Can Ben Arfa be a consistent goal threat from the wing?

Not trying to be difficult, but I don't think assist tallies do players much justice. Cabaye only has 2 direct assists so far, but how many moves are started with a pass from Cabaye?

Shola has got more assists than Cabaye, but has been involved in less goals.

Hatem is the same, but year I agree it's harsh on him.

 

Again, I'm agreeing with you. His stats are impressive, even before you look deeper.

 

Wouldn't it be nice if we all read each others' posts a little more?

Also, as I'm bored, I'm going to be the Grammar Nazi: Tash, you said 'less goals' and you meant 'fewer goals' as goals is a plural. Less sheep, fewer cows.

 

Shouldn't NAZI be a cap N?

 

Oh God, how embarrassing. You're quite write, it's a proper noun.


See what I did there?

 

See it but saying nothing. Don't want to take your job off you in these hard times.

 

There's a difference between knowing he will cut back inside and being able to do anything about it. Against Blackburn and Fulham he ran at 5 defenders who all saw him coming and all ended up watching him go by

 

thing is left backs already know he's going to cut onto his left, its not exactly a secret that hes exceptionally one footed. they know he's going to do it but his balance and skill are such that they just can't stop him. I cna't think of many players that switch their balance and drop their shoulders with such ease. i mean the goal against fulham he just swayed a bit and was past his man.

 

We'll be the masters of 'cutting in', Ben Arfa on the right who doesn't use his right foot so cuts in, and Santon steaming down the left who doesn't use his left foot so cuts in onto his right. Hope they don't collide in the middle and wipe each other out........

 

I actually really like that formation

 

Not only a cap but jack boots as well

 

the lad is amazing, everytime he gets the ball the other team ****s themself

 

How about we go the Keegan 2008 formation:

-------------Krul-------------
Simmo--Wilo---- Colo---Santo
----Guthrie Tiote Cabaye-----
------------HBA-------------
--------Ba------Cisse--------

Beat Spurs away 4-1 with this bad boy......with worse players!

 

I've always liked that sort of formation, and to be honest I think it plays to our strengths. We don't have long-ball target man type players anymore. We have technical players with great short passing ability, so formations like 4-4-2, imo, don't work as well.

However, I'd swap Jonas with Guthrie, as Jonas looked great in a more central role. We don't NEED width or dedicated wingers, we really don't. The three midfield players can play in triangles along with Ben Arfa and just work the ball up the pitch. If a cross is more suitable, there's nothing stopping a player like Jonas briefly moving out to the flank to put a cross in. It's more fluid.