Hatem Ben Arfa

R

Ritchie

New member
Trafalgar said:
Quaresma : 32 yo
Joaquin : 34 yo
Benarfa : 29 yo this is the perfect age for sitting in the bench
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Well he'll be 30 next season and then 32 two years later. It's more short termism. Next year Messi, Suarez and Ben Arfa will all turn 30. Lucho's going for all these older players, but Barca managers last 3-5 years if they're lucky 90% of the time, so he's not going to have the job of having to replace them all when they're too old.

I appreciate our bench is pathetic and Ben Arfa is a better option than Munir or Sandro, but he shouldn't be main back up to MSN either. We need a Dembele type quality young player (Martial or Dybala would have been ideal but that ship has sailed) who can get plenty of game time to rotate with MSN or replace when one is injured. Munir wasn't good enough to do that over a season and Ben Arfa shouldn't be trusted either. We spent all that money on Arda Turan to a big fanfare. If he doesn't fit in then why would Ben Arfa?

It just symbolises more waste and only signing him because he's free and the money isn't there.
 
Andrew M

Andrew M

New member
Ritchie said:
Well he'll be 30 next season and then 32 two years later. It's more short termism. Next year Messi, Suarez and Ben Arfa will all turn 30. Lucho's going for all these older players, but Barca managers last 3-5 years if they're lucky 90% of the time, so he's not going to have the job of having to replace them all when they're too old.

I appreciate our bench is pathetic and Ben Arfa is a better option than Munir or Sandro, but he shouldn't be main back up to MSN either. We need a Dembele type quality young player (Martial or Dybala would have been ideal but that ship has sailed) who can get plenty of game time to rotate with MSN or replace when one is injured. Munir wasn't good enough to do that over a season and Ben Arfa shouldn't be trusted either. We spent all that money on Arda Turan to a big fanfare. If he doesn't fit in then why would Ben Arfa?

It just symbolises more waste and only signing him because he's free and the money isn't there.
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We don't need a young player coming off the bench. Look how many people called for Vietto and he barely plays at Atleti after much hype. We need a proven performer who can make a difference. One of the most effective subs we've had in recent years was larsson and we was over 30. Don't be too obsessed with age. Judge performance. And Ben Arfa has had a stellar year for a prospective bench warmer with no transfer fee. And don't write Arda off yet. It isn't easy starting the season in January. Suarez struggled for awhile last year and people were tempted to call him a flop. Look at him now.
 
J

Jombi

New member
Andrew M said:
We don't need a young player coming off the bench. Look how many people called for Vietto and he barely plays at Atleti after much hype. We need a proven performer who can make a difference. One of the most effective subs we've had in recent years was larsson and we was over 30. Don't be too obsessed with age. Judge performance. And Ben Arfa has had a stellar year for a prospective bench warmer with no transfer fee. And don't write Arda off yet. It isn't easy starting the season in January. Suarez struggled for awhile last year and people were tempted to call him a flop. Look at him now.
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Larsson and Ben Arfa couldnt be more different though. Just saying. Only thing they have in common is that they are aging. I think you are too obsessed with age. Ben Arfa certainly isnt a proven performer who can make an immediate difference any more than younger players. There are huge question marks over whether he can handle a new system, a new position, a new club and a new country judging from his history. He's no professional like Larsson thats for sure. Its interesting that the arguments that were used why we should sign Arda is also used here. A so-called proven player who can make an immediate impact. But Arda has made zero impact and he's had many months to prepare. Perhaps it isnt so easy to teach an old dog new tricks as people believe?
 
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PhilS

Active member
If Ben Arfa is someone Lucho is willing to actually use to rotate El Tridente, then that is a step in the right direction. If Lucho can stop overplaying MSN, slumps will be less likely next season. Keep them fresh, keep them good and angry from getting bench time.
 
Lelouch vi Britannia

Lelouch vi Britannia

Banned
Jombi said:
Larsson and Ben Arfa couldnt be more different though. Just saying. Only thing they have in common is that they are aging. I think you are too obsessed with age. Ben Arfa certainly isnt a proven performer who can make an immediate difference any more than younger players. There are huge question marks over whether he can handle a new system, a new position, a new club and a new country judging from his history. He's no professional like Larsson thats for sure. Its interesting that the arguments that were used why we should sign Arda is also used here. A so-called proven player who can make an immediate impact. But Arda has made zero impact and he's had many months to prepare. Perhaps it isnt so easy to teach an old dog new tricks as people believe?
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Arda hasn't justified his price tag but I certainly wouldn't have minded getting him for free.
 
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