Why would anyone be surprised about this? He was a big deal when Newcastle gave him his deal. I honestly thought we'd be paying him more than that - this is what we were paying Long!
It's a shame because there was real potential there for Ben Arfa to come in and reignite his career. He obviously has bags of talent, as we've seen for the Geordies before, but he just doesn't seem to have any desire whatsoever. If he goes, he goes. I wouldn't be too fussed... More disappointed that it's a missed opportunity for both him and the Club to benefit from him trying to prove a point.
His performances have been an insult to those fans who welcomed him when he drove late in the day to sign for us. We all wanted him to do well. As people have said it would free up a loan signing. Lewis Baker from Chelsea?
That's a bit of an exaggeration. He was **** for 34 minutes at Old Trafford but so was everyone else. Apart from that he's been ineffective but not appalling. I dunno if something has gone on that Bruce isn't admitting cos it doesn't make sense how suddenly he's been tossed aside. It's not like Bruce never knew he was lazy before we signed him. Aluko for one has games where he can't be arsed every so often but we still persist with him.
Well something seems to have happened and whether it has caused a schism between player and club I don't know. I just feel that would probably be better to get a player in who is keen to impress while with us for the future betterment of his career.
'the loanee had covered less ground this season than goalkeeper Allan McGregar.' http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/hatem-ben-arfa-exiled-hull-4806051 How come it took them so long to suss out?
I'm not sure I believe that to be honest, he worked hard against arsenal and spurs, and has put a couple of shifts in off the bench.
theres a lot of detail in there , and as a number 10 i would huff at being asked to track back n tackle all the time , i'd hope that my manager would prefer me to hang around the centre backs and be a cause for concern that way . from what ive read i reckon both player and manager are right , but ultimately you do what the boss asks or ur out
Don't think that are both right; I think the stats are a laugh or our GK is the problem ****ing off for random runs. Bruce is compromising one player to compensate for his tactical weakness - he knew, Pardew knew, everybody knew he is a luxury player - what part did Bruce not understand? This is embarrassing.
Yeah just saw that article. Surely can't be true, he looked like he worked pretty hard at Arsenal and Liverpool? McGregor didn't even play those games.
The fanfare when he arrived was fantastic. Was Brucie asked after the game? I didn't listen. Shame if he's given up so easily, but we're clearly in the trenches now where only the biggest hearts and strongest stomachs will do. If he's bottled it, then maybe he's done us a favour by bowing out of the theatre of conflict early, where the real men can get on with their business.
I'm inclined to agree with this now. A pity, because it could have worked out really well to the advantage of both parties. Ben Arfa can be world class, when he bothers to turn up, but if you are not going to set your side up around him, then he can become a liability. I felt that he tried in a few games for us, when he was asked to show more tracking back, but against Man U that was evidently not the case. He is a luxury player, who can win games on his own. We haven't seen that, due to the way we've set up coupled to his lack of match fitness and form. If we were mid-table I could see an argument for persevering with him. In our current position we need 11 men who are prepared to nail their bollocks to a tree for the cause and I don't think Ben Arfa is a bollock nailer.
So has anything been confirmed about this or not? Surely one journo wouldve asked this in the post match presser.
