Ben Arfa on Pardew: “I will submit to his authority while maintaining my philosophy”
Posted on January 17th, 2012 | 32 Comments |
Hatem Ben Arfa spoke to the French press yesterday about some of the problems that have plagued his life and footballing career to date and how they’re being addressed at Newcastle. Before going on, I should say that I used Google Translate and my grade 4 CSE French to translate a lot of this, so it might not be 100% accurate!
Benny starts by summing up the problems he had:
“I gave off something negative. I had bad energy. I am loud. I always wanted to participate in conversations. I had enormous difficulty submitting to authority”
He then goes on to say what he thinks the root cause of that ‘attitude’ was:
“My father never told me ‘I love you’. He ran out of affection in my life. He never managed to externalise his feelings. I do not want him. My father had no father. He reproduces a pattern I am trying to break for me because I have to move forward.“
Ben Arfa’s problems continued when he got involved with a religious cult in Morocco:
“It was a system like a cult. I was part of a movement with a spiritual leader. When I walked into the prayer hall, I had to kiss his feet. It was mandatory. Fortunately that day my ego saved me. I could not accept that. They indoctrinated me to a point where I was very vulnerable. They’ve almost cut off from everyone.”
But he confirms he’s a ‘moderate’ Muslim these days:
“Of course I do not eat pork. But I sometimes drink alcohol and I like girls. Religion helps me to be humble.”
Benny goes on to say how all these things led to an attitude that didn’t make him very popular with coaches:
“They didn’t dare talk to me. It was like this with coaches and with everyone. It was because of my attitude. When I realised that, I changed. I opened up. I work a lot on this part of my personality because I have to.”
The interviewer went on to suggest that to do well he needs to be ‘loved’ by his coaches.
“It’s easy to say that. Everybody needs love,” said Ben Arfa.
The interviewer then asks if Alan Pardew gives him the ‘love’ he needs and Benny said:
“No. But I respect him for that choice. I ramp up my training, I try to be a good teammate. I know what I’m doing right now will make me play well. I’m working harder than ever.”
Going on to talk some more about his relationship with Alan Pardew, he said that he’ll submit to Pardew’s authority but won’t compromise his playing style:
“It’s always frustrating not to play, but instead of going to clash with the coach, as before, I drop it because I know I will lose. I will submit to his authority while maintaining my philosophy. Namely to play football my way with movement and passing. The coach likes to play long and direct. But I totally respect his philosophy. I’m not going to fight. My time will come. I have to be patient. I know what I have to do on the pitch. That wasn’t always the case before. But my approach now is much more cooperative.”
I think Alan Pardew has got it about right with his treatment of Ben Arfa. Pardew’s the boss and he’s made sure Benny knows that, but he realises he’s got a sort of Asprilla on his hands: a player who has immense talent but needs to play in a certain way to unlock it. Because of Alan Pardew’s ‘preferred system’ at the moment and Benny’s need to play a certain type of football, he may find that it’s a little while before he’s an automatic starter as far as Pardew’s concerned. But Pardew also realises he’s got a player that can change games and, at the right time in the right system, Benny can be a huge player for us.
In fact, commenting on Sunday’s performance by Ben Arfa, Pardew said:
“Hatem came on the pitch after the injury to Cabaye and gave us the flair and workrate we’ve been asking. In the last two games he’s put himself in a great position. He made a big difference, and I’m pleased with that.”
So things may already be starting to look better for Benny. His development at Newcastle will involve some compromises on both sides. It is hard to knock Pardew’s ‘long ball’ game though. Just about everyone would prefer to watch a different sort of football but Pardew has to play the way he thinks he can win with the players at his disposal and our 6th place at the moment proves he’s got it right. At least up until now.
NUFCBlog Author: Hugh de Payen
I'm a baby-boomer of the punk rock persuasion, currently exiled in Somerset for crimes committed in a previous life where locals keep trying to poison me with something called 'scrumpy'. Hates sprouts, coat-hangers, Cilla Black, ornaments, Steven Seagull movies and 50 Cent (he's not worth 10).
Hugh de Payen has written 634 articles on this blog.
It is certainly a tricky conumdrum to figure, keep playing 2 big boys and long ball – giving u strength and numbers in attack………Or 4-5-1 (as happened when sub made against QPR)?
Personally, I’d go 4-5-1, with Best as lone striker and HBA on the wide wing/support striker.
I know on sunday, it was 4-5-1, with Best wide left, Jonas wide right, HBA middle/attack……which worked, but i felt like Shola offered us nothing.
Now, it’s hard to critise Shola fully, cos he can spurn chances frequently….and equally, come on as a sub and cream in a vital winner – U just never know what u’ll get.
Also, is Best better than Shola at hold up play? prob not…His main talent seems to be poacher, fox-in-the-box.
If either Best or Shola has to be dropped to accomodate HBA, i’d drop Shola, leave him as an impact sub for super goals, or hold up play.