Imagine what Ben Arfa could be capable of if Newcastle can repeat some of the form they’ve shown since the likes of Sissoko & Gouffran have signed and we can get the ball to Hatem higher up the pitch.
Alan Pardew has said he can’t play the same eleven in both matches and the Europa leg has to be the one to suffer. Maybe if Newcastle had sneaked an extra 3 points at White Hart Lane they could have had made the match in the Ukraine the priority.
Following the Spurs match, Alan Pardew highlighted Yoan Gouffran’s enforced substitution as the turning point in the match and certainly we lost all momentum on that left hand side, with Marveaux unable to cope with Kyle Walker defensively and no attacking threat going forward as well.
I have a feeling that Alan Pardew is speaking the same language as most fans and with everybody fit, an attacking four of Gouffran, Cisse, Sissoko and Ben Arfa, with Tiote and Cabaye in behind is…mouthwatering!