It took another piece of magic from Hatem Ben Arfa yesterday after 58 minutes, when he rifled the ball in from just outside the penalty box, and we’ll have to stop calling him a one-footed player, because he hit the ball so beautifully with his right foot – the one he usually just uses for balance. 😀
Ben Arfa launching a missile yesterday with his right foot
Seeing that ball go in with such speed was great to watch, and shows that Ben Arfa is such a gifted player with fantastic technique, and after the goal Newcastle had good chances to win the game, which would have lifted the mood on Tyneside today.
But he just couldn’t get that second goal for Newcastle, although his French team mate Yohan Cabaye went so close with only 30 seconds remaining in the game, but American goalkeeper Brad Guzon made another fantastic save – unfortunately for us.
Alan Pardew was asked about the great one after the game:
“Hatem is a wonderfully-gifted footballer. I didn’t actually realise it was his right foot until I just watched the replay because I didn’t expect him to hit it with that power.”
“He has got exceptional power in amongst all his technique and as I say, he has been our best player from the start of the season.” ‘In training, he is our best player and on the pitch, he is our best player at the minute.”
“When we get three or four like that, we are a really, really good side. Unfortunately, we haven’t at the moment, we have got one or two just below that.”
Some top stars are taking their time to get into their best form at Newcastle this season, and it’s looking like it will be very difficult for Newcastle to repeat the feats of last season, but it’s still very early days of course.
But Ben Arfa has started off in great form, and has easily looked Newcastle best player so far this season, and we wonder if one option Alan Pardew may use up front, is to use this lad as a withdrawn striker behind either Papiss Cisse or Demba Ba – it would be worth trying.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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19 comments so far
pieceofpapiss
Sep 3, 2012 at 9:33 AM
Comment #1Has anyone got a photo of these Tracksuits?
pieceofpapiss
Sep 3, 2012 at 9:37 AM
Comment #2Also 4 years ago today Dennis Wise was sacked. Something to brighten eveyones day!!
Markaccus
Sep 3, 2012 at 9:39 AM
Comment #3Unfortunately, yesterday wasn’t the best example of how good hba is. Ok, the goal was fantastic (he never scores an average one) but his corners and passing were really off. Everyone is allowed a poor game now and then, especially if they bang a goal in.
BigKirky
Sep 3, 2012 at 9:41 AM
Comment #4Was a great goal. Well done Hatem. Players of his quality can pull things out of the bag like that regardless of their form in a game. He actually tried one from about that distance but more centrally earlier in the game with his right foot.
Markaccus
Sep 3, 2012 at 9:41 AM
Comment #5Really papiss? Then we should hold a charity match and have a minutes applause in honor of his arse being kicked out of the club!
ilovetoon8788
Sep 3, 2012 at 9:42 AM
Comment #6Without arfa we can’t score at the minute. Because we are clueless going upfront without him. He’s vital. We can’t afford to have him injured.
deeeeeeano
Sep 3, 2012 at 9:44 AM
Comment #7Our whole attack looks lifeless
DaveD1000
Sep 3, 2012 at 9:46 AM
Comment #8tracksuit photo from someone on Twitter
http://yfrog.com/nvh2klaj
davybtoon
Sep 3, 2012 at 9:49 AM
Comment #9Yesterday was a point gained bcoz we really were poor, but some positives to take from the game n start of season are biggie what a young player this kid is a few little mistakes but to b expected on your debut, santon mom for me best player on the pitch from start to finish, Anita for me looked great at rb n he should stay
We the same points from spurs n villa at home as we did last season so things arnt that bad you’ve no right to beat anyone in this league n we were lucky we got a draw
davybtoon
Sep 3, 2012 at 9:53 AM
Comment #10This should b our team for everton
Krul
Anita staylor colo santon
Biggie tiote
Hba cabaye marveux
Ba/cisse
The time has come for pardew to decide which one of ba n cisse are gonna play up top atm it should b ba for me
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 3, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Comment #11Q) Why is Anita going in at RB when he’s played LB for Ajax and Santon is supposedly a RB and not a LB?
jesperfuglsang
Sep 3, 2012 at 10:05 AM
Comment #12AP should always field the best team possible in the best formation possible; I have a hard time seeing when that is 4-4-2 🙂
If you can keep possesion and close down your opponent you are 50% there, the rest is down to creating chances and luck 🙂
Is very difficult to achive this playing 4-4-2 😉
I don’t know why AP likes 4-4-2 so much – does anybody know why? Each there own I guess.
jesperfuglsang
Sep 3, 2012 at 10:07 AM
Comment #13*their
TorqToon
Sep 3, 2012 at 10:08 AM
Comment #14Nice to have you back Jesper – your sound and informative posts have been missed.
It’s been a rough few days on the blog as I’m sure you are aware of, transfer window and yesterday’s game pushing many over the edge. Screaming for Ba to get injured, simmo I be BADLY injured and Cabaye to be sold!
It’s been madness mate but hoping all has calmed now and cooler heads have prevailed.
Rotonda heights
Sep 3, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Comment #15davybtoon
yes man for man I totally agree and that was my team on the previous thread.
Sorry can’t keep up, ed’s already on the next thread!
Ollie666
Sep 3, 2012 at 10:16 AM
Comment #16Pardiola has got to realise that 4-4-2 doesnt work. We have to start playing more flowing attacking football with either
4-3-3
Krul
Tav Collo Saylor Santon
Cabaye Tiote Marv/Guti
Benny Cisse Ba
We humiliated teams with that formation last season!!
or
4-1-2-1-2
Krul
Tav Collo Saylor Santon
Tiote(when fit)
Cabaye Marv
Benny
Cisse Ba
Of course replace tav with simpson or raylor when they return from their injuries
jesperfuglsang
Sep 3, 2012 at 10:17 AM
Comment #17Hi Torq my good friend 🙂
…it is always sad when ppl start doing that; isn’t it strange how some only keep perspektive or show support when we are on top?
Cisse is in a slumb right now and we need to get him on fire, but my concern is Cabaye who clearly is down and out and 4-4-2 is clearly not working wondwrs for him 🙂
89Norcal
Sep 3, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Comment #18Ollie666,
That 4-1-2-1-2 looks interesting, though I think Pards likes the inherent width of a 4-3-3 to supply crosses to the Dembas who are good with headers.
I’ve said often, that a something like a 4-4-1-1 with Ba behind Cisse but off center would allow them more space to run. Then give Ben Arfa his freedom up front to fill in the Attacking Mid position and Tiote/Bigi would drop back.
When Ba and Cisse play as a pair up front they are static, when Ba is a winger in the 4-3-3 he is nullified offensively as he’s not a proper winger. If anything play a 4-3-3 where Ba and Hatem are closer to the center and Cisse is the ST.
Munster Mag
Sep 3, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Comment #19I think the inability of Ba and Cisse to work well together is a concern in terms of Pardew’s judgement. He wade an interesting comment there that people havent picked up on – “when we get three or four more like him” ……some chance Pards mate. Your boss wouldnt even get you a full back or centre half, despite all the MA fans telling those of us who worried that we had “all summer” to get players in , no patience etc. Its time I moved on from my frustrations with Ashely’s lack of ambition, but i certainly hope some of the happy clappies have learned something in the last few weeks.