you have got nee better 😆
icedog(Quote)
Toonsy my old man use to say the man that never made a mistake has never lived 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Ice 😆 😆 I can honestly say when I drank I could be a nasty bastart at times and sometimes even now I honestly feel ashamed of things I have done. But I was told that I had to move on and not live in the past or it would kill me 🙁
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE i was a angel me ma said 🙄 never got drunk once 🙄
and toon will sign messie in the summer 😆
icedog(Quote)
Big Dave,
The stuff about Jose protecting himself came from the link that you posted above:
Saturday’s game was so crucial to the Magpies that Pardew initially found himself begging Enrique to play.
However, manager and player between them eventually decided the risk was not worth it with the possible repercussions for the run-in.
Pardew said: “He was so close. I was trying desperately, begging him to play. But he wanted to protect himself – and quite rightly, because he still felt it.
Free Scoring Smudge(Quote)
Nah Ice I dont think he is what we need to take us to the next level 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
In defense of FSS, read the article linked at post 82.
NorCal Toonfan(Quote)
Seems fine to me. What use would he be if he was already feeling it? Five minutes in, TWANG, season over.
It’s the sensible thing to do….
A hamstring wouldn’t put off a summer transfer anyway. He’d be good for training in six weeks so I’m not concerned about it 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
aye aye whats occuring, have I missed owt?
richietoon(Quote)
How do Rich. Are you in Spain now?
toonsy(Quote)
Aye am oot now, wor lass flies oot Wednesday and I’ve had the police set on me already so pretty **** day so far, but I’ve just cracked me second can of Ice cold so things are looking up 😀
richietoon(Quote)
Wayne Routledge just scored for QPR on Sky Sports 1 again.
funkyjesus(Quote)
FSS sorry mate I never even noticed that 😕
Big Dave(Quote)
Rich – Why? Were you walking through the streets nude? Again? 😆
toonsy(Quote)
FSS yeah mate I was browsing through it thinking it was all from a Jonas interview
Big Dave(Quote)
toonsy- 😆 😆
Jobey07(Quote)
FJ did you see the Routledge april fools prank 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
I wish, they put the bloody cat on the wrong plane and when I eventually got him back and was walking away to tek him home they took him back off me and said I couldnt have him yet as he had to go to cargo and be processed there…..apparently grabbing someone by the throat here in Spain isn’t the same happy go lucky gesture that it is in Uk….strange that like!! 😆
richietoon(Quote)
whey RICHIE sharp off the mark m8,we never had time to call you yet,not that we would like 😀
icedog(Quote)
New thread up 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Rich to think that you turned your back on your hometown club to get away from the Police and trouble 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Ice 😀
richietoon(Quote)
Dave – Ate, he turned his back on the North East for a bit of ******. He’ll regret it 😉 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Not seen the April Fools, Big Dave. What was it?
funkyjesus(Quote)
Hope he doesn’t like 😉
Just kidding Rich, I’m sure you’ll be fine.
toonsy(Quote)
Dave…never turn me back on the Toon…..just you shysters, thats all 😆
richietoon(Quote)
I’m drinking beer slush at the mo…bit owa the top with my power cooling on the cans 🙄 😆
richietoon(Quote)
RICHIE mother-in law done top job on the dish like?
icedog(Quote)
Ice….not in yet, we have to sort it out. Nae chance of getting it in by Sunday…..still time for the residents to object yet like, not that I’d be that bothered as it’s too much considering we’ll only live here until wor hoose sells then it’ll cost a fortune to move again 🙄
richietoon(Quote)
Rich – There’ll be bars with it on though won’t there?
Anyway, new thread up. I’m off to work. Latersss.
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy…oh aye I’ll find somewhere with it on 😉
Later mate.
richietoon(Quote)
RICHIE aye mate might be better to hang fire like,thats a lot of cash,see if you can find out if cable is poss,sure your spanish can seal a deal,keep your hands doon by your side like.
use the heed 😆
icedog(Quote)
FJ > http://www.offthepost.info/2011/04/wayne-routledge-fell-for-the-independents-cristiano-ronaldo-april-fools-gag/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+offthepost%2FTLAa+%28Off+The+Post%29
Big Dave(Quote)
Ice 😆
Once her mother sets her mind to summat tho, she rarely changes her mind like 🙁
richietoon(Quote)
Wow! What a partnership Toonsy and Shearer make. I know who to come to if I need any French/English translation! :green: (the attempt at the smiley code was from memory and you may deduce I’ve got the retention span of a newt!
lesh(Quote)
Richie Batty said she had set her mind on you 😆
Ice your on the old thread 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave….what women hasn’t 😉 😎
richietoon(Quote)
Ho hum – any brain cells going spare out there?
lesh(Quote)
Lesh there doing an offer in tesco’s at the meat counter 2 cells for a fiver 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
richie,
Are you now in Espanya?
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
TGS…soz was on other thread, yep came out today. It’s been a nightmare day too 😐
richietoon(Quote)