Downing??

I'd go for Ben Arfa. Our medical staff should improve his medical.

For the money Ben Arfa would cost we could do better than him.

He doesn't work hard enough to be in our team.


"I have to say Hatem's conditioning has disappointed me this week, and we will be working hard in the next few days to get him up to speed because he lacks a bit of fitness, for sure," said Pardew. "I just think it's something we need to push him on at. His upper body strength is there, but we want to work on his general fitness. I think that needs to improve."

That was Pardew a few days ago.

You need to be a hard worker to get in our team.

That is not Ben Arfa.

Ben Arfa just came back from injury, don't think it's got anything to do with working hard..

Ben Arfa is a physio's worst nightmare. Would not be worth the money paid.

Conditioning is down to hard work.

He is talented but is 25 and has done nothing in his career to date, other than flatter to deceive and get injured a lot.

I don't believe we want him at all.

I think his agent is looking for a new deal more likely, as he only has 2 years left on his Newcastle deal.

He is actually 26 in a few days, so it's even worse.

Made his debut at 17 but has only managed 200 odd games in 9 years.

Steer clear.

He would be another Aquilani.

i think we should keep downing. we should look to have someone to play in front of him on the right side but we need some depth. i think downing has proven that he can at least do a job when we need him.

as for ben arfa. the guy can be a top player but so far he hasn't shown what he's capable of on a consistent basis.

i think if he had the right manager who shows belief in him and gives him the confidence to go and show people how good he is then he could be sensational.

reminds me very much of sturridge in that sense. maybe rodgers is that manager?

one thing i will say is. we need players who will stand up and be counted when the going gets tough. we can't have too many players who need a love-in from the manager all the time

Downing could be a good enough squad player, if he continues to learn the wingback/fullback role aswell as he can play both wings. Our squad is thin and we have been getting rid of the same number of players we bring in sometimes even more. I think in the summer we will be losing Carroll and Carra possibly Downing or Skrtel depending if decent bids come in. For me we need 3 players minimum on top of making sure we replace who we lose, even spending what we get back from Carroll on a striker.

Although i hope Assaidi features more next season i still think we need 1 or 2 more players with attacking flair a striker and another attacking mid like Coutinho.

Then obviously we need cover at DM and 1 or 2 CBs and to replace who ever leaves even if only your soto kyriagos 2m type players we need some more numbers preferably experienced.