The College Dropout

If Holloway can stop it from being embarrassing he may keep his job.

With the top scorer crocked and their stay winger sold, Palace aren't any better now then when they where in the Championship and it shows.

Debuchy's main problem is going walkabout and being too far up the pitch and not having the recovery pace t come back. Letting someone cross the ball when you're a foot behind them isn't a stat but it's a problem. Those stats are based on absolute values. Debuchy has been picked out as a weak link and has had to do more defending than Simpson generally did. He's also more likely to dive in. Which is great when it goes right and he wins the ball but he also often gives away dangerous freekicks. I was very impressed with Debuchy on Saturday. Looked a real defender. But in the 5 or so games i've seen this season he's been average to terrible on most occasions. His attacking is a large part of why he was brought in surely? Like Santon. Both are keen to get forward and apply some additional pressure to opponents. In a 433, that's a must. The let down has been in terms of all the players understanding the system and their decision making to implement it, both the wing backs deciding to make those advances and the midfielders/forwards chasing back to help cover. What was annoying on Saturday was Ben Arfa had been more central and Gouffran had worked his arse off providing cover for Debuchy, we switched that round moments before Liverpool scored their second, easily passing it around Debuchy down our right while Ben Arfa was a spectator. Simpson got forward a lot too. He was just crap when he received the ball. Santon's JOGS back into position and doesn't have being goal side as a priority. Debuchy sometimes looks too slow to get back. The midfielders could help more but the solidity of teh FB position is down to the FB. You don't see Ramires or whoever constantly covering for Ashley Cole. The way Santon plays at times would require someone else sitting at LB a lot of the time. Tbh Gouffran needed a bit of a breather and I like the idea of rotating the 3. However, HBA simply has to do more.

Same thing with athletics. Most sprinter peak around 60m-70m and slow down. Although it looks like Bolt is running faster and faster as the pack disappears, he's actually just slowing down much slower.

Dunno, that Kasami one is outrageous technique. To chest it perfectly whilst on the run then keep your body over it isn't something most players could do imo. Aye that was absolutely world class and much more than a wonder strike. He's runing at full tilt

The issue is teams have highlighted teh Debuchy/HBA combo as a defensive weakness. Both go walkies. Debuchy in particular just needs to concentrate on defending for awhile and being solid. So I understand why Gouff plays there. I would also like to see Gouff through the middle. He deserves a go.

One of L'pool/Spurs will definitely choke. But at teh same time, they could both perhaps challenge. L'pool look ordinary outside their strike force. The French lads are adapting and the others aren't that good. But that strike force can take them a long way. Spurs have the opposite issue. They look strong throughout the side and on the bench but i'm not sure about their strike force.

The added strength/weight/core strength would have helped him feel more confident.

Debuchy's main problem is going walkabout and being too far up the pitch and not having the recovery pace t come back. Letting someone cross the ball when you're a foot behind them isn't a stat but it's a problem. Those stats are based on absolute values. Debuchy has been picked out as a weak link and has had to do more defending than Simpson generally did. He's also more likely to dive in. Which is great when it goes right and he wins the ball but he also often gives away dangerous freekicks. I was very impressed with Debuchy on Saturday. Looked a real defender. But in the 5 or so games i've seen this season he's been average to terrible on most occasions.

For real investment, a Stadium name change would be okay with me. But not changing colours or the name. We wear black and white stripes and are Newcastle United. Anything else I would be okay with if it's done with class and is part of investment.

Yeah i know what you mean, can't totally blame the red card for this as it was seemingly the case prior to the red as well however once Mbiwa did go, it was always going to be a case of chasing shadows for Ben Arfa that moment onwards and just hope to counter well, which in fairness, we did very well at. I think the biggest chance went begging when Tiote never had the vision to wait about a second longer for Ben Arfa on the overlap to slide him in, he opted to have a strike and scuffed it. Obviously Remy had two brilliant breaks but great last ditch tackles have to be applauded. Think Tiote just got excited tbh.

Agreed. Pick the right times. Being in position is useful.

I do think its best he try and play centrally from time to time. If he always plays RW then teams can prepare around attacking that side when they have the ball. Playing Gouff there on occasion makes teams have to think if another option. For a number of games teams have looked at him and Debuchu as weak links Debuchy had a fine game yesterday too.

He won the FK for the second goal with some nice hold up play. Haven't seen Cisse do that in donkeys.

There's loads of legacy L'pool fans. There will be loads of legacy Man Utd. fans. There's even legacy Newcastle fans from the Keegan/SBR era.

A lot of you sound bitter as hell.

Think he can get 10-12 goals. ANything less than 8 and I would be disappointed.

HBA with the mis-control.

What? Of course you can. What you don't do is make a challenge from behind/pull him back. Tiote takes blame for the chance and clear-cut opportunity. MYM takes blame for getting himself sent off, getting a suspension and giving away a clear cut goalscoring opportunity anyway.

Top lad.

Thought he was poor. But better than Cisse.

Been a massive critic but he was superb. Was the first to bump this page. Keep it up.

If he can continue to play generally like this he'll be awesome. Noticed he actually sat today. Did well mostly.

Tiote was on the floor or something.

Fantastic today.