The Fish 10430 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 And a club at our level can't attract players with both his amount of ability and the desired attitude. Given we have players who have the attitude and that gets us nowhere, perhaps it's reasonable to hope someone with ability to provide answers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 And a club at our level can't attract players with both his amount of ability and the desired attitude. Given we have players who have the attitude and that gets us nowhere, perhaps it's reasonable to hope someone with ability to provide answers? Absolutely. I'd love nothing more than a Keegan to waltz into town, give him carte blanche and push the rest of the team to cover for his shortcomings. But there's a refusal among many to criticise him under any circumstances, or to even accept he has any shortcomings, despite this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 10430 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 True, but the other side to that is a eagerness to apportion 100% of the blame to him. Ironically it's a lazy argument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Carr's Gloves 3708 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Pardew's thinking ahead of the game was probably that Baines was more dangerous and he doesn't trust Mbiwa as the right sided CB. In his mind Gouffran would do more to limit Mbiwa's exposure. Of course, the better approach might have been to have Baines pinned back and worried about what Ben Arfa could do to him, rather than inviting him to attack. Or have a try switching it before dragging Ben Arfa off. That would have been to admit he got it wrong though, and pride wouldn't allow it. Pardew hamstrings his own players left right and centre. Almost like a test of their attitude to see if they'll put a stint in and commit 100% wherever they play for the team. Some do, some don't. I have more time for those that do, while wholly agreeing that Pardew is a fucking goon. You think Pardew thinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 True, but the other side to that is a eagerness to apportion 100% of the blame to him. Ironically it's a lazy argument. ...and one only CT would make. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 10430 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 ...and one only CT would make. And Gemmil... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christmas Tree 4438 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 My only problem with Ben Arfa is that he is simply nowhere near as good a footballer as his fans make out. He has skill but not the mental ability to put it to the team's best use. He doesn't have a football brain to match his skills. Pardew has given him plenty of runs (like the start of last season ), but it's his form that gets him dropped. I can only remember Villa as a standout game for him. Add the fact he seems to care little for his fitness and his team mates don't want him , the good riddance. Never have I heard so many excuses made for a player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 My only problem with Ben Arfa is that he is simply nowhere near as good a footballer as his fans make out. My problem is he is every bit as good as that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 14000 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 My only problem with Ben Arfa is that he is simply nowhere near as good a footballer as his fans make out. He has skill but not the mental ability to put it to the team's best use. He doesn't have a football brain to match his skills. Pardew has given him plenty of runs (like the start of last season ), but it's his form that gets him dropped. I can only remember Villa as a standout game for him. Add the fact he seems to care little for his fitness and his team mates don't want him , the good riddance. Never have I heard so many excuses made for a player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Ben Arfa shimmy's his arse on the corner of the opposition box and 51,999 fans rise as one in anticipation. One fan sits with his arms folded muttering "he'll not dee owt! He hasn't got the mental ability". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 14000 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I've never read so much shite coupled with such little self awareness. Proper taxi driver shite btw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15115 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Ben Arfa shimmy's his arse on the corner of the opposition box and his left buttock sends Tim Krul flying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 42647 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 And Gemmil... Wrong, slaphead. Quite the opposite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 10430 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Pardew isn't the only one to have failed with Ben Arfa. Maybe it's not the managers that are failing. 'Sup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 21302 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 CT man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trooper 940 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I reckon Ben Arfa will be snapped up in early July he'll be given a proper 6 week fitness & diet program. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inochi 0 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Now there's an idea! Wish we'd given him one 6 months ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Transfer 0 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 It must be the club's fault that they don't appear to have helped much. You can tell Trooper reads The Mag articles religiously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken 119 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 just look at his history? he had fallings out but during that he still won trophies and player of the year ffs lol they managed his ability and playing style better than us which is my argument, i'm not saying he won't be a pain in the hoop or stroppy, what i'm saying is we haven't even benefited from the positive side he brings because pardews a dick. Can say what you like but fact is everyone not just HBA, everyone who came with promise and showed it has had it drilled out of them under pardew swiftly. neverforget this is the guy who benched/played the likes of carlos tevez and mascherano out of position he's a clown. Let it go, Ant. Just let it go. He is not the shining star you think he is. And he won't be regardless of the club he is at. Didn't you predict bigger clubs coming in for him btw? Look, you understand football. But you are hanging onto something that won't be because the club can't attract someone of equal ability but with a better mentality to grasp his weaknesses without grabbing a kebab in retort. It is what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christmas Tree 4438 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Let it go, Ant. Just let it go. He is not the shining star you think he is. And he won't be regardless of the club he is at. Didn't you predict bigger clubs coming in for him btw? Look, you understand football. But you are hanging onto something that won't be because the club can't attract someone of equal ability but with a better mentality to grasp his weaknesses without grabbing a kebab in retort. It is what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trooper 940 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 It must be the club's fault that they don't appear to have helped much. You can tell Trooper reads The Mag articles religiously. Not sure if thats a compliment or an insult Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 10430 Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 Not sure if thats a compliment or an insult Insult. I used to love .com, but they've got too maudlin for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonasjuice 0 Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 yes he could work harder - but he's an erratic french genius, just like robert and ginola, with magic in his boots. he's never going to be as good defensively as he is going forward so free him of the responsibility. put him in a position where he can do what he's good at. you don't need your number ten so concerned with tracking back. let him get on the ball and make the play. he's the only player on our books right now that genuinely excites going forward. and we're about to get rid of him and replace him some hard working grafter. mint. nothing gets fans as excited as players that work their socks off tracking back. I'm a fan of Ben Arfa, not sure if more for entertainment than our chances at winning games at this point but hey ho, but I love how 'hard working grafter' has somehow become a negative thing for a player to be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClubSpinDoctor 0 Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 It is when it's not coupled with ability tbf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
accadacca 0 Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 GET RID HE'S HAD CHANCE AFTER CHANCE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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