I'm bemused here. The Chronicle is saying he's interesting Barca due to his blistering form. What is it with HBA? Bad management or just him going through a bad time in his life and finding the Nandos freebies too tempting?
Hatem Ben Arfa was a bad professional, but there are plenty of them about, and good managers get the best out of them. Every team has it's arseholes, and the manager cannot use this an excuse. It's his job to get the best out of them, and he fails at his job if he can't do that. Hatem Ben Arfa is excellent in the right formation given the right amount of freedom. He was excellent when given freedom to play in a 4-3-3, but as soon as Pardew changed back to 4-4-2, we saw the end of his good form. But even though Ben Arfa was playing in a 4-3-3, he worked harder defensively, WHY? Because he was happy and motivated. Pardew was a bad man manager, and that's why Ben Arfa wasn't as good as he could have been.
He was just a poor professional. End of story. Pardew was a great man manager. Probably his greatest trait. When HBA was trying and being professional, he got the best out of him. When he wasn't he tried to guide him but HBA was too selfish and cared too little about the club. He has learnt the hard way as he was discarded by one club after another. He has had to go way down the league in France to find someone willing to put up with his antics. It seems to have had the desired effect and he has finally sorted himself out. Can he maintain it when he is bench warming at Barca? Probably not. He'll always have his fan boys who are willing to ignore him taking the piss out of the fans with his antics. The minute someone is bigger than the club you're in trouble.
The funny thing is that he could easily play for Barca as he is that good, talent-wise. Attitude is everything in football and HBA just thinks he's better than he actually is. It could have been a brilliant career, instead it will end an average one.
I'd have him back in a free transfer in a shot like! I'm sure he'd come back as well, especially to play under Rafa!
It looks like we all have Graham Carr wrong then...................... he is in fact a super scout that is working covertly for Barca. He scouts and signs players, our manager ****s 'em and then Barca get them on the cheap. Genius!!!
Ben arfa clowned on everyone in that league this year. He's good enough to put the team on his back. The prem was too much for him to do the same. The problem was we expected him to be a match winner every week. That's not possible In team as ****ty as ours. The guy will do great at Barca. Might only play 20 games a season. I think if he went to a team like inter he could win ballon d'or. I know everyone says his attitude is ****. Wouldn't yours be if you were playing in a team like ours, coached by Alan parsnip asking someone with your talent to essentially play RB.... I'd want out too. Rafa would have gotten the best of him
He played for Hull City but the general consensus was that the Tea Lady would have put in a better shift. Barcelona? Someone's got to be having a lend!
