Unbeaten Newcastle to only get stronger with Ben Arfa, Santon returns. :)

Thought i would post this article .

Things can only get better for Newcastle United with the impending returns of Hatem Ben Arfa and Davide Santon.

The undefeated Magpies currently sit fourth on the Premier League table and will be boosted after the international break when the pair are included in the squad for the visit of sixth-placed Tottenham on October 16.

Boss Alan Pardew admitted the likely return of Ben Arfa and Santon will provide him with a healthy problem from a selection viewpoint.

"It's not a headache, but a nice problem,” he told the Shields Gazette.

"I didn't use Ben Arfa (against Wolves) because I thought with the pace of the game, and the way we were defending, we weren't going to get enough ball to him.

"Peter (Lovenkrands) came on and did a sterling job. There'll be other games for Ben Arfa to come on, for sure, and Santon."

So what would you do, play Santon and Ben Arfa?
But then who do you replace, and with team spirit so high at the moment.

Spurs next, they normally have a tough time at the north east. Hopefully we can get some points.

Let the good times roll!!

 

I'm really worried about Simpson vs Bale. Santon has to play vs Spurs on the Right with Raylor staying LB.

Krul
Santon Colo Saylor Raylor
Jonas Cabaye Tiote Marveaux
Ba Best*

*Bring Ben Arfa on at HT.

 

On current form Obertan would be the one to be sacrificed for Marveaux. All the frustration of Jonas, but without the excellent work-rate and character of Jonas.

 

Obertan is an impact player, he's perfect for taking on players when they're fatigued not at the start of the match when they're raring to go!

It would be wrong to just chuck Santon out vs Bale, I think Simmo could handle him- it's spurs' central midfield we have to try and contain!

 

But Simpson needs the support then. Obertan does not track back enough and sometimes Simmo can still be caught out of posistion.

 

My team vs Spurs would be:

Krul

Simpson - Taylor - Coloccini - Taylor

Ben Arfa - Tiote - Cabaye - Jonas

Ba - Best

Would keep same fullbacks as Bale could beat any fullback in the world of football on his day (he gave Maicon a torrid time). I would play Ben Arfa as he would scare Spurs to death and would stick him on the right as we don't really need to change much.

 

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For this game I would get Santon in and Raylor out - play Marveaux on the left and Jonas on the right to support Simmo.

 

This is Santon's time to come in for Raylor, yes we've continued winning with him in the line-up, but I really believe Davide will be a better LB, and there were moments on Saturday that showed Ryan's weaknesses as a fullback. No disrespect meant to him, because has done an admirable job playing out of position, but it's time to put the new kid in and demonstrate why he was tipped to be the next big thing in Italy.

As for Ben Arfa, bring him in too, the fact is, you have to play your best players, and there's no point in easing him back into the line-up when a start or 2 will further that a lot more than a series of brief sub appearances -- Whether for Obertan or one of the two up front I haven't decided (frankly I also want to see what Marv can do in place of Ober as well)

 

4231

_______________Krul
Simpson___Saylor___Coloccini(C)___Santon
_________Cabaye_____Tiote____________
Obertan_______Ben_Arfa________Gutierrez
________________Ba__________________

Obertan pace will make Bale help out Assou-Ekotto and Obertan is as fast or faster than Bale.

 

This.

 

Not this! Sticking Ben Arfa on the right would mean he would have to do more tracking back than we would want him to. Stick him behind one striker where he can float and the team shape will still be intact and he can cause more damage.

 

No way should Santon start in this game!

If he gets torn to shredds it will be such a moral destroyer for him, Leave Simpson in for this one, start Santon in the next game, atleast then IF one of the full backs has a bad game there's a reason to drop them as I think Bale and Lenon could run Simpson and raylor ragged

 

Said it before and will say it again, Raylor's done an admirable job but teams who pre-empt failure are the ones who stay unbeaten longer than the ones who stubbornly continue to play the same team, waiting for it to get beat. Santon is the superior player, start him. The momentum will die with the international break anyway.

 

Santon is by far our best full back so if he'd be torn to shreds I'd hate to see what would happen to Raylor.

 

We shall see what happens. Pardew will decide - think he will already have a team in mind

 

This

 

Well said.

 

Also wonder how long Best can stay in the side. He's a good player but taking form out of the equation and looking at it long term, Ba is better. Despite playing well Best hasnt scored recently and we dont need much reason to play Ben Arfa.

 

Hmm, although Beast hasn't scored in his last couple of games he's done a great job of holding the ball up and bullying defenders while staying in more advanced positions. I just can't help but think that Beast would work better with Ben Arfa than Ba, who seems to drop deep to collect the ball on many an occasion. Of course we'll never know this for sure until all eventualities are given a chance.