Ben Arfa's chance to shine

No!

 

You bastard

 

If they were basing their opinion purely on the Chelsea game then I agree.

 

You have to have a position before you can be caught out of it. Ben Arfa just needs to learn where best to be to get the ball, higher up the pitch the better.

 

I'm usually all for the up and at 'em approach (see what I did there? Nobody?? Sighhhh) but I would honestly consider dropping Benny for this one, I think playing Best and Ba in this game would be ideal. We did it against Stoke, and that for me has been our best victory of the season. Bring him off the bench in the second half and let him exploit the space that opens up, but for the first hour or so I can see this game being extremely tight - we aren't going to want to leave too much space in our own half for Norwich to exploit so I can see Ober and Jonas being rooted in front of their full backs with Gosling also sitting tight to help out our makeshift back four, leaving Cabaye to marauder forward and hopefully see Ober hitting them with his pace. Playing Best and Ba adds another dimension than Ben Arfa, if he plays we could just see him marooned in the middle cos lets face it, the bloke wouldn't know defence if it danced naked in front of him wearing a tea cosy. When things open up and become stretched after an hour bring him on and let him exploit the space.

-----------------------------------Krul-------------------------

Santon------------------Simpson-------Perch----------Raylor---

Obertan-----------------Gosling--------Cabaye--------Jonas----

--------------------------Best------------Ba-----------------------

 

Well.. now we all know who to blame if Ben Arfa is ****.

 

This

Bloody scousers!

 

For the love of GOD take him out

 

We'd get destroyed with that formation, not to mention the fact Cabaye would have to sit so deep he wouldnt be able to dictate play as usual. Ben Arfa's only played against the top 3, give him a proper chance, he will hurt Norwich a hell of a lot more than Best will.

Krul
Simpson Perch Kadar Santon
Obertan Gosling Cabaye Jonas
Benny----
----Ba​

Thought about Abeid but I think it would be a difficult debut for him, bring him on for Gosling or Ben Arfa if we're defending a lead.

 

If you take Ben Arfa out of yours I will take Carroll out of mine

 

How about this:

----------------Krul---------------
Simpson---Perch---Kadar---Santon
Obertan---Cabaye--Raylor---Jonas
--------------Ben Arfa------------
-----------------Ba---------------

Could work?

 

Raylor was good in CM the game he played last season, but I'd rather have a natural there like Gosling. Raylor's good emergency cover though and I agree he needs to stop playing LB.

 

I can understand wanting Gosling, he looked alright against Everton and made an amazing save, but i feel Raylor would be that bit better at creativity. Also he'd have some form of understanding with Jonas on the left

 

Good point that mate, CM with an understanding of defensive cover, Like it

 

It's what i've been thinking about

 

I have a warm feeling about that line up, wonder if Alan Pardew is a member of this forum??

 

If we cant defend... dont!

Our best form of defense in this game for me is to attack.

This is why an attack minded possession game is the way forward. We cant expect Kadar and Perchy to be stalwarts without cover so I like the idea of a 4-5-1.

Krul
Simpson Kadar Perch Santon (yes id start santon)
Obertan Gosling Cabaye Ben Arfa Jonas
Ba

Cabaye being the defensive cover.

Its an attack minded midfield built for situations where we dont want to do the defensive side of things to much.

We will win 2-0.

You heard it hear first.

 

Just because i didn't include an out and out DM in the formation, doesn't stop the whole team defending as a unit. Cabaye should be known by now to get stuck in and tackle.

Like the Geordieginola above states, attack is the best form of defence when we are missing key players along the back line. It's only bloody Norwich.... if Pardew decides a tinker to the formation, then isn't a match vs. a newly promoted team the best trial for it. I think many of you are over estimating Norwich being a good side. They will be one of the much easier sides we play this season and the attacking line-up of

Benny
Best Ba

It will tear Norwich up. They don't have a defence either....! This match will be about who fancies their chances more and attacks.
Even with a bodged up CB pairing, it's still better than Norwich's.

 

He's not anywhere near what he was when we bought him. Might never be.

 

We won't be able to contain big Morison.