Ben Arfa

With Ben Arfa steadily returning to full fitness there lyes a question. When he is fully fit who does he replace? The obvious before today would have been Demba Ba but after today it's a different story.

So who should, if anyone, be dropped for Ben Arfa?

 

He's got to earn his place for me, would be harsh to drop either front man. Possibly Obertan, but he seems like a confidence player so it'd probably crush him if he got dropped!

 

Best!!

 

I agree with the first point, however Obertan was excellent today so I'd say Jonas.

 

i think its great we have these selection problems. and as others have said he has to earn his place.

 

I forgot about Jonas!

 

Obertan... Jonas is more consistent (never thought I'd say that) than Obertan and offers more going forward. Then again Obertan has lethal pace...
tricky question!

 

I'm certain Ashley will look to cash in on Jonas in January and given we have Marv and Benny is coming back it would make sense.

Not that I don't love Jonas but the writing is on the wall.

 

nah i'd go with 4-2-3-1 or 4-5-1 but then it'd be hard to drop either best or Ba,but i'd go for Ba

krul
simmo saylor colo santon
cabaye tiote
ober ben arfa jonas
Ba

picked this team then thought marv should be in it then thought about sammy/abeid/vuckic/best which makes me think pardew has a nice dilemma

 

We probably won't have a set first XI, and will rotate and switch the team up according to form and opponents.

 

How old is Jonas? He hasn't been offered a contract, so maybe he'll leave this summer? Although he said in a paper today he'd reject moves to Italy/Spain for the time being to stay here.

 

I agree with this but to my surprise I've realised we have depth in midfield but in defense????

 

Jonas and Colo are the last of the massive earners, so it wouldn't surprise me if some attempt to flog them occurs. Either that or they'll prove that loyalty in football isn't dead by taking pay cuts to stay with their
beloved toon army!

 

hhhmmm I think South Americans have passion, however we all know age, money and agents do the talking.

 

Rotation!

 

All depends on form really. I mean most people would've probably been saying Ba, but he scored a hat-trick today so you can't exactly drop him.

 

Why not can't we just do this...

Simpson Saylor Colo Santon
Obertan Cabaye Tiote BEN ARFA
Ba Best

Away games :

Ben Arfa behind Ba/Best depending on form/fitness/injuries/etc..

 

Hate to say it but cant agree with the people saying Jonas should be dropped. Alot of the positive things about what he brings to the side go unnoticed,such as his tracking back,covering Raylor when he does get forward,etc. Without him in the team,I think the defence would of been a lot more challenged.

 

Marv has played full-back before so he knows how to cover. Once Santon comes back, I would play him and Marv on the left.

 

For now, just keep the team rotating in games until someone shows why they should have a more permanent role. 4-4-2 in the first-half, then introduce Ben Arfa in the second half in place of the poorer performing striker. It gets everyone involved and keeps the strikers motivated to perform well if they want to last the full 90 mins.

I agree though, it's tricky. I do just feel that Ben Arfa should be in our starting 11 no matter how the other team is performing purely due to his status, ability and class.



------------------Krul---------------
Simpson --- Saylor --- Colo --- Santon
-------Tiote --- Cabaye --- Jonas----
-----------Ba --- Best --- Ben Arfa-----

4-3-3 up in this MF.