Patience required for me. I'd prefer he started more and I don't agree with some of Pardews reasoning (some of that will just be motivational for Benni though). He'll be a whole lot better next year and a full season learning the English game.
Hatem Ben Arfa
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He doesn't like to play him. The question whether that is a sensible decision or not. At this point I trust Pardew more than I do HBA. If they can't work together (which may or not be the case) then I hope we get a good price for HBA in the summer
He is a left winger and can't offer anything defensivley! defense is the corner stone of our success so he'll never get in out side. He isn't ever going to be what he was before his leg was broken either. He needs to go to a less physical league and I feel for him.
HBA can be magic at times, he's probably the most talented individual we have in the team. But he goes missing for long periods and doesn't do the simple things as well as other players. When he has the ball at his feet he's a star and never mind the wonder goals he changed the complexion of the match with QPR after Cabaye went off.
However, he simply doesn't fit with our team. He's a great sub, and there are probably better teams than us who could accomodate his talents. The question is where he goes from here, we're not good enough to have the luxury of a player like him turning up every now and then we need all 11 players to put in a shift every game. I wouldn't be suprised if he goes in the summer and then shows up for some champions league team in a year or so who can afford to have a player like this.
On his day he's top top class.
However, he simply doesn't fit with our team. He's a great sub, and there are probably better teams than us who could accomodate his talents. The question is where he goes from here, we're not good enough to have the luxury of a player like him turning up every now and then we need all 11 players to put in a shift every game. I wouldn't be suprised if he goes in the summer and then shows up for some champions league team in a year or so who can afford to have a player like this.
On his day he's top top class.
Also...
I understand the idea of him being a winger but can't remember many good crosses? I'm not saying thats the be all and end all of being a winger but if you're marking him then you know a) he's going to want to use his left foot at all times b) he's going to want to cut inside and run into the box. Top class wing backs will eat that up all day.
I've only seen him in a handful of games so feel free to correct me if i'm wrong, but the above is what i've seen.
I understand the idea of him being a winger but can't remember many good crosses? I'm not saying thats the be all and end all of being a winger but if you're marking him then you know a) he's going to want to use his left foot at all times b) he's going to want to cut inside and run into the box. Top class wing backs will eat that up all day.
I've only seen him in a handful of games so feel free to correct me if i'm wrong, but the above is what i've seen.
That is the essence of his wing play. As was often said about Shearer, though, there's a difference between knowing what he's going to do and being able to stop him.
If he can consistently track back, make himself availabe for the pass and remember to pass the ball twice for every time he tries to do it on his own, he will be fantastic. There will still be games when it doesn't happen ofr him, but he will be adequate during those games. We all know what he can be like when he's on form.
It's really up to him and his egop
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