Ben Arfa to Newcastle

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He's the one player who doesn't have a responsibility other than his primary objective (to be creative) with the exception of Cisse. He's not their best player but he's the nucleus of their attacking play because they let him do exactly what he wants, something he isn't good enough to do here because his moments of genius are too few compared to his talent of running into blind alleys and making poor decisions.

He's a highlights player but one ultimately not good enough to make it worth United carrying him in the team. We had the same problem with Berbatov and Ben Arfa isn't in his league, it just doesn't work. Normally I don't comment on these types of players like this (I stayed out of the Adam debate for instance), but going to as many Newcastle matches as much as I do I feel the need to weigh in here.
 
O'Sheady said:
I am not sure he is seen as the star of the team. Ba, Cisse, Cabaye, to a lesser extent Tiote and Colocinni have been mainstays of this Newcastle side. Ben Arfa had to work very hard to even become a starter. He did that without complaint. just kept his head down and got on with the job. I think he might be ready to step up to a league challenging side.
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I agree with this, even though I still feel shipping Nani out in return for him would be a step down. Have to give him credit for the way he has conducted himself at Newcastle, given his past and reputation.
 
Reckon Arsenal will get him, if Walcott doesn't sign then I can definitely see Wenger snapping him up.
 
Theon said:
Reckon Arsenal will get him, if Walcott doesn't sign then I can definitely see Wenger snapping him up.
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You reckon the Scrooge of the Premier League managers would "snap up" the star attacker of the side who sold Andy Carroll for £35 million?

I'm not sure how to point this out, but there appears to be a slight flaw in that theory, Sir.
 
marjen said:
You reckon the Scrooge of the Premier League managers would "snap up" the star attacker of the side who sold Andy Carroll for £35 million?

I'm not sure how to point this out, but there appears to be a slight flaw in that theory, Sir.
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Stop acting the wanker, Ben Arfa wouldn't go for close to £35million.

Wenger has a tendency to sign French players and if Walcott leaves he needs to sign a right winger.. or would you continue playing Ramsey there?

Ben Arfa suits that team perfectly, he'd be an upgrade on Walcott.
 
O'Sheady said:
If Nani was to go I think this guy would be a great replacement, he can play both sides, he can dribble, has a decent shot, and can pick a pass and is proven in the premiership. He seems to have had attitude problems in the past but maybe now has matured.
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Agree. He's wonderful to watch and can make defenders look like clowns.
 
He's much more inconsistent than Nani. He'd be a downgrade for all his obvious talent.
 
Brophs said:
He's much more inconsistent than Nani. He'd be a downgrade for all his obvious talent.
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I can't see many players that wouldn't be a downgrade from Nani. But Ben Arfa is one talent for whom the sky is the limit when it comes to natural ability, and he seems to be starting to make it click.
 
amolbhatia100 said:
I can't see many players that wouldn't be a downgrade from Nani. But Ben Arfa is one talent for whom the sky is the limit when it comes to natural ability, and he seems to be starting to make it click.
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I don't see that at all. He's very patchy and he doesn't influence games often enough, IMO.
 
Brophs said:
I don't see that at all. He's very patchy and he doesn't influence games often enough, IMO.
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He's playing in a long ball team that has no interest in using their midfield. He's wasted at Newcastle.
 
acnumber9 said:
He's playing in a long ball team that has no interest in using their midfield. He's wasted at Newcastle.
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Yeah, but didn't Newcastle use to be fun to watch? Now it's like they have studied Stoke and gone all "EUREKA" that doesn't really work, but let's try it still.

Ben Arfa would be a decent signing, but wouldn't improve on Nani. He would be excellent at Liverpool to further epitomise their c**tishness too.
 
Rossa said:
Yeah, but didn't Newcastle use to be fun to watch? Now it's like they have studied Stoke and gone all "EUREKA" that doesn't really work, but let's try it still.

Ben Arfa would be a decent signing, but wouldn't improve on Nani. He would be excellent at Liverpool to further epitomise their c**tishness too.
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Not while Pardew has been manager.

He'd be a big improvement on what we're getting from Nani currently. Nani may be a better player but it's looking increasingly like his future lies elsewhere. There aren't many better alternatives around than Ben Arfa.
 
Rossa said:
Yeah, but didn't Newcastle use to be fun to watch? Now it's like they have studied Stoke and gone all "EUREKA" that doesn't really work, but let's try it still.

Ben Arfa would be a decent signing, but wouldn't improve on Nani. He would be excellent at Liverpool to further epitomise their c**tishness too.
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They'd also have two of the best dribblers in the league (along with Hazard) and we'd have not a single one at that level (assuming Nani goes).
 
He's a cow in a neighbouring field, good to watch though and might be able to make the step up to play for us.
 
acnumber9 said:
Not while Pardew has been manager.

He'd be a big improvement on what we're getting from Nani currently. Nani may be a better player but it's looking increasingly like his future lies elsewhere. There aren't many better alternatives around than Ben Arfa.
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Him and Reus are pretty much the only players I'd be happy with as replacements. Ben Arfa would be a step down at first, but looks to have the potential to reach Nani's level. Reus is better, but would cost a ridiculous bundle.
 
amolbhatia100 said:
They'd also have two of the best dribblers in the league (along with Hazard) and we'd have not a single one at that level (assuming Nani goes).
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Who are you referring to? Kagawa isn't such a bad dribbler by the way, but I agree with you. Nani is the only player we have who can tear open a defense on his own. Valencia can't do this, nor can Young, Welbeck, Rooney etc.
 
Positive substitution from Pardew. His ball retention skills yesterday... well, our players found it hard to take the ball off him.
 
MoneyMay said:
Positive substitution from Pardew. His ball retention skills yesterday... well, our players found it hard to take the ball off him.
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Yeah, it was also interesting to see that he didn't opt for defensive subs to try to protect the lead. All very positive.
 
He even wanted to introduce Cissé only for Debuchy to be injured. There is no fear to play at OT anymore so teams will just attack and make attacking subs.
 
He certainly had some fans working for BT Sport yesterday.
 
Such a waste of talent. Was once called the "Future of France" along with Benzema.
 
cesc's_mullet said:
Who has bid for him? He's a bit of a waste of talent.
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Some Ukranian club as per that article and he won't leave there. He's not even been allowed to train with the senior team right now and probably be left out of their Pre season tour squad.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastles-hatem-ben-arfa-rejects-3829809

Some Prem clubs like West Ham and Spurs are also linked. Odd thing is he is probably still their most talented player but so mercurial.
 
KM said:
Such a waste of talent. Was once called the "Future of France" along with Benzema.
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I remember when Aragones claimed Reyes was 'the future of Spanish football.'

Both had ridiculous amounts of talent but not the will or mental capacity to reach their true potential.
 
cesc's_mullet said:
I remember when Aragones claimed Reyes was 'the future of Spanish football.'

Both had ridiculous amounts of talent but not the will or mental capacity to reach their true potential.
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Ravel Morrison and arguably Anderson are another examples of those.
 
Moving to Newcastle was career suicide for him. Pardew is clueless when it comes to handling top talents. Even benched and isolated Mascherano at West Ham for an entire season .
 
he's the best dribbler in the league, and it would be nice to have an explosive, world class dribbler like he is.

he really doesn't have much of a brain or anything else up his sleeves other then a decently wicked shot. his temperment and seemingly problematic lack of a professional mindset doesn't make him a dependable option either.

wonderfully complete dribbler though, fast, strong as hell, and sublime control. he'd be the best dribbler we'd have since cristiano.. i think he's a better dribbler then the cristiano of after 2007 imo.
 
RooneyLegend said:
Wouldn't mind us taking a punt on him.
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He's like an even less consistent, inferior Nani. He hasn't shown his brilliance in a long, long time. He's also around the same age as Nani, big no thanks from me.
 
DWelbz19 said:
He's like an even less consistent, inferior Nani. He hasn't shown his brilliance in a long, long time. He's also around the same age as Nani, big no thanks from me.
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He hardly plays thanks to pardew preferring a more workmanlike team than players with actual talent. He's a different player to nani, much more powerful ball carrier. I'd expect a manager like van gaal to get the most out of a talent like him.
 
RooneyLegend said:
He hardly plays thanks to pardew preferring a more workmanlike team than players with actual talent. He's a different player to nani, much more powerful ball carrier. I'd expect a manager like van gaal to get the most out of a talent like him.
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Ben Arfa probably doesn't put the effort in during training or is generally a bad professional. His attitude looks like it stinks. Van Gaal would have him rotting as well.
 
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