Should Ben Arfa start against Blackburn?

This can work 2 ways we start him then bring him off. Or bring him on in 2nd half

 

Disagree, as already said Raylor needs Jonas. I would drop Obertan for Marv.

Definitely wouldn't start Ben Arfa, maybe bring him on for the 2nd half or 60mins in.

 

Yeah, Marv on the right. Is he left footed? Someone said earlier that'd be advantageous as he could cut in and shoot as we're unlikely to have much success at winning crosses into their box due to the height of their defence. Could be a better strategy, and as we saw at Villa, Obertans crossing needs work.

 

This basically, especially with Atkinson being the referee.

 

Alan Pardew had this to say about the 24 year-old, and it’s clear he does not want to rush the player back:

“We all know that Hatem brings something special to the team.” “But we don’t have to rush him."

 

He's right, we arent struggling so there's no desperate need to play him to get results. Our current form means we can ease him in, in his own time.

 

Start him, give him an hour. We need goals and creativity, our defences good run won't last for ever so we need to be getting goals. We may have only conceded 2 but we've only scored 4.

 

I'm against starting a player who you know hasn't got the match fitness to complete the 90 mins. It cuts down your options because you know your going to be forced into substituting them at some point. Which means you only have 2 substitutes left to make a tactical change or if one of the other players gets injured.

So in short it's a no from me.

 

Definitely not. I would keep the same team that played against Villa. This team is unbeaten so far, so if its not broken...Dont fix it! Marveaux and Ben Arfa to come on though at some point in the 2nd half against Blackburn. Hopefully we will be 3 nil up by then (Best hattrick)

 

Of course he should. Think he would be great in a Barcelona type formation 4-3-1-2, just behind 2 strikers. Jiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

i would love a fully match fit ben arfa to but he isn't there yet.

 

20-30 mins towards the end of the match would do me.

 

Apart from not having a lot of match fitness, he also hasn't played with a lot of the lads currently in the team. So IMO he needs eased in and to get more familiar with the other lads.

Last half hour of the match for me, maybe go 5 across midfield with Ben Arfa or Marveux pushing forward.

We have the ability to pack the midfield with 5 who can break forward quickly to over load on striking options

 

I get the feeling Pardew would like to pull him off at half time

 

Ben Arfa should stay on the bench at the start. We need to ease him in carefully. Just cos he came out of one game unharmed, doesn't mean he ready to start PL games yet.

 

In place of Ameobi/Ba

Krul
Simpson Colo Saylor Raylor
Obertan/Marv Cabaye Tiote Jonas
Ben Arfa
Best​

 

I would like to see that at 60/70 mins.

 

Same as Villa .. then Marv (especially as he played 120 mins on tues)on for the Mekon, and Ben Arfa on for Best/Ba
(And no doubt Shola on for Krul/Yohan or Chiek ..especially if they are having a blinding game)

 

Did Marveaux get subbed off in the Forest game? If he didnt I can see him being on the bench again.

I cant wait to hear the announcer call Ben Arfa's name again, even as a sub. Will be a lift to all the players and fans.

 

impossible to say because none of us know how ready he is