Newcastle United will welcome Jonas Gutierrez back - while its good riddance to Hatem Ben Arfa Jonas Gutierrezs return to Newcastle United is good news - and so is Hatem Ben Arfas departure from the club Its one in and one out. Jonas Gutierrez welcomed back with a warm embrace but Hatem Ben Arfa banished amid cold indifference. Well, both decisions are right! Jonas’ defiant fight against cancer, carried out on the other side of the globe, has nonetheless warmed the cockles of Geordie hearts. The man who has skippered United, flew up and down the left wing for season upon season, who stuck around after relegation and entertained us with his Spiderman mask, will always have a place at our table. However the stark truth with Ben Arfa is that he’s blown a God-given talent. The man has ability to burn but has never harnessed it to a team effort. More, it’s been purely about him. Perhaps he hasn’t taken as big a wrecking ball to his career as Nile Ranger did, particularly off the field, but it has still been sad to witness his demise. The bottom line is Steve Bruce confirmed this week that he has thrown Ben Arfa out of Hull City and when Brucey, renowned for his man management skills, cannot coax consistency out of the Frenchman he is indeed doomed. Alan Pardew, like Bruce, also doesn’t want to see him back on the premises which leaves Ben Arfa, temporarily at least, walking the wilderness. Certainly in this country if not back home. Of course all the warmth, the Christmassy feeling of joy and goodwill, that is focussed on Gutierrez won’t come into play when it comes to a hard-nosed business decision. His contract is up at the season’s end. Will he get another? Well, he wasn’t going to when he was shipped out to Norwich on loan and it would require considerable new give and take with his legal people as well as a show of form rather than merely his battle with cancer to bring about a change. It is, I admit, an emotional decision as far as fans and team-mates are concerned but then it is also thus with Ryan Taylor whose contract is up and who fought a two-year battle against injury which could have ended his career. That came to a successful conclusion with a stirring comeback at Manchester City where he not only survived the full 90 minutes but put in an outstanding performance. However Ryan then suffered another knock but hopefully this time he will be back soon. Certainly unlike his wayward former team-mate Ben Arfa, Taylor is a joy round the place and a great example to young players. One thing is for certain in all this. The Toon Army would love to spy the Spiderman at St James’ Park tomorrow to give him a hero’s welcome ‘home.’
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 10:41:16 +0000
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