Middle East, Barcelona and one coming in?
Should he stay?
By Tyne Talk
June 16 2014
The enigma that is Ben Arfa, is tipped after a whole host of clubs failed to come in and snap him up, to be continuing his footballing career, in that massive footballing center that Qatar, so singularly fails to be.
Despite buying (er…sorry I mean winning) a world cup, it’s hardly a place where you expect to see a 27 year old, a man who should be at the peak of his form to be playing.
It should surely be a place where footballers go, when they are not good enough to play in a real league anymore and fancy a last big pay day before retirement.
I do wonder though, should he be going anywhere?
He is without doubt our most skilful player, and should he be held entirely responsible for his current lack of form and tumble down the pecking order?
Pardew seems to insist that he plays a game that is alien to him, he can’t defend, and perhaps it may be an idea for him to not be asked to.
Tell him to go out and create and let others do the defending, god knows we need someone to actually create something.
His former teammate at Lyon Karim Benzema, seems to agree telling French media;
If Hatem had followed the path that was promised to him, today he would play in Barcelona with Messi.
“Technically, he is identical. Hereafter, he has other problems.
“He needs to work in his head not to drop off.”
Now I must admit am not convinced about the comparison to Messi, but he may have some sort of point.
Elsewhere Sky Sports are reporting that we may have another one in the door very soon in the shape of Hertha Berlin star Pierre-Michel Lasogga. After a meeting with the player and his mother, who acts as his agent and Hertha’s general manager Michael Preetz last week, Preetz has been quoted as saying:
“It is only about three clubs; Hertha, Hamburg or Newcastle.”
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I would be more than happy if we set up the team so he could forget about his defensive duties if he created more and consistantly but he doesn't. When Cabaye left i thought put him in as number 10, he'd have 2 midfielders sitting behind him to do the defensive work and he could run at the central defenders all day long, Pardew tried him and he was rubbish and towards the end of last season you coul see his team mates losing patience with him.
I wish that wasn't the case.
He wants to attack with the ball; so if he's out wide on the right to cut inside and he loses possession, he leaves the flank exposed.
This would be less of an issue with Danny Simpson, who generally stuck back to defend, but Debuchy likes to bomb forwards too.
If a central midfielder (like Anita) is asked to drop back to help cover, that would help. But Pardew wants Ben Arfa not to leave the gap in the first place, to keep a rigid formation.