Benny turns on the charm offensive.

Posted on September 3rd, 2010 | 174 Comments |

Ben Arfa - Ready to impress.
Ben Arfa - Ready to impress.
Newcastle new boy Hatem Ben Arfa has been speaking to The Chronicle today, in quite some depth actually, about various things surrounding his move to Tyneside.

I’ll put links in for all the articles a bit later on, but having read them all it certainly seems like Ben Arfa is ready to kick-start his career with us on Tyneside.

Now whether or not this the usual new signing charm offensive or not remains to be seen, but it definately looks as though wor Benny has been doing his homework on Newcastle. One thing that has impressed me about him has been his desire to want to sign for us. In fairness he did claim all along that he wanted to move to Newcastle, but with things getting lost in translation plus the many twists and turns that the transfer saga ended up taking I personally took any claims like that with a pinch of salt.

I’m not going to do an article on every piece of what Ben Arfa has been saying as it is kind of pointless, so I thought it would be best if I put them all in one place for us all to look at. In this article, Ben Arfa talks about how he has kept himself fit, and reveals that he is a good trainer despite what the dastardly Deschamps and Dassier have said in the last few weeks.

In this article Ben Arfa talks about how he turned down the chance to stay at Marseille or to move to Werder Bremen and play Champions League football in favour of a move to Newcastle. Good lad.

He then talks about the fans, the Geordie lingo, Chris Hughton, and emulting Alan Shearer here, before revealing that he isn’t a Laurent Robert mark two here.

I have to say I am impressed with the way the lad is conducting himself so far, and going off of his words it is fairly clear to see that he wants to be here and wants to impress. I hope the lad finds his home here and can show us fans just what he is capable of doing at the earliest opportunity, starting against Blackpool in eight days time.

The H-Bomb is ready to explode!

NUFCBlog Author: toonsy toonsy has written 643 articles on this blog.

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174 Responses

  2. “In this article Ben Arfa talks about how he turned down the chance to stay at Marseille or to move to Werder Bremen and play Champions League football in favour of a move to Newcastle. Good lad.”

    His agent reckons he turned down Royal Madrid for Newcastle because he didn’t want to be a benchwarmer, or something like that. Divven’t knaa about that like.

  6. This whole saga with Ben Arfa was caused by Marseille – at the end of the day they told him to find a new club and he did, end of!

    Can’t wait to see the lad play. Not sure I can cope with actual excitement after the recent turmoil :lol:

  7. Unusually, some credit must go to Lee Ryder. At least he got him talking in some depth. Does he speak Englesi? Anyone know?

  8. I’ve never seen a picture of Dassier, but I somehow picture him looking like the evil chef/restaurant owner in Ratatouille

  10. Yeah, more like Pedro. He can certainly dribble just as well. One clip I saw he did the Beardsley shuffle to perfection. And the right, left,right dribble at high speed. Amazing. Whether he has Pedro’s killer instinct for goal though – we’ll see.

  11. worky if he has a fraction of there skill ide be over the moon, a kna pedros a little ashley arse lickin scab but he was a decent player :lol:

  12. Ah well, I’m sure if he doesn’t score a hat-trick in his first game then he will be writen off anyway.

  18. He’s only using us as a stepping stone and he pretty much admits it when he says, “It was a choice I made because I feel it can enhance my career in the long-term.”

    If we can get 4 or 5 good years out of him though, I’ll be happy.

  22. No biting at all? Worky how about this – “He who speaks doesn’t know. He who knows doesn’t speak.”

  25. Hey Toonsy why don’t you give him a ring and get young Hatem on here. Might liven up a quiet afternoon.

  27. Wow. Must be Friday. A footie fans’ blog and people are naming and quoting Taoist Masters!

    Crackin’. While we’re on the quotes, here’s one for TC and Stu…

    “Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” – Oscar Wilde

  29. Comes across well doesn’t he in his interviews, forgot how much you thought the deal wouldn’t go through toonsy!!

    Got my tickets for the Blackpool match like but i’m a bit gutted as I think he will come on from the bench, wanted to see him in a full match, but we’ll see eh.

    Quite simply, Tiote and ben Arfa, if successes, can be the NUFC future, imo they both have fantastic opportunities here to make it big time! Both of them could fetch a hefty fee in a few years, if FIFA allow it like :D

  30. Here’s a song coming on?

    To the tune of Alouette….

    Benny Arfa, gentille Benny Arfa,

    Benny Arfa, geentille Ha-assim

    Benny Ar, (Ha-asim)

    Ha-assim, (Benny Ar)

    Ohhhhhhhhhh

    Benny Arfa, gentille Benny Arfa

    etc etc

  32. I think we’ll see Benny and Tiote both on as subs at the next game; better to give them their own ‘entrance’; it’s the kind of decent management psych that builds real loyalty. It’s also better for the fans, I think.

    Agree with ILM about these two; a real statement of intent from the management which you can’t help but be impressed with. There’s no suggestion of them paying over the odds for these two, yet there’s as much buzz about them as if we’d bought known PL names; perhaps more.

    That’s where the fun is for me: a known name can only live up to expectations, not exceed them. An unknown can go either way.

  33. It makes perfect sense to me like, get a few good seasons out of them, sell them on for a fortune, get some other up and coming players in on the cheap and so it starts again. I think that’s the way we will operate anyway for the next few seasons at least.

    Can hear the moans now though, similar to Andy Cole, ohhh man, but we’re turning into a selling club, we shouldn’t get rid of our better players blah blah blah

    For every Andy Cole sold, there is another Shearer and Ferdinand on the horizon :)

  34. TOONSY like the quote at end of post,H-bomb can see that used a lot,you might have started something there

  35. Whumpie says:
    September 3, 2010 at 3:51 pm

    “Wow. Must be Friday. A footie fans’ blog and people are naming and quoting Taoist Masters!”

    I often quote the Tao te Ching, Whumpie, as it is the greatest and wisest book ever written, and can teach us just about anything if we have the capacity to understand it.

  36. To the tune of Ben by Michael Jackson:

    “Ben the two of us need look no more,

    We’ve both found what we were looking for,

    With a number ten to call my own, I’ll never be alone,

    And Wor Hatem will see, Youve got a friend in me”

  37. ok, Lesh – my brain ain’t at its best, so I’ll just ask:
    what’s the ‘Ha-assim’ bit? Another middle name or summat? Or do you mean ‘Ha-atem’?
    Or am I a feckwit?

  38. Well spotted Whump….. it’s Friday and I’m glad you’re up to speed.

    It certainly aint your brain, it’s mine I’m afraid – years of excess and over-indulgance I guess.

  39. Worky: I prefer ‘Tao of Poo’ and ‘Te of Piglet’ meself. More my level :)

    (Also the only book I’ve read several times…)

  42. Ok, how about – to the hokey-cokey:

    He puts his left leg in
    His left leg out
    In, out, in, out
    He’ll run you all about
    He’ll do the Pedro shuffle
    And he’ll leave you dead
    And that’s why the Toon all sing…

    Wooooooa Benny Arfa!
    Wooooooa Benny Arfa!
    Wooooooa Benny Arfa!
    Backheel, nutmeg
    Scores another goal!

    (Not bad for pre-beer, eh?)

  44. I read it earlier and I just think he is going to do what Bassong and Insomnia Did further down the road…engineer a move to another club-he certainly has the temperament which was plain to see recently when he left OM.

    If we finish near the bottom and a team like Arsenal or Man U come in I don’t think he would think twice about leaving us.

    Hope I am wrong cos I love him already haha

    Dying to see him play-he looks totally awesome and would shit on most prem defences from what I have seen !

  45. Whumpie says:
    September 3, 2010 at 4:33 pm

    “Bugger. Nobody left to see my one stroke of genius…”

    Aye Whumpie, it is a bit on the quiet side comments wise.

  46. Whumpie – That is exclusively a Shola song I’m afraid.

    CC – You need to remember football chants, and particularly the low voice range that they are usually sang in. Would Ben sound as impressive when sung by tens of thousands of, possibly drunken, men?

    I would love us to do something like this;

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtLxpMyh13g

    How intimidating would it be?

  47. sirjasontoon says:
    September 3, 2010 at 4:41 pm

    “I read it earlier and I just think he is going to do what Bassong and Insomnia Did further down the road…engineer a move to another club-he certainly has the temperament which was plain to see recently when he left OM.”

    Aye, but WE might be the kind of club he would want to engineer a move to further down the road anyway, SJT. Just give it time.

  48. toonsy says:
    September 3, 2010 at 4:44 pm

    “Would Ben sound as impressive when sung by tens of thousands of, possibly drunken, men?”

    Drunken AND tone deaf to boot, Toonsy.

  51. Shrews – Certainly not in the East Stand anyway! Singing is not allowed unless you are in the clique that have been there for years. It’s like the feckin get along gang in there nowadays!

    Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

  54. Same old, same old!

    I would rather new signings say nothing, than just repeat the same old mantra.

  55. toonsy says:
    September 3, 2010 at 4:56 pm

    “Shrews – Certainly not in the East Stand anyway!”

    We’re always ready for a riot in the East stand, Toonsy! :-)

  56. Stuart79 says:
    September 3, 2010 at 5:01 pm
    Same old, same old!

    I would rather new signings say nothing, than just repeat the same old mantra<<<<< just thinking the same thing like

  57. Worky – The pair of pensioners next to me, wrapped in blankets and drinking out of flasks, looked well up for it like :lol:

  58. Whumpie…….stroke of genius that mate ;-)

    As I’ve said before tho,his name will be sang to the old
    Oba-Obafem,
    Oba-Obafem,
    Oba-Obafem,
    Obafemi Martins

    changed to

    Hatem-Hatem Ben,
    Hatem-Hatem Ben,
    Hatem-Hatem Ben,
    Hatem Benny Arfa

    Trust me,ya know it makes sense ;-)

  59. Stu – But if he didn’t repeat the same mantra, like EVERY footballer at EVERY club does, people would say he doesn’t give a shit and get on his back because of that.

  60. sirjasontoon says:
    September 3, 2010 at 4:41 pm
    I read it earlier and I just think he is going to do what Bassong and Insomnia Did further down the road…engineer a move to another club-he certainly has the temperament which was plain to see recently when he left OM.

    If we finish near the bottom and a team like Arsenal or Man U come in I don’t think he would think twice about leaving us
    ———————————————
    What about seeing that as a positive?
    Getting a few good seasons out of him, establishing ourselves again in the Premiership and selling him on for 10mil?
    Then try to do the same all over again.
    Easier said than done, granted, but you get the idea :D

  61. Lets face it,how many of our players wouldn’t leave if a top 4 club came in for them?……..not many I’d bet.That’s football and it’s the way it works for clubs who are where we are at the moment.

  63. That’s one hell of crazy atmosphere at BESIKTAS~~~ 8O

    and it’s only 35k,imagine it happening at our Home. Oh gosh.

  64. There were 7k Geordies pogoing cos they luv the toon at Barnsley last year.

    mind when we played Marseille away in the UEFA cup the atmosphere their fans generated was fantastic

  65. Beejeezers Robbie Keane has just hit the post from 6 yards with only the keeper to beat and i was thinking we had missed out on a great signing

  66. Aye Toonsy,if ya get one good season out of a player and sell him at a profit these days then you have to say you’ve done ok.It’s dissapointing but its the way of the football world.

  70. toonsy says:
    September 3, 2010 at 5:05 pm

    “Worky – The pair of pensioners next to me, wrapped in blankets and drinking out of flasks, looked well up for it like”

    Could have been me and Icedog, Toonsy. :-)

  75. If HBA play well for us for next 2–3 season and elite club come in. I don’t see why we have to block the deal. It’s not same old day we gone wild when our player want to leave anymore.

  82. BATTY aye m8 bit more off top then i can bring ponytail owr the top, back to a full crop of hair ;),you named lassie after irish river,i used to gan with lass named after irish window

  93. I’m not on fb but I’ve seen him on youtube………whey part of him,musnt have had a wide angled lense on the cam. ;-)
    …….says me spread oot on the sofa wi a can and some pizza :lol:

  94. BATTY not that old by a long way,but ime still quicker than you when we are scratting the bins in low fell

  103. toonsy says:
    September 3, 2010 at 4:44 pm

    “CC – You need to remember football chants, and particularly the low voice range that they are usually sang in. Would Ben sound as impressive when sung by tens of thousands of, possibly drunken, men?”

    Dont stifle my creativity, I’ll be singing it a week on saturday if im the only one then so be it, You would make a cracking careers advisor stamping on kids dreams and enthusism:

    “I would like to be a motorbike stunt man when im older”

    “Nee lad theres an apprentice meat tenderiser wanted doon the butchers get yersel in there or prepare for a life of the dole queue and crack…”

  105. Toon_Factor says:
    September 3, 2010 at 6:19 pm
    Bunch of old sdratsab no wonder nobody lets me have any fun.<<<<< crack on ya little gimp :lol:

  106. Good evening Lads Ice hows you mate haven’t spoke to ye in a few days, well I said hi earlier but I think you were away, spoke to toonsy aswell but he just ignored me as usual :twisted: no excuse for ignorance.
    T-F hows you was going to say I haven’t seen ye on either but then you use aka’s

  108. Too bad,we can’t see Xisco playing…

    Suspended till Chelsea match finish. :(

    time for Peter to shine. ;)

  110. Big Dave

    Just been reading the headlines and skimming the quotes as usual, couldnt be bovthed to post because of all the skeets on the blog.

  113. BIG DAVE aye keep missing you,this pointing doing my heed in,see some being picking on your age,cannot turn you back for a minute the buggers :)

  114. Nah I did it once with Lesh but thats it, I dont know how toonsy dares to threatens me when idiots like Roy Cropper are stil alowed to post

  118. AOD I think Barry Silkman lies as much as Ash so I wouldn’t believe it all, I do think he was offered to us as I have heard it loads of times but I dont think its as simple as Barry Milkman makes out ;)

  120. the day a agent tells the truth whole truth and nothing but the truth the world will end as we know it

  124. BIG DAVE forgot to say after reading your posts the other day,i never missed the the stafford show for a long time,bet we walked past each other at some point,small world eh

  126. roscoe as long as ye sleep with a pr jeans on you will be ok mate :)
    Ice I use to love the Stafford show mate I can remember the 1st time I went about 15 – 16 yrs ago I couldn’t believe the amount of Birds at it and some stuff that you would only see in books etc. But the last time I went was near 3yrs ago and it was real poor.

  128. Come on England you set of useless twats!!!!!

    Brave new era – My arse!

    Same players, same formation and same fckin shit!

    We’ll beat this lot, qualify for the Euro’s and be a disgrace again, with the same players.

    What’s the point?

  129. TF – So do you think it is on to steal someone elses username and start abusing people under it? Just curious…

  130. BIG DAVE aye m8 those new import rules stuffed everything up mogs,used to be trips over to belgium from here once a month to bring birds back, cheap too but thats stopped now :(

  131. haha cheers dave… I’ll remember that!! :)

    looking forward to comin to watch a game… will probably be round march next year, so hopefully we pushing for top ten rather than fighting relegation!

  132. Stuart-I was considering having cash on us not qualifying.

    Absolutly nothing changed, same old 4-4-2. No Top prem team play’s a 4-4-2 nevermind international teams. Our best players, don’t play in a 4-4-2 at their clubs. I can see your prediction being spot on though. Look at our qualifying for the WC, we looked beyond pathetic when we got there!

  135. Nice to see England are sporting a new shirt, I’m pretty sure less than 12 months after half the country shelled out around 50 quid for the WC shirt which was useful for about 12 days.

  136. batty says:
    September 3, 2010 at 5:53 pm

    “workys 45”

    46 since the end of last month, batty, though I feel like I’m in my eighties after a life of sin and getting into too much trouble.

  140. I think someone might has posted about the Toon statistic
    but in case you missed it , here it is.

    *** Chris Hughton’s Magpies are the most accurate shooters in the Barclays Premier League, and boast the meanest defence when it comes to allowing opponents shots on target.

    United have hit the target with 65 per cent of their shots in the three league games so far this season, which is the best rate in the top flight.

    And they have also allowed the opposition fewer shots on target – a total of ten – than any other side in the league.

    The stats have been compiled by Opta, and also reveal that Newcastle are one of only two sides to have named the starting XI in each of their league games so far. The other is Bolton ***

    How cool it is !!! and it’s nearly feel bizarre to have
    the best defend and Newcastle in the same sentence. LOL

    Long may it continue.

    http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20100903/sharp-shooting-magpies-are-best-in-league_2240137_2143422

  148. not on here ya cannit dog lol the missus not long got back with me daughter i owe her another £250 she brought a pair of boots £350 quid a nearly choked

  153. batty says:
    September 3, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    “i see worky is oot in force tonight lol”

    Just sticking our two new recruits on the “Squad and Transfers” page, batty.

  154. Must be the best job in the world. £6 Million a year to pick 11 english premier league players, play them in a boring predictable 4-4-2. Then as soon as a proper team come along we get wolloped 4-1.

  155. batty says:
    September 3, 2010 at 9:12 pm (Edit)

    “rich got that tune going through me head now ya tw@t”

    Could be worse batty, I’ve had this one stuck in me heed for years now.

  159. BATTY,aye m8 wor lass the same,cost me £4.99 for her wellies off the market,things dont last noo was only 10yr ago,bloody waste-ful

  163. BATTY its alright like with the cut backs,i save a few quid,nicked her false teeth,doesnt eat much noo,plus ime looking after her figure

  170. reet lads,last post for 2 weeks as im off on holiday in the morning!! will miss the bloody blackpool and everton games,bit cheesed like but the sun will more than make up for it.wish the people saying we will comfortably tan blackpool would stop cursing us! there are no easy games and this has the look of a kick up the arse if i ever saw one,bloody hope not though,really wish i was going but my mate is benefiting from my season ticket again,b$$$$d.anyway lads enjoy the 2 matches amd il speak when im home.p.s think we will beat bp 2-0 and everton 1-1.HWTL

  171. have a gud un salty,got me ticket for Everton and ordered for citeh……..really looking forward to Blackpool tho.

  174. batty..I reckon we’ll win the Euros and next WC after that performance,bet ya hoose on it…………….I mean come on,Bulgaria are a world class team like :roll: ;-)