Ben Arfa first suffered his hamstring injury against Maritimo last November, and he returned to action against Fuham in early December and made it worse, but he finally came back last Thursday night in Moscow, and we thought he gave a good account of himself, in his first game back after being out so long.
Ben Arfa in action on Thursday night in Moscow
We had head in Alan’s press conference yesterday that the Frenchman was a bit stiff, and the Newcastle manager has said today that he will not start against Stoke, and we suppose it’s natural to be tentative after what happened at Fulham last year.
This is what Pardew said in the Sunday Sun today:
“We think he should be OK,” “He’s tentative and we’re tentative because it was such a bad injury that he had.” But he came through the period of the game well the other night.” “He’s a little bit stiff but we think he can make the bench. “
“He won’t start. He was the scourge of Stoke last year, he caused them havoc so at some point I’d love to put him out there.” “Without him, it’s a bit like taking Suarez out of Liverpool. To us he’s that special player who can create something and we’ve really missed it.”
“There are so many games that are tight in the Premier League.” “You just need a player to unlock the door sometimes.” “Sometimes you can come off the pitch and say ‘We played really well’, like we did at Stoke in November, but we didn’t win and he turns them into wins because he just produces the moment.”
“And that’s what we are looking for in the last 10 games and hopefully an extension in the Europa League too.” “Certainly we would have had more points on the board if he had been fit, and I believe that we’d be safe by now.”
So it seems that the game plan is to tire Stoke out this afternoon – and Moussa Sissoko can probably do that all on his own. 😀
And then bring on Ben Arfa in the last 20 minutes to get some goals and finish the job and and improve our goal difference, which for the second season running is not too good.
A win is what we need this afternoon – and that’s all that matters right now.
Loading ...Howay The Lads!!
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12 comments so far
toonarmydownsouth
Mar 10, 2013 at 10:51 AM
Comment #1Not surprised tbh just come back from a big injury and was never going to start 2 game in 4 days especially against stoke’s bully boy tactics!
Graeme
Mar 10, 2013 at 10:56 AM
Comment #2There is enough skill and ability available without Ben10 to beat Stoke.
Play Cabaye behind Sissoko and Gouffran, with Cisse up front and than play Tiote and Anita between the back four and Cabaye
Debuchy – Saylor – Mbiwa – Santon
Anita – Tiote
Cabaye
Sissoko Gouffran
Cisse
Toooon to win 3-0 and take Stoles place in the League!!
Marty-Toon
Mar 10, 2013 at 10:59 AM
Comment #3Ed,
I think you’re right there with Sissoko doing he damage on his own.
The guy is a beast.
With Tiote ,Cabaye,Sissoko and Gouffran I think we will have too much for them in midfield and it always helps that Huth is out and possibly etherington too.
Howay the lads,I need some cheering up with a good drubbing of the potters
Marty-Toon
Mar 10, 2013 at 11:01 AM
Comment #4Graeme
We’ve got a decent squad now and that’s a strong line up that should be able to cope.
As long as we can cut out stupid school boy errors then we will be fine.
We will need to be big with their dead ball situations.
Elliott is good in the area so hope he does well
toonarmydownsouth
Mar 10, 2013 at 11:03 AM
Comment #5Have a feeling, I’m going for it today either stevie or yanga will score from a corner!!
3-0 to the toon! Goofy n cabs with the other 2
~ Phoenix Warrior Perch~
Mar 10, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Comment #6~~~~~~~~~~~~~Elliot~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Debuchy~Saylor~~Mbiwa~~Santon~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Perch~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Jonas~Cabaye~~~~~Sissoko~Goofy~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Cisse~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marty-Toon
Mar 10, 2013 at 11:13 AM
Comment #7Tads
I like your optimism mate 🙂
Hopefully Cabaye and his dead ball will be 100% better today as its been shockingly poor lately.
Would love to see some good deliveries and a free kick special to the top corner 😉
giimps
Mar 10, 2013 at 11:16 AM
Comment #8Tads, hope your right but Stoke are well practiced at dead ball situations so I’m not expecting them to concede in one.
They use wingers effectively too but I expect us to be too strong in midfield.
My main concern is when they play hoofball and miss out the midfield in 2nd half like they always do when they aren’t winning or losing battles in midfield.
Hwtl
Graeme
Mar 10, 2013 at 11:24 AM
Comment #9TADS, we need three goals to better Stoke’s goal difference and replace them in 11th place in the table on 33 points.
This season, you wont require 40 points to be safe but I think we will get there, or thereabouts!! Really don’t see relegation becoming a major threat the way we are playing now. Fingers crossed, just in case lol
blew
Mar 10, 2013 at 11:28 AM
Comment #10Not many select Jonas in their team, be assured he will play. I would like to see Haidara at LB and Santon in place of Jonas, but this wont happen.
Looselips is comparing HBA to Suarez, I would hope one day this will occur. Suarez plays every game and scores 1 in 2. HBA has a long way to go but I am hoping, he needs to stay fit then we will see.
Harley
Mar 10, 2013 at 12:21 PM
Comment #11Graeme
We only need 2-0 as well go above them on goals scored.
It’ll still be 3-0 though!!
chuck
Mar 10, 2013 at 3:07 PM
Comment #12Obviously he’s still not match fit, in fact looked both slow and overweight against anzhi.
Pardew stated he had thought of taking him off at halftime and shuld have.
If he had as claimed a knee knock, he would’nt have made it too the bench.
Dont believe all you here.