Time for this chap to step up now

Assuming no one comes in this window there is half a season for HBA to get regular game time and either:

1- Step up to the plate and deliver consistency
2- Do a few fancy show boats to attract the attention of a summer bidder

Either way we could see a win/win situation.

It's not all doom and gloom...

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It is if you read NUFC.com...

 

He'll only get the chance if Pardew picks him and no guarantee of that.
If he does play, he needs to be consistent and show he's worth a new contract, otherwise he will be sold in the summer with only 12 months left on his existing.
The job for Kinnear isn't just about bringing players in, it's convincing current players to stay at the club, and sign new deals, and at the moment, you don't see that happening either.

 

If we don't ding anybody soon he'll HAVE to play as one our few available players.

Definitely time for Benni to step up. I can see Norwich away being the perfect kind of game for him. Hopefully they will give it a go, which allows him more space when we break.

 

hadn't been on for a few weeks fella to be fair. A lot of fans must be thinking the same thing.

 

Honestly..was it the start of last season when Cabaye was out and Benny was more or less our main man? We did ok. Let him play through the middle, linking up with Remy. Let's just see how it goes. If it doesn't, I guess we go back to two strikers. Sure losing Cabs is a huge blow, but luckily we're relatively safe for the season already. Another 2-3 wins will see us safe.

 

May the good lord help us if HBA is the solution. (I don't believe in god) Could be a run in that is difficult to watch at times. I'm prepared to watch HBA play for himself as the team struggles, but then his fan boys ignore te negative influence he has and lay it all at the door of others and Pards. I hope Pardew has a better solution then HBA. (Haidara in at left back, Santon right, Sissoko No.10 would be mine)

 

At the end of the day we all know if you offered Ashley 17th position for the next 5 years he`d snap your hand off. No ambition. Will only buy if we are in danger of being sucked into relegation. Watch this space.

 

You're bang wrong, mate. Sissoko is a sh!t number 10 and had a longer run in the centre before Pardew realised RM was his key position, in this set up. In the Prem, you can't just carry the ball from CM unless you're one of the very, very best (Yaya Toure), so Sissoko ends up a bit lost.

Now I asked a question about Ben Arfa when you claimed he didn't shine on his "extended run in the first team" from earlier in the season. I've had a butchers at a few of those games:

vs Fulham, he was playing with Cisse, Shola, Marveaux and no Cabaye thus Sissoko was in the middle. Benny was the one who got us 3 points.
vs Villa, he played wide right again with Sissoko in the middle, had Cisse up front and - again - Benny single handedly won us the three points.
vs Hull, he was in a front three as Pardew again fiddled around with tactics to keep Sissoko in the middle.
vs Everton, he was again suffering with Sissoko in the middle - only when Cabaye came in did we look any good.

That was the turning point - he was then dropped in favour of Sissoko on the right side of midfield and we went on a sparkling run of form, mainly because Pardew favours hard work and in Sissoko on one side and Gouffran on the other, with a midfield duo of Cabs/Tiote or threesome including Anita, it was a really solid formation where everyone knew their jobs and Sissoko thrived in his.

Now we should keep Sissoko where he has done so well, as I would argue that Sissoko in the middle has been a far bigger contributor to bad results than Ben Arfa starting. It follows that I would like to see a replacement, but I'd like them to be given time and Ben Arfa to be the one starting in a free role ahead of an Anita/Tiote midfield partnership. As long as he's working hard to press in the middle/final third, then we have no issue.

 

Entitled to your opinion fella, but you're way out for me. The only reason I'd play HBA would be to get his price up for a sale. I prefer Sissoko on the right (despite the pilloring PArds got last season for playing him there). However if Cabaye goes, we sign no one, then I'd rather play another striker or Sissoko in the hole. Cutting through all the excuses you make for HBA's performances at Hull and Everton (how you can defend Everton is beyond me), the lad managed to play well in 2 games in a 9 game run. Personally I think it had nothing to do with others performances and everything to do with the lad himself. He runs around with ball, never lifting his head and running down blind alleys for fun. We got him out of the team and we improved ten fold.

To me the time for this "we just have to harness the talent he has" bollocks is done. He is a liability, an underachiever and at best a very good sub. Basically my patience (and the managements by the looks of it) has run out. I don't believe he'll ever adapt his game to fit into a team. He is 26 now and still thinks he is at Ronaldo/Messi level. Those guys you can accept their hogging of the ball, they produce week in, week out. HBA is just a wannabe and its obvious why he never cut it in France and none of the big clubs have ever tested our resolve.

 

All of which is irrelevant if the man with the plan gets a Cabaye replacement. I think we'd all rather see Grenier or Siem De Jong in the number 4 shirt; I'm just suggesting that sometimes players like Ben Arfa thrive when shadows & boundaries are lifted.

That said, he is in last chance saloon; he may have already been/left yours, but I'll buy him one more drink in mine!!

 

As always he'll have my support and I could see him being given a go. I'm just more than prepared for what is likely to follow. I hope I'm wrong.

 

That's the worrying part Who in their right mind would give that responsibility to him ... oh, right, yes, Cashley did

 

Rep worthy comment. A right pair. Not!