Hatem Ben Arfa had another good game at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, and has been in some sparkling form this season for the Magpies, and he added another assist to his record when he brilliantly set up his French team-mate Yohan Cabaye just before half-time, and Cabaye produced a wonderful finish to put Newcastle ahead – a goal made in France.
Ben Arfa in action at Anfield on Sunday
After having been pummelled in those first 30 minutes by Liverpool, when that goal went in we thought this is the day we would break that 18 year hoodoo of not winning a league game at Anfield – but it didn’t happen.
Ben Arfa is used to winning, and he has a winning mentality, having won the French League with his first two clubs Lyon and Marseilles, and he had this to say about Sunday’s game in the local press today:
“We have a big week ahead.” “First Brugge and then West Ham and we have to win both.” “If we win the next few games in the Premier League we will move up the table.” “There is West Ham first and then Swansea.”
“I think the next five games are very important.” “We did well but maybe we lost concentration in the second half and from it they scored a goal.” “I think we made it hard for them to score more, though – we defended very well in the second half.”
“I think it was a very good point.” “Sometimes it is hard to take points at Liverpool because there is a big atmosphere.” “We could have won the game.” “Even after the goal we had chances, two or three, but we also had to defend a lot.”
“By the end they could have won the game, but this is a good point.” “It was a very nice goal from Cabaye.” “He controlled the ball and shot an unstoppable effort.” “It was a nice cross. Every time I try to create situations like that.”
“If Yohan can keep doing the rest we will be OK.”
Certainly Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye are two fantastic players Newcastle have picked up over the last 30 months or so, and both of them together cost around £8M for Newcastle – another great deal by Newcastle.
And certainly they are worth a lot more than that now, having become better players on Tyneside under the tutelage of both Chris Hughton and Alan Pardew.
Next up for Newcastle is Club Brugge on Thursday night, and we need to win that game and qualify for the final 32 of the Europa League.
Comments welcome.
Note – yes – I just love that word mercurial to describe Hatem Ben Arfa – what a player this lad is now for Newcastle.
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91 comments so far
Ian Toon
Nov 6, 2012 at 5:14 PM
Comment #41nimo- Cisse is an instinctive finisher. I read on here earlier a very good point by someone making a case for the inclusion of Fergi if only to improve early delivery to Ba/ Cisse. We’re on the right track with Cabaye playing a much higher line along with HBA although Ba/Cisse have a reputation for being clinical finishers it would be great to create a lot more in final third. Tiote when not trying to destroy all and sundry powers forward in a manner to energise the team going forward. I see Anita – who’s a highly intelligent player as the perfect counterbalance.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 6, 2012 at 5:24 PM
Comment #42Hello Ian, How’s tricks?
You seem extremely upbeat about the West Ham game this weekend (good man). Should be an interesting game and it’s one I am looking forward to. I do think, if on form, they could cause our defense an issue or two, however, Steven Taylors performance re-assured me the other day as he seems to be showing that warrior spirit again that we saw at the beginning of last season.
With our midfield and attack you just know as and when they click the results will be devastating. It doesn’t really take much to win a game if you’re solid as a team, which I truly believe we are (2 losses so far whilst playing supposedly poor quality football), so one or two converted moments of brilliance will do….would love to smash them though….not that I would take any joy at seeing Fat Sam getting more and more wound up 😉
Ketsbaia9
Nov 6, 2012 at 5:27 PM
Comment #43Check the goals scored by Cisse on Youtube. Most of them are scored from within the box. He’s a goal poacher. We need that extra striker to play with Ba and Cisse.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 6, 2012 at 5:39 PM
Comment #44Kets…..Are you suggesting a new striker to partner Cisse and Ba separately or to play three strikers?
I am not going to claim to be an expert on the type of goals he scores, as I’ve only seen what he did for us and that amazing header for Senegal (Howay Cisse, you’re supposed to save the glory goals for the toon), but from what I have seen he seems to score a variety of goals, but most of them he doesn’t really create them himself (if that makes sense). Basically, he can put it away from almost anywhere, but doesn’t generally create the opportunity himself (other than getting in to the right position). That isn’t meant to sound as a criticism, as it is definitely not.
One thing I will say is, whilst his demeanor is positive and happy, his work rate has been fairly poor this season. Doesn’t seem to have any effective chase in him, almost half arsed.
Saying that, he has had a few decent enough opportunities, not just the penalty and if he was in the same form as last season, he could easily have 4 or 5 goals now.
Doubt there is any major issue behind it, another case of give it time imo.
As for selling Ba, if that is your opinion, please follow the following instructions.
1) Step outside
2) Take in a deep breath of fresh air
3) Re-think your opinion. If you’ve changed your mind, don’t read on. If not, please go to step 4.
4) Find a wall, bang your head off it.
5) Try step 3 again. Still not changed your mind? Go to step 6.
6) Stop thinking you know anything about football, Ba is a huge if not the most important factor in where we are now and where we finished last season. Football isn’t all about goals, but without his we would have been in the proverbial sh*tt*r. May I suggest a simpler sport, say bowling?
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 6, 2012 at 5:40 PM
Comment #45Kets…My apologies, didn’t really think that through. The Ba comment wasn’t at you, should have specified. You get enough stick without my latest outburst.
Ian Toon
Nov 6, 2012 at 5:41 PM
Comment #46Ibiza- me old ….. I mean mucker. I am extremely buoyant I have been dipping in and out and sorely missed your cheery posts. I was beginning to believe the rumours of you running off with a Saudi millionairess. Enough of this tomfoolery!! I am afraid when it comes to Mr Allardyce I often let my heart rule my head. I once had the misfortune to be lectured by him along the lines of ” what do you college boys know about the real world of Premiership football” He was right at the time but it was done in a really patronising ignorant way. He was tetchy about criticism of his tactics against Stoke but I felt justified when he was sacked a few days later. He is not my type of manager or man. Delighted by your positivity I can feel it coursing through my veins. Good to engage with you and it’s always good to reinforce the view that were on the same page .
Jesper- where are you Jesper …..erer!!!!
Tsunki
Nov 6, 2012 at 5:43 PM
Comment #47Ketsy – no, we dont need a goalscoring defender we need ones that stay put and do their job well. Santon and simmo are types that like to push on, which is why midfielders are pulled backwards and forwards all game, and also why we rarely play out from the back, because there is usually nobody there by the time tim has his hands on the ball.
I think Cabs being more forward was a positive development, and also HBA still not shy about taking men on, which is why he supplied the goal lets not forget. I agree that Pards needs to get Cabs and Hatem into a game plan together. HBA needs linkup and he’s getting none of it.
Ian Toon
Nov 6, 2012 at 5:46 PM
Comment #48Ibiza- still working but great to have you back on board and to know the blogs in safe hands. Word has come through from Ed that yet again( for October) you were the most read blogger.
Jesper- your an absolute disgrace going off duty before being officially replaced.
Ketsbaia9
Nov 6, 2012 at 5:49 PM
Comment #49We don’t need to sell Ba or Cisse. We can get in a striker like Loic Remy to partner Ba and Cisse in a 4-3-3. Whoever’s performing the worst should not be selected for the starting 11.
Every team need 4 world class strikers. We only have 2. We need to sort the midfield out by signing Boudebouz and Sissokho for £5m. Cabaye and Gutierrez need to be dropped if they aren’t performing to their capabilities.
Debuchy will replace Simpson, however, we should have signed either Debuchy or Cissokho last summer.
Alderereweild is the player who we need the most. I’d splash out £8m on him.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 6, 2012 at 5:52 PM
Comment #50Ian…I think you may have confused an m with an f there, but perhaps not? 🙂 Okay, okay, back to business….
On a personal note, I am getting slightly depressed by these assumptions being made in my absence, mainly as they are often far better than the reality of my life…oh well. I suppose it’s a small blessing, if I had a millionairess in tow I could be tempted in to getting her invested in Newcastle and seeing as how I struggle with Newcastle life within this blog, that would surely be the death of me.
Anyway, back to business (deja vu…)….I’ve never been a fan of Sam Allardyce. Has done reasonably well at a certain type of club, delighted that isn’t ours. A lot of people have been saying we’re the new stoke with our hoofball of late and maybe I’m being biased (god forbid), but I just don’t see it that way. Yes, we’ve smaked a lot of wondering balls this season (maybe the most in the PL if you believe the papers – think it was the daily mail), the difference is that isn’t our one and only route.
Still have lots of patience for Pardew and what he’s trying to do, would like to see less of these long balls however. If we were managing to put a few in the back of the net it would be one thing, but it seems purely a defensive reaction, which ultimately isn’t very positive.
hallelujah..john tudor john tudor
Nov 6, 2012 at 5:53 PM
Comment #51kets is right, we do need a defender who can chip in with a few goals, in fact he is spot on
nufc_eire
Nov 6, 2012 at 5:56 PM
Comment #52Fray bentos & TADS
The fact that we have a small squad means that eventually we are going to have to sell one or more of our big names so that we can replace them with 2-3 players and then increase the size of our squad, the same principle that Everton have been working under for the last few years. Out of all our big names Tiote seems like the most logical option (to me anyway) and should fetch anywhere between 15-18m. He is a very good player but out of all our stars he would be the easiest to replace (Sissoko) and still make a very good profit so we can buy another player for more problematic position (RB,CB, Winger).
Simpson will either be sold in January or leave for nothing in the summer so we should cash in now. Again he is a good player, we could get roughly 3m for him and we can replace him with little extra expense (Debuchy).
In regards Ba, I agree he is the in form striker at the minute and is playing at a far higher level than Cisse at the moment. But I don’t think many people would argue that trying to accommodate both into the first team is not working and with the finances we have we cant afford to carry players on high wages. So because of his wage demands and reported dodgy knee he gets the nod over Cisse for me
I’m all for trying to keep cohesion in the squad and selling the three at once could unsettle everyone else. But if we keep Simpson we will lose him for the summer, we’ll at least lose Tiote for january and prob more the way he has begun the season and Ba will prob engineer a move away due looking for one last payday. So it makes sense to sell all three now and snap up players for minimal fees in January instead of trying to compete with bigger clubs for free transfers of clubs offering much more wages (which we couldn’t do at all this summer, Hoillet to QPR is a good example of that)
Also I dont think we’ve played well this season simply because we our first team is unbalanced up front. Ba put in a far bigger shift on the left wing than Cisse does (which could be a good argument fro selling Cisse rather than Ba) which is prob why the 4-3-3 worked so well last season. If we bring in a good winger/second striker for the money we get from Ba then we will be a lot more balanced and I think we will start to control games a lot more. Add a young up and coming striker into the mix as back up to Cisse, even on loan till the summer, and we have far more depth than when we started the summer with. I think our league position will drop fairly rapidly if we dont at least drop one of Ba/Cisse and put a winger on in their stead
Toon Tang
Nov 6, 2012 at 5:57 PM
Comment #53we could have won yesterday if we hadnt come out in the 2nd and just tried to defend the one goal lead like we always do. does pardew tell the players to just sit and defend or is that the team doing that ??? i would love to know
ps . the picture for mature dating site is putting me right off my sunday roast
9
Nov 6, 2012 at 5:59 PM
Comment #54I would say Ba is almost certain to go in January, but then I thought he was almost certain to go in the summer; but he wasn’t scoring, then, and is scoring, now. £7m!!! Of course he’ll go, and, sadly, NUFC get very little of that £7m. The only way we can keep him, our virtually sole goal scorer, is by giving him a contract which offers him so much money it’s worth his while to sign it. That’s what I assumed our owner had done in the summer, but this £7m clause is supposedly still in force, so he obviously didn’t bung him the £3m it would take to remove the incentive to keep that. I believe he’s on a (relatively!!) modest basic, plus appearance money, very sensible given the knee worry. I don’t think the knee worry is much of an issue now. Ba must be attractive to any Premier League team that want a goalscorer (just the 19 minus the two Mancs, then) and is prepared to offer bigger wages than we do.
As our current owner isn’t a moron, unlike the last one, we are vulnerable in this respect, and will be so until reality kicks in to the rest of the club owners – sooner than you might think, I believe. In the meanwhile, bing Ba £3m or lose him.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Comment #55Tsunki….Simpson? Type to push on? Are you going for the opposite of your normal blog killing ways? I expect a tidal wave of posts coming your way soon….
Kets….Sorry, but you don’t appear to have answered my question. You seem to say that all three would spearhead a 4-3-3, but then say whoever isn’t performing shouldn’t make the starting 11, would that mean only two normally start or play all three, then when one doesn’t, bench them?
Overall, you are right. Better quality and competition will move us on. However, there is a small situation of cost and time. I believe we are heading in the right direction, albeit at Mikes pace. Would you agree?
I personally though Cabaye had a good game the other day and let’s be thankful he was playing on the day, he was pretty important for the final result.
On Guti, I can see the argument for him not playing LW, I really do, I don’t think he’s anywhere near as bad as some are making out though. If we had ready made and proved quality that could wipe the floor with most PL teams then fine, but we don’t yet, so his work rate is invaluable to us imo.
Ketsbaia9
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:02 PM
Comment #56If we sign Sissokho, we’ll no longer need Tiote as we have Anita and Abied who can do an equally competent job. Boudebouz will allow Ben Arfa to move to left wing, then we’ll have Marveaux, Gutierrez, Ferguson and Obertan fighting for places. Marveaux can also play as a playmaker.
9
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:03 PM
Comment #57And Tiote is losing transfer vakue with every yellow (never mind red) card, which he seems totally incapable of stopping getting. You can totally forget your £18-20m, totally.
eaststandgeordie1982
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:05 PM
Comment #58Alreet lads whats the crack then, who we buying, selling and whis in charge of the bloody blog??
eaststandgeordie1982
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:06 PM
Comment #59Alreet lads whats the crack then, who we buying, selling and whos in charge of the bloody blog??
archaeomag
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:09 PM
Comment #60@Toon Tang
The hideous big blonde women who looks as if she is about to flash her pants?
How desperate do they think we are?
Don’t mind the buy yourself a foreign bride ads, quite tasteful.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:11 PM
Comment #61nufc_eire….A couple of points.
Ba – He was sure to go in the summer as well remember? Sure he’s scoring more goals again which will perhaps make him more of an attractive purchase now, but I would say it’s far from a forgone conclusion.
Simpson – I would highly doubt we’ll get £3m for him in January. If he’s leaving he will know he can negotiate a better wages deal if he is on a free transfer in the summer, why would he accept the sale in January? I would imagine any deal in January will be for a reduced sum (guessing £1.5m, not sure why) which would allow more for the purchasing club to offer him personally to lure him away earlier.
Tiote – I find him really hare to value. Before this season, i would of happily said he’s somewhere between £15-25m. Now that the Carroll saga is long behind us, my valuations of our players has become shall we say somewhat more realistic. I still rate him extremely highly, I’m just not so sure on how other clubs value him these days. He does pick up silly cards and suspensions and that surely is a big factor when looking to spend £15m+ on a player? Not so bad for us, we picked him up for £3.5m, that was a no brainer really.
I’m also not sold on the fact we need to sell in order to buy. I know it has been loosely mentioned by the club, but I think that’s more to keep selling clubs in check. If they don’t think we have money we’re willing to spend, they in theory wont be so greedy (don’t read too much in to my use of the word greedy, perhaps we’re cheap and they’re realistic in their valuations, but you get my point I hope). I do believe we were looking to buy in the summer and it wasn’t a question of us not selling anyone. I expect new players in January and whilst there may be outgoing, I don’t think it’s on the cards so to speak.
Toon_Tang…It’s Tuesday, seems you have bigger issues mate.
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:13 PM
Comment #62Nufc-eire
Dont buy into this we have to sell before we buy at all theres been no evidence of this
Simmo will no way go to a club for £3 mil when they can sign him on a pre contract no chance
The arguement of who’s better on the wing between ba and cisse is stupid neither shoukd be thats why we have wingers and we have enough games to rotate the pair
Ba is not on huge wages and if he was trying to hold the club to ransome you can bet your life he would of been turfed out in the summer but once again another window comes closer and all of a sudden he’s looking for one last pay day(@27!)
Theres no eveidence anywhere to back up this “mercenary” tag he’s picked up
Also tiote wont go weve turned down huge offers for him dont see why we’d accept one now
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:13 PM
Comment #63eaststand….I suggest you consult kets for answers to those questions.
wreker16
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:14 PM
Comment #64Kets
I agree sissoko would be a great signing but I don’t know if he is a break up the play (tiote style) player which is what we probably need. Also I’m sure Ben Arfa prefers the right side to the left, think I read that somewhere.
Finally as your list of players to sign is never gonna happen, I would like it to but lets be real, if you can only sign 3 players, who would you get?
Anyone else please feel free to suggest the three
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:15 PM
Comment #65tads….P*ss off with your opinions. You clearly don’t have a clue.
BelfastMagpie
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:16 PM
Comment #66Ibiza go and play on the train tracks..
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:17 PM
Comment #67Ibiza/ashton the 2nd
Im sorry i just wanted to be like you 🙁
archaeomag
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:19 PM
Comment #68@Ibiza
Have to agree about valuations
A lot of shopping and buying goes on this blog; I think FIFA ‘s got a lot to answer for . .
9
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:19 PM
Comment #69tads: “Weve turned down huge offers” for Tiote??
Are you sure?………..
wreker16
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:21 PM
Comment #70Archaomag
Haha, talking about transfers is possibly the best thing to talk about though IMO
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:22 PM
Comment #71Wreker….I’m not really that clued in with prospects etc, so I’m sure my list is probably a little obvious and based on players we’ve been linked with in the past and could certainly find better options (Carr, this is where you come in). For me, it’s more about which three positions and at what level (Starter, bench or prospect). I’d say something along the lines of:
RB – Debuchy looks a ready made option.
ST – Young, but older and more PL ready than Campbell. Quick and tricky. Personally, I would have liked Shane Long, but that’s me and that boat has sailed.
Third one I’m stuck on. Probably a CB, but we do seem to need a winger than can efficiently perform that role. Guti is now a DM, Ferguson whilst looking a real talent and can deliver a wicked ball, for me, isn’t quite ready for week in, week out games. I had hoped Marveaux was that man, but something seems up at the minute, hopefully temporary, so i’ll go for a CB.
Not helpful with names there. So I guess I failed that one.
archaeomag
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:25 PM
Comment #72@wreker16
Very true, not enough real football -We talk about stories made up by the media, and then get disappointed when they turn out not to be true – then we blame the club for letting us down.
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:25 PM
Comment #739
Theres been numerous reports that we turned down a couple of big bids from chelsea and pretty sure the club even said they recieved a deadline day bid for tiote from chelski and tiote said he wasn’t intrested
9
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:25 PM
Comment #74nb Debuchy is also a missed boat, now.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:27 PM
Comment #75tads….Are you calling me the poor mans Ashton? Oh the shame.
Belfast…I will, but this time make sure a train hits me. Getting a bit boring like.
Archaeomag…..At the end of the day it’s a game and a pretty good one. I think the more realistic they try and make it, the more the gamers think they really know. I am happy to say that my gaming on Fifa hasn’t changed my opinions too much, I don’t for one second think that it’s realistic to have won two league titles and the CL within two season at Newcastle or maybe I just don’t realise my own potential?
9
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:28 PM
Comment #76tads: Thanks for that, if you’re right. I don’t believe the club have stated they received any firm offer at all
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:29 PM
Comment #77tads…I remember hearing about Tiote turning down a move to Chelsea too.
9…Regarding Debuchy, how come?
eaststandgeordie1982
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:29 PM
Comment #78Ibiza i should have know he was the one to ask, anyway ive just bought a nice shed for my pitch forks ready for jan should be a month full of fun.
jesperfuglsang
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:30 PM
Comment #79So Ian…if you are out there what was it we were talking about earlieer today? 🙂
…I know I mentioned something about those who are not performing should be benched and that to some extend I do think Pardew have been a bit to kind on some andless towards others 🙂
I mentionen that with our current state of injuries and suspentions maybe something was about to change or should change 🙂
So did you encount some neggars today or was that last post directed at me somehow? 😉 lol
Most people on here are not neggars I think – there are always some and there are those with rose tinted glases – but most here a well balanced.
Constructive criticism is healthy if you ask me and every once in a while everyone should stop up, take a step back and have another look at it all. Try to see things from another perspective 🙂
It is the ‘kill your darling’ approach we have talked about before 🙂 sometimes others ideas are just better and sometimes we cannot see the forrest because of the trees 😉 if you get my drift… lol
jesperfuglsang
Nov 6, 2012 at 6:31 PM
Comment #80…okay I just said a whole lot of things there without making one point 😀
Questions anyone? lol