We thought Ben Arfa was simply terrific in the game on Saturday, and he was a constant threat to Stoke City with his attacking play, and we noticed when he lost the ball he tracked back immediately to try to get the ball back.
Alan Pardew – this is what you have to do to stay in the side
It will be hard for Alan Pardew to leave Ben Arfa out of the starting line-up against Arsenal after his Man of the Match performance on Saturday in the 5-1 win.
But that what may happen on Sunday, if Alan plays a 4-4-2 formation which he does when Cheick Tiote is available to play in that defensive midfield role.
This is what the Newcastle manager said today about the mercurial one:
“Hatem produced some great moments during the game. How he’s not scored I don’t know – he must have had 15 shots and a couple of them were exceptional efforts.”
“I keep saying to him that Gouffran and Sissoko have set the standard here, the sort of standard that you would expect at Bayern Munich from their wide players, and that’s what we need from Ben Arfa.
“If he brings that talent then he will get a regular place in the team.”
Sissoko and Gouffran work their socks of for the side, and they both track back and help out the defense all the time, and that looks what Alan Pardew wants to see from Hatem.
And we’re sure this is no surprise at all to Ben Arfa, and to be fair to him he now works very hard for the side, and he was pure skill, endeavor and entertainment on Saturday – what a player this las is when he’s on song – and he’s on song at the moment.
We hope to see Ben Arfa start on Sunday against Arsenal, but Alan Pardew has some tough decisions to make – which player to leave out – with most Newcastle players now in top form.
Comments welcome.
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8 comments so far
bollance
Dec 27, 2013 at 10:57 PM
Comment #1When we have a top top team and we steamroller teams most weeks then the stage is set for HBA. At present we are grinding out results and need solid 7 or 8 out of 10 performances from all 11 players on the pitch. Class player, wrong team unfortunately.
Charlietoon
Dec 27, 2013 at 11:01 PM
Comment #2Sissoko needs a rest. Five man midfield of Gouff, Cabaye, Tiote, Anita and Hatem with Remy up front.
stan anderson
Dec 27, 2013 at 11:11 PM
Comment #3Sissoko needs a rest my arse.
They are payed fortunes to have a game of footy sometimes twice a week.
Ah mean to say man that is so tiring is,nt it .
stan anderson
Dec 27, 2013 at 11:17 PM
Comment #4You play a game you love,you dont want to be rested man,you want to play,is that not the case?
stan anderson
Dec 27, 2013 at 11:20 PM
Comment #5Sissoko had a bad game because he was not playing in his best position.
The manager( haha )picked the team.
lesh
Dec 27, 2013 at 11:25 PM
Comment #6The way Pardew’s managing Ben Arfa seems not too far away from Bobby Robson’s approach to player management.
An arm round the shoulder, kind words and most importantly, he seems to have the respect of the players.
Pardew’ll never match the great man but maybe he’s gleaned something from seeing Sir Bobby’s statue and photos each day.
Pardew’s got a lot to learn if he hopes to match owld Bobby’s stature but……Pardew out? Not yet.
Oh and Ciaran.
You’ve been posting on here all day and you may have noticed that they are responses, critical responses to your views.
Might there be a message in there somewhere you could take on board.
As I suggested earlier, maybe the Cardiff City fans might be interested to hear your views on their plight!
fareasttoon
Dec 28, 2013 at 3:31 AM
Comment #7Play the same team against palace. Can we wear the Brazilian colours at home ? Else arse will wear it.
We need goff / santon and sisoko / debuchy on both sides to contain and attack them on the wings and tiote / cabaye to check ozil.
I am fine to try remy with shola to give us some height and holding play or remy with arfa if we want to trouble their defense
AmericanGeordie
Dec 28, 2013 at 1:31 PM
Comment #8Ben Arfa should play, and Sissoko should be out wide (he doesn’t pass we’ll enough to play in the middle of the park.)
4-2-3-1
Krul
Debuchy – Williamson – Colo- Santon
Tiote – Cabaye
Sissoko – Ben Arfa – Gouffran
Remy