Wullie

They're in the Sun.

I'm right in thinking it's half 12 there, right?

I also agree with the OP. The top teams might not have old fashioned wingers but they have players who can make use of the full width of the pitch. Why else do passing teams tend to play on bigger pitches while the cloggers try and condense it? FWIW Ferguson always played with at least one traditional winger right the way through his career, often two, and very traditional full backs with excellent delivery from their natural side. It's just utter nonsense to say having players on their natural foot is somehow archaic. Imagine Leighton Baines at right back with that sublime delivery negated, dear me.

This is the key.

Agree with the OP. Definitely don't agree that it's all about having aerial threats, a huge amount of goals are scored from low crosses between back four and goalkeeper - not by us of course but they are. Hate this idea that balls from wide areas have to be swung over to Les Ferdinand.

Decent draw (in theory).

Very hit and miss but really looks great when it's "hit", just needs to show it against better opposition and work on his delivery. Lovely quick feet.

Stopped reading there. No need for that kind of gloating.

I blame Danny Simpson.

They seem to know exactly what they're doing to me. Defend deep, kick it far. Just like watching the first XI.

The board haven't backed him enough to be able to cope with a League Two side. Get off his back.

Given his total devotion to Tiote last season, what he's said about Bigirimana there is astonishing. Shades of "you'll win nothing with 11 James Milners"

Any team news?

Has this been confirmed then? I would be ecstatic. No, I'm just assuming Pardew isn't a complete imbecile. Perfect game to see what he can do. I'd rather see our out of form main striker being given a chance to fill his boots, like. Pretty sure this is exactly what I said and you accused me of being "negative"? Is it? Did I? Yes it is. I said to Brett that we should play a strong team, win well and give our big players some confidence. You said that the club couldn't win and that I was being negative.

Has this been confirmed then? I would be ecstatic. No, I'm just assuming Pardew isn't a complete imbecile. Perfect game to see what he can do. I'd rather see our out of form main striker being given a chance to fill his boots, like. Pretty sure this is exactly what I said and you accused me of being "negative"?

Only on here could anyone be accused as being negative for maintaining a position of "I want us to win comfortably and score lots of goals as I think the players we have are very capable of it"

Surely as long as you get through with minimal amount of squad damage, it's a good night. The aim is just to be in the next round, that's all that will do regardless of who is selected. The games don't exist in isolation though. The players need some goals and confidence. They won't get any of that from sitting at home whilst the reserves squeeze through. Quite possibly, but your also running the risk of injuring a Ben Arfa for Saturday or longer. Liverpool lost Toure/Allen/Cissokho though injury, easily done. Could have been a Sturridge or Gerrard. I’d prefer we went through with the kids out but obviously that carries a bigger risk of going out, a mixture of both would suffice for me. I don’t fancy seeing HBA playing that’s for sure though. When Ben Arfa's walking down the street, he could trip and break his leg, or someone could crash into his car. We can't make him a Bubble Boy ( "Moops!" ) I just don't subscribe to the theory that we must wrap players in cotton wool as much as possible. We treat footballers as if playing football is the absolute worst thing they can do for their health and I'm bloody sick of it. A risk ffs. I watch football to be entertained by my team playing good stuff and scoring goals, not to watch some blokes not getting injured. "Great game tonight, awful drab football but wow, they all looked fine at the end" Good God man. Certain players with a history record like Ben Arfa's don't need to play in games like this? Half the people on here were furious when he got injured in an away leg of the Europa Cup and sure enough Pardew took all the blame for it on here for selecting him, now he should be starting against Morecambe! Good God man. There is no winning with some, like. The club will always be doing something wrong. This doesn't apply when things are going well, I should add. Although, I'm not sure if that applies to Wullie, like. How utterly tedious. I was extremely happy when Chris Hughton was here and we were pumping rival teams by five and six goals. Just because you're happy with your main man churning out months without a goal doesn't mean that's right.

I wasn't furious. Players get injured, that's life. When we're that fucking desperate for some positivity, a 5-0 win tonight will do wonders.

Surely as long as you get through with minimal amount of squad damage, it's a good night. The aim is just to be in the next round, that's all that will do regardless of who is selected. The games don't exist in isolation though. The players need some goals and confidence. They won't get any of that from sitting at home whilst the reserves squeeze through. Quite possibly, but your also running the risk of injuring a Ben Arfa for Saturday or longer. Liverpool lost Toure/Allen/Cissokho though injury, easily done. Could have been a Sturridge or Gerrard. I’d prefer we went through with the kids out but obviously that carries a bigger risk of going out, a mixture of both would suffice for me. I don’t fancy seeing HBA playing that’s for sure though. When Ben Arfa's walking down the street, he could trip and break his leg, or someone could crash into his car. We can't make him a Bubble Boy ( "Moops!" ) I just don't subscribe to the theory that we must wrap players in cotton wool as much as possible. We treat footballers as if playing football is the absolute worst thing they can do for their health and I'm bloody sick of it. A risk ffs. I watch football to be entertained by my team playing good stuff and scoring goals, not to watch some blokes not getting injured. "Great game tonight, awful drab football but wow, they all looked fine at the end" Good God man.

Surely as long as you get through with minimal amount of squad damage, it's a good night. The aim is just to be in the next round, that's all that will do regardless of who is selected. The games don't exist in isolation though. The players need some goals and confidence. They won't get any of that from sitting at home whilst the reserves squeeze through.

Graham Carr's certainly earning his corn finding such gems.

Why has he never called the seniors out on being shit every single week for a year then? It's always "gave a fantastic account of ourselves, Shola was brilliant etc etc", why are the youngsters fair game? They're just an easy target for a cowardly man.

They'll certainly feel relaxed and free to express themselves knowing that the manager has such confidence in them, that's for sure.

Ba's not French?