Alan Pardew is still challenging our mercurial midfielder Ben Arfa to increase both his work-rate and energy when he’s playing for Newcastle.
Ben Arfa – he’s trying to improve work-rate
That has to be a general statement because the lad worked his socks off for Newcastle against QPR, and had a very good game last Sunday in Newcastle’s fine 1-0 victory.
The big surprise last Sunday was after scoring one of the best goals ever seen at St. James Park in its 120 year history as the home of Newcastle United (in the game against Blackburn) – that still wasn’t enough to get him a starting position last Sunday against QPR.
And on Sunday Ben Arfa made a big difference to the side after he came on in the first half, and helped the lads get all 3 points against a rejuvenated QPR under new manager Mark Hughes.
Alan Pardew has again talked about Ben Arfa to the local press today:
“The challenge is still for Hatem to get in this team.” “His energy and his workrate needs to improve – I make no bones about that.”
“The goal against Blackburn will do him no harm at all.” “As good a player as he is, he still needs confidence and goals.”
“He scored at Bolton, and he scored against Blackburn here in another cameo.” “He’s been injured for a year – people forget that.”
“We’ve got to make sure we get that talent on the pitch more than we’re getting it at the minute.” “He’s given us another option, and it’s something we’ll be looking at.”
“There are players who have become legends in this country – Ronaldo, for example – who have taken their time to understand what this division’s about.”
We still think Ben Arfa has a very good chance of becoming a great player for Newcastle, and the fact that he seems to be listening to what his manger is saying is a very good sign.
And give the lad credit, he needs some time to get used to the pace and physical nature of the Premier League, and he’s also coming back from that terrible double fracture of his left leg.
Quite honestly we think Ben Arfa is doing just fine, but he will again likely start on the bench at Craven Cottage with Pardew likely to start the same side as against QPR.
That’s assuming Yohan Cabaye is fit, but that looks to be the case.
There’s a chance he could start as second striker to Leon Best on Saturday, but we think Pardew will stick with Shola Ameobi, who is due a goal for Newcastle.
Comments welcome.
242 comments so far
Toon GI Jordan
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:03 PM
Comment #41geordie@bergen_norway, I think Cabaye is going to be fit for Fulham. Reports say there was no major scare and no damage done.
boater
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:04 PM
Comment #42So is Cabaye out? I missed that one.
Toon GI Jordan
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:04 PM
Comment #43That said I think he would prefer HBA over Gosling due to the impact he made against QPR.
LGFUAD21
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Comment #44Still not convinced by Gosling. I think Fulham will be a tougher game than people think. Heres my line-up
Simmo Willo Colo Santon
Raylor Tiote Cabaye/Guthrie Jonas
Shola
Best
If shola is doing nowt by half time and we are down or the game is goalless I say we put HBA on in his place. Fulham have a fairly solid defense, they just cant score for sh!t. We need some kind of attacking threat.
Toon GI Jordan
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Comment #45Cabaye is expected to be fit.
LenDixon
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:08 PM
Comment #46If Pardew thinks Ben Arfa has to inrease his energy and work rate in matches what on earth is he watching when Shola plays??
LGFUAD21
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:08 PM
Comment #47If Cabaye is out we ould look to play something liek this though
Simmo Willi Colo Santon
Raylor Tiote Jonas
HBA Shola Best
Best slightly ahead of HBA and Shola. If shola is doing FA again. we stick someone like Obertan as a RW and switch to 4-4-2
milk or cream
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Comment #48right now im feeling that AP is making every excuse under the sun not to play HBA,
from the games he has apeared in this season, he has worked as hard as everyone on the pitch, i havnt seen this lazy play that pardew seems to see,
not knocking shola here, but he is lazy and dont help the team win the ball back much,
and in obertan, he goes missing big style during games
when HBA has been on the pitch he activly goes looking for the ball, he will try to run at defenders with the ball, or he tries to pick a pass out, to unlock the door, he is always trying to be positive with the ball,
by nature he isnt a tackler he is a creative player , pardew should focus on the positive things HBA brings to the team, instead of trying his best to keep him out of it,
obertan got a good run in the team , now i think he owes it to HBA to have a run too
Magman
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Comment #49Fulham-game:
Krul
Simpson – Willo – Colo – Santon
Ben Arfa – Guthrie – Cabaye – Jonas
Vuckic
Best
boater
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:12 PM
Comment #50LGF – Mate tiote is in Africa, no matter how many times you list him in your team.
hrocks
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Comment #51moving forward once pardew gets what he wants ot of ben arfa i can see us playing 4-1-3-2
with taylor out the back 4 picks itself
tiote will sweep infront of back 4 he will get it and give
abied cover
midfield 3 of ben arfa cabaye and jonas these 3 will be interchangeable across the pitch as all 3 are intellegent players eg no set left and right. they all have good engines, touch,can beat a man and find space. They can all shoot aswell
marveaux, guthrie, oba and vuckic as cover
dembas up front who both move and run channels.both have pace and can finish
shola , sammy and best cover or tactical changes
i would replace simpson with someone who is happier with the ball at his feet/quicker
full backs give licence to go forward and play more as wing backs and if the midfield 3 work hard they will cover any holes exposed.
this team should also be able to switch to 4-3-3 with ben arfa pushing up or switch back to 4-4-2 with arfa dropping to rw and tiote comming back into the 4 depending on changes made/system played by oppersition. hell they could even go to 4-5-1 with ba dropping into midfield
raylor and gosling to be utility players
we are creating a team who like to have the ball and use the ball. all our signings are technically good.we can go places
king123
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Comment #52can anyone help me out, any season ticket holder not going to spurs away? i would like to go. if i pay someone can they get me a ticket? looking for ideally 2. cheers
Toon GI Jordan
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:16 PM
Comment #53milk or cream – I totally agree. I feel gutted for the lad when he doesn’t get a starting birth when I feel he has deserved it, especially after Bolton and Blackburn games where he changed the pace with much needed flare. Obertan isn’t doing it for me and he has hopefully dropped him for the foreseeable future.
Magman
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:16 PM
Comment #54Obertan-> Vuckic 60min
Cabaye -> Abeid 70min
Ameobi -> Best 89 min 😉
geordie@bergen_norway
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:18 PM
Comment #55Imagine what a boost we’ll get for the Wolves game on 25th feb with Tiote, Ba and Cisse all back from Africa! And the following game is against the mackems. Shit, I have to come over for tha game!
-Tendo-
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:19 PM
Comment #56after tickets go on sale to season ticket holders, how long does it usually take for them to go on sale for memebrs?
Also, does anyone know how many tickets have been allocated for the Brighton game?
boater
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Comment #57Milk or Cream – I take issue with the use of the word ‘lazy’. If shola was lazy he wouldn’t be played by Pardew or any other manager – we know he lacks mobility, but his role is to hold up play. If you’ve seen games this season in the flesh you can see that we hold a line 20 or 30 feet up further the pitch with him in the team. There is a tactical difference – it’s not just favouritism or pig headedness from Pards.
Likewise, Arfa isn’t lazy but – according to Pardew at least – is less willing to adapt his game to the system. I think it’s about discipline not laziness.
Wor Shearer
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Comment #58If you don’t like lazy, why do you play Shola?
Wor Shearer
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:21 PM
Comment #59@boater
Lol, “he’s not lazy, he’s immobile!”
Toon GI Jordan
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:21 PM
Comment #60geordie@bergen_norway – the atmosphere will be buzzing when they come back. I’m not here for the scum game! I’m going to New York for a few days! I coudln’t believe it when I found out. Actually does anyone know of a good bar in NYC to watch Toon games?
Kris
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:22 PM
Comment #61Hope for this team against Fulham:
Simpson, Willo, Coloccini, Santon
Guthrie, Cabaye, Gosling
Benny, Best, Gutierrez
Bench. Elliot, Raylor, Perch, Vuckic, Obertan, Lovenkrands, Ameobi
Wor Shearer
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:22 PM
Comment #62“He’s not the son of god, he’s a very naughty boy!”
ToonDownSouth
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:23 PM
Comment #63If people genuinely cannot see what Shola brings to the team, I fear the stereotypes of deluded NUFC fans who nothing about football may be closer to home that I thought :/
Kris
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:23 PM
Comment #64Enda en Newcastle-sjel fra Bergen, altså:D!
milk or cream
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:24 PM
Comment #65Toon GI Jordan
i remeber beresford once said about ginola, he didnt mind doing extra defending for ginola, as from an attacking point ginola could give more to the team than most of the others,
although HBA is not the greatest player he could be yet, he could be amazing, he has confidence to try things, that should be encouraged, not held back,
its double stds for him and obertan, obertan has no confidence so he gets played to try and build it, then you have HBA whos confidence must be taking a hit seeing his name on the subs bench every week 🙁
PARDEW QUIT WITH THE EXCUSES AND LET THE BOY SHINE
Wor Shearer
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:27 PM
Comment #66Don’t get me wrong, I love Shola:
1) Mackem Slayer
2) Loyal/ True Geordie
3) Good hold-up play
4) Geood impact Sub
But:
1) No stamina
2) Slow
3) not accurate enough
4) falls over too much
boater
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:28 PM
Comment #67Tendo – Depends on the game. You need 25 loyalty points for spuds away now.. got 15 so waiting for them to come down. Got ticks for Fulham on saturday. Thought about Brighton but can’t quite be arsed to go all that way for a 4th round cup game when it’s on the box.. sorry lads.
ilovetoon8788
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:28 PM
Comment #68@milk or cream // Jan 19, 2012 at 2:24 PM
He’s not giving excuses. He’s trying to lay down a challenge to HBA and not letting him get carried away at all. He’s showing whose the boss. And he wants to see just what type of character HBA has. He’s doing it on purpose and i like the way he’s man-managing a player of HBA attitude.
Sgt. Heagerty
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:28 PM
Comment #69Look lads, stop questioning the silver fox, the lad knows what bs is doing surely we have all learned not to question the Geordie general by now, he has won us all over by making the right moves on and off the pitch and by making hba work to get into the side you get performances like v qpr. he worked his arse off…. Loved hughton nut he couldn’t get Ben arfa to do that…. Hwtl
milk or cream
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:30 PM
Comment #70boater
iv seen shola many times, and he has improved in some areas of his game but at the cost of other parts,
his first touch and hold up play are much better, but he dosnt run for the team, he wont chase much he wont bust a gut to get into the center when he has been out on a wings
he always looks over weight to,
Indian Magpie
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:31 PM
Comment #71i dont get the LOYAL argument with shola, he did go 2 stoke on loan and if they wanted they cd have signed him.
and lets be fair, where else would he go, wrexam, dagenam, yeading,plymouth, darlington shamrock
boater
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Comment #72Wor Shearer – I love Shola but cannot disagree with anything you put. Just to add that Pard’s system, like it or not, is to play early balls into a target man and support from midfield. Whilst that’s true, Shola is doing a good job of holding up the ball.
He’ll be decent back up when we get our rolls royce strikers back- even if it’s in rotation.
Irie-Magpie
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Comment #73@Hrocks
I’m liking that and if we saw what we did in our ManU game where we switch from Route 1 to Passing game, our squad is being conditioned to adapt to any formation needed to win a game within the 90mins.
I have no doubt if Benny continues to play (being a playmaker) like he did against QPR, he will be in our starting XI soon enough.
Sir freddy shep
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Comment #74This guy was a waste of money he wont get in the team next season ,No chance .
fgb224lbs
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:35 PM
Comment #75People keep asking “why does pardew keep bringing this up with.the press.”
well its because we say “why isn’t Ben arfa starting games?” an the press ask him so he answers them honestly. Fair play to him. The question is answered but you can guarantee when the squad sheet is shown to us on Saturday everybody will ask “why isn’t Ben arfa starting”
he then gets asked in his next interview and it all starts again
jimmymagpie
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Comment #76Pardew told his press conference today that Cabaye is doubrful for Fulham, which is usually Pardew-speak for he won’t play.
boater
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Comment #77Indian Magpie – How about the ‘in the absence of bigger names he helps us gain points which lead to our prosperity as a club’ argument. Go and support City if you don’t place any value on loyalty, professionalism and roots to the region.
mattyNUFC
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:37 PM
Comment #78haven’t read the rest of the comments but is anyone else as equally tired of hearing pardew talking to the press about what ben arfa needs to do?
it’s time he’s given the same treatment pardew seems to give everyone else, from raylor to obertan to santon, a run of games. strangely enough, there seems to be a sort of double standard when it comes to our most talented player in the team
Sir freddy shep
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:38 PM
Comment #79Cabaye has a cast on .
geordie@bergen_norway
Jan 19, 2012 at 2:39 PM
Comment #80Kris, ja to av oss stikker til Newcastle om to uker for å se Villa blir gruset som i fjor. 🙂 Bare synd at afrikanerne er borte.