The College Dropout

Athletic vs Betis has been very good

"Pardew wasn't wrong for keeping Cabaye on. He's one of 3 players in our side who is a reliable finisher. From any distance and set pieces. You know a match-winner." Reply: "Match-winners? Why are we reliant on bloody match-winners? We should have a fluent system where goals and goal-scoring opportunities fall from the sky." He's arguing and angry at another issue totally. While we should be more creative as a side, that doesn't change the fact about keeping on 1 of few match-winners when chasing a game.

Barry's a good PL footballer. It's the top level he struggles with. Seems a good professional.

Tiote is far more one-dimensional than Makelele ever was. Doesn't mean he's a bad player by any means, but there's also no inherent contradiction in what Ronaldo said. He wasn't like. A much better player sure but he did his job and nothing else. Interceptions. Tackles. Recycle possession, stay in position.

the f***? you tell me i've got problems and issues, when i've said nothing of a personal nature to you whatsoever in the entire time on the forum, then tell me i should relax? yeah righto pal Please. Just relax.

He's not a bad passer at all. He can be sloppy at times but he makes the most passes and his pass completion stats are pretty high (high 80's, low 90's). He had a few nice interchanges with Anita. And has been mentioned, he can put a decent cross-in. The shooting on the right foot is an issue. The left? it's a beauty.

Even i've lost faith in Hughton with this signing tbh.

Straight swap with Cisse please.

Not a #10. Should try a flat 3 for once.

Relax mate.

Really don't like Santon's style of play. very passive. I feel like Colo is calming but Santon just seems lazy.

At least they're doing something right. This is hilarious and gutting at the same time.

I don't get this. He's a pretty regular starter. He seems to be behind Tiote and Cabaye but it's not like james fucking Perch is still getting games ahead of him. I think Pardew rates him highly.. just not as much as Cabaye/Tiote who he loves.

how about we come up with an attacking gameplan that doesn't rely on a single player twatting one in from 25 yards, instead have people like big vurn controlling possession with considered passing and probing until they can actually create a f***ing goal can you imagine that? the fevered dreams we weave says everything about pardew that he took anita off on sunday, sums him up perfectly tbh You seem to have other problems and issues.

So you sub the player who is controlling the game for you instead? Also Cabaye rarely creates good chances in games Anita was class yesterday - but I'm sure he could understand being subbed as we played with two defensive midfielders and were chasing a goal. Cabaye is more of a threat. You could argue that tiote should have been subbed instead...he had a yellow and was very tired the last 10-15 min. This basically. If we have a chance - Cabaye is one of the top 3 players you want to strike it in our team. He stays. Or at the very least you can understand why he stays. So it's out of Anita and Tiote both playing well. One would be hard done by but imo it's the right decision.

Aston Villa are shockingly bad. Again.

Not just pace but finishing and movement too.... he's by far the best goalscorer at the club, the only one who will genuine pace which puts defenders on the backfoot and looks to stretch teams. Maybe one day people will respect him instead of the tiresome "he should be a sprinter hur dur derp." He's plenty respected. By 90% of fans. Direct, scores and offers his team something else. Even the commentator was acting like he was being sorely missed already.

"Patience pays off". It's been 33 minutes.. 8 of which no football has been played. 2-0 now. Fuck Aston Villa are terrible.

If we don't sign another forward this January I agree we should give him another chance in the second half of the season, because I would still rather play him than Shola. That said, he was an integral part of last season's failure, not (just) a victim of it. It could be argued we didn't play to his strengths (not sure which ones really, but there you go), but the fact we were treathened by relegation for much of the season was as much to do with not having a striker putting the ball in the net (especially second half of the season after Ba left) as anything else tbh. For him to refind his early form, it's not just a matter of Pardew giving him that chance, but also him taking whatever chances come his way and proving that he's on the way back, making himself undroppable. From what we've seen so far this season you have to wonder if he's even interested. If we're going to crucify him for last season, can we at least have the linesmen that ruled off something like 7 or 8 perfectly good goals incorrectly, crucified up there with him too? They stand his confidence doesn't collapse and we don't have the Cisse we have now IMO By 7 or 8 you must mean one or two? And what about the offside goals that were allowed.

You don't sub your match winners, main creator and main set piece taker (indirect and direct) when chasing a goal man.

Wasn't a horror tackle at all.

Limited player but he has his value, especially on the counter. He and Gouff should be vying for one spot tbh. Most likely Gouff as he's more likely to score

To attempt to win headers and the like. He's the new Shola when there's no Shola.

The science of being lazy/not caring about position/defending.

The danger was clear but he continued to jog, it was only when the ball was finally played did he decide to sprint. I saw a similar situation where Steven Gerrard makes sure he gets back. I never see that determination from Santon. He strikes me as a very laid back person and player. No urgency in the way he plays. If he was a wide midfielder that would be okay. But he's a fullback. Put in a strong challenge and run to save a goal from time to time ffs.