HBA does a Mr T and doesn't get on plane... is he away?

I forgot all about HBA... wouldn't like to see him go yet though.
Given he isn't a regular now what value would he attract... £10m?

http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-articles/hatem-ben-arfa-misses-team-bonding-trip-abu-dhabi/?

It has now been revealed that when Newcastle United took off on Saturday night for the team bonding trip to Abu Dhabi, Hatem Ben Arfa was not on the plane.

The United winger instead remained in London after his late substitute appearance in the 3-1 win against the Hammers.

hatem ben arfaThe Shields Gazette report that they understand Ben Arfa missing the trip is with the club’s permission but as yet Newcastle United have made no official comment on Hatem’s omission.

Yohan Cabaye has had daily rumours surrounding his future, especially with his form getting better by the game.

Subsequently the spotlight has totally fallen away from Hatem Ben Arfa, a player with so much ability but who has found himself without a first team place for most of the season.

Missing the team trip will no doubt help leave many people wondering just what the reaction of both club and player (and fans) would be, if a club made a serious offer for a player seemingly surplus to requirements for Alan Pardew.

 

I would say so. Somone with an ego like his matchedwith his undoubted talent will not sit on the bench long esp in owrld cup year

 

I'd say it would be Arsenal, dippers or Spuds if it were an English team

 

**** I type like Im pissed. hic

 

Being sold in favour of Remy Cabella ?

From what I read they are far more similar than Cabella and Cabaye.

 

If we can get a half decent deal then I'm not against it. He has not the most productive when used this season. That said he is a nice option to have in the squad and I'd have no problem with him sticking around.

I do see him as a luxury for a team like ourselves. If this Cabella lad is gonna come in and offer the wizardry with work rate then he might be a better fit. The thing is with Obertan needing to go, Jonas gone, Marveaux frozen out/fairweather/injury prone, we'd be leaving ourselves sorn of options in the wide areas if we don't bring someone in. I see Gouf, Sissoko, Remy, (not a striker for me) and HBA as our options.

Be interesting to see what the absence is all about.

 

I don't think there's any question marks over his workrate, personally. Purely and simply, for me, he's just not as good as Sissoko wide right. Sissoko's first choice, Benny's just a very, very talented substitute. He can't play number 10, so the only 'solution' if we wanted to keep him would be to play him wide left. However, as there's far more question marks over Santon at full back than Debuchy, we would risk being exposed on that flank. I think it's worth the risk, though, as I think Ben Arfa - given a run and confidence - could be a devastating combination on the flanks with Moussa on the other.

I think now Pardew has an identity sorted - Tiote/Anita proving very capable as 2 x DM's in that five man midfield, and Cabaye now relishing this kind of deeper No 10 role (or Cabella, depending!), I think the time is now right to play the strongest XI players we have across this 4-5-1. I also think that playing Ben Arfa gives Remy freedom to move left, but you're not going to see fluidity without playing them together properly.

I may be wrong, it may be we never see it happen, but I think a player like Le Gouff should be nearer a bench than a first XI if top-6 is a realistic goal.

 

Ben Arfa should start more at home against the poorer teams. Away from home he should be used from the bench.

His form is patchy because he's not being picked. You don't just suddenly come in from the cold and start performing at the top of you game. You also have to take in to account he always comes on in difficult circumstances such as when we're chasing the game against City and Arsenal or when we're trying to see the game out against West Ham.

He rarely comes on when we're the dominant team. He's being slightly mis-used from the bench for me. He should come on when we're 1-0 up and in a position of strenth so that when teams come on to us he can help pick them apart on the counter. He's obviously a good option to have to bring on when chasing a game, but by then the opposition often have 11 behind the ball meaning there is no space. Give him space and he's leathal.

 

HBA ran the clock down well with some intelligent play near the end of the game against Crystal Palace when we were 1-0 up. He had three guys at his feet near the corner flag and they couldn't get the ball away from him.

 

Scored with a great pen too. The ball's just settling in the roof of the net.

 

Can't see him going this transfer window.

Most likely leave in the summer unless he signs new contract as he will only have 12 months remaining.
You never know he may be discussing with his representatives/club this week.

Last week it was reported that talks were to be held.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/fo...contract-talks-with-French-ace-Hatem-Ben-Arfa

 

I just don't trust fatty to not sell the family silver and all of that.

 

Nothing means as much to him as £sd.

 

Have to say this not being given a run in the side doesn't stack up for me. It just seems like an excuse for an understandably popular player. I'm sure he started 7 or 8 of the first 9 games. Whichever way we dress it up, his performance level was pretty average. Yes he had to do the fake number 9 a couple of times against Liverpool and the Mackems but generally he was in his best position. He just didn't perform. Pardew gets slaughtered for picking players when they are not performing but then when its HBA it seems different rules apply? I don't get that, he is just one member of the squad. Its not like he could be a blue chip like under Bobby where you pick him because he gives you a minimum of 7 out of 10 90% of the time.

I'll be a heretic and say it, I don't think HBA is all that. He has promised much and there have been times when I've thought "he is a crown jewel, he's gonna kick on now" but he just hasn't delivered. Supremely talented, but mentally still plays like he is in the school yard. I've come to the conclusion the potential will never be realised.

 

I'm a heretic too then... Agree 100% and have said the same on earlier threads.

It takes Ben Arfa 4 or 5 matches to have 1 truly effective showing. He's an individual, got great skills but doesn't play enough for the team.

Goes for glory and all too often fails, when the simple nailed on option is to pass.

If our squad was an embarrassment of riches and we could carry him, afford to keep him in the squad then great – but we don't have that luxury sadly!

 

For me we're too rigid a side to incorporate him. I'm not saying that as a slant on Pardew, it's just how I see it.

Ben Arfa won us 6 points against Villa and Fulham early on in the season. He was a big factor when we finished 5th too. I think with Anita and Tiote sat deep we should be able to afford him the luxury of not tracking back now and then. I'm not saying every time, but sometimes it'll be good for us to win the ball back when he's further up the pitch with a striker ahead of him.

He's our second best player and therefore everything should be done to get him in the team.

 

Common sense really.

 

No where near for me. I used to think so but that is just talent. There are so many other things that go into being a player. HBA doesn't have loads of them. I'm not sure he'd be in my top 5 nowadays.............in fact I know he wouldn't. It is easy to point to the two games in that 9 game sequence where he had an impact, its the other 7 I worry about where he actually works against you at times. He will not release the ball. Its a team game, especially for clubs like us. Unless you are Messi, Bale, Ronaldo, then you cannot not afford to hog the ball like HBA does. Those guys deliver time and again so fair enough. Suarez has just as much, probably more, talent than HBA, but plays for the team as he knows he can't do it all himself.

It is not the tracking back as you can accomodate that somewhat. He just disrupts the rhythm of the team and is detrimental to our attacking threat. Its no coincidence that since being removed we are much more free flowing, play better football, score more and get goals from everywhere. I do not agree with shoehorning players in because they are talented and entertaining. I don't think we are rigid this season. We've had good flexibility and good movement in the midfield areas. I much prefer watching those little triangles with Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Cabaye, Goufran than HBA running down blind alleys.

 

For me though he has no option but to run down blind alleys sometimes as he's nearly always brought on when we're chasing the game and the other team have 11 behind the ball. It then seems to be the tactic of the team to give him the ball and see if he can create.

Ability wise he's our second best player, arguably our best. I agree that I'd have Krul, Cabaye, Debuchy and maybe Anita (I love the lad, his first time pass to Sissoko made our second goal) over him. He has so much talent that there must be a way to utilise it (as we did when we finished 5th).

He's a match winner when on form. We just need to help him find that form and i don't think bringing him on from the bench every time we trail in a game is the best way to do that.

 

He's our second best player the way Kevin Pieterson's a great batsman - - once in a while he will be jaw dropping but most of the time he just doesn't deliver