Ben Arfa has set the Newcastle fans alight in his first two appearances for the club, and both times he has been chosen as the Man of the Match in our poll.
Ben Arfa and Cheick Tiote – both new boys were great on Saturday
He’s obviously got great class, but Chris has said this morning the lad will only get better as he fits better into the style of play at Newcastle, which was very good to watch on Saturday we may say.
Maybe Kevin Keegan and Bobby Robson are not the only two managers at Newcastle who move Newcastle forward and attack the opposition.
Chris Hughton told the Evening Chronicle today:
“Ben Arfa’s overall performance was very good considering it was his debut.”“He hasn’t played for a while so to last the period of time he did was exceptional, as was the goal he scored.”
“He has great quality and that can only get better as he goes on.”
Chris Hughton is very level-headed manager, one of the increasing number of positive traits he seems to possess as the manager on Tyneside.
Chris didn’t get carried away after thumping Aston Villa 6-0 in his Premier League debut as manager at home, and he didn’t get carried away after losing 2-0 to Blackpool last week, and again showed his great composure after picking up the great win at Everton, a very rare occurrence for Newcastle.
And we are even getting used to not being carried away too much – either on the good side or bad side – well kind of. 😀
Chris continued:
“It’s a great win for us after what happened against Blackpool last week.” “It was important that we bounced back. It was important to bounce back with a good performance.”
“We knew how important it would be if we could get a win at Everton and we had to make sure we were able to give them a game, and we ended up doing more than that.”
“I think the all-round performance was brilliant from Stevie Harper to Andy Carroll. “We defended well during the moments we had to.” “It was important to win, there’s no doubt that last week was a major blow.”
“You want to make sure you pick up points as quick as you can. The first opportunity is always the next opportunity. And we were able to do it.” “It’s a hard place to come and win.”
“Everton are a top-class side that can up their game whenever they want. They have enough top players to do it.” “They can go long with Fellaini if they need to and have plenty other options.”
No doubt about it – it was a tremendous win for Newcastle United on Saturday, and the lads were as good as their word, as they said after the Blackpool defeat they would put things right – and soon.
We have to keep that up next Sunday against Stoke City, and a win there could see us in a handy position in the Premier League, although it’s early days yet of course, and we don’t want to get carried away.
Well not too much.
Comments welcome.
29 comments so far
G
Sep 20, 2010 at 1:13 PM
Comment #1Regarding the healine Ed, glad to hear it, after all he looked sh*t at the weekend… not!
Solaidback
Sep 20, 2010 at 1:20 PM
Comment #2Well maybe we’ve turned the corner, maybe we will lose all our home gaime but win all our away games instead.. lol only kidding.. 🙂
If we play like we did on Saturday, then we should win a lot of games, home & away, we now have the skill, determination & desire to win as a team & not individuals, so lets carry on as we are & lets start a new unbeaten run of home games starting this weekend 🙂
hodnufc
Sep 20, 2010 at 1:22 PM
Comment #3Stoke will be a tough test, lets hope both new players will continue to contribute.
Davies
Sep 20, 2010 at 1:29 PM
Comment #4The last two transfer windows have helped to transform our side remarkably. Hoots and the dressing room committee have given the side something that I haven’t seen in a long time, harmony. This was evidence before we started adding to our championship squad in January.
What I’m pleased about is that the manager is seems to be making sure that all new signings are on board with the good will that has seen spirit, commitment and togetherness at higher levels than I’ve seen since the days of SBR.
I couldn’t be happier with our squad at the moment. Wonder what will happen in January ’11!
sirjasontoon
Sep 20, 2010 at 1:30 PM
Comment #5Ben Arfa is GOD – end of 🙂
benishiryo
Sep 20, 2010 at 1:33 PM
Comment #6i saw ben arfa play for the 1st time and wat a sight it was! i’m nt sayin he’s as gd as zidane, but the way he caressed the ball wif such ease and grace. it was a “WOW” everytime he touches the ball. and he also challenges opponents so fearlessly. in fact, TOO fearlessly haha. there was once he did it in our def area. but, wat a player man. ben arfa’s gonna be on my jersey!
tiote looks great too!
Klatoon
Sep 20, 2010 at 1:49 PM
Comment #7Williamson doesnt deserve th slack he’s got after Saturday,its not possible to handle fellaini without some “clumsy” shoving/shirt tugging.Its like trying to mark Carroll,u gotta b abit dirty but clever otherwise these towers of strength simply run over you.Tiote kinda reminded me of a certain mr. Essien.power and composure combined in one agile package. If Stoke play the kind of open game they used against W.Ham,we could see a number of goals at SJP saturday.Good times
MacToon
Sep 20, 2010 at 2:01 PM
Comment #8Apparantly he doesn’t speak a word of English (or atleast didn’t) so looks like he could well become an adopted geordie with a French/Geordie accent….. oh unless the scousers about teach him lmao.
Great game for Arfa and the team, Routledge can learn alot (hopefully) from him too. Everything seems to be going along ok but hope that Barton continues in his fine form and more importantly injury free.
sweendog
Sep 20, 2010 at 2:25 PM
Comment #9King Arfa .. a legend …
NUFC_Richyg01
Sep 20, 2010 at 2:39 PM
Comment #10Anyone seen the article on NUFC Mad re the Chelski match:
http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/hughton_to_make_changes_for_chelsea_trip_560357/index.shtml
‘Last week Chris Hughton said he would put out a side capable of winning at Stamford Bridge, but today the United manager has promised “significant changes” for Wednesday’s trip.
Chris Hughton: “We will use the squad and there will be significant changes.
“I don’t mind the supporters who are travelling down knowing that.
“You have to look at the members of the squad who didn’t play at Everton.
“We have a lot of options and there will be changes to the team.”
United could well start with Alan Smith, Jonas Gutierrez, Sol Campbell, Ryan Taylor, Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands.’
Looking at their proposed line up of 6 players, I have a feeling we will make things rather difficult for our selves at the Bridge!
G
Sep 20, 2010 at 2:49 PM
Comment #11To be honest NUFC_Richyg01, I don’t really care what happens there. It would be nice to have a cup run, but not essential. I am all in favour of putting a fringe side out to minimise risk to the first team squad. If they win, great, if they lose, no harm done.
shearermania
Sep 20, 2010 at 2:50 PM
Comment #12forget the chelski game…away at the bridge – no chance so play the kids and the fringe players…
and a full rested starting eleven on saturday against stoke…..
heard mackem jones is injured?
atom
Sep 20, 2010 at 3:39 PM
Comment #13Any keepers on here? I have a question as to positioning. On Everton’s last cross of the game that Fellani put over and wide, Krul was definitely wrong footed. What do they teach you in that situation?
cynicaltoonfan
Sep 20, 2010 at 3:45 PM
Comment #14http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khiuU3f5K4Q&feature=related
I always get excited when i see this
its a pity we have no english players who can come close to doing this.
What a player we could have !!
balubas1
Sep 20, 2010 at 3:49 PM
Comment #15wow.. alot of people getting carried away here now. But I love it! Let’s enjoy the moments!
slazberger
Sep 20, 2010 at 4:14 PM
Comment #16atom – im not a keeper but from that distance i think a keeper just has to take a gamble, a bit like how they guess with penalties. i personally am not surprised he was wrong footed because i doubt anyone expected fallani to put his shot were he did.
JerseyGeordie
Sep 20, 2010 at 4:23 PM
Comment #17i am really pleasantly surprised with benny. I knew he had a chance to be quality but i really questioned his end product and his ability to do what he did in france against faster and more physical prem competition. He was moving the ball effortlessly at everton and getting past 2, 3 defenders seemingly with ease. But more importantly his passing is perfect. The scary part is that hoots is right, he is still going to get better. You could tell that he was taking a bit of time to make descisions and maybe the language barrior is a bit of a problem for him now. But he was still emense and his unselfish play was good to see. He reminds me a bit of colo when he first started. Colo now knows his part and really has taken command of his position. His toe on felliani at the end of the game saved us 2 points. Once ben arfa gels in like colo has, he can really be one of the best we’ve seen in a long time on tyne.
On another note, stoke will be a huge test for young timmy. Imo stoke’s game plays right into krul’s weaknesses and it will be a good measure of just how far along he is and whether or not we need a top keeper in on loan.
sweendog
Sep 20, 2010 at 4:53 PM
Comment #18JerseyGeordie .. its games like Stoke that’ll make Krul into the new no.1 .. I predict a healthy win with our 2 newbies Arfa and Tiote in the driving seat ..
atom
Sep 20, 2010 at 4:59 PM
Comment #19slazberger- I kinda figured but I was not sure if they are instructed to stay at the near post, guess, or what have you. Just glad it went begging.
toonboyjake
Sep 20, 2010 at 5:00 PM
Comment #20atom // Sep 20, 2010 at 3:39 PM
I’m a keeper and those situations are completely down to instinct, as said above with slazberger, you have to take a gamble, a lot of strikers try and side foot the ball in those situations and try and put the ball across goal which is where krul headed
Howay The Lads
Sep 20, 2010 at 5:25 PM
Comment #21atom, as a keeper you’re told to cut out the cross if you can. In that situation the best keeper ever would have got the ball before Fellaini, but most keepers would stay and wait to try and make a reflex save.
Then as people have said it’s about guessing really
DanNUFC
Sep 20, 2010 at 5:26 PM
Comment #22i think the co-commentator for the game on saturday was an absolute disgrace… he said felainni was unlucky to get a yellow card for elbowing wills in the face, and then on the replay said that he was just trying to shrug him off and that wills just fell over… idiot
slazberger
Sep 20, 2010 at 5:47 PM
Comment #23totally agree DanNUFC, i think the main commentator was getting a bit embarrassed by it as well, when trying to comment on replays of several incidences.
DanNUFC
Sep 20, 2010 at 5:53 PM
Comment #24yeah i felt that as well slazberger, he even said he could see the elbow when the main one pointed it out to him, but he then complained about how Wills was holding him as if he deserved it… and then when we should have had a penalty he somehow missed the foul completely saying he got the ball fairly, but he conveniently picked out every time Wills made the smallest of fouls… i just cant understand it!
Howay The Lads
Sep 20, 2010 at 5:53 PM
Comment #25He played over 100 games for Everton (can’t remember his name though) so you can forgive him for being a little biased, but he was ridiculous
slazberger
Sep 20, 2010 at 6:06 PM
Comment #26Howay The Lads – yeah and once i realised he was clearly an everton fan it kind of made it funny to listen to for me. mind you i wouldn’t be saying that if they equalised. abit like listening to that Irish commentator on bbc radio five who supports liverpool, pretty funny when you know about it and can tell he is getting more and more upset.
baro
Sep 20, 2010 at 11:43 PM
Comment #27Hatem Ben Arfa will indeed be one of the best players in this league. He is awesome. Skillful, beats defenders with ease just like that. Has lots of speed, and has a blistering shot. Can’t wait for him to settle in more in Newcastle.
Brutooon
Sep 21, 2010 at 1:08 AM
Comment #28For Chelsea game,
Sodenberg
Ryan Taylor
Tavernier
Campbell
Kadar
Shane Ferguson
Alan Smith ( last game for newcastle this season)
Vuckic
Lovenkrands (match fitness)
Ameobi
Ranger
Newcastle Rock
Sep 21, 2010 at 11:46 AM
Comment #29I have zero confidence in Alan Smith , I wonder why we still have him and bearing in mind his high wages.get rid of him NOW.
I would love to see a back up for him in the name of Javi Martinez , a young spanish , with Athlectic club is La Liga . CHRIS PLS SIGN HIM.