Difference is Hatem is pretty much the best player outside the top six in the league. Creates, scores, makes defenders look drunk half the time. Pretty much carries the team atm.
Ben Arfa is far too mercurial. Reckon there's quite easily five better players outside the top six. Perhaps ten.
Well the top six are. United, City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Pool. Name ten from the rest better than Ben Arfa.
Benteke, Baines, Begovic, Schneiderlin, Michu, Lukaku are all a fair step above. Bony, Weimann, Jagielka, Lambert, Ramirez, van Wolfswinkel and Berbatov are all around that level too. I'd find it difficult to rate any of the latter group above of Ben Arfa, but he's certainly not as good as the first group, IMO.
Benteke - Will give. Baines - Debatable. Would argue that Ben Arfa goes through teams far better than Baines, but Baines can defend. Begovic - Keeper? Really? Schneiderlin - Nah. Is good, but isn't a gamebreaking player. Michu - Will give. Lukaku - Plays for Chelsea.
Haha. Lukaku, okay. The rest I don't get. Michu and Benteke are the two you give me, but IMO they're the two weakest of the five.
Hatem has his moments but I wouldn't sign him to a lifetime contract. As well as being mercurial he also struggles to keep fit for long periods of time.
His only injuries while at Newcastle have been a double leg break and a torn hammy. Two major injuries.
I don't see fitness as an issue with Ben Arfa. The main issue we or Pards will have is keeping his head right and keeping him happy. He is temperamental.....he is the epitome of a form player. If and when Newcastle hit a slump, or Ben Arfa himself has a shit run....that's when the problems start. He reminds of when Laurent Robert was in the team, similar temperament and unplayable on his day, but also fucking annoying sometimes when they were in a strop. If Newcastle can keep Hatem happy, then Newcastle will have a good season.
To be honest, I can see you dominating the midfield but Suarez and Sturridge should have a field day against that defence
HBA playing a false 9 role. Interesting. Now if we could just get the ball outside our half we might learn something.
Our defense is so fucking frustrating. Seem to lose all ability to communicate despite being fucking good players. Watching Williamson trying to defend Suarez is going to be painful.