Hatem Ben Arfa

[Babylon]

So you agree that he's lazy,spineless,inconsistent,injury prone and the opposite of a Leicester player

But you'd take him because he's free!

That's championship mentality not champions league

No, I'd take him because he's a bloody exceptional footballer when he's got his head right. The noise was last season that he'd sorted himself out. So whilst he may have had issues previously, that isn't to say he will have again in the right environment.

 

Other than the injury prone part, I've heard much of the other stuff chucked at Mahrez at one time or another. If Mahrez played for someone else, we'd probably say he's the opposite of a Leicester player also. Because, in a way he is a little bit different... people accept he's not going to cover, graft and tackle as well as Albrighton, because of what he brings going forwards.

 

As for the price, it's less of a risk getting him on a free (signing on fee granted) than it would be forking out £15m on the bloke if it doesn't work out. It makes it a more attractive proposition.

 

He definitely isn't a typical Leicester player, but that's not to say we don't want one or two of them.

[Mezeker]

After only three defeats all season and finishing ten points clear of second place you feel we need to be better at breaking teams down ? 

spoken like somebody who did not watch any of the games. We were getting excessively reliant on Mahrez towards the end of the season to create, he fell off because he quite simply did not have the stamina for such a long season and was seeing double, triple coverage every game. We really need a player capable of taking people on in the final third and creating chances, ben arfa fits that mold IF ONLY to keep Mahrez rest for the entire season. Now this is not even considering the fact that some teams are going to park the bus completely this season from the start. 

[RizLCFC]

6.5 million signing on fee

Wants a 3 year deal at 29

Could be risky going on his previous English career.

Plus you would also have to wonder why he was ignored by the French squad, after hitting 17 goals on home soil

They ignore a lot of players. Deschamps is a typically stubborn French bloke. No Lacazette but Gignac and Giroud picked, says it all.

This guy on a free would be an incredible signing. Just think he'll end up at Sevilla though.

[frany104]

This would be a great signing! He would give Mahrez a bit more space in tight games. Imagine defending against Mahrez, Ben Arfa and Vardy!

[Finnegan]

Love how Finnegan is foaming at the prospect of Joe Allen but Ben Arfa is a resounding no.

Fvck me.

Joe Allen the hard working, productive, consistent box to box midfielder with a solid track record in the premier league?

Hatem Ben Arfa the wildly frustrating, inconsistent, lazy show pony who flopped in the Prem and has had one good season in a poor league?

Yeah, silly Finnegan. He obviously wasn't watching this year.

Next he'll say he'd prefer some reject like Mark Albrighton on the wing, what an idiot.

[Dames]

You do realise that next season has the potential to be somewhat different don't you? That many more teams from the off are going to set up to frustrate us, just as they did towards the end of the season. It's about planning for what's to come.

Mahrez is the key for breaking down many tight games, someone else with that x factor, with so many games next season it's going to be important, not rely so heavily on him producing a bit of magic in tight games.

100% this.

A focused and firing Ben Arfa will take the pressure off Mahrez and will be the difference in those games where teams will look to sit back. With our coaching staff and manager theres a higher chance Ben Arfa will be focused than not.

[KFS]

Joe Allen the hard working, productive, consistent box to box midfielder with a solid track record in the premier league?

Hatem Ben Arfa the wildly frustrating, inconsistent, lazy show pony who flopped in the Prem and has had one good season in a poor league?

Yeah, silly Finnegan. He obviously wasn't watching this year.

Next he'll say he'd prefer some reject like Mark Albrighton on the wing, what an idiot.

Marc Albrighton who was rejected by Villa and reported by their fans to have "an attitude problem".

Doesn't that sound familiar.

Sign this boy up

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Ahhhh, the old 'attitude problem' debate again 

[Thracian]

^{Wrong time to be signing anyone called Hatem!}   

[Bunyip]

You do realise that next season has the potential to be somewhat different don't you? That many more teams from the off are going to set up to frustrate us, just as they did towards the end of the season. It's about planning for what's to come.

 

Mahrez is the key for breaking down many tight games, someone else with that x factor, with so many games next season it's going to be important, not rely so heavily on him producing a bit of magic in tight games.

 

Yes ok i take your point Babs . It is about next season . my apology I misunderstood what you meant.

[Finnegan]

Marc Albrighton who was rejected by Villa and reported by their fans to have "an attitude problem".

Doesn't that sound familiar.

Sign this boy up

Don't think anybody has ever called Albrighton particularly lazy, have they?

I get why you'd want Ben Arfa if you're the sort of 13 year old that judges every footballer by their FIFA skill star rating and YouTube videos of them doing tricks with hilariously little end product in shit leagues.

But any grown adult who watched us play last year, understands what this club and this team is about and would still be more excited about Ben Arfa signing than Joe Allen needs their head looking at.

People have very short memories, HBA was widely unproductive, wasteful and half arsed at Newcastle. He showed all the fight of a peeled grape.

And if he's so enormously changed, why is he looking to ditch Nice and immediately find a "big club" after one season in the shop window?

We're built on team spirit and I just don't see any evidence that he'll contribute to that. If he comes in, he'll just end up going the way of Kramaric with a quiet whimper.

[Kinowe Soorie]

All fur coat

[RowlattsFox]

Unsure on this, strikes me as someone ranieri has targeted rather than the scouting network. He had a fantastic season so hopefully his personality has settled because I worry what he'd be like off the pitch more than anything else. It was pointed out we didn't want any egos.

It will be an interesting signing anyway.

[KFS]

Don't think anybody has ever called Albrighton particularly lazy, have they?

I get why you'd want Ben Arfa if you're the sort of 13 year old that judges every footballer by their FIFA skill star rating and YouTube videos of them doing tricks with hilariously little end product in shit leagues.

But any grown adult who watched us play last year, understands what this club and this team is about and would still be more excited about Ben Arfa signing than Joe Allen needs their head looking at.

People have very short memories, HBA was widely unproductive, wasteful and half arsed at Newcastle. He showed all the fight of a peeled grape.

And if he's so enormously changed, why is he looking to ditch Nice and immediately find a "big club" after one season in the shop window?

We're built on team spirit and I just don't see any evidence that he'll contribute to that. If he comes in, he'll just end up going the way of Kramaric with a quiet whimper.

Kramaric was playing in a league widely known to be poor. HBA has just scored 17 goals and against some very good, Champions League level teams.

The attitude problem debate never seems to consider the management staff who train these so called "bad eggs". Alan Pardew famed for his sparky, fiery style could have been the source of the issue. The whole "he's drastically changed has he?" Question works both ways. Maybe it was the environment that he was working in, he's shown some hunger and sorted himself out. I have faith Claudio would get the best out of him.

We'll see. I still think this is unlikely but I'd be thrilled personally.

[foxes21]

Look who is managing us!!! Ranieri & the coaching staff will sort out his ego & have the lad busting a gut for us in no time!!

[Samilktray]

Get him in he's wicked on FIFA

[AKCJ]

To be fair he played for Hull and Newcastle.

 

I'd be fcuking miserable an all.

[ozleicester]

Leicester are the league champions, we arent the typical Leicester team anymore either

[Babylon]

Yes ok i take your point Babs . It is about next season . my apology I misunderstood what you meant.

 

To be fair I could have been a bit clearer. Taking on on face value alone of last season alone, I knew what you meant.

 

[Adster]

Love how Finnegan is foaming at the prospect of Joe Allen but Ben Arfa is a resounding no.

Fvck me.

 

Was just thinking the same thing, it's hilarious lol.

[Babylon]

Don't think anybody has ever called Albrighton particularly lazy, have they?

I get why you'd want Ben Arfa if you're the sort of 13 year old that judges every footballer by their FIFA skill star rating and YouTube videos of them doing tricks with hilariously little end product in shit leagues.

But any grown adult who watched us play last year, understands what this club and this team is about and would still be more excited about Ben Arfa signing than Joe Allen needs their head looking at.

People have very short memories, HBA was widely unproductive, wasteful and half arsed at Newcastle. He showed all the fight of a peeled grape.

And if he's so enormously changed, why is he looking to ditch Nice and immediately find a "big club" after one season in the shop window?

We're built on team spirit and I just don't see any evidence that he'll contribute to that. If he comes in, he'll just end up going the way of Kramaric with a quiet whimper.

I'm sure most people get your point, but as I said before if Mahrez was elsewhere you'd probably say he wasn't your typical Leicester players. You could pick out dozens of games where he was "widely unproductive, wasteful" and looked "half arsed". But at the same time he'd do something absolutely magic and win you the game.

 

Having a couple of mercurial talents, who perhaps aren't grinders like the rest isn't a massive issue. You look at Mahrez and he'd give you about a 3/10 for 80 minutes and a 10/10 for the other 10. Where as Albrighton probably gave you a 7 from start to finish.  Having loads of people like that is an issue obviously, but you can afford a couple in the squad. There are loads more games this year, it will be good to be able to rest players and know you have a similar player to come in.

 

Whether Ben Arfa is that player, I don't know. There are plenty of question marks about him, but the general idea of someone along those lines to me is fair enough.

[GeorgeTheFox]

This is risky. But one worth taking imo. Never been a doubt that he is special, but will he fix his attitude?

[Babylon]

This is risky. But one worth taking imo. Never been a doubt that he is special, but will he fix his attitude?

He gets the chance to fix his own attitude. If you are surrounded by others who put the effort in you're going to look like a dick. At Newcastle he was surrounded by a load of other dicks, so he just fell into line.

[Finnegan]

I'm not exactly going to protest if we sign him, I've always quite passionately defended our recruitment team and if they think he'll represent value then great.

My biggest bugbear was the insinuation that being more eager about the prospect of Allen than HBA was laughable.

Clearly someone wasn't paying much attention for the last twelve months is all.

[Lambert09]

When he was free I posted that he would be worth a punt and got slated. Funny how quick people change opinions