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Thanks for your welcome! The only problem with Ben Arfa could be his adaptation (language, weather, food, joey barton...), it can be difficult for a young player. I don't know how is playing Newcastle but if it's like kick-and-rush it will be very difficult for him. But if he fits to your town, to your team and your way to play football, he will be a great player for your squad. (and if you like Robert you will love Ben Arfa, Robert is a joke in comparison with him). And I'm sure he will love Saint James Park and the wonderful toon army asprilla "I live in France myself, not too far from Marseille as it happens" ________Me I lived in Barcelona for two years and now I'm in Brittany, so you're nearer from Marseille than me ! I use to come to Marseille but I don't live there anymore, for many years. Tuco Ramirez ________Ben Arfa is not as good as Waddle, who is a God in Marseille, but he's still young and can be better than Waddle in the future. But for the moment Ben Arfa lacks of regularity (or steadiness, don't know to choose the good word) Dr. Kenneth Noise "Is Ben Arfa as temperamental as Robert and Ginola?" ________I think he's less temperamental than Robert and Ginola. But he's different than other players, he likes to be alone and he's introverted. He's not outgoing and effusive, and he needs confidence to be good on the ground. (To understand his strange personnality you have to know that when he was a teenager he was already a star because he has been taking part in a TV programme following young football players in the Academy of Clairefontaine (the most prestigious academy for young players). In this TV show all the players were born in the same year, except Ben Arfa, he was the youngest because he was too good for the child in his category. (One of the other teenager in this program was Abou Diaby of Arsenal FC) The problem is, being so good, he did not learn to work hard and believed he could become Maradona just playing like he used to play in the street. And the TV programme did not help him because when TV viewers saw his magic skills he became instantly a star and the most promising french player . He was only 12 years old in the first season of the TV programme. In the programme, we also saw Jean-Michel Aulas (awful chairman of Olympique de Lyon) coming in Clairefontaine to sign him a great contract to incorporate the Academy of Lyon. He was sure to be rich before the beginning of his career ! He was only 15 years old !!! He was european champion with France U17 in 2004. This same year he played 9 matches with professional team of Lyon. he had his first selection for french national team (don't laugh, we were all victims of Domenech) when he was only 20 years old. First selection and first goal, in 2007. Elected best young player in 2008. With Lyon he won the french championship 4 times ! And in 2010 with OM off course. All was easy for him and he did not need to work. This is why he's different of other players and why he fails to become like a Cristiano Ronaldo or a Lionel Messi : he did'nt learn to work hard. Now he has understood that he had to make efforts but he lacks of tactical knowledge : he did not learn during his formation because he just had to play as he played in the street to win, to score, to be a star and to win money. Now he has grown up and he knows that he needs training and learning but he will always have lacks in tactic). The other problem for him in France is that he was so expected, when he fails to dribble someone or when he plays bad in a match everybody criticize immoderatly. it's excessive, he does not have right to fail, when he fails a pass it's "the end of the world" for the journalists. They want him to be the best and don't understand that he's just a football player, not a God. I think playing in an other country will be good for him because he will be like a normal player, with the same judgements than other players.) Gemmill "Bonnet de douche!" ________Shower cap ! ChezGiven "Is he lazy when it comes to defending?" ________When he's motivated he comes to defending (a little) but when he's in a "bad day", he wants to dribble all the opponents and playing for himself, and does not come to defend. He doesn't like to defend. You'll see, when the first dribble is achieved he can be unstoppable after, and being a wizard with the ball. But if he fails his first dribble or if he's in a bad day he can be dangerous for his team because he wants to play all alone and always loses the ball (after dribbling two or three players off course) But don't worry, we can forgive his "bad days" because he just need one action to change a match with incredible assist or goal; When he has the ball, you can hear the crowd "whispering", waiting for unexpected and magic actions, and always wondering what is he going to do. He's unique. Tecato "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?" ________Ce soir (tonight) it will be difficult but don't hesitate to invite me, if you want to discover french flair in the bed (or elsewhere) sorry for being so chatty, i hope my english is not too difficult to read

hello excuse my poor english speaking, i'm just a froggy, OM's fan. I just registered to follow Ben Arfa with your comments and impressions about his actuations. Firstable just one thing (because all I read on english websites is incomprehensible), so once for all : his first name is Hatem and his surname is BEN ARFA. Don't worry he's a wonderful player you won't be disappointed. I believe NUFC paid less than 1K€ for the loan. And will have to pay automatically between 5 and 6 K€ (about 4.100.000 and 4.950.000 GBP) for playing 25 matches, and Hatem will be yours. It's almost a free gift at that price ! Hope you'll be wonderstruck with him as the OM supporters used to be. if you have any question about him I can answer, (about football or his unusual behaviour). one example of this typical behaviour, I don't know if you heard about this : Ben Arfa, substitute, is ready to enter on the ground. But the problem is that he doesn't wear his shirt ! He's wearing the shirt number 11 of the striker Mamadou Niang instead of his number 10 ! The coach Didier Deschamps did not laugh, but all the french television-viewers did laugh a lot ! The link :