toontownman

Oh crap, we have sold him already. That didn't last long.

Burnley would never go for that, an interesting idea though.

Pardew is gutted he came through unscathed.

More importantly what does Lacassete think of us signing Lascelles?

Nice to be getting some potentially decent British players but where does that leave the youth we have? Satka - the new colo Good - rated highly in the oz setup and played well here and on loan before his injury Streete - also highly rated As mentioned we need a cb for now, not a year or two.

Well if we have been tracking him over 3 years we are probably fairly confident he will adapt and do ok. The loan just gives us a get out option if not.

He is back in the squad properly isn't he. Ameobi syndrome, he has more tools to be a success than the former but its only down to him to realise that and be confident and use his natural talent. Looked mint in pre-season for Manure just before we signed him too. :'(

Nowt like a good overreaction. There is literally 0% chance that we're looking for any more midfielders to be honest. And for me, Cabaye was best in the number 10 role (the 5th season) so the fact we've bought two players who could be considered number 10s suggests we think we've replaced him. If Grenier is available at the right price and interested we will get him. We have been linked with him since before Christmas. Another midfielder has been touted to be on our list all summer and still up to this week. If you nullify our winger we have nothing through the middle... You will have to excuse the negativity but performances like yesterday have been the norm for the past six months. If we don't have someone capable of holding the ball and creating from deep the wingers get cut out of the game easily, in turn the strikers are useless and we go back to long ball. Likewise protecting our back four. While Tiote will bring some protection, I am not convinced by Moussa through the middle with how we want to play, maybe it will work. Anita and Colback are industrious but not to be relied upon for a long ball or pass that will open up defenses. Siem is going to add what we have been missing since Nolan, and a whole lot more. If he is injured or marked out of the game, we are back to square one. After De Jong arrival, we probably won't play with a Cabaye type deep lying playmaker. De Jong as a no 10 and 2 defending midfielders. Counter attacking football and 4-4-1-1 it seems. Maybe, would just be nice to have options either way when the injuries hit or if god forbid our tactics aren't working and a formation change is needed.

Sammy/Ferguson/Aaron's all looked exciting and promising when they burst on the scene. Given our coaching teams success with ruining the careers of the former two we certainly shouldn't be too excited. Really had high hopes for Fergie especially, looked like he had pace, decent control, good cross and got stuck in. Sammy like Shola had all the tools but just doesn't have that mental switch turned on to take him further. Either way neither got a fair chance to prove themselves.

Definitely should be gettin some playing time with the first team this year. Great performances in preseason, reminds me of Lennon. Fergie had similar impact when he emerged for us but Aaron's is far more rapid. Exciting.

Doesn't mark overlapping right back when tracking back. Will never make it here.

What's with all the good looking women on livesport1. Best post match ever.

In fairness Schalke have been uber poor compared to Malaga playing very well. Schalke play at a way slower tempo, which suits us. They haven't attacked with any pace or passed us off the park like Malaga.

Wearing 34? Aye it is. Lol

Get in!

This.. Stark contrast to Obertan on the other side.. Who hasn't played badly but hasn't done much good either. As I type this he actually made a decent run and pass!

I know these words of this coming sentence shouldn't ever be uttered here, but... ..dummet has had a reasonably solid game.

Ref proper hates Aarons. He will get a right bollocking from the King too at half time for not keeping track of their RB, free roam on the overlap. Nice easy half and improved performance. Riviere will be good with service. We still lack creativity from the centre. If they shut down Aarons we are done.

Proper class play from Aarons and Riviere. Very nice stuff. Almost as nice as Vanessa the co-commentator on Sport1

Neither replace what Cabaye did. We need another creative deep lying mid. Otherwise we are an Injury away from performances like today.

Vickie... To combat any abuse thrown at the king this season.

Just like the strikers with the wingers, wingers were pointless and ineffective because of the piss weak and woeful central midfield. Zero protection for the back? Zero creativity or possession to help the front. Desperately need a ball player back there with Tiote. Anita is nice and neat but rarely effects the play as much as we need him too, likewise his inferior left footed version colback. Not convinced sissoko is the right person either. Doesn't really fit anywhere with the "tactics" pardew employs.

A few big worries, but nothing new: - Complete lack of control in the middle of the park. - Zero creativity - Shambles of a defence CB, CM and Striker are necessities in this window. Not convinced the club hierarchy see that though.

Was he sat on the bench next to Williamson? looked like him.

Wtf just happened?