Greatest player of the Ashley era

[Ragatino]

Yep-if Ben Arfa played to even half of his potential, he wouldn't have been playing for us.

Mind, even as I was typing that, I found myself thinking that maybe, if you look at 'potential' as a combination of ability and attitude (effort, application, etc) then perhaps he did actually reach his potential, or close to it. He had incredible skill but that's only part of the package when you look at how far he could have gone.

Maybe only half is potential but he was still head and shoulder above everyone in the squad.

Did he fail to reach his potential or was it 'pardew'd' out of him?

I'd go for the latter.

A great manager, a Keegan, a Sir Bob would have polished the lad till he shone like a star.

[MidsMagpie]

Coloccini

[ex_pat_magpie]

Just imagine if we could have all of the above, including the best manager of the Ashley era in the team just now.

Surely we would then be competing for top places in the league despite the misfortune of Ashley's presence.