Can Ben Arfa be a consistent goal threat from the wing?

Arfa is a class act. He needs to play. He puts fear into teams I feel, we need players like that.

 

Benny on the left and Ober on the right for me. I don't see Obertan having any real impact cutting inside, whereas we know Benny can be effective on that flank.
(and if it doesn't work out, just swap him and Jonas again)

 

Yeah, I reckon he can score 10-15 goals per season. He is a class player. I think he does work hard aswell, although maybe not as hard as Jonas, but I don't you it matters tbh. As long as he is a good attacking threat - which he is.

On us not scoring many goals - I think it would be great if we could another good quality forward so we can put Ba/Cisse under pressure for their places. Best is decent, but I'd like it if we got someone like maybe Mevlut Erding? who could come in and compete for a place upfront.

I also reckon Cabaye can score 10 goals plus, but I think it would depend on what formation we will play. If we play Tiote/Guthrie/Cabaye in the middle then I think Cabaye would be more of a threat goal scoring wise.

 

Yeah saying LB's will work him out doesnt really mean much. He's not much more like the players listed above than say Gutierrez... They'll know he's gonna cut inside but thats still not gonna stop him from taking them on is it?

Even 6 a season plus assists would be great for me, but i reckon he'll get more in this team.

 

I'm not sure, we've seen how poor Obertan is on the right, the only time he looked remotely dangerous was cutting inside. I just think he'd do better if he was cutting onto his right foot. As for Benny, it doesnt really matter a lot which side he plays on because when he played on the left v Everton he cut inside the entire game as well.

 

Ober on the counter drifts left a lot, Fulham at home being a prime example, ran to the left wing, passed to Ba, Ba crosses, Best scores.

 

Yeah but I don't think the 19 apps thing does him justice.

He's been working his way back from injuries, and also most of them were just cameo appearances.

I reckon a full season fit and well, lets say he starts 30 games. I reckon around 9/10 goals would be a fair prediction for him.

I would definitely put him on the right. Ober is quick, Raylor is a better crosser, but HBA's overall ability is far great than either of those players.

HBA should be played on the right wing, especially as we've got two strikers who are best mates, and have shown already in the ACN that they can link up very well.

 

I think this could work. Obertan's come close a few times and the reason he's missing could be that he drags his shots left a bit, being a right footer. If it works for Bayern i don't see why it wouldn't for us (discounting that Ribery is far better than Obertan)

 

I actually said that the 19 apps thing shouldnt be taken on face value, why are you telling me that as if I disagree with you?

 

3 goals in 5 games for Ben Arfa and he looks a constant threat. I think that everybody reads into the fact that he is very one-footed and assume that he cuts inside all the time. This is not the case, and on many occasions in the last few games he has beaten his man down the side.

And if we are playing Obertan and Ben Arfa out wide then we should definitely have HBA on the right and Ober on the left (inverted), I feel they can both offer a goal threat this way.

 

Krul.
Simpson--Willo--colo---santon
Cabaye---tiote----jonas
HBA---cisse---ba

 

This is definetly out best team, although I'd set it up more of a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 with Ba behind Cisse

 

I wouldn't, Jonas in the centre is a revelation.

 

But, we would have to leave Ba or Cisse out and I doubt that will happen.

We could change our formation when needs be throughout the season though. It's good to have different ideas of formations and that.

 

Best XI players isnt necessarily the best team though. Jonas is brilliant in the hole but playing him there means Ba plays left wing.

 

Sorry mate, I literally just skimmed through your article because I was in and out of my room. Apologies.

However I was basically just pointing out that the 19 apps thing doesn't do him justice, like that Mackems when they compare Sess's stats to Hatem's, they don't consider Sess has started pretty much all of those games, and Hatem has been a sub and has had to recover from a double leg break.

 

I know it's absolutely mental and wouldnt work, but this is our best XI players IMO, shoehorning them into a formation is difficult

Krul
Taylor Colo Santon
Jonas Cabaye Tiote Marveaux
Benny
Ba Cisse​

Unless we genuinely tried Jonas as a full back.

 

Yeah, the stats are harsh but even with the 19 apps, to be involved in 7 goals is still decent.

 

Nice to have options unlike last season.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing this:

Krul

Simpson - Taylor - Coloccini - Santon

Guthrie - Tiote

Ben Arfa - Cabaye - Jonas

Ba

Obviously, no Cisse, but I think if we did play this then Cabaye would score a lot more goals.