Leon Best, HBA and Man Utd

Has anyone got a video of Best's horror tackle yesterday. It looked terrible and how he stayed on the pitch I'll never know. Although I've only seen it once which was from Lv 7 in the Leazes corner and it wasn't shown on match of the day so maybe it was a tackle that looked worse than it was.

Also whats with everyone getting on Ben Arfa's back? There were groans around the stadium every time the ball went near to him. He's just came back from a horrific injury that could have easily ended his career. You have to be pretty stupid to think he's going to produce moments like Everton away again so soon. Give the lad time. Also even before his injury the way he plays is that he is either magical or frustrating. Thats the type of player he is. He won't play a simple passing game or anything like that. He will work his magic, he will take risks and when it works its spectacular. When it doesn't we have to accept that if we want to see this attractive football the magic doesn't and can't work every time.

Would anyone be willing to help is with Man Utd away tickets? The problem is that I want to go with some mates but 2 of them don't have ST's. So would 2 season ticket holders that can't make it to the Man Utd game let me use their ST's to get the tickets? It would get you loyalty points. Any help would be much appreciated. Cheers.

 

The tackle wasn't that bad really, he didn't catch the man with his outstretched leg but just followed through into him

 

I think it must have been the way the Wigan player sort of shot up in the air and landed dodgy that made it look bad. It's hard to tell without a replay because initially I thought it was really late and with excessive force.

 

They didn't mention anything of it on Goals on Sunday.

 

Was that the one on their LB? All I remember is the player continued playing until the end so it can't have been bad.

 

Yeah I think, it wasn't too long before half time and Best got booked for it. The player went off for a bit of treatment and then came back on. There was quite a long stoppage.

 

Nah, I saw it on telly, wasn't anywhere near as bad as it initially looked. It was late and reckless but not malicious!

As for Ben Arfa, I think you make a fair point that he was that type of player before he got injured, but either way if it's not helping the team its not helping the team...Plain and simple. So far we've not been punished for his poor ball retention, but pretty soon we will do, and I'm not sure I want to gamble on him creating a moment of brilliance in return for potentially dropped points!

 

Nah it was worth the yellow but it wasn't that bad. One-footed, no studs and didn't go in from behind.

 

If people are getting on HBA's back that's mental. The turns he made yesterday we great, just lacking the final ball.

 

Best's tackle was a yellow. It looked acrobatically crazy but up close on replays it wasn't that bad. Didn't hear any moaning at Ben Arfa from TV so it can't have been too loud anyway.

 

It wasn't bad at all to be fair.

On Ben Arfa, I'm certainly not getting on his back - think he will prove to be a genius for us

 

This He even nearly scored a wonderful goal. He's still getting back to Match Sharpness and will take time, and I don't really remember him losing the ball yesterday like he did against Tottenham except when he did that Stupid back heel

 

I love the link up we get by having Jonas and Ben Arfa on the pitch together, they're so tricky and quick the full back has no chance.

 

Ben Arfa needs more game time. Simple as that.

To come from a year out straight into the pace of the premier league is no easy task.

His running at defenders created panic in the Wigan defence that hadn't existed before his entrance. It was just frustrating that he misplaced a few passes or tried to do a little too much.

With match sharpness he'll be great.

 

I want Ben Arfa to start against blackburn, no risk of dropping points and when he comes back to full fitness, he will be our best player so give him a run-out

 

Ben arfa is a luxury player I reckon, he does have moments of brilliance but he's yet to hold down a certain role or position. He is frustrating and brilliant in equal measure a lot like taarabt, if he can show his brilliance more and develop a best position he will be amazing.

The thing is he doesn't get back and defend enough to play right or left mid, he doesn't link play well enough to play as an offensive midfielder, his ideal position is the free role behind the striker. A free role like ronaldiniho used to play, the thing is a free role is a luxury position we can't afford to give. He needs to adapt to play a postion rather than just play football if you get me, he has all the talent in the world but he needs to be moulded as a player

 

Wasn't that bad a tackle when I've seen it again. Couldn't really say at the time but obviously the Wigan lad was well and truly upended. Probably just a case of it looking worse than it was. Ball was there to be won when he put the tackle in, wasn't malicious.

Benny just needs time. I was a disappointed with sections of our support on Saturday. We went very quiet and nervous before the goal, whereas I was wanting it to get going to try and force the ball in! Benny is going to draw a few groans at present as he does concede a lot of possession, and holds onto it too long. But this is just rustiness picking up the pace of the game again. Once he has and he manages to surpress his natural exuberance to impress a little, he'll be fine. He'll get back to it by playing and we need to be patient because it'll be worth it long term. Like any other player though, he needs to work his way back in and be deserving. Not interested in carrying players because of special treatment.

 

Agree with every word of this.