Theregulars

Wow. I never realized it until now, Simpson is garbage.

There'll be no long ball with that team I hope.

Pardew's selections are always conservative, but with clear motive. If he decides to start Shola there will be a viable reason. Sanity prevailing? Pfffft.

I hate all this stuff about hitting the post and the bar. Yeh, they hit the post and the bar a lot. That means they aren't striking with sufficient accuracy. They're supposedly top players, put the ball in the net. I don't buy that hitting the post and the bar is completely unlucky - yes, I suppose you were a trifle unfortunate in how close you were to a goal, but considering your highly-paid ability, you should probably sort that out on a regular basis.

I fancy Demba v Skrtel.

Tbf I would have been pretty gutted if he had missed. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't particularly complicated. He did take it well, which is all he could do, and he finished it 100% perfectly in terms of technique, speed, control, accuracy and aiming into the bottom corner.

Such a massive club

really good play and cross from Obertan, well done lad.

What a ball by Raylor.

go home Best.

Best needs a lecture in offside.

well played Obertan last 2 minutes.

Best. Christ.

We're now aiming long balls at Obertan

Best's decision-making is appallingly slow.

another crap ref anarl

It's bizarre. Every time we keep it on the deck they look dumbfounded. Pardew, what's happened to you?

Seriously, trying to out-long ball a relegation-threatened team. Beyond belief.

awful from Obertan

Long ball ffs

A front 6 along the lines of: -----------------Tiote-------------------- -------Cabaye---------Vuckic---------- ---Jonas-----------------------Ben Arfa ------------------Ba---------------------- Or something to this effect would be the far more adventurous. What's the point of going down to Bolton and trying to play them at their own game? I'm bored of hoof and run. Our purple patch was highlighted by good, passing football and ball retention. At some point in this dry spell we have forgotten that that's what we did well. I don't think Pardew can validly argue the team he keeps selecting is doing well, as could do before, and it's starting to grate that we have players on the bench who seem to offer more than those he continues to pick regardless of their continually average performances. Blergh.

Not even John O'Shea could save him. Unappreciative philistines.

Horrible in class today, our teacher is a good friend of his wife. Says she's absolutely devastated, just reiterated, knowing him personally and knowing nothing about football, what a ridiculously lovely bloke he was and how, having met him on numerous occasions (their sons were mates), she never, ever, ever in a million years would have saw this. She started crying and all.

Perfect.

"pretentious? moi?" "Just practicing a lullaby for my lads. By which, of course, I mean my horses. They're most amenable when drifting off"