Alan Pardew has said today that Ben Arfa has looked fitter than he’s ever been since Alan arrived at the club last December.
Hatem Ben Arfa – can win the game for Newcastle tonight
And when the French International came on last Saturday against Wigan, he began to show some of his form, and he’s one of those mercurial players who with one piece of magic can win a game.
That’s what Newcastle fans and Alan Pardew will be hoping will happen tonight, with Newcastle desperate to get through to the quarter final draw on Saturday.
Alan Pardew talked to the Newcastle press today:
“He is going to be important in these type of games because he can unlock a door.” “He can do that at any level. In terms of passes and clever moments, he showed that in little flashes against Wigan.”
“Hatem is at a much better level than he has ever been since I’ve been at the football club.” “So we’re hoping that he will start featuring.”
Newcastle will have 3,500 fans traveling to Ewood Park tonight, and they will provide the inspiration for our players, and we’re quite sure they will make themselves heard.
Alan will make sure the players know they are playing to win this game for the great Newcastle fans, who show so much dedication to the team, by traveling repeatedly to these away games.
This is what Alan said about the fans:
“We are going to win it for them.” “We feel we can win because we’re in that mood anyway.”
“Where we are at the moment we are feeling confident. It will be brilliant for us.”
It turns out that Newcastle fans will wear party hats and streamers in Blackburn this evening, so we really hope they are in party mood at the end of the game.
If they are, that will mean Newcastle are through to the last eight of the Carling Cup, and who knows, Newcastle could even go on and win the thing.
Whenever Newcastle win their first trophy since 1969, that will summon the start of some massive celebrations on Tyneside, and who knows, that could even be this season.
Howay The lads!!
71 comments so far
yorkshireToon
Oct 26, 2011 at 1:56 PM
Comment #1goal for benny tonight i can feel it!
Andy
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:01 PM
Comment #2First time he and marv will have started against prem opposition although it may be reserves. Looking forward to it. HWTL!
yorkshireToon
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:03 PM
Comment #3any news on blackburn starting line up anywhere?
GeordieGerman
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:04 PM
Comment #4Fiddled a day off work tomorrow, so I can have a few beers and listen (radio only I think) to the game. Not to bothered though. I can turn the speakers up and get a fresh beer (or get rid of an overload) without panicking that I’ll miss something.
pardew no 1
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Comment #5Ben arfa needs to learn how to pass it and when to pass don’t get me wrong he is 1 of our best players and properly make Blackburn look crap witch they are he just needs to know when to pass
Andy
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:09 PM
Comment #6GG that is the joy of radio however i hate listening! Can’t picture it properly in my head. Luckily motd4 with carling cup goals is on tonight 🙂 How are you anyways?
Selbymag
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:09 PM
Comment #7First post for a whils as a very hapy Mag with nothing to moan about.. but
He needs to start playing for the team and not himself.
I realise it will take a while to settle back into games but some shocking decision making from HBA on Saturday. Especially a ludicrous backheel to nobody.
To be honest I have alway said on here that the one great game and 1 wonder goal against everton was not enough to convinvce me that this lad is the second coming.
I said that before the broken leg and I stand by it some people have him as Beardsley, Ginola and Tino rolled into one!
AshtreeKid
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:09 PM
Comment #8geordiegerman, need to do like me – beer fridge next to the sofa, dont even have to get up as long I dont need the toilet (havent solved this problem yet!)
hainesy
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:16 PM
Comment #9Check out my blog please guys and give me a bit of feedback as to whether it’s ok and if I should continue or not. Link below:
http://thelifeandtimesofatoonfan.blogspot.com/
Toon_Tom
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:18 PM
Comment #10“We are going to win it for them.” “We feel we can win because we’re in that mood anyway.”
Best quote I have seen from AP yet > what a guy 🙂
Toon_Tom
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:20 PM
Comment #11Ashtree Kid > get a Commode mate, little seats with a potty attached underneath!!! 😉
dutchy
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:24 PM
Comment #12No need for radio. Hopefully on here http://www.firstrowsports.tv/
GeordieGerman
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:27 PM
Comment #13Andy, 53. so much to old for you.
AshtreeKid, do what they do in the Oktoberfest marque and scared to loose their seat. Walking stick into a bucket.
GeordieGerman
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:31 PM
Comment #14AshtreeKid, or you can get urinals with a cover with a nice picture on it. Wouldn’t look that bad.
AshtreeKid
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:34 PM
Comment #15not sure the missus would go for that, my “temporary” beer fridge has been next to the sofa for about 12 months now and I’m having a hard enough time keeping that in place!
Andy
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:34 PM
Comment #16:l: was kinda meaning in general but that is me pied. Team you guys reckon for tonight? I think it’ll be
Krul
Simspon Perch Colo Santon
Obertan Abeid Gosling/guthrie marveaux
HBA
Lovenkrands
AshtreeKid
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:40 PM
Comment #17I think it will be stringer than that Andy
Krul
Simpson
Perch
Colo
Santon
Obertan
Abeid
Cabaye
Marveaux
Best
HBA
Andy
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:46 PM
Comment #18Don’t think cabaye will start as he is only 2 bookings away from a ban and he doesn’t really need to be risked too much for this one although we want to win it.
BengGaBoy
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:46 PM
Comment #19At times, HBA just remind me of Laurent Robert (under Bobby Robson era).
HBA (like Robert’s free kick) can be a joy to watch but also can be frustrating to watch especially when he held on to the ball for far too long and conclude it with a back pass.
And on defending or back tracking to chase after lose ball, well, at least that’s not evident from his game.
Hopefully, in the games to come he can show a little flair to justify Chris’s decision to get him in 🙂
AshtreeKid
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:49 PM
Comment #20Beng, think this is why Pardew has stated that he will only start in the number 10 role for him, as it gives him freedom and doesnt put any onus on him coming back to defend as he would have to on the wing
09nufc09
Oct 26, 2011 at 2:55 PM
Comment #21ben arfa is a constant problem for a defence to the point where they start defending alot deeper and leaving men free. when he came on against spurs the game changed and we got a point from what looked like it was goin to be a defeat, against wigan it looked like we were going to draw then when ben arfa came on they couldnt man mark cabaye any more and started defending alot deeper giving us alot more time on the ball. if you watch the goal back you will realise ben arfa had a large part to play in cabayes goal, cabayes marker ( diame ) followed ben arfa leaving cabaye time to have a shot. he effects defences by just being on the pitch, even when he is clearly not fully 100%.
good video of ben arfa from last season in his few games for us…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWppci04Z74&feature=related
AP's Black & White Army
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:00 PM
Comment #22nufc09
I agree. I really think peoples expectations were ridiculous, given the time he’s been out. As you say, his influence on the game was apparent, in both those matches, even if his selection of pass was a little out of sorts. I put that down to frustration and sharpness.
Anyone who has played the game, then had a considerable break and gone back, knows that your mind is the last piece of the recovery, quickness of thought and awareness will come.
Selbymag
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:02 PM
Comment #2309NUFC09 To give HBA credit for the result agains spurs is wrong Sholas goal and 20 minute display earned us that point. If anything Ben Arfa nearly cost us the game with setting up Defoes effort which Krul saved.
Against Wigan Marveaux made the differnce not HBA
The Jury is firmly out my friend
AP's Black & White Army
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:10 PM
Comment #24Put it like this. HBA knows he’s naturally more gifted than 90% of footballers, so he’ll be heaping pressure on himself, but the cream always rises to the top. There’s no way people like him will fail, he’s made of stern stuff.
Born winner.
JayToon4life
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:11 PM
Comment #25Guys cant wait for tonight…Benny boy and Marveaux will smash them to pieces…Goodbye Kean make it a smashing nite for the blokes last gam in charge of Blackburn :)!!! Just hope Santon gets a game and Smith and Lovenkrands are kept out the team…and away from Ewood Park so Pardew doesnt get tempted to play them!!! Also Am I SOOOOO Glad AMEOBI is injured aswell!!! Maybe tonite will be LEON Bet’s time to shine…after a lack of goals in past couple of games!!
Anyone wanting to watch the game its on either w.w.w. myp2pDOTpe or P2PFireDOTCOM
Enjoy the game lads….lets hope his time tomorrow we are looking forward to the Quarters!!!
HOWAY THE LADS!!!!!!!!!!!
Selbymag
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:14 PM
Comment #26APs Black & White Army and you are basing your thoughts on what evidence 2 hours or so in a balck and white shirt or you tube?
JayToon4life
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:14 PM
Comment #27http://www.p2pfire.com/
or
http://myp2p.pe/index.php
09nufc09
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:17 PM
Comment #28selby…. why were tottenham defending so deep? why were wigan defending so deep?…
btw i think marveaux is a very good player and has got one of the best first touches at the club, a few time this season he has picked balls out the air perfect with one touch, hes a very intellegent player aswel, his ball to cabaye against villa and the cross against forest were perfect. im looking forward to seeing a midfield of jonas, cabaye, tiote, marv with hba infront of them. it has pace, and flair with the defending ability of tiote cabaye and jonas.
bambams
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:21 PM
Comment #29thanks to dutchy i might be able to watch the match tonight (heads up for live feed) because i cannot listen to the radio it drives me nuts.
I am so pleased Cabaye scored against Wigan as it has haunted a number of players in the history of the Toon who could play but could not get on the score sheet and their careers never got going (John Robertson,Kevin Dillon, Silvio Maric,John Dahl Tommasson to name just a few from memory)
The same could be said about HBA, from what i have seen of him he is all left foot but has great control but hogs the ball a bit too much, I agree with AP’s black and white army comment 24 that he will be putting more pressure on himself as he wants to show us what he believes he can do and show he is a great footballer.
Not sure about tonight, everytime we feel we are getting somewhere some striker from the opposition comes on and has not scored for eighteen years and gets a brace against us- tonight will be scrappy and tight, one goal either way but i am praying we go through.
Selbymag
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:21 PM
Comment #3009nufc09 a teams natural instinct is to defend deeper in the latter stages of the game especially away from home. Thus not allowing the home team to get in behind them down the flamks. Most goals in the Prem Leagues are scored after the ball has been played wide.
This is a constant feature of fotball and not something resultant from the HBA phenomenon
AP's Black & White Army
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:21 PM
Comment #31Based on what I’ve seen of him on the pitch. His demeanour. A host of managers comments. Niafron’s biographical knowledge of him and his upbringing, character etc.
Sounds like you almost want him to fail, Selby?
eaststandgeordie1982
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:23 PM
Comment #32To say HBA didnt make a difference is crazy he draws the other teams players in cos they know what he can do i mean who would you of brought on to change the game smith, loverboy haha HBA will be class tonite and you will have to change your mind about how he does change games when he comes on
Toon_Tom
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:25 PM
Comment #33selby > why so nagative mate???
HBA will come good and spank numerous teams in the league this year, i can feel it, and so can AP’s B&W Army!
Selbymag
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:28 PM
Comment #34I do not want any player to fail at Newcastle im simply saying as a supporter of some experience I am yet to be convinced by the player or the myth that appears to surround him.
Eaststandgeordie I would not have introduced either of those players so your argument is pointless.I admire your confidence in a as so far unproven player and hope your well rubbed crystal balls are indeed correct and that he is class tonight!!
Toon_Tom
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:28 PM
Comment #35+negative
Toon_Tom
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:29 PM
Comment #36BamBams > LIVE FEED ?????? (do tell)
Selbymag
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:29 PM
Comment #37Toon Tom as above im just not convinced by the player or his demanour on the pitch so far..
bambams
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:30 PM
Comment #38If HBA plays tonight i can see one of the Blackburn lot looking for him early…….HBA knows this but has to overcome it.
He needs a good game tonight, just think this is not the right type of game to expect “football”
Not sure what sort of team Kean will put out, i would imagine he will be more interested in premiership survival than a cup run…..
Andy
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:32 PM
Comment #39Selby he has proven himself already in france as a top top player. I think you are being a bit harsh on him because of others expectations of him but most of the points i agree with that he gives it away needlessly at times. I really do think that is because of a lack of match fitness and being in a match experience after a long time out. His exchange play with jonas in the 3 sub appearances has looked very good and i do believe he’ll improve with the more he plays.
Selbymag
Oct 26, 2011 at 3:33 PM
Comment #40bambams – if he doesnt get a start tonight then he wont for a while Stoke away is not the game for him nor potentially is Everton at home niether team short of players prepared to risk a card to stop a “flair” player.