Where is Hatem Ben Arfa these days?
Ben Arfa – after picking up the ankle injury
He’s back in Clairfontaine, the top French Football Academy near Paris, recovering from the ankle injury he picked up against Sporting Kansas, and again it was caused by a rather over the top physical challenge.
Ben Arfa will miss the first two games of the season which are a little tough – Arsenal at home on August 13th and local rivals Sunderland away the following weekend.
We suppose he goes to France to recover from his injuries because they have a lot more facilities over there, than exist at Newcastle.
But if that’s the case and Newcastle want to become a top club again, there’s probably a hint there that the Newcastle medical facilities could be improved.
Newcastle are now waiting word from France as to when the 24 year-old will return to Newcastle, because if he cannot play, at least he can be with his team mates, and he saw very little of them over the last twelve months.
His advisor Simon Stainrod told The Newcastle Journal this morning:
“It’s a normal kind of injury that footballers get. I don’t think it’s anything out of the ordinary, people are just concentrating on it because Hatem was out for so long last season.”
Thankfully the injury was not serious, but Newcastle must be a little worried as to how they can protect one of the most skillful players they’ve had for a while, since he seems to be a target for some rough tackling, that’s for sure.
And we don’t really want to see him disappearing after an injury to France all the time, so maybe some investment in new medical facilities would be a good thing on Tyneside.
Comments welcome.
19 comments so far
~Cheik Mate~
Jul 30, 2011 at 9:15 AM
Comment #1We dont have one. Ashley sacked them all so he could save some more $$
geoff777
Jul 30, 2011 at 9:21 AM
Comment #2It does seem strange that he goes to Clairfontaine for treatment, especially as the injury has been described by his advisor as “… a normal kind of injury that footballers get”.
Sprained ankle and badly bruised I guess.
Not nice, and it would hurt like hell …
Surely he could still live in the area and go to Benton and mix and eat with the squad?
valle
Jul 30, 2011 at 9:25 AM
Comment #3Ashley is our owner, get over it… Oh, and then a bit more supporting and a bit less whining please.
Im not a MA fan, but i am sick and tired of so called supporters who dedicate all their energy towards him instead of accepting the way things are and getting behind the team.
Davies
Jul 30, 2011 at 9:30 AM
Comment #4I wonder if there’s some sort of PR exercise behing Ben Arfa going to Clairefontain. We got massively good press in France for our handling of HBA’s previous injury and we’re probably still in the market for at least one player plying their trade there.
IrishMagpie
Jul 30, 2011 at 9:32 AM
Comment #5@ valle
Well said, i’m sick and tired of every article there’s moaning and whining and very little positivity. Anyone who is positive gets abuse for it.
Edd Case
Jul 30, 2011 at 9:33 AM
Comment #6valle, wind your neck in.
So what if you’re sick of people getting angry with Ashley.
They’re entitled to their opinion as much as you are, if you don’t like it, tough.
Maybe you should spend more time “getting behind the team” instead of wasting your energy on those that displease you??? Eh?
ulsterexile
Jul 30, 2011 at 9:34 AM
Comment #7Think Hendo and co do first class job but strange how Shearer spotted this area as weakness as one of his first appointments was Paul Ferris
geoff777
Jul 30, 2011 at 9:34 AM
Comment #8@valle
We all support the team … the lads who put on the b&w shirts.
Why don’t you stop whining about people expressing different opinions to those that you hold?
Read or skip those posts … accept that you live in a wonderful colourful democracy with freedom of speech and expression, and imagine what a bland place it would be if we all agreed with each other.
Klatoon
Jul 30, 2011 at 9:57 AM
Comment #9I’ll go to Clairefontaine next time I get a cold or stub my toe against a chair
toon soldier 15
Jul 30, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Comment #10Guys, think you were being a little harsh on valle, yeah i dont like mike ashley either but when thats all nearly everyone comments about, it gets a little old.
I respect that everyone has their own opinion, but when that opinion comes across 75-80 % of the time, its not really your OWN opinion.
I dont want to upset or offend anyone, but put half as much effort into talking about the team instead of the fat lump of turd, and we can get a nice conversation going 🙂
geoff777
Jul 30, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Comment #11@toon soldier 15
Then it shows that your opinions are held by a very small minority 20-25% …
We all support the team .. but constant lies and broken promises get under people’s skin …
Rotonda heights
Jul 30, 2011 at 10:47 AM
Comment #12it’s not just the medical facilities. Our physio seems to be the same shaven headed guy for ever. State of the art, he aint !!
arfa chance#10
Jul 30, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Comment #13Most of our staff were in the states so he went to clairfontaine as there was no one at st James to sort him out. Easier to stay to recover now
jimmymagpie
Jul 30, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Comment #14Arfa chance – wrong again. Derek Wright escorted Ben Arfa back from the States, but the player wanted to return to France. I’ve been telling you since January that Ben Arfa doesn’t rate the medics or the facilities at Ncle. Pay peanuts and you get monkeys. Anybody got their season tickets yet? Didn’t think so!
patty518
Jul 30, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Comment #15HBA went to France as all the physios from club were in holland or USA. Quite simple really.
patty518
Jul 30, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Comment #16Re season tickets, the club said last season you had to retain your card as they wouldn’t be sending new ones out
niafron
Jul 30, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Comment #17Bonjour messieurs.
I got a simple explanation: all his familly and friends are in the area.
As i was saying a couple of days ago, Ben arfa have been deeply branded by the fact to leave his familly at the age of 12.
If you add to that, Clairefontaine is one of the best centers in the world, well, as long as he can’t train, no reason to didn’t let him go.
ronjohno
Jul 30, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Comment #18Wonder how many (including me) come on to this site -say max 200. Just a guess (Ed will know)
Maybe when the other 45000 plus join us we can get carried away with our comments.
I like to have my say but no way think I am speaking for anybody else.
Go to the match or pub and as has always been the case everybody disagrees and argues which is what makes for good banter.
Where I sit there is ONE Ameobi fan (suppose there has to be one) ,some like Colo some dont,nobody likes Ryan Taylor, Simpson cannot “jockey” a winger etc etc.
How many times do you agree with the merit marks on Sunday or Monday after a match.
I know I sometimes think I must have been watching another game.
Also wish I could swear that I had never told a lie in my long life.
I expect next season to be sat surrounded by people in their Cassocks and Crosses swinging incense such is the holier than thou attitude toward Ashley and Hawkeye Llambias.
For the record I hate them as well but they hold all the cards.
They are innocents compared to some big businesses with household names,Banks, Politicians.
When you dont know they are telling lies is the time to worry.
I have always been wary of people who say “if I am honest” “to be honest” “being perfectly frank”. Listen to Pardew he says something like that in every interview.
If your telling the truth there is no need to emphasise it.
So knowing they all speak with forked tongue means just let them wallow in it. IF I AM HONEST
LGFUAD21
Jul 30, 2011 at 1:18 PM
Comment #19Just a thought. But we have been bitchin and moaning all window about this 35 mil apparently being wasted on underfloor heating at a training facility (i know medical facilities are more important) but still you know. Would you rather we send a player abroad to recover and keep the money for transfers??? i know i would.
One good thing about the Mafia (FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE) is that they don’t talk much to the fans about screw ups etc. In business you aren’t supposed to lie but neither are you supposed to constantly explain to the public why you are doing what you do.
That said I wish to f they would sell up