Gabriel Obertan

Ok so it was a good result today and this is our best team for a while and thats down to Pardew. But about Gabriel Obertan, I think he will be a better impact player than a starter. Remember the Arsenal game, he was amazing when he came on. Today he got in good positions and he did well tracking back but he did better as Spurs began to tire. He has had a run in the team as we are winning but with Ben Arfa and Marveaux fit, I think he will be on the bench next weekend. Also a notable mention for Ameobi as that was his best game in a while. However I hope he doesn't start next week.

 

Agreed
Thought Best was poor today too, time to start Hatem?

 

I wish people would get of his back to be honest. ffs we are doing well.

 

Not on his back, just think he will do better off the bench, I like him as a player, and with time could be a starter

 

I completely disagree about Best - 2nd half he didn't do as much but his touch and ability to get the ball down whilst under pressure is top notch!

He didn't get as many chances as our wingers were shackled (obviously to counteract Spurs' wingers)

 

Ben arfa has to start ahead of him, he can do the simple stuff but even thats dodgy some times!

 

the lad isnt exactly playing poor to be honest... we just have some great players doing well for us at the moment so its easy to think he is playing poor. try not to forget he is a young un who has confidence issues but hes not causing us any harm right now by being in the team... if im honest i would like to see marv start thought.. but just because i think his sub performances should be rewarded with a start.

 

Desperate for HBA to start but don't want him on the wing cause he'd never track back and works best in the hole but that means dropping a striker which on current form would have to be Best :\

 

Might be foe the best I mean I know he's bagged a few goals but the Blackburn game showed he's not a great finisher.

 

Best was excellent with his back to goal today. I think Ben Arfa would probably offer more if he was given a start though.

 

Obertan was really frustrating today, he had loads of times to run at his fullback and decided to just pass it back instead. He did track back quite well today as well but I'd like him to stick to the byline more! Give us some much needed width.

As for Best, I thought he had a decent game, his knock downs weren't going to anyone though, however that wasn't his fault as knowone was anywhere near him. I thought Ba and Best were always too far apart.

As for Ben Arfa starting he also annoyed me today, he tried to do everything on his own everytime. He was trying to shine too much, not a starter for me yet.

 

You're absolutely spot on, I think Ben Arfa was too much of a one man show today, I'm putting it down to his need to impress after such a long time out. Best and Ba didn't link as well as they have in the past, and Obertan certainly frustrating, but I'm hoping he finds a bit more confidence. I was delighted to see Santon making his debut, by the end of the game the tables had turned, I'll bet Spurs were happy to take the draw the last few minutes if any team were going to steal it, we would have.

 

I want Marveaux to start but there's a few things to consider with Obertan

- he's still only 22, he'll improve.
- dropping him wont help with his massive confidence issues
- I'd question how effective Marveaux/Ben Arfa would be on the right hand side
- we shouldnt give up on him, he'll be around for a long time (5 yr deal, wont be "poached" from us)

 

I think Ober had a great game today, but I agree that he'd be a beast of an impact sub.

 

I think he's a bit of a Taarabt style player; he'll either piss you off all game or be man of the match.

 

I have to say I agree about Obertan being a better impact player.

I wonder if we will make a tweak or two to the line-up next game, could see him on the bench if that happened.

 

Too much of the former at the moment though, unfortunately.

I think using him as an impact sub for a few games could be good for his confidence to be honest. It would make the game that little bit easier for him to shine in and he might start believing in his own ability that little bit more!

 

Wigan next so if we're going to tweak it may as well be now

 

Surely we have to keep him in against Wigan. No offence to Wigan but if he is going to get his confidence back then Wigan is a team I can see him getting it against.

 

Even his team mates take the piss out of him:

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