Hatem Ben Arfa

Now that the dust has started to settle from that atrocious second half performance, I thought I would see what everyones thought of Ben Arfa are. For me he is one of a few players who can go away from this game with there heads held high (the other ones being Jonas & Guthrie). Pardew has spoken about HBA's tracking back on numerous occasions which, I don't know about you lot, has completely pissed me off. For me he tracks back enough and puts in a lot of effort. After the first goal Pardew can no longer complain. Not only did he track back, but he put in an excellent challenge drew another player out of the game and played in Guthrie in lots of space. Then after that he scores a wonderful goal (albeit poor goalkeeping). See video below for just our two goals.

What did everyone think of HBA's performance on Saturday? And do you think he has done enough to finally break his way into the first team out on that right wing? For me he was excellent again and could be the difference between qualifying for Europe and not qualifying!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ&ob=av3e

 

Dickhead.

He played a pretty decent game, though he does give the ball away a fair bit, Obertan gives it away more and does a **** load less so that's easily forgiven. I don't get Pardew's comments about not tracking back either, there were moments in the match where he was defending where Simpson should have been.

 

****er

 

For me I'm a softie for talent that could turn a game as opposed to plodders who might every 10 games. Me? I'd put him in first on the team sheet .

 

Pardews "not working hard enough" excuse is destroyed everytime Strolla Ameobi lines out on that pitch

 

That's a good point, for me I would put the following five players first on my teamsheet if everyone was fit (in this order)...

1) Demba Ba
2) Fabricio Coloccini
3) Tim Krul
4) Hatem Ben Arfa
5) Yohan Cabaye

 

for me the fact that he's scoring and making goals means he deserves to be in the starting XI more than the alternatives. he does give possesion away cheaply at times but he's no worse for it than obertan and he doesn't do half the stuff offensively that benni does.

 

There is no doubting his talent and when we were playing 4,3,3 him and Gutierrez looked terrifying!

For some reason there seems to be a per-requisite at this club that our wingers have to be as strong defensively as they are going forward. Its fine for Gutierrez, but it shouldn't be the only way! Our LB/RB position is our weakest - we know this - and it means making concessions for them, but at some point, we have to say 'that's all good and well, but lets go and create something ourselves'

I think Ben Arfa showed he can and did his own defensive work, but that's not why we bought him and so it shouldn't be the reason we do or do not play him!

 

Your right..........I was just getting excited. For me his ONLY position before Ba and Cisse return is 4-4-1-1 behind Best.

 

It was a good point though...he should be one of the first names on the teamsheet.

 

On saturday whenever he lost the ball he would chase until he won it back. Obviously this wasn't at the fullback positions, but as long as he's doing this in advanced positions (out wide and centrally), then he's doing his job just fine.

 

It's also nice to think that we may finally have a new goalscoring winger. We haven't had once since Robert/Solano!

 

.........

Wish we'd get Salano in to coach Ober .......

 

What? Routledge was smashing them in in our first season back in the Premier League!

 

The trumpet...It might be a better career move...

 

****, my bad!

 

For me he needs to be through the middle. He actually played quite well on the right but at times we struggled to get him into the game. In fact in the 2nd half I can't remember him doing much before his goal. We need two wingers hugging the touchline to create the space for him in the middle behind Best preferably and not Shola!

 

We're not going to play 4-4-1-1 with Cisse here now, we're going to play 4-4-2 with the two Demba's.

Ober is ****, Raylor is a good crosser of the ball and a good passer, but HBA is streets ahead of anyone else we could play at RM.

HBA for the right wing.

He's scoring goals quite regularly now, and setting up chances and doing the business.

 

Before Ba and Cisse return......4-4-1-1.............behind Best.

 

So.......

Who got rick roll'd?