Can any of you watch this video and knock his ability? Absolute class act. Our best baller from the last 30 year. I'm not interested in the 2 trolls opinions, but would love to hear everyone else's
That was some wasted talent. I think we got as close as anyone to seeing a settled happy Hatem. Players like that you just need to say go out and win us the game.
Almost agree. If you said last 20 years I would agree. Last 30 years includes Ginola and Pedro both of whom I would put ahead of Hatem mainly as they turned up more often. Hatem on his day was our Messi. He was a world class player on his day and was worth the admission money by himself. As C Tenor says the tragedy with Hatem was that that was too infrequent but then again if it had been more often he would never have been here in the first place. Players like Hatem are so rare that you just have to enjoy it when he turned up. He could in one dribble or shot or even pass make my day. I loved watching him because he did what 99.9% of top class professional footballers couldn’t and that made him special. He made attending matches something to look forward to as he brought excitement and anticipation and had you sitting on the edge of your seat in hope as well as in awe. Yes you need the 100%er’s but you also need the Hatem’s. I suppose it seems for most players with Hatem’s natural ability the question of application and consistency are inevitably the issue. There aren’t many with the extent of his natural ability but those that do mostly seemed to have the same problems as Hatem but ultimately that was to our advantage otherwise he would never have played for us. And I for one will always feel privileged to have seen the great Hatem Ben Arfa in a black and white shirt.
Ben Arfa was awesome to watch while he was here but TBH I preferred Laurent Robert with his crazy potshots at goal from anywhere on the pitch. It seems like Schar is the only player from our current squad who is willing to attempt a long-ranger when the crowd tell him to shoot. Robert was soft as f*ck and a right greedy bastard but I'd love another classy winger like him in the squad with his killer striking technique.
HBA was one of the two most talented players I have seen wear a black and white shirt. The other was Kluivert. Both of them, at the end of the day, were net liabilities.
Great talent.In terms of natural talent I think he is up with the best we've had in my time along with Gazza, Ginola and Beardsley. Not a professional though Hatem. People like to join him in making excuses for his behaviour. If it was one club you'd say he just didn't fit. When its virtually every club and every manager...you'd have to be a fool to think it wasn't down to him being a bell end. Great to watch but very very difficult to manage. Its a waste of time trying to explain his behaviour and how he was wasted his talent. You might as well just enjoy the brief time he had here, same as all his clubs. I think I'll remember most that first season under Hughton. When you have a tough season, where the football is a bit turgid, he really comes into his own in making the season a little more enjoyable.
Neither compare with Gazza and Beardsley imo. Ben Arfa was an absolute joy to watch in the forward 3 of Ba/Cisse/HBA and just slaughtered teams in the 11/12 season. But as soon as BA wanted to go back up front, the balance was lost and we never saw the best of HBA again after that.
Pretty sure no-one ever knocked his ability Mr OP. His lazy workshy behavior and spoilt attitude can't be ignored though. I remember him fondly but in the same bracket as Robert, Dyer and Bellamy rather than Gascoigne, Beardsley and Ginola. Even from the team he played in I'd prefer to have Cabaye back rather than him.
