27 year-old Hatem Ben Arfa is due to return to Newcastle this week after having treatment at the France Clairefontaine Football Academy just outside of Paris, and he will be assessed to see if he is ready to play at the Emirates on Monday night.
Ben Arfa – in action at Stoke City
With Newcastle sinking like a rock these days the last three games have become important for a few reasons – one is we have a target to at least finish in the top ten, and if we don’t and don’t do well over the last three games of the season, that could even be curtains for manager Alan Pardew.
And there have been reports over the last few games that Alan Pardew and Ben Arfa have no exactly see eye to eye and some of the experienced players at the club don’t think he has earned his place on the bench – because he doesn’t work enough for the side.
Ben Arfa has been in Paris since last Thursday, and most of our French players do return to the Academy just outside Paris for treatment.
With Ben Arfa’s contract running out in fourteen months Newcastle will be forced into a decision on the striker – whether to sell him, give him a new contract or potentially take up a one year option on his contract – if one exists.
But Newcastle cannot make a decision on the mercurial one until it’s clear who will be the Newcastle manager at the end of the season.
Alan Pardew’s record this year has been simply horrendous with only four wins in the last 18 games and 13 defeats. 🙁
So it seems that Mike Ashley will need to make a decision at the end of the season, as to whether he persists with Alan Pardew, or whether he decides to make a change and bring in a new manager – like Davide Moyes – as just one example.
Comments welcome.
142 comments so far
70TWO
Apr 22, 2014 at 2:59 PM
Comment #41This is the chance all those French Owners have been waiting for, dangle a contract in front of HBA and leave him swinging until Ashley is forced to sell him for nothing in January.
validator
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:01 PM
Comment #42This summer will see Newcastle United reach an impasse and the club must decided whether or not it carries on the same way or it moves in another direction.
Black and White with an army lol
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:05 PM
Comment #43in all fairness I think all the players need to consider requesting a transfer.
Sissoko is my favourite player at Newcastle but I believe under Pardew he will be wasted here which is just a shame considering we should build a team around him because in a few years time he will be a top players with the likes of Madrid and Barcelona offering stupid offers for him
sparky55
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:05 PM
Comment #44Pardew going no-where until the club is sold resulting in the new owner sacking the useless turd on the spot, or until the fat controller makes his move on rangers next summer just after Pardew leads us into the championship.
Pardew has done everything he’s been told to do and is a loyal servant to him who owns his gambling debts…so no sacking in the near future and no smiling faces coming our of SJP for a while just yet.
newcastle are the only club with an owner with no ambition but to have free advertising in the premiership…that’s all that matters because as hutchinson said this morning…if he had ambition he wouldn’t have employed pardew would he?
Black and White with an army lol
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:07 PM
Comment #45validator
there is no direction at Newcastle and I don’t think there will be any signings in the summer unless they are out of contract.
in MA eyes we have reserves and youth team willing to step up and when you look closely we have reserve players who can fill every spot on the first team
Black and White with an army lol
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:09 PM
Comment #46sparky55
spot on mate
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:14 PM
Comment #47Ladies and Gentlemen 100% iron clad proof that Pardew will still be manager next season…….
@cwarr07: Don’t shoot the messenger but hearing that there are already moves afoot by Ashley to make Moyes manager of #NUFC
Hahahahahahahahahaha ahhh Cwarr you tw@ you crack me up!
Spoof
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:15 PM
Comment #48B a W
a new manager would be welcomed by most, but not all, I’m in the minority as I would stick with Pardew, it’s not due to a belief that I feel he is a great manager who can win things for us, not at all, but when you consider that over the last five years our spending is somewhere in the region of £45m less than what we have spent then you have got to ask yourself just who could have done better, personally I doubt that there are many if any, so getting rid of him would be a huge risk, getting into the top 4 is not on the agenda so getting a top 4 manager will not happen and if a new manager does arrive and struggles to assemble a squad as he surely will under Ashley then you have to be fearful of just where we could be heading, remember Wolves and Charlton were wanting rid of McCarthy and Curbishley because the fans felt that they had taken the club as far as their abilities would allow, it may not be great under Pardew but it could be a whole lot worse.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:16 PM
Comment #49A new manager would be good for both the club and us bloggers 🙂 would kill off a few discussions and add something new to talk about!
…it is getting s bit tire some hearing all the know it all explaining us slow people how it is with both Benny and Marv!
jayphoto
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:22 PM
Comment #50at TADS – Damn it Colin! always dashing my hopes of pardew being sacked or us signing players! Can anyone remember the last time that guy got something right? He had a run about 2-3 seasons back where he called a few things right but since then he can’t hit a barn door with a hand full of corn
cyprus
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:25 PM
Comment #51I disagree. This manager has taken us backwards with a better set of players. Fire him now, MA (or right after we finish 12th with 47 points)
theartfuldodger
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:25 PM
Comment #52I agree with Pardew out, but first things first please…
SHOLA OUT !
jayphoto
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:26 PM
Comment #53Also, theres no chance of Ashley working with Moyes! Fair enough Moyes didn’t spend much and did sell big players at Everton but their owner (a friend of my grandads actually) has always been honest with Moyes and with the fans about transfers and what they can and can’t spend! Moyes, regardless of football style is a strong character, hes no corporate yes man, no chance he’d work for an establishment that makes their manager look a fool like ashley has with Pardew on numerous occasions!
My bet would be Van Gaal to Man Utd and Moyes to Spurs! Daniel Levy loves a british manager
Ibizatoon
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:27 PM
Comment #54Just had a thought, one that may disturb everyone so thought I’d share it.
Imagine Pardew getting fired over the next couple of days with Shola coming in as player / manager until the end of the season?
Personally I’m all for it, I need a good laugh.
kimbo
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:28 PM
Comment #55We might as well sign a championship strikers as that`s where we will be after next season. If 50K muppets turn up for each home game and accept the garbage being put in front of them and do not voice their disgust at the way Ashley runs the club and the team formation that person (I can`t bring myself to mention his name) comes up with then they deserve everything they get.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH PLAYING GOUFFRAN AS A STRIKER STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE?HE ISNOT A DEFENDER.
jayphoto
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:28 PM
Comment #56to be fair to the comments about moyes and how he plays football! In 12/13 years i’ve never seen a moyes team roll over consistently like we have since december! If hes the only upgrade we have on offer from the fat man in the sky over pardew then sign him up! David moyes might feel like being shown a middle finger but pardew feels like youve been punched in the face, i know what id prefer
Spoof
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:29 PM
Comment #57jayphoto
so if appointing our manager was your choice who would you choose, amongst those who would possibly take it.
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:30 PM
Comment #58Jayphoto
Colin is to the ITK world what Lawro is to the score prediction world!
Unwritten rule, always go with the opposite of what they say!
TurkishFan101
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:31 PM
Comment #59Moyes was never going to come here and Mike Ashley would of never hired him in the first place anyway…
Its just a way media used for betting companies for people to waste money and stick there bets on who the next manager will be.
They only looked at the past and saw his attributes with Everton, and now that many fans even own NUFC fans think we are a mid-table club without no ambition, the media have used this to influence NUFC fans to make a bet… they get profit out of it either way and nufc fans fell for it.
Spoof
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:33 PM
Comment #60Ibiza
seriously, Shola is a very intelligant and well educated man, if intelligence was translated into football management he would be fantastic, this is not a wind-up as Shola is an extremely clever man.
TurkishFan101
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:33 PM
Comment #61lol
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bl1QOrcCEAECR_F.jpg
Ibizatoon
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:35 PM
Comment #62Spoof…Can you imagine the blog meltdown?
Never met Shola, so will take your word on his intelligence levels. He must have something going for him to have lasted so long at the club, bless him.
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:36 PM
Comment #63Turkish
Bit like you did with Garde?
BandB
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:36 PM
Comment #64Does anyone else worry that it sometimes doesn’t look a lot like we are being treated like a going concern?
We are a brand name in the SD portfolio. The business model rarely sees them upgraded, does it?
It is a kind of lingering, zombified afterlife until they fade altogether.
Why should it be any different for us because we are a football club? One he may have acquired in error and been stuck with. Until now.
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:37 PM
Comment #65Ibiza
Shola would look quality on the touchline, best hat chosen,he’s kind if like the Chris Eubank of football
Eye for design, good talker, very intelligent, slightly camp but you’d be to f**king scared to tell him he’s a tit!!!!
bobby mango
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:38 PM
Comment #66We need to get rid of Pardew and all his staff. Pardew isn’t solely to blame for our terrible set piece records and decide in player ability.
The whole lot need a clear out.
Clarke, Laudrup, Moyes… In fact I’d have Warnock if it meant Pardew was gone (joking about the last one)
lochinvar
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:38 PM
Comment #67Ashley isn’t going to waste money on paying off Pardew just to get Moyes who will have no passion for the job and will be sitting on £5 million pay off from the mancs. He doesn’t need the hassle – he should go the States or Middle East and enjoy more sunshine and less grief. We certainly don’t want second hand Managers from the old school – Newcastle needs an up and coming European minded Magager who can bring vision, knowledge and passion and no baggage – he ( or she) must be out there – only problem is I don’t know who they are! If the Manchester players gave up playing in matches that didn’t matter anymore to them (eg the Prem not Europe) to force Moyes out – is that not we have seen with the Newcastle team in recent weeks – are they sending a signal that they’ve had enough of Pardew? No to Pulis, no to Moyes. Just a case of deciding who and when.
Spoof
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:40 PM
Comment #68Ibiza
the meltdown would be good fun ?, if he did take over, putting intelligence to one side I just hope he would not be the striker coach ?, god help us if he was, ” that’s it bonny lad, aim for the corner flag, I made a good career doing that “
TurkishFan101
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:40 PM
Comment #69TADS
Yes because I used the propaganda media, made all fellow toon fans bet and waste there money on something for my gain?
Get a life.
theartfuldodger
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:40 PM
Comment #70Can anyone answer this :
If we aim to be a top 10 side regularly, then why dont we plus gaps with decent players
Wingers-Redmond,Sinclair,Arnautavic
strikers-Shane Long
Something like that..Why do we wait window after window for better players when we have no god damn ambition.
Why do you want a Debuchy or a Sissoko or a MYM..
Why not a Sinclair,Long,Redmond,Mariappa..Assemble such decent players and 1 or 2 good ones and you have a top 10 squad that is not overly ambitious..
Add a few characters like nolan barton and they wudnt get demotivated either…
So is Sell On Value the only reason ?? The plan seems to have gone astray with too much waiting and departing players lining up..
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:41 PM
Comment #71Why do people keep mentioning Lee Clark?
He’s on the brink of getting Birmingham relegated!
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:43 PM
Comment #72Ibiza…that is because he is considered furniture at this point 😉
validator
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:46 PM
Comment #73If a poll was carried out about Newcastle United supporters and how they perceived the club and its standards, it would probably show about 90% of the fan base as cretinous low achievers, prepared to settle for second best.
jayphoto
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:46 PM
Comment #74@spoof – my first choice would be thomas tuchel of Mainz! amazing forward thinking coach, seen him go to the Allianz and not only play for the win but Mainz where the better side. Hes taken Mainz as far as they can hope to go really and is on a pittence of a salary.
After Tuchel, I quite like Leonardo who has admitted he would like to manage in the premier league! I’ve liked him when i’ve heard his punditry. Same with Stiojkovic over in Japan! Great philosophys on the game, teams play with freedom.
If we are stuck for a British coach I would opt for Sean Dyche or Steve Mclaren! Seen mclaren make miracles in Holland, unfair time in Germany but i live near derby and hes doing amazing things there with really only a couple of talented youngsters and journeymen
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:47 PM
Comment #75Turkish
I meant buying into something based on little more than hearsay but hey ho
Rotonda heights
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:47 PM
Comment #76Wolfshead is Geordie Dan!
Geordie Dan
If you spoke your mind you would be speechless.
Just because I called Pardew a long time ago doesn’t make me any worse than the people who have finally woken up to him.
I never said I wanted Moyes. I’ve said for years we need a Euro manager with 21st century tactics.
Yes Moyes is light years ahead of Pardew, let’s face it Geordie Two’s honey badger is, but Moyes is not a Martinez / Rodgers type which hopefully is where football is heading now.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
That sums it up for me. Newcastle is a job that would perfectly suit someone like Frank de Boer, Dennis Bergkamp or even Frank Rijkaard – in short a big name who could generate huge enthusiasm and interest and would play attacking football with the wingers that Newcastle fans like.
jayphoto
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:47 PM
Comment #77id happily take shearer back over pardew tbh
Spoof
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:51 PM
Comment #78tads
people mention Lee Clark because he is a Geordie who obviously loves the club, what they seem to forget is that ability is more important, you mention the job he has done at Birmingham, don’t forget Huddersfield where he was clearly holding them back, as soon as they got rid of him they improved greatly and got promoted, he has a very poor record, but he is a Geordie, blind love for one of our own, it’s pathetic really.
70TWO
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:55 PM
Comment #79Is the Sports Direct brand being damaged by continuing with Pardew as manager or will showing consistency and stability be more profitable?
Mike Ashley needs to consider this question whilst enduring the hot sunshine of a Caribbean beach. He certainly has been making hay whilst cutting down the ability of NUFC to compete, but for how much longer can that continue in the face of declining season ticket sales?
Will adding 2 new players this summer keep NUFC in the PL next season?
Will Pardew the manager be able to avoid relegation?
Will Ashley wait until January before passing judgement?
sparky55
Apr 22, 2014 at 3:56 PM
Comment #80I would suggest that 90 something percent of the bloggers on this site want Pardew gone and all day we’ve been discussing who we should be getting as a replacement…but it’s Moyes who got sacked…not Pardew…and Pardew aint going anywhere because he’s delivering the Ashley vision with unerring accuracy…the only thing he did wrong was get to 47 points too quickly then stop….he should have worked his way slowly to 47 points and he wouldn’t have got half as much stick!
Oh…and for the Avoidance of doubt…PARDEW OUT! 🙂 IMO he’s fcuking useless….even though I know he aint going anywhere anytime soon.