Are there really NUFC fans that hate Ben Arfa?

Facebook tends to be the repository for the dregs of NUFC supporters. In recent months, there's been nowt but tossers posting questions like "would you rather beat the mackems or beat Spurs in the upcoming cup tie" or "would you rather have MYM or [insert random European centre-back here]".  Fuck off, man.  Why can't we have both?  Have you gone and Pardewed yourself to the point where we have to ration our wants, hopes and dreams?

And, the term "Pardewed" is usually reserved for players that joined the club with amazing ability, that eventually turn shit. But I think it is fair to say that other aspects of football or life in general can fall victim to being Pardewed.

Hatem Ben Arfa is arguably one of our more high-profile players to be Pardewed.  Ask just about anyone who has seen the guy play and they will most likely tell you that he's a player with bags of potential.  On numerous occasions, the guy was just plain magic and scored some of the best goals I've seen (check out his goal vs. Blackburn away, and then continue reading after you've scraped the jizz from the inside of your drawers).

You're welcome

In my opinion, Ben Arfa always seemed to put in 100% effort but was sidelined due to injury for large chunks of his Newcastle career, and when he wasn't injured in the latter part of said career, he was shackled to the bench.

This season has been one of transition for HBA.  A solitary appearance for the reserves, then shipped-out to Hull, only to be booted out of Humberside for an apparent disagreement with Lord of the Wedding Cake Thiefs, Steve Bruce.  It was shortly after this that his NUFC contract was cancelled and the press reported that a deal was done with Nice back in his native France.

Rumors were flying about everywhere of HBA's poor attitude and rebellious nature. It was very similar to the scenario where a certain Joey Barton found himself moving to QPR on a free.  We all know Barton's past, but was HBA really the same as him?  I personally doubt it.  I'm sure HBA wasn't completely innocent.  Months of frustration would certainly leave most people with a chip on their shoulder.

Just the other day, however, the sporting press reported that HBA's registration with UEFA or FIFA would be rejected after playing for 2 clubs in one season.  The ruling, which would be very easy to overlook due to the sheer rarity of the scenario, was motioned once Nice went to formally register HBA.  Absolute bad luck considering one of the two clubs FIFA mentioned, was the reserve game appearance for us earlier in the season.  Howay man....can you really consider that an appearance?

So, I was left aghast when I saw a few pillocks posting on facebook about FIFA's ruling saying "it couldn't happen to a nicer bloke" and other words of similar effect.  Was there something I missed that made a bunch of Newcastle supporters hate HBA?

Personally, I will always have fond memories of Hatem and will be left forever wondering what he could have been with the right backing and playing time.  Most likely, he would have been a superstar and left us for about £20 million in a transfer window.  That's when we would have every right to hate him.

#ThunderBastard