Gareth Bale? NUFC Already Has Him

Yesterday, Gareth Bale weaved his magic once again, his late winner continuing West Ham's slide down the table and pushing Newcastle into a relatively comfortable 13th place. He's been a one-man assassin over the past couple months, prompting hyperbolic analysts to compare him to the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Whatever the merits of those comparisons, it's hard to argue Bale's impact on his own club. He can turn a fairly average individual and team performance (like the one at White Hart Lane against Newcastle two weeks ago) into three points for Spurs with a couple of well-placed strikes. At the end of the year, those additional points add up.

But when seeing Bale's winner against West Ham, particularly Steve McManaman's exhortation for the Hammers defender to force the Welshman onto his weaker right foot, I couldn't help but think of a laser-guided Newcastle goal from this season. No, not Sunday's beauty from Papiss Cissé - the blast by Hatem Ben Arfa against Aston Villa way back in the first week of September. Ben Arfa was a few yards closer in against Villa, but in that case, the defender actually did show him onto his "weak" foot. It turned out that Ben Arfa's right boot was still capable of a thunderbolt.

Obviously, the Premier League campaign is just about over for Newcastle this season. Alan Pardew has set a sentimental 10th-place target for his players, but outside of a little bit more in prize money, there isn't any difference between achieving that goal or holding firm a couple spots lower. But there's one much more tantalizing prize still on offer between now and May, and Ben Arfa is just the sort of player who can deliver it.

As good as Bale has been for Spurs, Ben Arfa can match it. He's got more tricks in his arsenal, less pace than the Tottenham talisman, but the effect can be equally amazing. This season has been immensely frustrating for us as Newcastle fans, and at least part of that frustration has come because of Ben Arfa. Not so much because of his injury and what that's meant in the standings. It's the thought of having a player with world-class talent, and only being able to see that talent in the briefest of glimpses. 

There's no denying that Newcastle's scouting and recruitment network has assembled quite a squad. Without any release clauses looming in the background, it feels more permanent and stable than it did last spring. The most exciting thing about adding players like Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran is that it will finally give Tyneside's shining star a chance to demonstrate why French fans have followed him since he was a teenager, why he still gets magazine covers across the Channel while sitting out an injury.

No doubt we'll have plenty more to say about the Europa League, as Newcastle prepares to head to Moscow in just over a week. There are plenty of talented squads in the final 16, including next week's opponents, Anzhi Makhachkala. But with Ben Arfa at his best, Newcastle can beat any of them...even Bale's Tottenham. We've got one more week to think about the potential attacking options and dream of glory.

Comments

[Surreytoon]

I think every Newcastle fan is dreaming of the day we see a starting line up including

Debuchy-Taylor-Collocini-Santon
Cabaye-Tiote
Ben Arfa-Sissoko-Gouffran
Cisse

But I think it will be a home game against weaker opposition before that happens as Pardew seems to prefer the resilience of Jonas in the mix.

[abe]

Spurs fan here, and I must admit I like Ben Arfa - and Cabaye too!. Spurs were linked with Ben Arfa for a long time(along time ago). if we make Champs league and Bale does go, don't be surprised if Spurs do make a move.
BTW is there only 1 Englishman in that lineup?

[stu]

Spurs fan here. LMFAO dream on monkey hangers.

[cartel]

To eulogise Ben arfa in this way and compare him to bale is silly and premature.
Ben arfa has shown glimpses of what he may be capable of,
While bale has established himself as a world class star.
Not to knock Ben arfa, he looks like he could be handy.
Should spurs wrap up champs league football as expected im completely sure bale wont be sold this summer at any price.
Levy will hold onto him another year at least and his price will sky rocket further untill we are at stratospheric amounts.
I would not be averse to spurs taking be arfa off the geordies hands, and see if we can mould him. And im sure he would jump at the chance to be a bale mk II

[Matt]

Welcome back to our humble abode, Spurs fans!

Ashley will probably want about as much for Ben Arfa as Levy wants for Bale - Newcastle is not really in the business of giving players away. If you pressed Ashley, I'd imagine he sees you as a model for how Newcastle sells players...nobody comes cheap.

Seems unlikely that HBA would push for a move, either. As much as we gave Pardew a hard time about how long it took to integrate him into the team, it's created this weird bond between player and manager. For a guy who's stirred up trouble everywhere he's gone, he's been nothing but a model citizen at Newcastle. That's probably been the biggest success story of Pardew's time here, to connect with such a talented (but temperamental) player.

[Mathew]

One think Mike Ashley is proving to be good at is buying low and selling high. One day he'll finally do that with Newcastle, but for now we'll enjoy getting bargain basement players that we can sell for millions in the summer.
If Spurs ever want to get over the hump and finish top of the league or even in the top 3 you can't sell your best player and replace him with someone no where close to his current level of talent.

[Bleeeeeetingon]

Spurs won't pay the money for Beny, I don't think the gunners would Eva. Don't think Liverpool could land him, sorry Liverpool but they seem to be the least savy on the transfer front, do you even have scouts if so stop sending then to el clubs, i think liverpool or the king of being rip off it seems like they take football advise frim the dream team in sun. get a clue build a team have an efos stop pulling apart other teams, at the deprement to the players bought taking good player and turning them in to shadows of them self. but liverpool thank you for buying are squod as you brought are descent player to give us the money to get demba cisse and cabs. Chelsea n man utd would scare me, as I just can't see anything good coming from a move to man city for any one involved Beny is better than a sub and man citys ego show.
Bale vs Beny
Bale vs messi
Pointless very different styles but all change games and can destroy whole teams. Three of 6 of my top player at the moment. But bale ability at the later comes to my mind the quickest. Hope he stays at spurs or comes to newcastle lol. He's spurs threw and threw he is a testament to how far spurs have come in the last 5 yrs, I hope in a couple of years Beny is this for newcastle, just as talented but not there yet.
Ps newcastle are my clud. But I love football and ill watch spurs alway for this reason, I think they have 5 players which could evolve any clud includend I very very good team in what we have at newcastle. If you mixed spurs and the runner styles what a team. I surjest a merge ha ha can you imaging the in fight at the club tho, just a throught.
Sorry I have the garner of a child

[Jaeger]

yes bale is in great form right now... and is playing top 5 player right now. his second last night was amazing. i dont see him going to any other english club, especially if they make top 4 this year. could see him going to either a milan club or real madrid.

for nufc, dont think ben arfa is going anywhere this year, unless he scores 10 goals in the rest of the season. think there might be some big bids from cabaye from the likes of psg or barcelona (to replace or be a mentee of xavi). but i doubt he will want to leave with the new frenchies and debuchy being here.

abe, are you really trying to insult us by the lack of english players in the starting XI?? im sure if there was a better player not from england you would want them regardless of nationality (lloris, dempsey, dembele, heck even bale isnt english!)

[MNTOONARMY9]

Challenge is that Bale and Ben Arfa are different players. Bale is a physical dynamo...he beats people with his athleticism and pace and while he has skill, most defenders just can't stay close for very long. Ben Arfa doesn't have the pure speed and isn't physical like Bale, but I think I'd put his ball skills (when healthly) a slight notch above Bale. The shots of both men are similar as we all know. That's why he has a chance to be as coveted as Bale if...and only if he:

(1) stays healthy enough to make it through a full campaign,
(2) can be effective with Cisse sitting in the middle and wanting the ball (Bale doesn't have such a stiker clogging the middle at Spurs), and
(3) if he can still play defense and do the other little things.

[Russell]

I love Ben Arfa but he is not a tenth of the player that Gareth Bale is !! Yes he can dribble, when he is in the mood, yes he can very occasionally score stunning goals but Mr Bale is on a different level completely. Of course it will be interesting to see a fit Ben Arfa alongside the new players but Bale has done more in the last 6 weeks than Ben Arfa does in a season guys.

[Des]

The key for all great players is consistency. Messi is the best in the world, and rightly so, because he can perform at the highest level for several seasons. Bale has had a stunning 6 weeks. Likewise Papiss Cisse was ridiculous over thesecond half of last season. While possible, there are no indications either way that Bale is simply in a purple patch or will improve to stratospheric levels next year, so selling him to assemble a title winning team is an attractive proposition.

You can trust Levy and Ashley to squeeze the maximum out of any sale.

[GFH]

I agree that they are different types of player and think that currently Bale is making the bigger waves , almost inevitably given Ben Arfas injury record this season .It seems Bale may be set for a Spanish club next season so it will be interesting to see how his high tempo style works there.I seriously doubt Ben Arfa would move to Spurs as a replacement this summer , although the year after may see him move on if Newcastle do not live up to his ambitions. One footnote -- The Monkey Hangers are not Newcastle so if SpursFan intends it as a putdown , it would only work if he were writing about Hartlepool. Very embarrassing for him /her I'm sure.

[Navid]

What an awesome way to exlapin this-now I know everything!