We all knew back in August that Hatem Ben Arfa, the French International midfielder, wanted to come to play for Newcastle United.
Ben Arfa – looks great in that black and white strip
So much so that he left Marseilles, and flew into Newcastle airport, with his agent, to try to force the loan move through.
And at the time, one of our readers sent us a photograph of him, presumably at Newcastle Airport, and we didn’t believe it, but the photo turned out to be valid and authentic.
Remember this photograph?
Ben Arfa at Newcastle Airport – last August
Newcastle fans probably knew then that this boy was something special right then.
And he’s turned out to be just that, although he has only appeared for Newcastle four times so far, but still managed to score a magnificent goal to get all three points at Everton.
That was before Dutchman, Nigel De Jong, broke his left leg in a couple of places at Eastlands, on Sunday, October 3rd last year.
And that was just after 4 minutes into that game, which Newcastle unluckily lost 2-1.
Hatem is just dying to play again for Newcastle, but his doctors have cautioned him not to rush his recovery.
Of course since the Frenchman was badly injured he has since signed permanent terms for the Newcastle club, to the absolute delight of Geordie fans, and he will be at the club until the summer of 2015.
Ben Arfa is now undergoing extensive rehabilitation at France’s famous Clairefontaine Academy, just south of Paris, which is equipped with the very latest in physical rehabilitation equipment and techniques.
This is what Ben Arfa said today:
“I have a mad desire to play football again,” “But the doctors told me I should not rush it. We must be rigorous in this regard.”
“The closeness of my family in the Paris region has made me decide to recover at Clairefontaine.” ” Things are going well so far.”
We look forward to Ben Arfa returning to the Newcastle area soon, and see him start training with the rest of the lads, but it’s absolutely right that he not rush himself back.
If he’s playing a month or two before the end of the season, that would be just fine, but maybe we’ll get another stupendous goal from the 23 year-old, before the end of the season – that would be nice.
How does he hit the ball that hard? Beautiful technique is the answer – what a player this lad is!
Comments welcome.
122 comments so far
AndyE93
Jan 25, 2011 at 9:53 PM
Comment #81and hand Arsenal the title ..
GAZ09
Jan 25, 2011 at 9:53 PM
Comment #82Does anyone know how the French kid Moyo is doing in the youth team?
Sgt. Heagerty
Jan 25, 2011 at 9:54 PM
Comment #83i know GAZ, another day gone by with no movement….
bentoon
Jan 25, 2011 at 9:54 PM
Comment #84BOOYEAH thats the spirit Sgt.
Wigan lost aswell to keep them down around the bottom. We need to beat Fulham to take some of the pressure off of the Arsenal fixture.
GeordieGerman
Jan 25, 2011 at 9:54 PM
Comment #85Oh Sgt. You have a very good fantasy. Probably the pain killers.
AndyE93
Jan 25, 2011 at 9:55 PM
Comment #86Fulham will be a tough game i think. They seem to be hitting a bit of form recently with Andy Johnson back in the side on form. I’m a bit nervous for that game and would probably settle for a draw again!
GeordieGerman
Jan 25, 2011 at 9:58 PM
Comment #87Andy, we seem to say we will settle for a draw in a few games and end up with one in the last few minutes.
bentoon
Jan 25, 2011 at 10:02 PM
Comment #88All out for the win against Fulham fella’s, sooner we pick up the points the better. Try and avoid a nervous finish to the season.
ONLINE GUY
Jan 25, 2011 at 10:07 PM
Comment #89DAVE 1961 !!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are a brave and upstanding man going through the bizz you just put yourself through
Bloody well done ..someone who stands up for what’s right and honest
Also I remember friends getting a Kicking from greater Manchester Po-lice at an away game about 12 years back ..so they wont do anything it seems
Iv also been informed that any reported assault could be reported to any local Chief Constable for Investigation (Northumbria) ? And they have to give due process as the law states
I really wish a Newcastle United supporting Lawyer would take this on
De jong has got away with this ?
And I can state right here and now and hope that someone at Manchester City takes me to court, that De jong was sent out with instructions to Put Hatem Ben Arfa out of the game. To do that he would have to maim him, that De Jong did.
The serial leg breaker
After the game Brian Kidds comments were disgraceful and a sly cover up
We cant allow this one to go unpunished
Thanks for your efforts as a witness to this .
I wont give up I hope you don’t in the interests of fair play ..Really well done .
hoothoot
Jan 25, 2011 at 10:08 PM
Comment #90Great interview with Keith Gillespie cant believe he’s only 35 !!! we need a winger get him in !!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9373104.stm
Love the end of the interview Kieth is a geordie !
GeordieGerman
Jan 25, 2011 at 10:24 PM
Comment #91hoothoot, great video but don’t know why I’d call him a Geordie. But maybe if I was Pardew I’d record it and play it to all the young kids. Na not just the kids all, of em.
Spuggy
Jan 25, 2011 at 10:25 PM
Comment #92Dunno is the ireland things gonna come off but it don’t look too bad…
Usual keeper/back 4
Barton…..Ireland…….Tiote……..Arfa
………………..Nolan…………………………..
…………………………Carroll………………..
Toonboy_84
Jan 25, 2011 at 10:28 PM
Comment #93When everybody is fit, Pards is gonna have some big selection issues.
hoothoot
Jan 25, 2011 at 10:41 PM
Comment #94GeordieGerman- Well another one of them adopted geordies who come to play at st james and never find a better set of fans to play infront of.
nufcburty
Jan 25, 2011 at 10:48 PM
Comment #95Buggy, and to everyone else who puts players in a line up, don’t do it untill we’ve actually got a deal, you’re just getting your hopes up to be let down, although.. would be nice to see some of the teams people put together.. they don’t half make me laugh though.
GeordieGerman
Jan 25, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Comment #96hoothoot, found the part where he said, that the first results he has to see are Newcastles. Even though he’s supported Manure all his life.
See come to Newcastle and get a blood transfusion and not a needle insight.
sweendog
Jan 25, 2011 at 10:57 PM
Comment #97anyone watch
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/
scroll down and its football focus with hughton .. still a gent ..
Spuggy
Jan 25, 2011 at 11:00 PM
Comment #98@ burty, just a bit of fun mate, whats a man without his dreams.
Looks like the ireland thing could come off though, as media are buzzing with it.
nufcburty
Jan 25, 2011 at 11:17 PM
Comment #99yeah i suppose, gotta have a limit, i saw one last week, and someone put 3 players we don’t even have and had 12 players on their team! hahaha!
ToonBry
Jan 25, 2011 at 11:19 PM
Comment #100Fulham will certainly be tough. I know from the 0-0 game earlier in the season that we can handle what they throw at us but from that game and from recent ones it shows we really do need to become more ruthless with the goals. Ameobi is not the way forward in terms of our strike force.
GeordieGerman
Jan 25, 2011 at 11:39 PM
Comment #101ToonBry, what’s your solution? After Carroll he’s our top scorer this season. Shola 4, Best 3, Lovenkrands 2 and Ranger 0.
Although I admit I would like to see Ranger start with either Best or Lovenkrands.
GeordieGerman
Jan 25, 2011 at 11:40 PM
Comment #102ToonBry, sorry meant best striker this season.
baro
Jan 25, 2011 at 11:46 PM
Comment #103I really can’t wait for Hatem Ben Arfa to cum bak and wear the Black n’ White. He is a spectacular player! Very important player to the squad. He needs to take his time and not rush this serious injury at all. Very crucial injury.
al
Jan 25, 2011 at 11:48 PM
Comment #104Off topic.. Sven wants an aanholt at leicester, hijack bid??
GeordieGerman
Jan 25, 2011 at 11:51 PM
Comment #105Yeah al, let’s do it.
al
Jan 25, 2011 at 11:56 PM
Comment #106Ranger should get more than 20 mins a game he always seems to find himself with opportunities, once he hits his first PL goal could go on anlittle run
Spuggy
Jan 25, 2011 at 11:59 PM
Comment #107Ranger is good in the box, but his first touch/pass is sometimes terrible, he has a lot to learn, I’m happy with his current development and exposure.
GeordieGerman
Jan 26, 2011 at 12:03 AM
Comment #108I think we should give Ranger no more than 20 mins. Then when he’s broke his duck and has a bit more confidence, start to give him more.
al
Jan 26, 2011 at 12:08 AM
Comment #109I kno wat u mean but if he’s comin on n creating a handful of chances in small amounts of time gotta think how he can do with more playin time. Can’t say other than west ham at home best or lovenkrands are setting our world alight. The commentator said he thought ranger created more in his 20 mins than shola did all his playin time n he was probly right. Nothin wrong with a bit of naive energetic play, especially wen backed up by rocks like Nolan Barton Tiote n the like. Did u see him put Dawson on his arse? He’s not a shabby defender anymore
GeordieGerman
Jan 26, 2011 at 12:14 AM
Comment #110I heard and agree with what the commentator said. But say Ranger’s brought on after 50 mins and misses sitter after sitter. Ones that you know that Shola or Lovenkrands would have put in the net and we lose because of that one goal…
… Then?
Flop
Jan 26, 2011 at 12:21 AM
Comment #111I know it’s from the Star but it quotes HBA’s agent http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/173692/Newcastle-s-Hatem-Ben-Arfa-fit-in-Arfa-time/
howay man
Jan 26, 2011 at 12:48 AM
Comment #112In 5 years time we will have an all star starting 11
Krul—Hollands number 1
simspson-England cap
taylor-england squad member
kadar—Hungary centre half
enrique- Spains left back
gosling—England cap
tiote——Ivory coast starting 11
Vuckic—Slovenian starting 11
Benarfa– France starting 11
Carroll—Englands starting 11
Ranger—England cap
baro
Jan 26, 2011 at 3:02 AM
Comment #113For Wednesday vs Fulham
…………………………..Harper………………………….
Simpson……..Willo……………..Colo…….Enrique
Barton………..Nolan……………Guthrie…….Jonas
…………………….Best……………Carroll……………..
Subs:
Nile Ranger 60-min
Stephen Ireland (IF SIGN/IF FIT) 80-min
Shane Ferguson 75-min
MT
Jan 26, 2011 at 4:38 AM
Comment #114if we can loan Ireland, it maybe a good deal.i guess alan pardew make a trade in portugal(just like c.ronaldo)……….
MT
Jan 26, 2011 at 4:50 AM
Comment #115howay man
i think the no 1 goalkeeper is Fraser Forster in next two years.
baro
Jan 26, 2011 at 4:52 AM
Comment #116http://www.internet-poker.co.uk/Poker-News/index.php?pageid=130&item_id=Newcastle-United-Owner-Mike-Ashley-Loses-%C2%A31-Million-Playing-Craps~4003
At least Mike left with a smile on his face! What the hell is Pardew doing there? Anyways why do all these sites always have to make these stupid twat rumours up always on Newcastle United?
baro
Jan 26, 2011 at 4:53 AM
Comment #117It would be brilliant to get a top young, talents, wonderkids scout in to work with Graham “TERRIFIC” Carr. We really need those top youngsters like Dennis Wise used to get.
hk_nufc
Jan 26, 2011 at 6:41 AM
Comment #118Guys, got a questions.
If Arsenal win the Carling Cup, the Europe place will be given to the runner-up team or PL sixth placed team?
john_cena163
Jan 26, 2011 at 6:52 AM
Comment #119Howay man- u missd 1, leon best – republic of ireland
Edd Case
Jan 26, 2011 at 9:07 AM
Comment #120http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6702143,00.html