The way Newcastle and Alan Pardew have handled Ben Arfa since he arrived on Tyneside, has been fantastic.
France manager Lauent Blanc last night – big fan of Ben Arfa?
And Newcastle and Ben Arfa, and possibly France in Euro 2012, will be reaping the benefits of a much more mature and professional young man, who still has those mercurial skills, after recovering from a double fracture of his left leg in October of 2010.
And Newcastle’s name in France could become even bigger, if Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye perform well for France in the Euro 2012 Championships, due to start in a couple of weeks time, but hopefully not too well against England . 😀
Manager Laurent Blanc is now almost certain to name both Newcastle players in his final squad of 23, and Blanc had this to say about the mercurial Newcastle winger today:
“I believe that he has reached a new level, both as a player and as a person at Newcastle.” “He is more mature, he is conscious of his talent but that he has to transfer it in to benefiting his team and not just for himself.”
And 25 year-old Ben Arfa, who has come of age at Newcastle, says he is very keen to resurrect a new image of himself in France:
“I am really eager to prove myself,” “I have earned myself a certain reputation. It was very, very difficult to return. There is only me and those around me who know how difficult it was.”
“When I was being treated at Clairefontaine I had the objective to regain my international spot. I’m happy, it’s already huge.”
Ben Arfa’s appearance for France last night was his first cap in two years since joining Newcastle United and his 9th cap in total, and he had a good game out on the right wing for an hour, before both Newcastle players were substituted.
Ben Arfa’s great comeback from his devastating leg injury could be complete in the European Championships this summer, and we are hoping that both Newcastle players give a great account of themselves.
And as we’ve said before, Ben Arfa deserves tremendous credit for the way in which he has handled himself on Tyneside, and he seems to be starting to reap the rewards for the great courage he has shown.
Good for him!
Comments welcome.
56 comments so far
jayphoto
May 28, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Comment #1think he’ll light up the tournament if france play him from the start! Be shocked if france don’t take him, if he were english he’d be our national hero! a player made for the big stage!
TorqToon
May 28, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Comment #2He IS mercurial !! Lol
jayphoto
May 28, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Comment #3http://www.hatem-benarfa.com/index.php/langue/en
possibly my fav pic of hatem ever!
alkinou
May 28, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Comment #4I was wondering I keep seeing Ben Arfa being qualified as mercurial, but my native language is French and I just don’t know what it means. Could somebody explain it to me please? Thank you
toonatic
May 28, 2012 at 11:39 AM
Comment #5Mercuriel eh. Any other words to describe him?
Troleibusiukas_LTU
May 28, 2012 at 11:39 AM
Comment #6Reading between the lines Ben Arfa will play for England.
Indian Magpie
May 28, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Comment #7Mercurial : Adjective
Liable to sudden unpredictable change
ash1001
May 28, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Comment #8I thought he had an excellent game last night, played as a team player, but at the same time was always trying show his skills, OK the odd once or twice he made a mistake, but overall a very good performance and should be in the squad, fingers crossed.
Lets hope both our players take part and perform very well even against England, we and them are French Geordies now.
Indian Magpie
May 28, 2012 at 11:43 AM
Comment #9No read to read B/w the lines look at the photo by jay photo
Troleibusiukas_LTU
May 28, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Comment #10Does he drink mercury or what? 😀
Troleibusiukas_LTU
May 28, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Comment #11hey, i just kidding 😀 it means lively.
toonatic
May 28, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Comment #12@ alkinou
it basically means he can act erratically or has a changable personality with a bit of a temper on top of all that.
Still waiting on Ed to describe him as other wise like for example; talented, skillful or sensational.
lewytoon
May 28, 2012 at 11:53 AM
Comment #13mercurial to me means:
fast, tricky, skillful. a bit different and a bit fiesty, like moody but can be dead happy
joe
May 28, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Comment #14Why is it that England never produce this type of player? I’m not from England so this is a serious question.. Is it the coaching from young? Or is it tactics? Or what…
mattnufc
May 28, 2012 at 11:57 AM
Comment #15Mercurial
Ben Arfa
Mercurial
Ben Arfa
Mercurial
Ben Arfa
Mercurial
Ben Arfa
Mercurial
chris_g
May 28, 2012 at 11:57 AM
Comment #16Why does Ed continually use the word “mercurial” when he clearly doesn’t understand what the word actually means?
mattnufc
May 28, 2012 at 11:58 AM
Comment #17Why does it matter if you’re from England or not :S
I think the coaching is different from many other countries, not enough emphasis is on control and skill.
joe
May 28, 2012 at 12:00 PM
Comment #18I meant that I’m not familiar with the coaching in England..
ilovetoon8788
May 28, 2012 at 12:07 PM
Comment #19I think its the genes. ;p;
t00ntime
May 28, 2012 at 12:16 PM
Comment #20Mercurial is a roman god, the god of mercury to be exact.
When someone describes another as Mercurial it means they have attributes of the mercury god.
His Attributes were:
Swiftness
Changing temprament
Shrewdness
Etc
There for it is ben arfa, he used to change his tempor every 5seconds, he is defintly swift lol looks like he is our own roman god
Spuggy
May 28, 2012 at 12:16 PM
Comment #21HBA is not the finished product yet, he still needs to work on his decision making. Much improved, incredible ability, just need to refine how he uses it.
Expect great things from him next season!
Ian Magpie
May 28, 2012 at 12:17 PM
Comment #22@Joe
The main emphasis in the development of English football has been on pace and power and it has been for a very long time! We once produced many players with superb technical ability such as Beardsley and Gascoine to name but 2 of our own. Now kids are tought to run run run and virtually pass it forward as soon as they get it. They are never allowed time on the ball becouse of the pace of the games! This prevents ball confidence and is frustratingly counter productive in later years! Size is also what many coaches and scouts look for. What it means and I am being vague but that England produce reasonably good players that can run all day at pace, can tackle hard but have less skills than our European cousins!
Beattie25
May 28, 2012 at 12:20 PM
Comment #23Guess whose back, back again
Beattie’s back tell a friend
Beattie25
May 28, 2012 at 12:25 PM
Comment #24Benny will tear England to pieces, and I’m an English man.
The French have got a team capable of winning where as we will be lucky to beat the Ukraine.
It’s going to be a looonnnnggggg summer.
Any news on the transfer front? I hear we may be interested in reo-Coker. Why?
Indian Magpie
May 28, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Comment #25Beattie 25 my friend says hello
Beattie25
May 28, 2012 at 12:31 PM
Comment #26Hello Indian!
How are you?
Xxxx
lewytoon
May 28, 2012 at 12:33 PM
Comment #27http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/900388-newcastle-scout-lilles-mathieu-debuchy-in-action-for-france
Indian Magpie
May 28, 2012 at 12:37 PM
Comment #28Beattie i am good, how are you sir.
pieceofpapiss
May 28, 2012 at 12:39 PM
Comment #29Has anyone see CWarr07’s latest post on Twitter. Apparently theres a french lad in talks with the toon at the mo. Looking at houses in northumberland apparently. And its not Debauchy.
Jarra Magpie
May 28, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Comment #30LEE CATTERMOLE FIGHTING IN STOWELL STREET ON SATURDAY NIGHT …. First hand report from an eyewitness who saw Cattermole and half a dozen mates in the early hours of Sunday in Stowell Street. At the rear of Aspers, at the back door that leads on to Stowell Steeet, Cattermole was spotten with mates outside one of the many Chinese Restaurants. Upon being spotted, a few chants went up in his direction. This enraged Cattermole who sent his mates ahead of him and they all came charging on, fists flying. Northumbria’s finest appeared a minute later, Cattermole was last seen sprinting up Stowell Street away from the long arm of the law. Now, is he trying to compete with a certain QPR player? Don’t think it was a wise move heading back to Stowell Street so soon after his guilty plea to vehicle damage x 6 cars. Personally i think a life ban for the Smoggie Mackem from Newcastle is deserved. He also has bumfluff on his face now, just to complete the horrible picture…….
Indian Magpie
May 28, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Comment #31If any 1 follows Cwarr, please let me know i will follow you if you can retweet what he tweets.
He blocked me when i gave him a piece of my mind
even though he speks nonsense i still enjoyed what ghe did
Indian Magpie
May 28, 2012 at 12:51 PM
Comment #32Transfer Central TNC ?@TransferNewsCen
Robin Bairner(French football editor) says Eden Hazard to Chelsea is a done deal. -S
Expand Collapse Reply RetweetedRetweet
Delete
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lewytoon
May 28, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Comment #33hes got a lock so noone can retweet him, due to people ‘stealing’ his ‘gervinho to nufc’ ‘story’, which never happened…
~Perchinho the Pheonix~
May 28, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Comment #34Hazard to Chelsea, If true. Would be a piss poor decision by Hazard IMO.
He could walk into better teams that finish above chelsea.
Like United, Arsenal, Newcastle. To name a few 😛
I doubt there’s any truth in the story though, Chelsea have yet to appoint a permanent manager and I can’t see weasel face getting the job.
lewytoon
May 28, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Comment #35mapou yanga mbwia sighted! naat…
Toon1978
May 28, 2012 at 12:56 PM
Comment #36Not to bothered who goes to Chelsea tbf. Another club just like City who buy up competition and buy cups and League titles.
Beattie25
May 28, 2012 at 1:07 PM
Comment #37Indian I am well.
Anyway does anybody remember the last person who left the Senegal camp to speak to a PL club?
Maybe wor Cisse and Ba have had a word!
Beattie25
May 28, 2012 at 1:11 PM
Comment #38Sorry I was referring to Diame in that post.
Anyways whose up for a spot of dogging?
Beattie25
May 28, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Comment #39See Debuchy scored last night!
An international full back who gets forward and makes chances as well as scored.
If we don’t sign him I’ll be devastated
Beattie25
May 28, 2012 at 1:26 PM
Comment #40I get it. Beattie’s back so we’ll all go quiet?!
Well I can talk to myself, first though I’m off to redtube