Has Ben Arfa spat the dummy?

toonsy

Benny back in Tunisia
Hatem Ben Arfa was scheduled to appear for the reserves at Bolton last night but his appearance was pulled at the 11th hour and he was instead given a leave of absence to go and visit an ill family member in Tunisia.

Maybe it’s my overactive imagination? Maybe the previous of the player is making me question it?

One thing is for certain though, and that is that it’s all very, well, it’s all very convenient isn’t it? Could you really see Hatem making an appearance for the reserves? I must admit that I raised an eyebrow when I heard that was supposed to be the case.

No doubt I will be accused of rumour mongering or some such rubbish, but I’m not. Even if everything is tickety boo and Hatem is indeed fine and well it does kind of highlight the fact having Hatem Ben Arfa at the club is akin to trying to walk on eggs without breaking them.

Hopefully all is well and I hope Ben Arfa’s relative makes a speedy recovery, but let’s face it, he doesn’t have a sparkling record when it comes to sticking around somewhere where he doesn’t feel wanted does he? Ask Marseille and Lyon. Or is it OK because he spat the dummy to move to us?

Sooner or later Hatem is going to need to come into the first team. I read a few comments on here from The Kid last night which kind of mirrored that sentiment. In short Hatem is the type who wants a place in the first team all the time.

It’s been hard for him in all honesty and it’s been a long road back to fitness after such a horrific injury, but his time is coming. He’s managed about 90 minutes over two games and spent the third one sat on the bench for 90 minutes. After a year out I fully back that call against what is a very “robust” Wolves team.

However we are heading towards a couple of games that are made for Ben Arfa. Tottenham are an impressive side these days so will be looking to attack rather than defend at St James’ Park in a little under two weeks, and following that we have Wigan who, quite frankly, should be no match for Ben Arfa’s skill and vision.

I just hope that everything is all well and good and that my overactive imagination is just a sign of too much caffeine, quiet roads, and plenty of thinking time!

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.

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153 thoughts on “Has Ben Arfa spat the dummy?”

  2. Hope so. Hopefully there will be something later to clear it up. I just find it all very convenient to be honest.

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  3. What a ridiculous article. Is there ANY factual basis for the ideas suggested here?

    I hope this is simply a blip in an otherwise superb website.

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  6. What utter rubbish! “One thing is for certain though, and that is that it’s all very, well, it’s all very convenient isn’t it?”
    I can not see that he would ask for a leave of absence to avoid playing in the reserves, he still needs all the matches he can get. Some thing are more important than football, if you had a close family relative seriosly ill would you not want to visit them and when better for him than the international break.
    I usually agree with most of what you right but you imagination has ran away with yo this time, stop eating cheese before bed.
    fatash

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  9. Cum On Toonsy,

    I know its international break, but, you dont have to make stuff up.

    👿

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  10. This is a speculative article. I believe Toonsy made that clear at the beginning. Therefore, it serves as a disclaimer of sorts. On the otherhand, it seems like shameless self-promotion of this blog. Sensationalist headline, and a non-story made out to be something which is not. Get a lot of hits today, toonsy?

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  12. What total and utter bullcrap! QUOTE: “Even if everything is tickety boo and Hatem is indeed fine and well it does kind of highlight the fact having Hatem Ben Arfa at the club is akin to trying to walk on eggs without breaking them.”
    No it doesn’t highlight anything of the sort, even “KIND off” !
    This is the danger in letting any geek with half a passing interest in football run wild on the internet, you end up with clapp trap like this that other goons spread until it becomes rumour then half fact, Ben Arfa was given club permision to visit a sick reletive during the International break and nothing more, get a grip and grow up.

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  17. Dani M.
    October 5, 2011 at 08:21

    “This is hilarious.”

    So is getting **** for posting my thoughts on my site.

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  20. By the way, the name “Toonsy” gives the game away .. SKY SPORTS SOCCER AM GENERATION, FOAM FINGER WEARING , SHOES OFF IF U LOVE THE TOON , ASHLEY MERCHANDICE BUYER WITH THE FULL NUFC KIT,BED SET AND CURTAINS AND BEDSIDE LAMP (wich you leave on all night) *****.

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  23. Good man, Keep it light hearted
    To be honest I though the same as you when I heard the news last night. I bet a few more people thought the same. Thats what happens to the brain when life at NUFC is going too smoothly!!

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  25. Toonman – Exactly. There were a few of the hundreds of comments on here yesterday saying exactly the same thing. It’s not just me who thinks it, and like I said at comment #2 I hope there is something later today that clears it all up 🙂

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  28. Look I’m sorry not everyone likes this article. I really am. But these are my thoughts so tough, and I refuse to take foul abuse for posting it.

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  30. haha, toonsy! Was about to say ‘ridiculous’ too, but the comments changed my mind! 😀

    Just compassionate leave I think, we shouldn’t be reading anything into it.

    Also, come on, if we love and appreciate the good articles, we’re entitled to ridicule the silly ones! (just sayin’) 🙄

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  31. Hydeous – Of course you can. people can disagree and call it shyte if they like. However people cross a line when they have the safety of a computer screen in front of them, but even so I won’t tolerate personal stuff that I’ve had so far.

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  32. C’mon folks gow up and mature.Toonsy you wouldn’t have a site if it were not for the contributors and finally the language is getting a bit OTT.

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  33. Lads come on, I don’t really know what to think about this, unlikely but definitely possible and premature but to any of u accusing te staff of this site have a look at all the other **** out there scaremongering and look at the history of this website. Fair enough it’s controversial but to accuse the blog aster of sensationalising for hits is ridiculous. I suggest you do a bit of research or if your too lazy f off if you don’t like it

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  34. R u f ucking serious? What a pile of concocted bulls hit.. get a life and get rid of your internet connection you scare mongering prat..

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  35. Toonsy, to be honest, I think it is likely that it is all hunky dory. If they were going to pull him out, would they make something up about him having a sick relative, and heading off to Tunisia to visit them?

    Guys, disagree with it if you want, but the abuse is wholely unnecessary. Surely you cana rticulate your disagreement in a manner which is not full of foul and personal abuse?

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  36. Glad you’re laughing Toonsy! 🙄

    I think everything is fine though. I don’t think he’d feel insulted being asked to play for the reserves and get as much game time as possible at this stage, but even if he did go off in a snit, Pards has already said he expects minor tussles along the way, and I have faith in him to know how to handle it.

    Just want to repost this telefoot link:
    http://m.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fvideos.tf1.fr%2Ftelefoot%2Fben-arfa-retour-d-enfer-6727695.html&h=jAQBon_cx&refid=17

    It’s in French but definitely still worth a watch even if you don’t understand it 😀 😀 😀

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  37. People should never get personal. Yes, the article does seem a little over-imaginative and quite frankly, due to the lack of news, a little sensationalist, and in light of that, ridiculous, but personal name-calling and attacks is beyond childish and in fact, not healthy or intelligent at all. So, let us all pick at toonsy’s journalistic skills, and not call him names, okay? 😉

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  40. Well I’ll crack on with another article then as this one has gone down so well 🙂

    I’ll finish off the “Mike Ashley in goat sex scandal” article now 😉

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  41. The bloke has out forward a bit of speculative opinion on a bit of a strange occurance as a topic for the rest of us to add wieght to, or dismiss as ridiculous in a rational, civilised debate.
    If you think he’s talking **** then fine, but no need to rip somebody’s head off for it. None of the rest of us put in the time he does to provide us with a bit of thought provoking discussion on our club so lay off with the personal *****.

    Back on subject, I reckon if it was a reerves game immediately before or after a senior game and he did not make he senior squad, then we would be right to ask questions if he did a mysterious bunk from the reserves. However, it is purely a football match in an international break to get him a bit of match sharpness. I see no reason for him to have a huff and reckon the leave is genuine.

    I also reckon we will see him against Spurs and Wigan. 4-4-2 I fear will be too flat against a side like Spurs, and it is a good opportunity to field Benny at the top of a 4-5-2, with Marveaux taking over from him when he gets tired around 60 minutes….

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  43. Wow, some really ridiculous and ******* comments on what is really fair speculation.

    Ben Arfa is known for wanting things centered him; I think thats why he came here in the first place. FFS, he’s played 5 games in a little over a year and some fans think he is going to keep us in 4th place!
    Playing in a reserve game after already making some first team appearances wouldn’t exactly excite him, especially since he’ll be pushing to get back into the France squad

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  44. Problem is Toonsy is that Ben Arfa is becoming godlike and if you start putting fear into peoples minds then panic starts!! I am not criticising you for writing your thoughts because I think this is one of the best sites, I am just saying that maybe the title was not the best :/

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  46. Think the strop line was just to drag us in. I think toonsy might just be looking for peace of mind, to back up the 50 percent ‘nothing in it’ section, and to bannish the ‘stroppy frenchman’ side of it. I’d think its all fine, HBA has been great with his public comments so far, and has been very patient.

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  47. I find it hilarious that he is becoming Godlike. Hewas a breath of fresh air when our squad was flat and workmanlike, but we have plenty of opions now. I’m sure he will still be a good player when back firing on all cylanders, but not the focal point of our side. He is not a player for all occasions or all formations. He should be used as and when required, just like anybody else.
    Nobody can guarantee he will ever be anything like the same player he was before after such a bad injury. As it stands he has only played a handful of games for us so far. We are talking 6 appearances since the beginning of last season. He has a lot to prove to himself before he can be regarded as a God here…

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  48. Well said shamrock. Toonsy I think your articles will now need to read SPECULATION: ‘title’ 🙄

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  50. Excellent article Toonsy 🙂

    but yeah, probably just a coincidence. I don’t think he’ll be that bothered about playing for the reserves tho, this will be part of any footballers rehab.

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  53. I’ll finish off the “Mike Ashley in goat sex scandal” article now

    Mike ashley found a goat gullible enuff to fall for his charms..jeez whats the world coming to..

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  55. Dub – The postman can’t get to my door at the moment. Queued up outside currently, in no particular order, are:-

    A man with an NUFC shirt and a chainsaw who is frothing at the mouth
    A pack of rabid wolves
    A trio of men with biosuits and a Vat of acid
    A man with a hammer and a wooden stake.

    the postman can wait his turn I’m afraid 😆

    Mind you, despite everything I’ve been called here, nothing will beat apparently being responsible for sending death threats to Neil Lennon 🙄

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  56. After all that is good at the moment with NUFC you have to print this absolute sh*t .. Sir Bobby Robson once said that it was media and “stirrers” who upset the stability at NUFC, and that any success had to overcome this hurdle .. this was also mentioned by Ruud Gullit.

    You have done the exact thing that SBR referred to; you (as a so called fan) should be banned from writing such unsubstantiated arguments and go and support 5under1and – f*kin furious that parasites like you have got nowt better to do.

    Why don’t you write an article on the success of the academies and there recruitment of local talent from Newcastle and Gateshead instead of this tabloid style approach of rocking the boat.

    A genuine fan.

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  57. Just try and get that article done before farmer joe turns up with his torch and pitchfork, it sounds like it’ll be a good read and joe wants his goat back 😀

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  58. Shitstirrer – (yes, it has two “r’s” in it)

    Please have a read of the nearly 2,000 article this site has published. You’ve clearly got no experience of this place and have merely clicked onto here from Newsnow and made an assumption based on one article.

    Now go away and do your homework that I’ve set and come back and we’ll see if you arrive at the same judgement 🙂

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  60. Toonsy – you know I’m a fan of your blog but you gotta admit, from the outside looking in, this kinda story could have come straight from the gutter press. No?

    Did you not say a while back that it was your (unofficial) policy to only post speculation if there was some kind of credible source?

    You haven’t even quoted the famous “club insider” on this one! 😛

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  61. Ok guys I know we’re joking about it now but just because it’s gotten so out of hand. I sincerely urge you to go back and look at the sites previous articles; I assure you this is one of the most reasonable sites out there. Yes it does come across a bit contentious and while toonsy does like to create conversation he does not try to stir **** for the club. It was a well intentioned post and I’m sure had he known how it would be received he would have amended/ not posted it

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  62. TC – That’s because this is an opinion piece. Merely what is going through my head. It’s a shame that some can’t handle other peoples thoughts however but hey ho

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  65. Toonsy
    My patronising meter has just been blown off the scale (spelling, homework ??)

    Been quite an avid reader of your site and a fan of it, so your argument of no experience wrt your site falls flat; if you cant take the criticism for this article then go home now .. this is the sort of stuff the ‘Daily Mail’ would print, and will probably pick up (via Newsnow); so congratulations !

    This article is terrible (IMO – you might think it’s OK); what do you REALLY think?

    If you can justify this then great, otherwise go work for the gutter press.

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  67. That’s furry muff toonsy.

    Opinions are like arseholes… and there’s quite a few on here today. 😛

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  68. We’ve got to give the lad the benefit of the doubt here, I assume if Pardew wanted him the reserves team he would of explained that it was to give him some experience especially with the 2 week break for the internationals so benny wouldn’t have took it badly. Does anyone know id HBA is playing for his country or not?

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  70. Shitstirrer – No justification needed really. Just because people don’t like it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t think it. This is, after all, a ‘blog for people to exchange thoughts and opinions on all matters NUFC. Whether or not people dislike it or like is irrelevant really. I’m just putting my thoughts into type 🙂

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  71. Toonsy said ….”It’s a shame that some can’t handle other peoples thoughts however but hey ho”

    My previous blown-up patronising meter has just been surpassed by my hypocrisy meter; PMSL.

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  72. lol ffs it wasnt that bad, more like toonsy was speaking his thoughts.

    I think ppl need to calm down a tad.

    Imagine if it was tru tho…lol eggyface all round..

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  74. Nobby – Nah he’s not playing for France. As you say, there is more than likely nothing in it, but it did set alarm bells off with me. The stroppiness that he has displayed numerous times in his career, the tantrums, the not being involved in Saturday after being out for so long, the words from pardew about how he must try harder etc etc

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  75. @Shamrock

    lol you have to have some balls to wear a mankini – quite literally..

    Id end up showing off my moose’ knuckle.. 🙂

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