There’s no doubt that Hatem Ben Arfa is the most exciting player at Newcastle and when this lad’s on form he’s almost unplayable, and he’s already scored two of the best individual goals ever seen at St. James Park against Blackburn and Bolton last year.
Ben Arfa in training last month
But of course one big reason why we faltered big time last season was that we were without Ben Arfa from November, and we certainly missed his game changing skills.
That Hamstring injury he picked up never fully recovered last season but manager Pardew is hoping the rest during the summer and new fitness coach Faye Downey can keep this French wizard fit this season.
This is what Alan Pardew said in the local press today:
He has already put him forward for a recall to the France team ahead of the summer’s World Cup and reckons that the influence of new fitness coach Faye Downey will play a big part in any renaissance.
“It’s a big year for Hatem to stay fit. I don’t worry about anything else with Hatem,” “I look at him and we all know when we train with him he’s got exceptional talent. “
“We need it on the pitch and we need more of it. That’s something we’ve worked really hard with him on this summer, particularly in pre-season. He got his rest from that hamstring injury.”
“Remember that was a terrible hamstring injury and I remember people questioning if he would come back the same. Actually in pre-season he’s produced faster times than anyone else. We know that burst of power is there and that is what sets him apart.”
And to cheer fans up this Friday morning – have a look back to those two great goals he scored at St. James Park last year.
Absolutely fantastic!
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186 comments so far
Ibizatoon
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:33 PM
Comment #161Dok…Oh right, that’s much better 🙂
As for your previous post…”Now”? Oh yeah, this is a new thing…. 😉
G
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:33 PM
Comment #162Dok, I once ventured to the states as a young soldier, doing a joint excersise from various nations playing war in Florida, we were training one day on the edge of the Everglades and we got lost (Some idiot had supplied us aviation maps, which are really handy for navigating waterways!), andway, some lovely old couple helped us out and gave us a grand tour of their home, and I always remember the old guy wanting to show me something, which he said we wouldn’t have anything like it in England, and he took me thouth the house and showed me his fridge! It was a big impressive fridge, but he seemed suprised when I told him that we all had them at home, as he thought we wouldn’t need them what with it being so cold. It made me laugh somewhat, and he chuckled when I informed him it was only frezzing for 11 and a half months of the year!
Indian Magpie
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:34 PM
Comment #163Markaccus
Let them make their own minds up.
hotdog
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:35 PM
Comment #164Markaccus – OK ta, still think we might see him @ citeh!
Martoon – It is the type off gag that you always snigger at, no matter how many times you hear it lol
Ibiza – The hallowed turf 🙂 actually got to play on it a couple of years back, bloody big pitch when your in the thick of it.
Is it on the box, if it is im going for a refund 😉
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:39 PM
Comment #165Jamsha…Ameobi would never leave 😉
…he has a great deal going on for him (a full pay for half the work ;))
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:40 PM
Comment #166Joke aside; does anyone think we’ll sign more players and maybe even get rid off some of the deadwood?
…or is this it for us?
Markaccus
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:41 PM
Comment #167Hotdog
Probably on the bench if he makes it, with a view to starting him at home.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:41 PM
Comment #168I’ll leave you all with that thought and go pick up junior!
Later!
DokToon
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:42 PM
Comment #169g.. thats classic… did you tell him you had an indoor toilet back home too… running water is quite a novelty lol
Indian Magpie
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:42 PM
Comment #170Jesper Jamsha
correct, after retiring, Shola will become a mascot for match days.
DokToon
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:43 PM
Comment #171jesper, have yourself a great weekend
clinath@ed
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:44 PM
Comment #172ibiza…..you had me at “simple”
pieceofpapiss
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:44 PM
Comment #173Cheers Dok,
Anyone fancy re-hashing the old “Obssessed” banter again? Gives them a distraction from nobbin’ their sisters i suppose.
DokToon
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:47 PM
Comment #174lead the way good sir 🙂
ToonBoy91
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:49 PM
Comment #175Hi guys,
First time commenting on the blog but ive been a frequent reader for some time now so please go easy on me.
Its clearly obvious that we are a much stronger side going forward when we have Ben Arfa in the team. I think back to THAT goal against bolton at St James and up until that point we looked a very average team and i feared it would have been another bleak 0-0 draw had he not gone on to score.
Alot of people complain that he loses the ball and makes mistakes that cost us goal. But arent most flair players the same?? Ronaldo lost the ball so often when he played at United but what he offered going forward far outweighed the cons of his game.
I believe Hatem is the same and fear that if the fans continue to get on his back he may not be as willing to go on his long mazy runs causing mayhem as he does so…
Yohan Kebab
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:49 PM
Comment #176dont get where all the ben arfa hate has come from, he is one of the most naturally gifted players i have seen at our club
clinath@ed
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:49 PM
Comment #177I’m off now….forgot to thank you jesperfuglsang..beautifully worded.
hotdog
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:51 PM
Comment #178Jesper is that directed at Ibiza aswell
“he has a great deal going on for him (a full pay for half the work 😉 ”
haha
G
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:53 PM
Comment #179@169, yeah I went through all that, he was also suprised that we didn’t all live in foggy London and wear bowler hats, as that’s the way his generation saw us portrayed in the movies. He was a good guy for an old redneck though, lovely couple.
Graeme
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:56 PM
Comment #180Ibiza – not sure how the term “Honesty” and any of the “Management Team” can be placed in the same paragraph, to be honest!!
Bit of an oxymoron – like Military Intelligence!!
G
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:58 PM
Comment #181Graeme, there is Military Intelligence, you just don’t find it with the Intelligence services, least of all the Intelligence Corp.
JAMSHA
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:58 PM
Comment #182Indian Magpie
he can.. if da,lad can sit whole season an earn.. he could take up any job dat doesnt involvd rung n hardwork lol
Rotonda heights
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:01 PM
Comment #183Dok toon,
california is indeed like a breakfast cereal, take out the flakes and yes you have the fruits and the nuts
pawl250
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:15 PM
Comment #184http://www.transferleague.co.uk/premiership-transfers/arsenal-transfers.htm
Interesting to see what Arsenal have spent and sold under Wengers rain.
People say he has lost it. But getting a team to compete for the league title, cups and still finishing in the CL places with a rough net spend of £21.5m since his reign.
AND PEOPLE COMPLAIN WE DO NOT SPEND MONEY?!
Shows that if you have a good manager, buy the right type of players you can compete for the CL.
I feel we are not far off in terms of quality of players, especially the potential. We need a handful of additions.
1) Full back
2) Centre back
3) Centre attacking midfielder
4) Wide attacking midfielder
5) A striker
If we sign (5) Bafetimbi Gomis, (4)GeorginioWjnaldum, (3)Siem De Jong, (2) Mamadou Sahko, (1) Luke Shaw
Arguably 40m?
this summer and January we will compete for top 6 next year.
Let Obertan, Gosling, Shola, Amalfitano, RTaylor go. (5-7m)
33m net spend.
alreetlike
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:19 PM
Comment #185Magic in his feet. Nightmare for the defenders when he comes running in full speed with the ball glued to his boot 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydF8_mNzMdc
Sav
Aug 10, 2013 at 2:28 AM
Comment #186I don’t know why some people go to watch football at all. If you don’t love Hatem, what the heck is the matter with you? In the bleak midwinter of the Ashley Years, this lad is an antidote, a star, an oasis. And if his team-mates can only keep up with his pace and his thinking, we could go places. If not, at least we have some entertainment.