buzza

The only players who are performing consistently for Pardew at the moment, and that doesn't mean they are playing at their best (they need others and a system to help them reach this), are Colo, Ba and Ben Arfa. I don't think Pards' training sessions are the reason for this; Colo is our captain, Ba and Ben Arfa have been Mollycoddled for a while now and all get great plaudits from their manager...Roll on confidence levels! The rest of our team are playing in fits and starts, these boys are saving our bacon at the moment. Why is this? It can only be confidence when you get out on the field, I think we lack a reason to be there, we don't know whether to go all out, Attack or defend? possession or direct? knock it about and draw the oppostion forward and counter attack or just bung it up long ball all day. We lack a real system and a characteristic of play. Keegan had his "We will outscore the opposition", we knew we were going all guns no matter what... Dalgleish played a team of old mates who weren't up to it and our games were non descript without format whatsoever... Bobby played some very well organised 442 or 4411 which only fell apart when his team got too big for their boots. Everybody knew what was expected then... Pardew has great soundbites but the team hasn't got their own style yet, We need this so much. A team is a team and I don't think the 442 we play when all are fit is the answer, it just doesn't work for us. We all know the names on the sheet but the team just doesn't perform... What's the answer?

Thought he did alright...

Agree completely, seems like we have no idea of which system to play and which players suit them better. It is great that we are playing shint and will hopefully start playing well soon at some point and start tearing teams apart...Have to be optimistic!

Sameobi for Fergie if you like....

4-1-4-1 for me: ----------------Krul--------------- Simpson---Saylor---Colo---Santon ----------------Bigi----------------- HBA----Cabaye-----Jonas---Fergie ----------------Cisse (if ba out)----

It's worrying that we can't seem to get into any rythym and keep it going for a while. We are relying on flashes of brilliance or the consistence of our main striker. We really do not know what our best side is or our best formation, too many changes for me at the moment. I think it's clear that shola can only play as a target man, simpson can only defend (to a certain level) and Perch is not up to holding the midfield together when we play 442. Nice to win when you're playing shi*t though! Liverpool away must be a 451 or 433. We can probably do this lot the way they are playing, if we keep Suarez quiet they look pretty ordinary.

ORGASMIC QUALITY

would think about bigi or anita on for perch, he's been clumsy first half, don't want to be playing with ten again...

Aye, shola on the wing isn't very inspiring, mind he has won his share of the long punts. Yep, obertan or fergie on for me, both of them will track back a bt more aswell...

They need to sort out the offside trap, been caught a couple of times already... Ben arfa lookin' magic!

Having a look at the table, it would be better if Liverscum won or drew today to keep everton in check, also spurs losing would help. If we win we can only go up to tenth but their is a big group with little points difference up to fourth place. Still wide open if we win today!! Coomee onnn!

Jacob will play according to Clarke's match interview, he has been training since thursday. Jerome Thomas is also in contention. We really should beat WBA at home though, with the defence at full strength I am confident we will nbe heard to get past, hope Pards picks the right midfield and formation so that we take the game to them. Cisse to score a stunner!

I like the above formation, but I'd have Jonas in the middle instead of Bigi, gives us a little bit more "nous" in the middle whilst under pressure. Don't mind the front three but would think obertan will have a part to play at some point given the performances in Europe...

Counter attacking fast football upfront with a solid base behind them: --------------------Krul------------------ Simpson-----Saylor-----Colo----Santon ----Cabaye----Perch----Jonas----- HBA-------------Ba-------------*Fergie or Oberton*

Jeesuz, he's only 23, looks about ten years older! Finally starting to get to grips with taking on the final defender!!!

Tiote needs to stop doing those twirls in the middle, he's getting caught out too often ! Anyone remember Scotty Parker doing much the same??? Agree with everyone on the 433 stuff, we aren't dominating midfield enough to play only two in the middle. Think Obertan is getting better and is finally taking on the last defender, really liked the look of him last night, dropping back to defend aswell... I would even go as far to say I would prefer him or Sammy in a 433 formation with ba upfront, we could play some awesome counter attacking football with Ba spearheading the attack, solidity behind them through chieck and jonas with Cabaye setting the rythym (dribbles)...

Is that not Bigi? Legs a little bit scrawny to be Tiote surely?

Thoughts about the game were: Crapp refereeing Sunderland were really lucky Tiote got sent off We are going to tonk someone soon, players seem to be returning to form, just that "team" isn't quite clicking. Colo makes a huge difference to us. P.S. Any chance of making a bid for that Rose lad? He had an awesome game for them!!

I reckon we should play 433, stock the middle with Tiote Cabay and Jonas and then give the front three a bit of freedom whilxt attacking and getting the full backs to bomb on... When defending all men to the pumps leaving Cisse up front alone.

I really hope he scores a blinder against the mackems, elevation to "Legend" instantly...

Watching the game yesterday, one thing stuck out, our midfielders coming so deep to receive the ball, we actually start our ttacks from thirty yards out from our own goal. If we don't have Colo to bring the ball further up the field it means that we wait on midfielkders to drop and our "atacking" players are easily crowded out and the ball is lost quickly. Chieck was well below par in passing and getting caught with the ball yesterday, this just added to our problems. The movement aswell was something we need to look at, Manu's movement off the ball was unbeleivable in the first twenty or so, even if they hadn't of got those soft goals they 99% would have scored from free play. They took their foot off the gas after that and allowed us to get into the game somewhat. I really do think we need to play a five man midefield or 433 or whatever as 442 is becoming hard to swallow, we aren't good enough to play this against decent teams, we were dominated yesterday in the midfield through their movement, crisp passing and the fact that Rooney and Wellbeck played much deeper helped them a lot, VP (Tw*T) was the lone front runner a lot of the time. With that extra man in there we can make it more difficult for opposition and we can play possession football easier. Praying for both Taylor and Colo to be fit for next game, would also revert to santon and simpson as fullbacks, not convinced by fergie as fullback, rather have him on left wing tbh...

Any further news on Colo? Really hoping Pards is playing his "injured" trick again (HBA - Spurs...)

I gave him a five because he was neither good nor bad, did more or less the minimum which was required for his place in the team, nothing more nothing less... He's only played a few games for us so I am sure more will come but he left me apathetic on Thursday.

Hopefully Pards saying Colo is out is another ruse to confuse Taggart???

Anita, Cabaye and Tiote are all far better players. Don't see where he fits in a 4-3-3. Anita hasn't shown enough to be considered above Jonas. In a 433 or if Jonas is in central midfield his workrate and ability to hold the ball up in tight spots and not lose it and his capability to start off attacking play is really underated here. played in the right place he is still a major asset for us, I just don't think he is right for the left winger spot any more...