Newcastle said last week that Hatem Ben Arfa had been given compassionate leave to visit his grandparents in Tunisia.
Hatem Ben Arfa – due back this week in Newcastle
Ben Arfa was due to arrive back at Newcastle last Monday, before being given the compassionate leave, so we would expect some news on the French International shortly, as he gets back to life and training on Tyneside early this week.
We’re not too sure when Ben Arfa will be fully fit to return, but the news is that he’s made an excellent recovery from the double fracture of his left leg, he received in early October at Eastlands, and is in fantastic physical shape.
Newcastle have only 2 games in April, on the 5th at home to Everton and on the 18th at Stoke City, and every remaining game is on a Saturday except the final game of the season on Sunday 22nd May, when all games kick off at the same time 4:00pm, and we entertain WBA.
Indeed we still have to play Wolves, WBA and Birmingham at home, all potential relegation sides with poor away records, so that’s a possible 9 points right there.
After the next 3 games, Bolton and Everton at home and Stoke away, the 4th game is not until April 2nd, when we entertain Wolves, and we have 8 league games remaining including that one.
So that’s good news for Newcastle, because most of our injured players (Ben Arfa, Ireland, Ameobi and the two Taylors) should be fit by late March, some quite easily, and Pardew can pick almost the strongest side for all but the next three league games.
That sounds very good to us, and a chance to rise in the league table too.
Comments welcome.
72 comments so far
ONLINE GUY
Feb 21, 2011 at 4:43 PM
Comment #41Niafron.
Yes we have the cash to buy Benzema and more than is required to pay his salary. But we also have the wage structure that stops us growing at the moment..we live in hope though.
Before I get accused of dreaming by others on this blog who don’t read properly before engaging their mouths so to speak, watch my Lips ..we wont be signing the Likes of Benzema. It is a dream.
Niafron..your posts are always good and informative and well worth a read..cheers.
Quick one:
Just watched a DVD of Peter Beardsley
He Really was a Genius was’nt he ?
I still can get my head around the fact that Graham Taylor left him out of the England side for two years . What A Turnip !
The Man was without doubt World Class .
ONLINE GUY
Feb 21, 2011 at 4:45 PM
Comment #42Typo in previous post …..Cant
AndyE93
Feb 21, 2011 at 4:48 PM
Comment #43Online Guy he is the type of player this country is missing. Other than wilshere i cannot remember the last time we brought through a proper technical youngster. Shame really Pedro played the game the way it should be!
niafron
Feb 21, 2011 at 4:51 PM
Comment #44Well for Ben Zema, there is very few chance, but i will not use the word:”impossible”.
Because you got Ben arfa.
OK, it will be very hard, but if Karim still got difficulty in Madrid, maybe Hatem can convince to come.
As i have also said in the past on this blog, Muslim people deeply believe in destiny, and the story they got together is not common.
Tinman
Feb 21, 2011 at 4:51 PM
Comment #45Sorry but anyone saying that they ‘hope’ we dont get into Europe are mad.
1) If we are in Europe we will attract more QUALITY players.
2) We already have money to spend in the summer, if we are in Europe we are surely to have a little bit more.
3) Toon in Europe means greatly improved chance of keeping Enrique, Tiote and Barton.
4) Why would you want to watch your team lose?
5) Extra games means more chance for the youngsters, ensuring they come on in leaps and bounds
!?!When were Geordies bottlers!?!
Shot Bru
Feb 21, 2011 at 4:52 PM
Comment #46niafron…if you had a choice to bring one young player over to NUFC from Ligue 1 who would be your choice?
Magpies-till-d3ath
Feb 21, 2011 at 4:52 PM
Comment #47Shot Bru I also look for players that Newcastle should go after and I’ve came to these:
Gamiero
Gervinho
Marveaux
Brandao
Martin
Sow
niafron
Feb 21, 2011 at 5:02 PM
Comment #48Personnaly, i’ll target Loïc Rémy.
For he is as good in depth as he is in the air. So, he will match with Ben Arfa, but he can also fit your traditional play.
I dont know much about NUFC, but after watching the game against Arsenal, the role of Barton is obvious. He need a good striker in the air as well as Ben Arfa need a fast one.
And Rémy Can be the both.
You can have him for maybe 10 or 12 millions euro with a reasonable salary.
He have already express his will to play in England in the futur and not inevitably in a top team.
Due to lacks of confidence of his coach (Deschamps, the same guy who have push Ben arfa away from Marseille…), he ‘s actualy playing few, and probably eager to leave. And Marseille will probably let him go for a good offer.
niafron
Feb 21, 2011 at 5:05 PM
Comment #49@magpies-till
Good list, except for Brandao. He work hard for the team and can be useful, but he is definitively a limited player.
With guys like him, you will always be a midle standing team.
Sinner
Feb 21, 2011 at 5:08 PM
Comment #50niafron // Feb 21, 2011 at 4:51 PM
Ben Arfa would persuade Benzema to join toon! 😯
They were not so long ago involved in a serious bust up!!
coolcatcarter89
Feb 21, 2011 at 5:19 PM
Comment #51After reading all the comments, I’ve come to one conclusion. Niafron, do you have a PayPal account? If not, you should. 🙂
Colombus
Feb 21, 2011 at 5:21 PM
Comment #52Niafron, what are your thoughts on El Arabi, Gameiro and Moussa Sow?
niafron
Feb 21, 2011 at 5:32 PM
Comment #53Sinner:
It seems strange indeed, but during the last game of Ben arfa with france against Norway, they have show signs of friendship. And ben arfa have expressed his sorrow about the past.
You Know, this is like the musical band who split. They always finish to reform…
I repeat: they are born to play together.
Columbus:
El araby was excellent in fall, now, he seems a bit tired. Wait the end of the season to see how he is finishing.
Gameiro? Just great. But he is going toward spain.
Moussa sow is ligue1 top scorer, but many observers still have doubt about him. They think the many goals he scores this season are due to Lille wonderful play.
I don’t know…
IrishGeordie
Feb 21, 2011 at 5:33 PM
Comment #54Hey in last post i wrote did 7th and 8th get european footy i ment 6th and 7th. I checked it out and if the winners of the league cup and FA cup are both qualified for europe then 6th & 7th wil be in europa league also. So heres hopin arsenal win Carling cup on sunday and Man U or arsenal win the FA cup as this will giv us a real chance if we finnish at least 7th, which i think is a real possability. Along with that we will also recieve £12mill for 7th place finish + 1mill for europa league qualifaction. That along with the £35mill is the guts of £50mill. So if wer not able to hold onto wat we hav + add a few more quality players to allow us to play in 4 competitions next season then we cant call ourselvs a BIG club.
niafron
Feb 21, 2011 at 5:42 PM
Comment #55OK guy’s, got to go.
Bonsoir messieurs.
ONLINE GUY
Feb 21, 2011 at 6:02 PM
Comment #56Niafron
You are well educated in the Game !
Ever thought of advising Alan Pardew ?
Keep him up to speed on the French Game .
You know your Onions ! (old Geordie saying )
Sinner
Feb 21, 2011 at 6:03 PM
Comment #57Maybe this would give you an idea!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2008/dec/16/ligue-marseille-lyon-benzema-arfa
They may both play for France but to say they were friends during that match!Well thats just pushing it too far. 🙁
Btw dont know which band you’re talking about?
Some do not reform. ;________;
Some quotes from the above links:
“Ben Arfa dominated the build-up, his face alongside Benzema on the cover of France Football with the headline The History of A Rivalry.”
“I respect him as a player but we are not friends.”-Ben Arfa
nufc.romania
Feb 21, 2011 at 6:23 PM
Comment #58welcome back HBA 😀 … i have i question what about Denthino ???
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dentinho
is he good for us ?
Sinner
Feb 21, 2011 at 6:36 PM
Comment #59BTW,on topic.
There are no really set date for him to return.
It was announced he will be back this week!Can be any day.
Rumors and Rumors! 🙁
Cant wait to have him back though. 🙂
nicolnj
Feb 21, 2011 at 8:27 PM
Comment #60FYI,
for those who asks about fabio zamblera a couple days back, he’s still in our youth set up
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/02/21/phil-airey-hopes-to-star-at-coppa-carnevale-72703-28205786/
Robby Bobson
Feb 21, 2011 at 8:38 PM
Comment #61Apparenlty hes in better aerobic shape than when he signed.
kilcline
Feb 21, 2011 at 10:04 PM
Comment #62I hope Liverpool dont get Europe and they sign no one in the summer the effing dirty kants.
baro
Feb 21, 2011 at 10:37 PM
Comment #63I just can’t wait for Hatem Ben Arfa to be back this season. Please NUFC don’t rush his injury. Its a serious injury that people take lots of time for it to recover to get to 100% fit. He is no doubt the fans favorite. An absolutely awesome player! Love him. Just amazing footballer with a passion for the game and Newcastle United. He has finally found a place that everyone loves him and fans favorite and he is willing to repay that on the pitch as he said. Can’t wait for him to b bak.
RedMissionBells
Feb 21, 2011 at 10:50 PM
Comment #64Although I am a Newcastle fan, there is something that puzzles me.
Why did Ben Arfa sign for Newcastle United.
The lad knows he is top class and will probably be world class at some stage in his career if he works hard. He has won honours in France and has had good showings in the Champions League.
What is the motivation for him joining us ?
I don’t see us winning the league in the next 5-8 years. And as it is, we don’t seem like we are able to match the top 6 teams in the league in the next 5 years (in terms of players and consistency).
I wonder.
BWFFBW
Feb 21, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Comment #65who cares the song we sing to him but that he returns healthy to NUFC!! screw the chants.
Alanmc09
Feb 21, 2011 at 10:56 PM
Comment #66http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rKm5O3u-uY&feature=player_detailpage BEN ARFA WOOOOOH
daneevz
Feb 22, 2011 at 9:03 AM
Comment #67@niafron
what u think about Dimitri PAYET ??
leedodd
Feb 22, 2011 at 9:25 AM
Comment #68Great To See HBA Back – Stick Him on The Bench for The Everton Game .
niafron
Feb 22, 2011 at 4:18 PM
Comment #69Bonjuor messieurs.
Sinner:
You must consider the whole story. Before they clash, Ben arfa and Ben Zema where excellent friends.
In fact they were part of the so called:87. The u19 european champions of 2005.
The two others famous players of this team were Samir Nasri and Jérémy Menez.
The four were good friends an supposed to be the future of France.
Furthermore Ben arfa an Ben Zema were teamates in Lyon. This is difficult to explain, but there is a special link between them.
The clash took place during the season 2007-2008.
We don’t know what have happen exactly. We just got these few words of Ben Arfa:
“We were young and we have quarel about stupid things. ”
Recently however the two players seems to come closer again. First many observers have noticed a Ben zema statement about the fact he was still in contact with Ben Arfa.
And then, the words above of Ben arfa during the days before the game of France against Norway.
So you see, the story his realy more complicated than a simple rivalry.
And believe me, for having seen them playing together, at least for the French national team, they are the future.
So, they need to talk, but i’m convinced than somewhere in their mind, playing together again is a very exciting idea.
niafron
Feb 22, 2011 at 4:22 PM
Comment #70Daneevz:
Payet was excellent the first two month of the season. Then, he completly vanish.
Recently, he was in trouble with his club, cause of his will to leave and join the Paris saint germain.
He have been suspended for one game.
He can be an excellent right winger in the futur, but this is difficult to tell right now.
daneevz
Feb 22, 2011 at 9:42 PM
Comment #71Always a pleasure to read ur responses niafron thank u. lol my misses name is nia.lol
daneevz
Feb 22, 2011 at 9:44 PM
Comment #72@niafron
I heard u reccomended L.Remy but i thought he had heart problems and failed medicals with other clubs in the prem so that would be no good.