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Steve Bruce says mavericks Ben Arfa and Balotelli need handling differently

9 years ago
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Bruce praises Ben Arfa for discipline, workrate and losing half a stone, whilst insisting that mavericks such as Balotelli and the on-loan Newcastle winger have to be handled differently to other players.

Steve Bruce keeping special praise for Hatem Ben Arfa’s disciplined performance in the 2-2 draw at Arsenal last weekend.

The Hull manager has said that players who have got ‘that maverick in the them’, need to be  handled a little differently.

Bruce reveals that on a special fitness programme Hatem has lost weight (half a stone) and been going in for extra training sessions.

Of course in life generally, different people often need to be treat differently if you hope to get the best out of them in whatever line of work they are involved in.

Not very comforting to think that even an oaf like Steve Bruce has so much more nous and brain power in dealing with players than Alan Pardew, consistently failing to get the best out of clearly talented players such as Mapou, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Cisse, Haidara and Cabella.

Bruce on the horror stories;

“When we signed him (Ben Arfa) there were all these horror stories that surrounded him but in the six weeks he has been here he’s worked very, very hard.“

Discipline;

“Last week at Arsenal he was as disciplined as anybody on the pitch. We didn’t see a lot of him in attacking areas because he spent most of his energies working for the team.”

Losing weight;

“He’s lost weight, he’s been on a training programme, he is back in the afternoons, he has done extra. He has done everything he possibly can.”

Bruce speaking about players such as Balotelli and Ben Arfa;

“When they’ve got that maverick in them, you have to handle them differently. They are not the norm.”

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