Zero

Tiote, Colo, Cabaye, Ba, Cisse, HBA, Santon, Krul - would any of these players look out of place in a top 6, or even top 4 side? Sure, squad depth is a problem but the majority of these players have been available throughout the season, and the results certainly show it. Krul, Colo, Tiote, Cabaye and Ba would do that, doubtful for the rest. Cisse clearly hasn't settled in yet, he contributes very little in open play and shown a lack of understanding about his teammates. Santon and HBA have been very inconsistent (well clearly you can say it's Pardew's fault) I don't think they can be regarded as starter for a top 6 side yet. I am not going to mention Man Utd, Man City and Spurs. They are clearly a class above every team else. That leaves Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal. Arsenal has the most in form striker at the moment, a GK that is destined to be great, the Belgium captain, a very reliable right back, Song, Walcott, Ox. They are just mentally not good enough, but except Tiote I don't think any of the players above could start for Arsenal. Cabaye or Colo perhaps. Chelsea? They are their own enemies. Not squad depth issue, but political issues. That's a team that even Torres have to be benched. Again, Tiote is the only one up for them, no one else. Take a look at Liverpool's squad. They got a good centre back partnership, a great GK, a racist c*** in the highest order, an unproductive but lively winger, a corner kick specialist, and a classy and cunty Gerrard. They do have a better squad, at least in squad depth. So to say we have lots of players that could walk into other top 6 team squad isn't that right. Squad player isn't a problem, but starting? Arguable. What I see is we have a strong spine that could do a job against the other top 6 clubs, but other than that we are just plain average. Players like Raylor, Saylor, Simpson, Guthrie, Williamson, Obertan, Perch, or even Jonas, simply shouldn't start if we want to be Top4 challengers. Our success these season is mainly due to Pardew successfully take out the best from those average players so that we play as a team (well, a very dull team sometimes) which always on top of those clubs out of top 6, and we gained lots of points here. We have been unbelievably consistent in our performance this season, even though recently there's sign of getting worse. But then to say we have a squad that can have a go against the other top6 clubs? At least 4-5 signings behind, at least.

Aye I remember posts like we are playing the best football since SBR era not long ago. Anyway, leave it man. Posters here never think they're wrong, or they have been wrong, same for me. That's the reason why a manager shouldn't totally listen to the fans' voice.

He hasn't been the same since his last injury. He's probably finished i'm afraid.

I am willing to all-in all my bank savings that if Pardew got sacked and a new manager's coming for the next season, we would be out of top 10, if not in relegation zone. Put it simple. The majority of our players are nth but average EPL players. Pardew has been excellent in bringing out their best by using a very rigid and narrow tactics, even though it is relatively one-dimensional and inflexible. So could we play better by using other tactics? Well sure we could always argue "we can do this and do that together and become perfect in every area", but in reality, I don't think so, unless we could sign 3-4 players in Cabaye-calibre and completely overhaul our centre defender (including Saylor) and our right side. Could we do so? We need tons of luck, because Ashley would not do it unless there's bargaining deals or loop holes, we all know that. I always think the opinions in this board are quite interesting. Not offending to anyone, but I read many posts stating that many of our players are not good enough for a top 6 spot, but at the same time we also argue that Pardew is not the one that could bring out the best of our team and the Top 6 spot is nth but fluke. Then who is hindering our progress now? Can anyone tell me what stand should I take? The player or the manager? And during a season that we are playing the best since Souness?

He should shoot more, that's a bigger threat then making a cross... and he's excellent in making cut-in run, he almost succeed everytime, unbelievable.

It's form issue rather than class. Obviously he is out of form, which I don't think it's tactically related.

Well, I don't want to see Perch, I hope you understand.

The problem was he sit too deep and did nth. I hope it's due to tiredness but in the mean time may be Guthrie and Tiote should start for us.

I don't think he did that bad today. I am glad he tried sth else becoz the rest of the players are fucking hopeless. But well, yea if he could just simply pass the ball instead of dribble himself BEFORE reaching the final third, it would be perfect. I have had no problem for him being selfish or losing the ball if he didn't do it meaninglessly.

Probably because they were too busy watching the ball go over their heads. Most of the time our defenders are forced to hoof the ball because Tiote and Cabaye offers no option in the centre. Do you know how many times Cabaye did go back and help to pass the ball forwards? ONCE. Tiote is better, at least he did show up even if he failed to bring the ball forward. Cabaye is simply a no-show today. I have been his biggest fans but today it is f***ing ridiculous. for me manager should see this things and do something. if they dont do what you demand then drop them. because that movement creates place to pass and it also creates space to other players to get ball. He did. Guthrie was brought in to do that job. We did pass the ball much better since Guthrie's there. I ain't sure what's happening to Cabaye but his form since 2012 has been shocking.

Oh come on HTT and Wullie would never get satisfied unless we win the league. I am serious, not being sarcastic. So to argue who is better manager with them is pretty non-sense. SBR is a minimum benchmark. Mourinho would be appropriate.

Probably because they were too busy watching the ball go over their heads. Most of the time our defenders are forced to hoof the ball because Tiote and Cabaye offers no option in the centre. Do you know how many times Cabaye did go back and help to pass the ball forwards? ONCE. Tiote is better, at least he did show up even if he failed to bring the ball forward. Cabaye is simply a no-show today. I have been his biggest fans but today it is fucking ridiculous.

The whole team, manager and players, need an ass-kick for this bullshit performance. Biggest disappointment for me are Tiote and Cabaye. How on the earth these 2 cannot control the midfield against a relegation team at home? This is unacceptable. Complacency? Oh fuck yea we are a Euro Champ spot team and Wolves at home are fucking easy eh? Fuck off. I would rather see the likes of Ferguson and HBA (excellent work rate and willingness to try today) or even Lovenkrands rather then such a dismal performance from certain key players, including the Captain.

The performance is not tactics related. I don't understand how can the players play soooooooo bad. Jesus.

Here we go again

Agree with that.

What is the basis of your assumption? How many goals + assists + good chances created vs lost possession in dangerous areas + non tracking back would you put at for HBA? That's why I said "technically" you cannot justified the decision of playing Obertan over HBA (Raylor is arguable). The only valid reason is to look at the situation from another perspective - the team as a whole, and the result. Even the result is controversial because HBA hardly plays much and not enough samples to compare. But my point is, Pardew does the job without HBA, brilliantly. Could he do it better with HBA? I aren't sure. I can't assume that. To be honest, what I expect is a Top8 finish, and any Euro spot is a big plus this year. And now Parder does it without "the best eleven we believed". I think the correct response is I should question myself whether the best team is "the best eleven we believed", since it's Pardew who observed the players most, who makes the decision, and who get the result.

He would be solely responsible for bad results too. I am against the decision of not playing HBA, just that Pardew get the result by not playing HBA, so could we assume we would be better, as a team, if we play HBA? Certainly people would suggest by no means HBA is a worse option than Obertan and Raylor (which technically no one can dispute) but team selection and players management are more than just picking the best players out of your available squad. In conclusion, i would say, if Pardew get a marvelous result e.g. get the 4th spot, then he has earned his right to dispose HBA. In the end, Team > Individual Player, forever.

The thinking of "play Ben Arfa and we'll get more points" is quite dangerous. To me is the other way round - Even if we play Ben Arfa, I don't think we could get so many points at this stage. That's a paradox and I would give Pardew the benefit of the doubt because of that.

I would say AVB is the "closest" the be the right man. In fact, no one is up to the job except Jose Mourinho. He is the only one in the world who has the right and power to put an end to the likes of Lampard, Drogba, Terry, since he is the one that establish "the Chelsea style". It is a very, very difficult job. Fair play to AVB, he has tried his best, and to me he isn't a "shit" manager, just not Jose Mourinho.

Best young English striker below the premiership. Very good wraps on him. So i assume worse than Wickham?

Yea, this. We opted for Bellamy after Jeffers turned us down. Jeffers was hardly a Bellamy-type player imo

Tell me what means by offense is the best attack.

i give thanks to jesus that you are not our manager.

A very sad day for football. Hope they can survive...