buzza

Sammy did well last night I thought, got down to the byline quite a bit and coupled well with Santon, I's go for: ---------------------Krul--------------------- Simpson-----Willo----Saylor-------Santon -------------Tiote-----Anita------------- Marveaux--------Jonas-----------Sammy ------------------Ba--------------------- Or you could put jonas out wide on either side and move Marveaux into a nº10 role...

He needs time... Just take Santon as an example to follow... Crap first season, culminating in some MOM performances, last night being one of them...

Jeesus H Cjhrist! I can't believe the kneejerk reactions on here!! Ronaldo and company, I really don't think you can remember how Allardice set up his teams and played football...The epitomy of fcuking negativity Honestly, can't digest what the hell you lot are on about... This forum has completely lost the plot I thought the team he put out last night was quite positive and he was forced into some more defensive changes by the injuries. That was pretty crap defending for their goal, he ran straight through us so easily. The youngsters and our lack of a squad was what outdid us last night. If you all want to rant at someone, have a friggin' go at Fashley ffs! He was the one who decided we didn't need to invest in a central defender, right back and a decent thrid choice striker.... Yes, we are playing poor football at the moment but the players aren't devoid of blame! It's them on the pitch and it's them who should be running their arses off trying to make space and to receive a pass, it's also them who's first friggin' touches are pinging off themselves and into the clutches of the opposition!! For fcuks sake...get a grip!

Didn't think the line up was that bad! sammy shone...

Balance is the key word here... Pardew needs to balance both defensive work and formation rigidity with movement and ball retention. If he is dedicating three quarters of training time to defending and stopping other teams then it is not rocket science to figure out why we cannot string more than three passes together and why we are so profligate in the opposition's half. He needs to find the combination of both pretty quickly or he will see fans opinion swinging against him.

train0021 He's practising a bit of Morris Dancing, alternative way to integrate the newbies!!

Thing is, that was tactically astute. It wasn't just a hopeful ball floated into the back post Yo-Willo style. They picked out Alba as the weakest link in a small team aerially. Barca zonal mark at corners so they knew where Alba would line up. Put in a great ball, then they had the big powerhouse house have a massive run-up on Alba. Nee chance, bang, goal. Pefect tactics - UTILISING YOUR STRENGTHS (height and strength) AND PENALISING OPPONENTS WEAKNESSES. Something we don't do. Lennon had an attacking plan against Barca. Corner/set-pieces and rapid, quick, counter attacks. Villanova - "The same thing happened at the Camp Nou. They played defensively and they waited to make fast counter attacks. They are very comfortable on corners and set pieces, and that's how they scored their two goals." As you say, playing to your strengths. I think Pardew needs to start asking the question how do we beat them, not how to we stop them beating us. Shudders as Sam Allerdice deja vu sets on

Due to the injuries I would go with a 4231, pack the midfield and all out attack with: ----------------------krul---------------------- Simpson----Willo -----Saylor-----Santon ---------Bigi----------Tiote----------- Obertong------HBA------------Fergie --------------------BA----------------- I have included Fergie and Obertong for their defensive nous also...

I feel a bit for Pardew as he's getting loads of stick on here (myself included at times). I don't think he would be asking the players to constantly wallop the ball up to the forwards. Whether it's a 442 or a 433, it's the fact that as soon as a bit of pressure is put on our defence when we are in possesion we buckle and resort to the long ball. This is most probably due to the fact our midfielders weren’t giving them passing options becuase the movement is virtually non-existant and too rigid. The defence can really only bring the ball out fluidly on the left hand side when Colo and Santon are in the the back line, any attempts on the other side are flawed due to considerable lack of technique. I reckon if we signed a right back, a la Debuchy, we would improve drastically...

I am the eternal optimist, every game I tune in to the internet and think "we are going to muller this lot" playing some excellent one touch fluid football with a few tricks thrown in by HBA. Result: If I loved frustration, angst, impotence and anger I reckon I couldn't possibly squeeze any more enjoyment out of the games

The (excellent) post above by Chris R points out that we should be playing a 433 instead of a 451. I would say that we should be playing a 4-2-3-1 with the two full backs always pushing up into midfield to give some more options and to push the space on their counters, apply the same logic about the "wide" players in the three upfront and we are cooking!!! The comment about playing a 442 with two great headers of the ball and inverting our wingers, which leaves time for their defence to regroup while they put ball on good foot, was spot on! Lack of investment doesn't come into it... Please change thread to "Playing to our strengths" or "Square pegs in Round Holes"

What a sh*t game between two thoroughly sh*t sides. The game has left me totally apathetic as I realize that unless something "radical" is done (433 with one striker), we are going to struggle like this for the rest of the season. I know, fickle as funk, had we won we would all be crowing about how we can shut out teams whilst playing badly etc...etc.. NO! We have the tools to outplay teams and we should be more offensive!!! What is going on? To be fair, the only reason West Ham won it was because of an off target shot, they were as bad as we were... Diame was the stand out performer today, he apsolutely shat on our midfield every time he had possession, was very positive with it aswell... Wouldn't be a bad buy eh? As an aside, I really feel sorry for these two players: Ben arfa, he literally has to take on the whole opposing team to move us forward and isn't helped in the slightest by his team mates due to lack of movement of any sort or options open to him... We should be making the most of this kid but we are restraining him and putting him in a position where he can't inflict damage (winger 442). Cabaye, he is having to do everything without any help from the formation, it is obvious that when he plays further forward he can pull strings majestically, it's like Pards has him playing with shackles on.

Wouldn't mind seeing this tomorrow: --------------Krul-------------------- Simpson----Saylor----Willo----Santon -----Cabaye----Anita-----Jonas HBA----------Ba------------Sammy

Their play against everton and us was pretty decent to be honest. They will be in the top half I would have thought. They only have Suarez up front on his own, I think that is half the reason their possession play doesn't quite develop as well as they wish...

Any wins: Nowt to do with Pardew, just individual brilliance. Not at all. Are you not at all concerned by our inability to retain possession? And do you think Pardew is currently getting the best out of what he has got at his disposal? Possession is undoubtably a concern. As for what Pardew has at his disposal; I'd say we're a top half side with a handful of top players who massively overachieved last season. I personally feel we over rate some of our players such as Cisse, Cabaye and Tiote. A fair finish for this squad would be between 7th-9th. To finish 5th last year was incredible and considering we didn't really push on in the summer with transfers, i never really thought we'd match it this year. I reckon we'll finish 8th, do fairly well in the EL and I think that will represent a pretty good season. The bar has been raised very high. Very good post! I agree with this a lot, have a look at what players we have that could make a top four team and we should get a dose of reality: Krul Colo Cabaye Then we have top eight players: Tiote HBA Cisse BA Santon Jonas Saylor We deffo need to get some reality into our predictions. Q: Who's saying we can/should be able to get into the top four with this squad? A: See thread title. Well aware of the thread title but want to make the point that Pards can only make a meal with the ingredients at his disposal and people are wanting "haute cuisine" performances from the team week in week out... Bollocks man. If Swansea can knock the ball around are we that incapable? No one's asking for nutmegs and overhead kicks, just some basic passing and ball retention that most half decent sides can manage. Of course we are capable! I honestly don't think it's worth doing if you don't have the players who are constantly moving and have good technique as well as vision. You can see what Liverpool want to do now and the players they play in midfield, all of which like the ball and can pass and move well. Today was a good example. I don't think we have as many "ball players" as people think we have to play this type of tikki takka style, maybes Cabaye, colo, HBA and Jonas could be ones apt for this...

Any wins: Nowt to do with Pardew, just individual brilliance. Not at all. Are you not at all concerned by our inability to retain possession? And do you think Pardew is currently getting the best out of what he has got at his disposal? Possession is undoubtably a concern. As for what Pardew has at his disposal; I'd say we're a top half side with a handful of top players who massively overachieved last season. I personally feel we over rate some of our players such as Cisse, Cabaye and Tiote. A fair finish for this squad would be between 7th-9th. To finish 5th last year was incredible and considering we didn't really push on in the summer with transfers, i never really thought we'd match it this year. I reckon we'll finish 8th, do fairly well in the EL and I think that will represent a pretty good season. The bar has been raised very high. Very good post! I agree with this a lot, have a look at what players we have that could make a top four team and we should get a dose of reality: Krul Colo Cabaye Then we have top eight players: Tiote HBA Cisse BA Santon Jonas Saylor We deffo need to get some reality into our predictions. Q: Who's saying we can/should be able to get into the top four with this squad? A: See thread title. Well aware of the thread title but want to make the point that Pards can only make a meal with the ingredients at his disposal and people are wanting "haute cuisine" performances from the team week in week out...

The person who passed it back to him when there were three players surrounding him was more to blame if you ask me!!! His passing was pretty average today but we can't fualt his graft and dedication to the team. If Anita gets a bit of consistency to his game it is possible we could see a midfield three of tiote cabaye and anita at some point in the future. He isn't reaching the levels produced over a year ago but he is still an important cog in the machine...

Any wins: Nowt to do with Pardew, just individual brilliance. Not at all. Are you not at all concerned by our inability to retain possession? And do you think Pardew is currently getting the best out of what he has got at his disposal? Possession is undoubtably a concern. As for what Pardew has at his disposal; I'd say we're a top half side with a handful of top players who massively overachieved last season. I personally feel we over rate some of our players such as Cisse, Cabaye and Tiote. A fair finish for this squad would be between 7th-9th. To finish 5th last year was incredible and considering we didn't really push on in the summer with transfers, i never really thought we'd match it this year. I reckon we'll finish 8th, do fairly well in the EL and I think that will represent a pretty good season. The bar has been raised very high. Very good post! I agree with this a lot, have a look at what players we have that could make a top four team and we should get a dose of reality: Krul Colo Cabaye Then we have top eight players: Tiote HBA Cisse BA Santon Jonas Saylor We deffo need to get some reality into our predictions.

The main complaint on here is that he plays 442 when we all think he should play 433... We can't complain about his team selection today? Everybody moans about simpson and he left him out, played a 433ish format... I wonder if he reads this forum?

Thought he had a really good second half, provided a lot of the danger down the left wing...

I thought it looked pretty intentional, at least on a grainly stream. He was miles late though...

las twenty minutes of game, mentally and physically tired, typical overzealous tackle gone wrong... Another ref might have given a yellow but we can't complain about the red, his studs were up and he was above ankle when he went in... Worried about missing him for three games though.

In the first half we were certainly comfortable, don't know about controlling becuase our possession stats don't give that impression. Second half it was obvious we were playing defensively and with possession counter attacking football, didn't think his game plan was all that bad tbf just caught out once with a long ball

Great goal took the 3 pounts from us. I honestly didn't think they looked like scoring unless Suarez pulled something out of the hat...which he did! Thought Anita played well, cabaye was a monster as per usual and Saylor put in a great shift. Still not convinced by both Ba and cisse playing together...

The front lads Sahin, Sterling and suso are all very good technically gifted players bit all lack experience and hopefully if we come out of the blocks with more intensity we can affect their confidence and play. Suarez and gerrard are the game breakers. Their defence looks pretty vulnerable down the wings, I would have HBA and sammy today with Ciisse or Ba up frpnt on their own, neither agger or skrotel are great at bringing the ball out so we wouldn't give them much advantage with a 433