Last month Ben Arfa, himself, said he was on course to being as good as Lionel Messi.
Which had many choking on their beer.
Liverpool are said to be interested in signing Ben and striker Andy Carroll – currently out on loan to West Ham United – could be used as a makeweight to tempt the Toon into a deal.
The former Marseille midfielder has spent plenty of time on the St. James’ Park treatment table this season having suffered a hamstring injury during the Europa League tie against Anzhi, which came on the back of a 12-week lay-off.
During his time on Tyneside he has played in less than one-in-three games, and has only scored 25 career goals. (*Messi is younger than Ben Arfa and has scored 250-plus goals).
Alan Pardew: “There was always that outstanding player that lifted the crowd.
“You had Tino Asprilla, Peter Beardsley and Kevin Keegan. They were fantastic.
“And you have to put Hatem in that category as a special player.
“He hasn’t achieved what those guys have done yet but, hopefully, he will.”
PARDEW - SHOULD HE STAY OR GO?
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Is It Time To Replace Pardew?
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NEWCASTLE UNITED FC 2012/13
Newcastle United Fixtures
PREMIERSHIP
NEWCASTLE 0 SUNDERLAND 3
Krul (57' Elliot), Debuchy, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Gutierrez, Marveaux, Tiote, Cabaye (62' Ben Arfa), Gouffran (46' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Cisse
Subs:Anita, Perch, Haidara, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 FULHAM 0 (Cisse)
Krul, Simpson (81' Campbell), Yanga-Mbiwa, S Taylor, Santon (17' Anita), Marveaux, Cabaye, Sissoko, Gutierrez, Cisse, Gouffran (69' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Elliot, Williamson, Bigirimana, Obertan
MAN CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Simpson, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Gutierrez, Anita, Cabaye (74' Bigirimana), Obertan (45' Perch), Sissoko, Gouffran (63' Gosling), Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Marveaux, Good, Campbell
WIGAN 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Santon)
Elliot, Debuchy (13' Haidara, 27' Perch), S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Marveaux, Tiote, Gutierrez, Gouffran (67' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Cisse
Subs: Harper, Anita, Gosling, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE 2 STOKE CITY 1 (Cabaye, Cisse)
Elliot, Debuchy, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon (73' Haidara), Cabaye, Tiote (73' Marveaux), Gutierrez, Sissoko, Gouffran (86' Campbell), Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Anita, Perch, Obertan.
SWANSEA 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Debuchy, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Gouffran, Cabaye, Sissoko, Tiote (90' Marveaux), Gutierrez (90' Shola Ameobi), Cisse
Subs: Alnwick, Anita, Perch, Haidara, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 4 SOUTHAMPTON 2 (Sissoko, Cisse, Cabaye pen, Hooiveld og)
Elliot; Debuchy, S Taylor, Coloccini (Yanga-Mbiwa, 45), Santon; Cabaye (Perch, 77), Tiote; Gouffran, (Anita, 88) Sissoko, Gutierrez; Cisse.
Subs not used: Alnwick, Marveaux, Obertan, Shola Ameobi.
SPURS 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S Taylor, Santon, Perch (82' Tiote), Sissoko, Cabaye, Gutierrez (86' Shola Ameobi), Gouffran (58' Marveaux) Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Anita, Yanga-Mbiwa, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 3 CHELSEA 2 (Gutierrez, Sissoko 2)
Krul, Debuchy, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Perch, Cabaye, Gouffran (84' Marveaux), Sissoko (90+2' Yanga-Mbiwa), Gutierrez, Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Anita, Bigirimana, Gabriel Obertan, Shola Ameobi
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cisse, Cabaye)
Krul, Debuchy, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Perch (69' Shola Ameobi), Cabaye, Gouffran (74' Anita), Sissoko (79' Yanga-Mbiwa), Gutierrez, Cisse
Subs: Harper, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 1 READING 2 (Cabaye)
Krul, Coloccini, Santon, Debuchy, Williamson, Cabaye (74'Bigirimana), Anita (80'Obertan), Cisse, Marveaux (65'Perch), Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi
Subs: Elliot, S Taylor, Sammy Ameobi, Ranger.
NORWICH 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon; Anita (Bigirimana, 84), Perch; Obertan (Cabaye, 57), Marveaux, Gutierrez; Cisse.
Subs not used: Harper, Amalfitano, Sammy Ameobi, Ranger, Tavernier.
NEWCASTLE 1 EVERTON 2 (Cisse)
Krul, Perch (87' Ranger), Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Obertan (65' Bigirimana), Anita, Tiote (79' Sammy Ameobi), Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Ferguson, Tavernier, Abeid
ARSENAL 7 NEWCASTLE 3 (Ba 2, Marveaux)
Krul, Simpson (82' Ferguson), Coloccini, Perch, Santon, Obertan, Bigirimana (82' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Marveaux (88' Tavernier), Ba, Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Sammy Ameobi, Mehdi Abeid, Streete.
MAN UTD 4 NEWCASTLE 3 (Perch, Evans og, Ba)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita, Perch, Bigirimana (65' Obertan), Cisse (79' Sammy Ameobi), Ba (71' Shola Ameobi), Marveaux
Subs: Elliot, Ferguson, Tavernier,Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 QPR 0 (Shola Ameobi)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Anita, Tiote (77' Marveaux), Perch, Gutierrez (60' Obertan), Ba, Cisse (61' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Harper, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi, Ferguson.
NEWCASTLE 1 MAN CITY 3 (Ba)
Krul, Simpson (82' Ferguson), Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Perch, Tiote (74' Marveaux), Anita, Gutierrez, Cisse (79' Shola Ameobi), Ba.
Subs: Elliot, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi, Tavernier
FULHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Gutierrez, Tiote (86' Bigirimana), Anita (86' Marveaux), Ben Arfa (70' Shola Ameobi), Cisse, Ba.
Subs: Harper, Perch, Ferguson, Tavernier
NEWCASTLE 3 WIGAN 0 (Ba 2 - 1 pen, Bigirimana)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (49' Ferguson), Marveaux, Tiote (46' Bigirimana) Anita, Gutierrez (75' Sammy Ameobi), Ba, Cisse
Subs: Harper, Shola Ameobi, Ranger, Tavernier
STOKE 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Anita (87' Sammy Ameobi), Perch, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse (87' Ranger).
Subs: Elliot, Bigirimana, Marveaux, Ferguson, Tavernier
SOUTHAMPTON 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson, S Taylor (90+1' Perch), Williamson, Santon, Anita (66' Marveaux), Tiote, Gutierrez, Ferguson (46' Sammy Ameobi), Ba, Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Bigirimana, Ranger, Tavernier
NEWCASTLE 1 SWANSEA 2 (Ba)
Krul, Simpson (74' Bigirimana), S Taylor, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Anita, Tiote, Ferguson (46' Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi (79' Marveaux), Ba.
Subs: Elliot, Amalfitano, Tavernier,Abeid
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 1
Krul, Simpson (79' Obertan), Steven Taylor, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gutierrez (24' Anita), Ferguson, Cisse (45+5' Shola Ameobi), Ba
Subs:Elliot, Amalfitano, Bigirimana, Marveaux.
LIVERPOOL 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cabaye)
Krul, Anita, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Perch (26' Simpson), Cabaye (68' Ferguson), Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Ba (49' Sammy Ameobi).
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Shola Ameobi, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE 2 WEST BROM 1 (Ba, Cisse)
Krul, Simpson (61 Cisse), Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Perch, Gutierrez, Ba (72 Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi (61 Obertan).
Subs: Harper, Anita, Steven Taylor, Ferguson.
SUNDERLAND 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Cabaye)
Krul,Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini (79' S Taylor) Santon, Gutierrez, Cabaye, Tiote, Ben Arfa (83' Obertan), Ba, Shola Ameobi (38' Perch).
Subs: Harper, Anita, Cisse, Ferguson
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 MAN UTD 3
Harper, Santon, Perch, Williamson, Ferguson (63' Anita), Ben Arfa, Tiote (80' Bigirimana), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Cisse (63' Shola Ameobi), Ba
Subs: Alnwick, Simpson, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
READING 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Steven Taylor (Tavernier 56), Santon, Ben Arfa, Tiote, Bigirimana (Ferguson 70), Gutierrez, Cisse (Shola Ameobi 69), Ba.
Subs not used: Elliot, Anita, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi.
NEWCASTLE 1 NORWICH 0 (Ba)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Steven Taylor, Santon, Ben Arfa (Shola 85mins), Anita (Tiote 76 mins), Cabaye, Jonas, Cisse (Obertan 70 mins), Ba
Subs unused: Elliot, Tavernier, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi
EVERTON 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)
Harper; Perch, Williamson, Taylor, Santon; Anita, Cabaye (Bigirimana 93), Gutierrez; Marveaux (Ba 46), Ben Arfa; Cissé (Shola Ameobi 80).
Substitutes not used Elliot (g), Gosling, Obertan, Tavernier.
NEWCASTLE 1 ASTON VILLA 1 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Simpson (Bigirimana 38), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Anita, Gutierrez (Marveaux 86), Ba (Obertan 86), Cisse
Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Amalfitano
CHELSEA 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson (Ryan Taylor 64), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Santon (Marveaux 74), Ben Arfa, Anita, Cabaye (Perch 77), Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse
Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 2 SPURS 1 (Ba, Ben Arfa pen)
Krul; Simpson, S Taylor, Perch, Santon; Ben Arfa, Cabaye (Anita, 71), Tiote, Gutierrez; Cisse, Ba (Obertan, 85). Subs not used: Harper; R Taylor, Williamson, Gosling, Amalfitano
FA CUP
BRIGHTON 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Tavernier, Perch (46' Dummett), Williamson, Santon, Anita, Abeid (46' Ranger), Bigirimana, Obertan (71' Marveaux), Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi
Subs: Krul, Amalfitano, Ferguson, Campbell
EUROPA LEAGUE
NEWCASTLE UTD 1 BENFICA 1 (Cisse)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara (67' Marveaux), Anita (63' Ben Arfa), Bigirimana (45' Shola Ameobi), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Sissoko, Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Perch, Gosling, Campbell
BENFICA 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Krul, Simpson (83' Gosling), S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Perch (62' Anita), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Sissoko, Marveaux (80' Shola Ameobi), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Williamson, Obertan, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 ANZHI MAKHACHKALA 0 (Cisse)
Elliot, Santon, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye (37' Gutierrez), Anita (71' Campbell), Marveaux, Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Perch, Bigirimana, Shola Ameobi, Obertan
ANZHI MAKHACHKALA 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Simpson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Perch, Haidara, Cabaye (84' Tiote), Anita (75' S Taylor), Ben Arfa (64' Shola Ameobi), Marveaux, Obertan, Sissoko
Subs: Alnwick, Santon, Bigirimana, Campbell
METALIST KHARKIV 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Shola Ameobi pen)
Krul, Simpson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Haidara, Sissoko, Anita (76' Perch), Cabaye (87' Bigirimana), Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Cisse (75' Gutierrez).
Subs: Elliot, Gosling, Obertan, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 0 METALIST KHARKIV 0
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Obertan (62' Marveaux), Tiote (79' Shola Ameobi), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Sissoko, Cisse.
Subs: Elliot, Simpson, Anita, Perch, Haidara.
BORDEAUX 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Tavernier, Williamson (74' Coloccini), Perch, Ferguson, Abeid, Bigirimana, Ranger, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi (46' Anita) Shola Ameobi (80' Cisse)
Subs: Krul, Simpson, Romain Amalfitano, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 MARITIMO 1
Krul, Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Marveaux, Bigirimana, Anita, Sammy Ameobi (76' Abeid), Ben Arfa (40' Ba), Cisse (50' Amalfitano)
Subs: Elliot, Williamson, Ferguson, Tavernier'.
CLUB BRUGGE 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Anita, Shola Ameobi)
Krul, Anita, Williamson (58' Steven Taylor), Coloccini, Tavernier, Tiote, Sammy Ameobi (83' Amalfitano), Marveaux, Bigirimana (72' Cabaye), Obertan, Shola Ameobi
Sub: Elliot, Santon, Cisse, Shane Ferguson
NEWCASTLE 1 CLUB BRUGGE 0 (Obertan)
Harper, Perch, Santon, Steven Taylor, Ferguson 80 (Cabaye), Obertan, Tiote, Bigirimana, Anita 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi 73' (Coloccini), Cisse
Subs: Krul, Ben Arfa, Ba, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 3 BORDEAUX 0 (Shola Ameobi, Henrique og), Cisse)
Elliot (Harper, 46 ); Simpson, Williamson, Perch, Ferguson; Anita, Tiote (Gosling, 71), Cabaye (Bigirimana, 61); Cisse, Shola Ameobi, Obertan.
Subs: Santon, Arfa, Ba, Sammy Ameobi.
MARITIMO 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Santon, Williamson, Perch, S Taylor, Gosling, Amalfitano (Ferguson 76), Bigirimana, Obertan (Marveaux 80), Vuckic (Sami Ameobi 53), Shola Ameobi.
Subs (not used): Harper (gk), Tavernier, Abeid, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 ATROMITOS 0 (Vuckic)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Ryan Taylor (11 Vuckic), Obertan, Bigirimana, Perch (59 Tavernier), Marveaux (91 Amalfitano), Gosling, Ba.
Subs: Harper, Cabaye, Cisse, Campbell.
ATROMITOS 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (R Taylor)
Harper; Tavernier, Williamson, Perch, R Taylor; Bigirimana, Anita; Obertan, Gosling (Amalfitano, 64), Marveaux (Gutierrez, 71); Cisse (Campbell, 77). Subs not used: Krul, Santon, Cabaye, S Taylor.
LEAGUE CUP
MAN UTD 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Elliot, Coloccini (Ferguson 61), Williamson, Perch, Tavernier, Gosling, Marveaux, Tioté (Bigirimana 71), Obertan, Vuckic (Cisse 81), Shola Ameobi.
Subs not used: Harper, Anita, Amalfitano, Sammy Ameobi.
PRE-SEASON
CARDIFF CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 1 (Shola Ameobi pen)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini (Williamson 46), Steven Taylor (Gosling 63), Santon, Obertan (Campbell 83), Tiote (Amalfitano 71) , Gutiérrez, Marveaux (Vuckic 46), R Taylor (Perch 28), Shola Ameobi.
HARTLEPOOL 1 NEWCASTLE 5 (Shola Ameobi, Marveaux 2, Obertan, Vuckic)
Harper (Alnwick 82), Simpson (Good 72), Tavernier, Williamson, S.Taylor (Vuckic 46), Perch (R.Taylor 72), Gosling, Amalfitano (Santon 80), Marveaux (Obertan 78), Sh.Ameobi (Ben Arfa 46), Bigirimana (Abeid 59).
DEN HAAG 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul; S Taylor (Gosling 65), R Taylor (Perch 71), Coloccini, Santon (Simpson 80); Obertan (Bigirimana 71), Tiote (Ameobi 71), Vuckic (Williamson 65), Gutierrez; Ba (Amalfitano 82), Cisse
BRAGA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba, R Taylor)
Harper; Simpson, Tavernier, Coloccini, R.Taylor; Sammy Ameobi (Obertan 88), Tiote (Cabaye 70), Gutierrez, Marveaux; Cisse, Ba (Vuckic 85).
OLYMPIACOS 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (S Taylor)
Krul, Perch, Williamson, S.Taylor (Dummett 46), Santon, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 72), Bigirimana, Gosling (Abeid 36), Amalfitano, Vuckic, Shola Ameobi (Cisse 72).
FENERBAHCE 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Abeid)
Elliot, Simpson (Santon 68), Tavernier, Coloccini, R Taylor, Tiote (Bigirimana 59), Gosling (Abeid 73), Obertan (Shola Ameobi 75), Marveuax (Gutierrez 59), Vuckic (Sammy Ameobi 46), Ba (Cisse 68).
MONACO 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ba)
Harper, Santon (Ryan Taylor 57), Simpson, Williamson (Perch 46), Gutierrez, Amalfitano (Obertan 62), Abeid (Tavernier 46), Bigirimana (Tiote 62), Sammy Ameobi (Vuckic 46), Shola Ameobi (Gosling 62), Ba (Marveaux 78)
CHEMNITZER 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot; Tavernier (Simpson, 70), Williamson, Perch, R Taylor (Santon, 70); Obertan (Gutierrez, 77), Abeid (Bigirimana, 70), Gosling, Amalfitano; Vuckic (Shola Ameobi, 70), Sammy Ameobi (Ba, 77). Sub not used: Harper.