There was a report out in the Daily Mail earlier today that Ben Arfa was doubtful for tomorrow’s game against Stoke City becasue of a dead leg, but it looks like he will be OK according to the local news in Newcastle, and Ben Arfa is expected to be ready to play in the game tomorrow.
Ben Arfa in action against Liverpool earlier this season
And the proof that the French wizard will be involved tomorrow, either starting or coming off the bench comes directly from manager Alan Pardew.
Considering it was Ben Arfa’s first senior game for three months last Thursday night, we thought he did very well, and of course he will only get better with more matches played.
And if Papiss Cisse had been fit on Thursday night, the Senegal striker would have started and Ben Arfa would have been on the bench, and we suppose it could be the same thing for tomorrow, with Cisse still doubtful for that game with a virus.
But Alan Pardew also has Shola Ameobi who could play the striker role, and so can Frenchman Yoan Gouffran.
This is what manager Alan Pardew said today in the local papers:
“Hatem lasted longer than I thought.” “At half-time I thought we might have to take him off, but he got to 60 minutes, which means that Shola should be OK for Sunday.”
“It’s that electric sharpness that we know he’s got,” added Pardew. “He got away a couple of times, but he couldn’t get away fully.” “That’ll come in the next two weeks, but he’ll be involved against Stoke.”
Ben Arfa scored last time out in the league – way back in early December against Fulham, and he was our Man of the Match for that game, but alas he injured that hamstring again, and he’s been out ever since.
But there’s still time to celebrate his 26th birthday last Thursday with a goal tomorrow in a game against Stoke City that Newcastle must win.
And if Newcastle can win the game by two goals we’ll go above Stoke in the league table, and the Potters are currently in 11th place, so there are a lot of teams bunched together and within a few points of each other.
That’s another reason we need all 3 points tomorrow.
Howay The Lads!!
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27 comments so far
stingray
Mar 9, 2013 at 11:10 AM
Comment #1Such a crucial game this, and HBA’s contribution could be just the extra thing we need now. Got to play him instead of Jonas, with ability to bring Jonas on after 60, hopefully to shore things up.
yo-yo
Mar 9, 2013 at 11:14 AM
Comment #2How many months has Benny been out for in the last two seasons ? Seems like he’s only been available one game in three.
We’re all bottling it he’ll get signed by a ‘big club’ but his injury record would put a big ? over him.
Hope we can keep him fit till the end of the season.
archaeomag
Mar 9, 2013 at 11:15 AM
Comment #3@ED – I’m shocked that the Daily Mail got it wrong . . who can you trust?
Tinman
Mar 9, 2013 at 11:18 AM
Comment #4Everton and QPR good double today?
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 9, 2013 at 11:32 AM
Comment #5yo-yo…it is not like he is injured all the time. He picks up an injury from time to time like everyone else, but he broke leg and his hamstring has been mismanaged by the club.
…that should not have happened but lets hope the club has learned its lesson.
If you disregard those two injuries, both Tiote and Cabs misses just ad many games.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 9, 2013 at 11:33 AM
Comment #6*ad = as
toonarmydownsouth
Mar 9, 2013 at 11:58 AM
Comment #7Jesp
Think that’s a bit harsh on the club seeing as he does all his rehab at the clairfontaine and is supposed to return when fit, for all you know before the Fulham game he could of returned and trained really well, hamstrings go, that’s football you can’t blame the club for that
bills-son
Mar 9, 2013 at 11:58 AM
Comment #8Ed says – And James is a great example of a player who has an excellent attitude and trains hard every day, and even though his ability is limited, he’s made himself a valuable Newcastle player over these last two years.
Even though his ability is limited? That’s a really patronising statement Ed.
Even though most fans now recognise Perch’s value to the squad he is a far better player than most give him credit for. His tackling, interceptions and passing were top drawer against Anzhi and to make out that Perch is ‘a player of limited ability trying his best’ is a bit of an insult to the lad imo.
Perchy has been one of our most consistent performers this season despite being in and out of the team and playing in four different positions – RB, LB, CH, and CM.
It takes a player of far more than limited ability to do that Ed.
toonarmydownsouth
Mar 9, 2013 at 12:12 PM
Comment #9Did anyone see the numbers that QPR’s wage bill was £56 million with a club debt of £89 million and those numbers were BEFORE the summer window!!!
They are screwed if they don’t stay up
Rotonda heights
Mar 9, 2013 at 12:19 PM
Comment #10bills son
I must say I think Perch was immense on Thursday night.
if there was a communication problem with M’Biwa it really didn’t show at all.
tannerabag
Mar 9, 2013 at 12:31 PM
Comment #11Thought HBA looked a bit chubby on Thursday. Maybe he’s discovered the delights of Greggs, like Patrick Kluivert.
bills-son
Mar 9, 2013 at 12:39 PM
Comment #12TDS – and the big problem QPR will have if the go down is the wages and sell on value of the players they have bought.
Unless they have put relegation pay cut clauses in the contracts players won’t move for lower wages and even if they do most aren’t worth what QPR paid for them.
Clubs like QPR make you realise how fortunate we are to have Ashley at the helm. If Ashley had sold out we could have ended up with a Tony Fernandez type owner.
Unless a super billionaire ala Abramovich or Sheik Mansour buys a club and sactions multiple £20M+ transfers our club – and others – have to buy mostly in the £5M-£10M transfer range but the wages involved still make this a big financial gamble.
The Toon have done fatastically well in building a squad of top quality players for a relatively small outlay yet with big sell on value. Fans take the pi$$ out of Ashley’s five year plan but the fact is it has worked – and there is more of the same to come.
saxonfenken
Mar 9, 2013 at 12:48 PM
Comment #13bills-son
I agree 100% with you
Also where are all the Perch haters who wanted this lad out beginning of last season, all the bile that was on here for him, sickened me.
Cool Hand Luke
Mar 9, 2013 at 12:57 PM
Comment #14To be honest im a bit bemused by the raw deal perch gets on this site. How many times did he win the motm poll here last year? 3 or 4 i believe. And that was with him getting limited opportunities. In my book his reading if the game, timing of the tackle, passing and energy levels are top notch. Id have him in front if Tiote in the pecking order in fact. On their day i would rate them equally but Tiote has too many off games and isn’t as reliable.
beddersmag
Mar 9, 2013 at 1:10 PM
Comment #15Stingray at 1
Kind of agree but the other way around for me. Start jonas to keep us solid and bring hba on after 60 when they are tired. Perch has struggled at centre half against a couple of beasts. Aside from that he has been as good as anyone and excellent in dm.
remember69
Mar 9, 2013 at 1:16 PM
Comment #16Bills-son @12
Totally agree. I wonder how many of the MA knockers actually know anything about business at at. Just looking at the facts it’s indisputable that both chairman and manager are doing a great job.
Yes, mistakes have been made (as in any business) but they have been corrected and learned from.
Would anyone swap the club’s position to where it was prior to MA & AP taking the reins?
Big Pappa Cissé
Mar 9, 2013 at 1:18 PM
Comment #17Ha ha, go on Wigan 🙂
do the hatem shake
Mar 9, 2013 at 1:19 PM
Comment #18love a bit of wigan like
check the toastie
Mar 9, 2013 at 1:20 PM
Comment #19Well Wigan smashing Everton, Moyes not the flavour of the month anymore eh. Personally think the blokes a good motivator much like Parsnip, however no idea on how he wants his team to play.
However Martinez is a different kettle of fish, he plays good stuff and would be brilliant in charge of our team and squad. If only………..
Offkey
Mar 9, 2013 at 1:20 PM
Comment #20To be fair to Ed, Perch’s ability was questionable when he first joined us, but we have had our fair share who struggle in their first year before coming good.
However, I think the thing that sets Perch apart from the likes of Nile Ranger, is he can work hard and improve. He has earned a place in our squad and a chant, I love that and I am a big fan of Perchino.
check the toastie
Mar 9, 2013 at 1:22 PM
Comment #21Funny the merseyside Mackems getting smashed, another wasted cup run, heheheeh.
toonarmydownsouth
Mar 9, 2013 at 1:24 PM
Comment #22Everton getting absolutely spanked! Great stuff!!
Big Pappa Cissé
Mar 9, 2013 at 1:26 PM
Comment #23If Wigan went down would anyone else have Kone ? . Quick, strong, good finnisher and decent in the air. Would have Maloney as well, tidy little player also.
MJCBurke
Mar 9, 2013 at 1:42 PM
Comment #24Big Pappa – how old is kone? They do have a number of tidy players though especially like all the Mcs – arthur, cartney and manaman. All you and british, could be good for us to balance the squad and our home based player numbers
Lucky Les
Mar 9, 2013 at 2:09 PM
Comment #25What results do we want in the relegation games today.Three draws would continue to keep the bottom 3 a reasonable distance away.
Alternatively a Norwich win would keep Soton deep in trouble, a QPR thrashing of the Mackems could put the Mackems back below us.Alternatively a Mackems win (yes I know a hard thing to wish for) would just about finish QPR off.If Villa win they will only be 3points behind us if Reading win they will be 4 points behind us. A win for us tomorrow will at worst keep the gap to 6 points and improve our position over Reading and/or Villa by at least 2 points.Tomorrows game vital in our relegation fight.
Will a cup win for Wigan help or hinder their relegation fight as we visit them shortly.Hopefully they will not play anything like they are playing today!
Don’t you just hate relegation fights?
Mark the Mag
Mar 9, 2013 at 2:36 PM
Comment #26Let’s just hope for 3 points tomorrow les and let the rest worry about themselves. Would you have taken a bit of a relegation battle and a good Europa campaign over a top 8 finish and no cup run mate ?
Lucky Les
Mar 9, 2013 at 2:53 PM
Comment #27Mark I was lucky enough and old enough to be around at the time of our Fairs Cup victory so I know the excitement the European victory can bring.To be honest I cannot get as excited yet but 2 leg games will obviously get the heart pounding.Would like a trip to Amsterdam for the final
To answer your question I would prefer to be challenging for Europe as we were under Special K and SBR and not having to worry about relegation.