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Krul Simpson Perch Kadar Santon Ben Arfa Cabaye Guthrie Jonas Best/Ameobi Ba Well we just need to go all out attack for this one in my opinion. Sitting back and soaking up pressure with Perch at CB does not appeal at all. Obertan is too frustrating for me, can't pick out a simple pass alot of the time. Ben arfa needs more space to operate in get him out wide. Sammy to come on at some point. Perch will unfortunately almost certainly have to play.Obertan and Raylor for some reason seem undroppable to pardew.. Kadar unfortunately may not play, same with Santon and Ben arfa. Worried that with the injuries we now have we may struggle to get back to winning ways. Pardew may compound that by continuing with his love of Obertan and Raylor when we have better alternatives.

V chelski hmmm either this Krul Simpson Taylor Colo Santon Sammy/Obertan Cabaye Tiote?/Guthrie Ben Arfa Best Ba or this Krul Simpson Taylor Colo Santon Obertan Cabaye Tiote?/Guthrie Sammy Ben Arfa Ba Some tough calls to make imo. Santon has to start now at LB surely?..... Ben Arfa is a better player than Best. They both work hard. Best has been a better team player, holds the ball up better and brings others into play more. Long term i still Ben Arfa has to be the better option he's clearly hugely talented. Not 100% decided on Obertan still yet. A very odd player, clearly has alot going for him (i.e. Pace, skill) but just lacks vision and that bit of intelligence at times which as others have mentioned may not be able to drummed into him. Would be very interesting if Pardew did play Ben arfa on the wing. Really can't wait to see this game. If we win then we really have to be considered serious challengers for a CL place.

Pretty much agree with all of this. I'd give Santon his debut too. Edgar did pretty well at old Trafford a few years back. We need to be able to attack more down our left flank. Will he go for Sammy over Obertan? Bench will be interesting too. Hope Simpson (the man u fan) has a good game and doesn't give away any penalties.

Ok they are brilliant at the moment. Let's not flap it though eh and stick to our guns. We are not going to go there and just roll over. This is the ultimate test for us and we are in a good flow now. QPR really gave them a very very good game with lesser players than we have. We should adopt the same attitude. Go out and give our best shot. If we get beat, then so what, at least we gave it our best shot. Depends on injuries of course but i'd go same again if everyone's fit. We will need outlets to provide relief from their attacks Ben arfa in for Marveaux if he's injured. We've looked better with two up top and the Best Ba combo is working. Krul Simpson Taylor Colo Raylor Marveaux Cabaye Tiote Jonas Best Ba Subs: Elliott, Santon, Guthrie, Gosling, Sammy, Vuckik, Ben Arfa. It will probably end up more of a: Krul Simpson Taylor Colo Raylor Cabaye Tiote Jonas Benarfa/Marveaux Ba Best I am really wanting to see Santon given a run of games to see what he can bring to our team. A bit of a big ask to just lob him into this one not match sharp and tell him to mark Silva out the game, talk about baptisim of fire. He may free up Jonas from having to defend quite so much (in other games bar City) as well as adding a new dimension to our team. Raylor is like a lucky mascot for us at the moment though, he gives us everything and has scored two absolute screamers winning goals and been playing really well. Defensively suspect though and i keep remembering the way SWP tore him to shreds at QPR and thinking Silva's going to do worse. Before the last two games i'd have brought Santon in for Simpson but Simpson to give him credit has played really well the last two games. Guthrie in if Cabaye or tiote are injured and Mehdi on the bench. If Ben arfa starts instead of the injured Marveaux and plays poorly bring Wor Sammy on.

With Obertan injured I'd go: Krul Simpson Taylor Colo Raylor Marveaux Cabaye Tiote? Jonas Best Ba Subs: Elliott, Kadar, Santon, Guthrie, Gosling, Sammy, Ben Arfa. Tough to decide whether to play Marveaux or Ben Arfa on the right. Marveaux looked good against Blackburn i thought. Pardew doesn't see Ben arfa as a winger. I'd be pissed off if he decides to play Guthrie or Gosling there. Guthrie is a decent central midfield player but i remember Hughton kept trying him out wide and it was terrible. There's a real danger this could be a frustrating game, usually is with Everton looking to shut up shop. However i'll go 2-0 win.

think it should it should be given to someone at the end of the season, make them earn it (it'll be him) Agreed if he carries on being this good we have to offer it to him really. Also extend that three year contract he signed. He really was top draw last night.

Well done Alan you are a credit to our club. Top marks last night! You have won us over in spectacular fashion.

Agree with the above maybe 7 for Obertan. Pardew - 9 starting to look the real deal. We played very well as a team and alot of that is down to Pardew. Haven't been Simpsons or Obertans biggest fan of late but credit where credit is due simpson put in a great shift last night and Obertan was better too, a few frustrating momemts from him again but great cross for the opener and used that incredible speed of his a little more effectively. Hope they keep it up. Same side v Everton depending on tiote fitness. Guthrie looking a very useful squad member to fill in for Tiote. We can beat Everton at home, then hopefull of 3 points from the three games after that (manu man c chelski), 4 would be great, anything against the two Manchesters are bonus points really. Very hopeful of something from Chelski at home in particular as they are looking a little disjointed at the moment whilst we are on top form and we have a good record against them of late.

I'm with you there. Me too. Its about time we won something and this is winnable in my opinion. In light of current injuries maybe go with: Krul Santon Taylor?/Kadar Colo Raylor Marveaux Guthrie Mehdi Jonas Ben Arfa Ba Subs: Elliott, Kadar/Perch, Ferguson, Gosling, Obertan, Sammy, Best. Bring Sammy on for Jonas or Ben Arfa at some point and Best on for Ba (Who detroyed Blackburn a few weeks ago) once. Would also be nice to see Ferguson given a run out too. Raylor tends to do well in the cups though and i fancy him to score again tonight. I'm hoping tonight will be the Ben Arfa show. That Samba is a huge threat from set plays and if we have no s. Taylor, No ameobi and no Ba i'm not sure who is going to mark him. Colo is great on the deck but not so much in the air against the bigger forwards & defenders. We really need more CB's in Jan.

It does chill me to the bone to think of Perch at Center back for us. Does anyone know what Pardew's got against Kadar?...Thought he looked fairly promising as at least an all round utility type player, although not really seen enough of him. Is he not knocking on his door enough or something? We have a good chance of winning this cup, we are not going to go down. So whilst last season are priority was just to stay up we can afford to really go for the cups this year. Birmingham won it last year ffs

Agreed. Why bother even reading a paper thats just full of over sensationalized and bullshit stories.

Krul Santon Coloccini Kadar Ferguson Marveaux Tiote Mehdi Jonas Ben Arfa Ba Subs: Harper, Taylor?/Perch, Raylor, Cabaye?/Gosling/Guthrie, Obertan, Sammy, Best. Would seem the perfect match to start Santon, Marveaux and Ben Arfa. Would like to see Sammy come on at some point so we can rest Jonas or possibly Ben Arfa. Best to come on for Ba at some point too. Gosling or Guthrie to come on for Tiote if winning comfortably. Because Stoke is on Monday night we have 5 days to recover. Think we will win but think it will be a tough match. If the likes of Smith, Perch and Lovenkrands play we may even be doomed from the start. We are alot weaker in the air now Taylor and Shola are out. We may need Ba to contest with Samba & co from Set pieces. Need Taylor back for Stoke, its a shame Williamson is out for this one too. We desperately need more Center backs in Jan. Williamson and Colo got red carded V bolton in one game last season if i remember rightly. If something similar/injuries were to happen to Colo and Taylor we'd be completely screwed at this moment in time. Samba and Junior Hoilett would be awesome additions for us although Blackburn would have to be mental to sell before the end of season.

He's good in sparks and flashes, but piss poor at times too. He's had a very good little run in the team. Its time to give Marveaux who looks a far better player that same oppourtunity now. As well as Marveaux, I would also like to see more of Ben Arfa, Santon, Mehdi, sammy, Ferguson, Kadar, Tavernier and perhaps Gosling too.

Good player, but we don't really need him. We need a top fullback and a top goalscoring striker and a top CB. He seems to have a real attitude problem, carries too much bagage and could seriously disrupt our currently fantastic team spirit. I'd be surprised if we made a move for him.

Blackburn must know their in a relegation dogfight this year so they should save their best players for Premiership games. however we still can't underestimate them and should set up as if we need to beat their first team. I am thinking along similar lines as the team above. Cabaye looked a little jaded on Sunday after his international games. So i'd probably rest him if needed and bring in the very impressive looking Abeid. Not sure we can afford to rest Tiote as well, but don't ideally really want to risk him. Tough one. If we don't play him and we lose bad decision and if we do play him and he gets injured or sent off then some will say it's a bad decision. Last year the cup wasn't a priority, survival was. This year priority's have changed we should now give this Cup our best shot really, we could win it the way we are playing (Brum won it last year ffs). Fortune favours the brave. I'd play Tiote as the following game V Stoke is on Monday night so he has 5 days to recover. Plus i'd look to haul him off if we are comfortable. See how he is after the Wigan match. If Obertan doesn't play against Wigan he should get game time and i'd like to see Sammy too at some point. Got a bad feeling Elliott may be in front of Harper and what i have seen and heard of him thus far looks..... suspect. I'm thinking start with: -----------------Harper---------------- Santon----Taylor.---Colo----Raylor Marveaux----Tiote----Abeid---Jonas ----------Ben Arfa--------------- --------------------Shola------------- Look to bring on Gosling or Guthrie, Sammy and Ferguson or Obertan. Look to rest asap Tiote and Jonas in particular. Unfortunately i suspect we'll see Lovenkrands at some point. I pray he doesn't play Perch as well.

Agreed he has and probably will be more effective against poorer teams. Thats why we have to get Ben Arfa, Marveaux and Santon up to speed (or at least see more of them) in the next three games before we play Man city Man u and Chelski on the bounce. Can't see Obertan, Best or Simpson doing particularly well in those games and its a bit of a big ask to throw Ben arfa, marveaux and Santon into those games cold. Its not that i think Obertan, Best and Simpson are all terrible, far from it. Best has played well, Obertan is good in flashes and could get alot better. Its just i think Santon Ben Arfa and Marveaux may well improve our team. Add that bit more quality and give us the cutting edge we need in the last 3rd of the pitch against better quality opposition.

I'd be happy enough with that. Have a feeling though it will be unchanged again though to start with. Frustrating, as we've done well but there is certainly still lots of room for improvement. Many of us are clearly very keen to see more of Ben Arfa Marveaux and Santon. Hope Ben arfa doesn't get too frustrated waiting.

Agreed. Love the way he and Jonas runs at the opposition. They will link up very well. We need to get him up to speed in the next three games for when we play the two Manchesters away followed by Chelski at home. I can't see Best and/or Obertan causing these top quality teams too many problems. A fully fit on form and bedded in Ben Arfa could cause any team problems. Especially alongside the likes of Cabaye, Tiote and Jonas. Same goes for Santon at RB. He has got the quality to be a hit. Now is the time to try and bed these two in the team over the next three matches. Would be a bit harsh to just chuck them in not match sharp against the two Manchester teams expecting them to perform miracles. Let's have a better look at Marveaux on the right too in a Premier league game.

He just lacks intellegence at times, that little bit of killer instinct/confidence/bravery/desire/aggression especially in the final third. Has so much natural ability and blistering pace though. In flashes he's really good and other times completely takes the wrong option. More coaching may well bring him on another level. Not sure if some of the things he's lacking can be drummed into him. If he had that little bit more confidence/bravery/killer instinct/desire/aggression he could be an incredible player. Woulden't be gutted if he played V Wigan as long as Ben arfa came in for Best and Santon came in for Simpson. I am really keen on seeing how Marveaux does for us. He looks a real talent who will score goals, create alot also. Against Spurs for all our hard work and possesion we were lacking that bit of quality in the final third until Jonas brilliantly skipped round modric and another spurs player to set up Ba from a few yards out. That really was a great turning point, our confidence soared and they knew we were not going to take this lying down. Not sure what Marveaux is like tracking back as we haven't seen enough of him yet. Obertan is a little hit and miss in that area too though.

Once Ben Arfa is established in our team we'll see more magic from Jonas. Loved seeing them link up in the short time they've had on the pitch together this season. Love seeing quality players like them who aren't afraid to run at the opposition.

Agreed.

We'll be on a high for this one i can see Wigan taking a bit of beating. A convincing 3-1 win. Santon surely has to start instead of Simpson now and one or both of Marveaux or Ben Arfa too instead of Obertan and or Best. Lets really take it to them and force them back. Cabaye to get further forward again with Ben Arfa in this one like Cabaye did at Villa. Same with Jonas and Marveaux. Tiote just to destroy anything they try to put together within his considerable range.

Agree with this pretty much. Jonas and Collocini were excellent again, Jonas's assist for our first was world class and we really lacked that final cutting edge for all our posession until that point. But thought Tiote was our best player. Absolutley imenense again i'd give him an 8.5. If that shot had gone in that friedel tipped over the bar he'd have been a 9.5. They (tiote and Jonas) really are the engine of our midfield and we always seem to have a foothold in a game when they are at their best. For Wigan we need to give others game time. Santon has to come in for Simpson and Marveaux (or Ben Arfa if only two changes) should be an improvement on obertan. Ben arfa is a world class player we need to get him back up to speed. He should be tried instead of Best. Although harsh on Best who has played quite well in all fairness to him.

Unless we have plans to bring in others I'd keep him and offer him a new contract. Think/hope Abeid would keep him off the bench when everyone is fit, but a useful squad member non the less in my opinion. We need two or three decent back up Central midfielders (especially when Tiote goes to the African cup of nations). Abeid from from what i have seen of him thus far looks class. Gosling although promising, hasn't proved himself any better than Guthrie thus far. As has been mentioned Guthrie is also on low wages. Some people formed a really bad opinion when Hughton insisted in playing him out of position out wide where he was awful. When playing in position the middle he's been decent generally. But i agree with Tach's comments. From his point of view he's going to struggle to get in the team with Cabaye, Tiote and Mehdi in front of him and Gosling and others trying to over take him. Woulden't blame him at all for wanting to go some where he has more chance of getting in the team.

Think your right unfortunately. Pardew deserves alot of credit for us being in the position we are in right now. But there are certainly improvements we can make. We need Santon in asap (to deal with Bale ideally). Also both Ben Arfa and Marveaux look to have alot of creativity and goals in them and look far better players than Obertan who looks so far to be decent cover, could improve and may be a good pacey sub to bring on. How ridiculous is it that we actually will start that second team? I mean, we're in a fantastic position in the league, and we have the opportunity to play Ben Arfa, Santon and Marveaux, and the chance of beating Tottenham, which would send a huge message to the rest of the league. But instead we're gonna play f***ing Løvenkrands, and worst case scenario Shola Ameobi. To top that Ryan Taylor will play at the expense of Santon, and Marveaux will look good on the bench once again. It's quite sad really. Well not quite the second team, but yes it is frustrating, we've got ourselves in a very good position, with a lot of hard work, some quality and lets face it some luck at times too. We are starting to make things harder than they need to be. Santon, Ben arfa and Marveaux can inject some more seriously needed quality into our team. I'm not going to judge him too harshly before that team is named. But Lovenkrands and Shola coming in before the likes of Marveaux and Ben Arfa would p*ss me off if we end up losing the game. His choice of subs is sometimes good but sometimes baffling and very frustrating at times i.e. Smith v Fulham and Lovenkrands instead of Ben Arfa or Marveaux. As you say we have a very good oppourtunity now to have a real go at Spurs and possibly beat them. Which would really be a huge win. Lets at least do it with our best availiable players. I am trying to remain optimistic but i can't help fearing the worst. I doubt we will see Santon and i can see Bale causing Simpson huge problems. Santon is our best chance of nulifying Bale's threat. As others have mentioned Raylor V Van der Vart doesn't scare me quite as much as Lennon v Raylor. I'd prefer Ferguson v Lennon. SWP tore Raylor to shreds at QPR. We can win this game in the middle of the park. Cabaye and Tiote are top quality and can compete with very best and i fancy them to get the better of Sandro and Parker although it should be interesting. Obertan whilst he hasn't been terrible and has shown promise in some area's i.e. running and crossing. Lacks that killer instinct at times. Can't see Obertan scoring very many at all (we need one wide man who can score a few), he's not all that great tracking back at times either and can be very weak in the tackle. Could be a good sub with his pace. Ben arfa and Marveaux are unproven at NUFC this far (because of lack of opourtunities) when it comes to tracking back but they really do have great footballing brains and are very dangerous going forward. I can see either of those scoring or getting an assist and really threatening Spurs. We don't want to be sitting back and inviting spurs on to us. Could really be a thrilling game this one. Just hope Pardew doesn't mess this oppourtunity up by selecting the wrong players.