Beren

Throw out a list of candidates and I'll do a poll reset.

Dunno about transform like, they weren't in the bottom three when they binned Adkins and gave us a real footballing lesson in November (after which we should have made the big decision). They had the most ridiculous opening run of fixtures but since then they've been pretty consistently good. Lovejoy Completely agree, Southampton have played great stuff all season the key differences i have noticed are as follows. 1. Press much better as a team 2. More organised defensively 3. Don't choke away loads of chances every game Seriously i have seen Southampton a lot this season and the amount of chances they were creating under Atkins and throwing away followed by stupid defending led to poor results by comparison. Obviously results have improved but i don't believe performances have been totally transformed. Have to disagree, the way they break NOW is scary. Teams shit it when 5-6 shift up the park as soon as they get posession. Also today Lambert played like a Michu clone. Early signs are that Pochettino is pretty slick. I knew immediately when posting that from my "smart" phone that it'd be jumped upon Transform is strong, obviously - and it's early days yet, but as you guys have said - very promising signs already.

Have to say watching Southampton transform so effortlessly with a new manager is very galling

Personally, wouldn't judge a player's capacity to produce performances week in week out based on this season/Pardew's stewardship. I've seen most of our big guns play consistently well at some point - well enough to know they are capable of doing it for reasonable stretches of time, and that anything in excess of turd football isn't an aberration or unfaithful representation of their true abilities.

Spurs, the anti-Wigan of the CL places

Ashley would only sack Pardew if he threatened his financial investment in the club, I think. Having already thrown money at the issue in January, the next step has to be the manager should his investment remain in jeopardy. The closer we get to relegation without being relegated the better (sadly) - but even that won't be enough to get him to get rid of Pardew in the summer I don't think. Future is glum with the our moron manager.

The idea that Colo is third choice at the club is/was ludicrous.

:lol:

Can't remember as much lobbying for who the (meaningless) award ought to go to as has there has been this year.

I wouldn't back us to beat Reading by 2 or more goals at home, myself

Our defending of corners is atrocious, as Man Utd comprehensively proved for us. Genuinely surprised we haven't conceded more than we have. It's actually just as bad as our attacking of corners IMO. Incredible when you think how good we were against Stoke (for example) last season. Looked so solid.

Haidara already ruled out? Lost track of injuries. Debuchy not back?

If we lose against Fulham, it's even more important to get a result on Thursday to get some confidence back. As was said before this game, rather confident players than "fresh" players. Disagree. Robson did this 11 years back v Kiev, rested quite a few players for the derby game, worked out in our favour. Hughton rested players for our League Cup drubbing vs Arsenal (4-0?), before our 5-1 win against the mackems too.

:anguish: Was that the foul throw? I didnt even see it properly there wasn't a replay. Aye. I know it may seem daft to some to go back to an incident such as that, but to finally have gotten out of our own half by winning a throw-in to take some pressure off we proceed to allow Jonas to take it, he foul throws and then they're 2-1 within a minute of them taking the restart. Leave it sitting there and get Santon on it, then try and retain some possession from it ourselves perhaps? It was so fucking schoolboy I wanted to run head-first into my TV. We're usually excellent at our throw-ins.

The mantra of 2012/13: "The next game will be the turning point"

Erm, this isn't the Lauren Robert thread Ian and it's not 2002....

1-1 or 2-1, fast brand of front-foot champagne football as usual.

Hope we have Tiote back by then. I might do a Yao Cliff Jump if I see Perch in the XI for the second leg.

Might be alone, but I feel sorry for him. He looks so fucking burnt out, and has done for three/four months. Looks a little disinterested when he's in our half. Hope we can claw our way to safety, and he can have a restful summer. Such a talent. If Haidara gets back to fitness, I'd definitely play Santon further up. Hasn't got his head on straight enough atm to be in a back four. The backheel-on-the-post the other day and today are costly mistakes for us which we can't afford going forward until May. At least if he does something daft on the wing, there's still a back four behind him.

:thup:

They're a much better side than us in all fairness. We showed in fits and starts that we could be a better side than them with the same personnel, but we're not. They understand each other, they have discipline and are on the same wavelength. They concede a goal and it galvanises them. We concede a goal and it shatters us. They fall behind, it motivates them. We fall behind, our heads drop. No blame to anyone in particular tonight (not even Santon and Saylor). They pressured us well and deserved the win. They are absolutely laden with cheating cunts, but anyone who expected otherwise was deluding themselves from the off. That wasn't the deciding factor tonight, it was just an added annoyance. One of the linos got my goat, but again that wasn't a deciding factor, they're just a better team than we are - who created oodles of chances. Krul made a bit of a howler at the start, shaking off the rust after being sidelined, but his shot-stopping was immaculate after that. His distribution sucked balls (as per, sadly). Cardozo's penalties were both great tbh, didn't stand a chance. Good to see him encouraging Santon a little bit after the second goal, after initially (rightly) having a go at him. Santon and MYM both had really good moments surrounded by complete brainfarts. Santon's cost us big time. Saylor is a funny one, and I hope this doesn't sound like I want him to fail.. but I'm always expecting that moment, that bull in a china shop moment of madness/stupidity. He was holding one of their player's shirts in the first half, and with these lot, you can't give them an inch. They'll appeal for non-incidents for the full 90 minutes, give them a real incident and they'll cry and sulk to the ref until they get their way. Simpson... he was Simpson. Cabaye was disappointing, not sure if he is still carrying a knock. Had less running in him than usual. I won't discuss Perch because I want to remain vaguely calm. Marv and Jonas were my MOTM (latter probably shading it). Jonas was great going forwards and backwards, transitioning play well and looking like the Jonas from 2 seasons ago. Very pleasing to see (even if sadly it is all for nowt ). Marv did great when we got him on the ball in the right areas. Cisse had a fantastic performance... in a way. His movement was top class, and he highlighted what a massive danger he can be - his all round game was even better than it's been lately, but I can't tiptoe around it - with the chances he was served he should have come away with more than one goal. "Unlucky" isn't what I'd call hitting the post when put through. He tried an overly-nonchalant finish, and his shooting/finishing has not been even close to the form to justify him being that way. I remember Vorm saying Cisse's finish was lucky after his second away at the Liberty last season. Immediately sprang to my mind. Pardew picked the right team for my money. His bench I disagree with, but the XI on the pitch came out motivated and hungry. His press stuff has been nauseating, and I've managed to avoid most of it until today, but I can't argue with what he did today really unless I'm being a right biased bastard with an agenda Jesus changed the game for Benfica when he got them to press, and Pardew didn't have an answer though. His weakest attribute is maybe his in-game analysis. Brian McDermott bested him earlier this season. With Reading. We still look horrific defending set plays, and we're always quite close to pull-down-our-pants-and-bend-over-seductively capitulation. Our attacking set plays thankfully weren't on show today, and our defending still looks a chaotic mess, rather than a structured plan. These are all long-term issues which all contributed, but were not determinative, in today's defeat/why Benfica are the better team and will finish us off next week. Expect a more timid Newcastle next week. Pressure of playing at home/seeking goals will not suit us at all. They will counter us destructively would be my wager Won't see Europe again in ages, which is fucking horrific as a prospect (I get hooked quickly ). We need to resign ourselves to scrapping with a different rabble from a different SoL... Need a bit of luck with injuries for the rest of the season, but think tonight definitely marks the end of the fun part of our season. 2012-13 RIP

More injuries

Well played Marv

Heads have dropped.