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£6m ? seems pretty good? No doubt he'll have other better offers on the table come January. Although he does seeem pretty keen coming here from comments he's made. If we can sign a quality striker, a quality Right back, perhaps an up and coming CB and keep our best players i'd be delighted. I can see offers coming in for Krul, S. Taylor, Tiote, Cabaye, Jonas

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.

From a defensive point of view our Full backs have been the weakest point of our team I'd be quite tempted to have a look at Santon Right Back and Fergy LB (maybe in the cup?) especially when we are facing quick smaller right wingers or strikers like SWP, Lennon, Walcot, Routledge, Bellamy etc ect. Young Ferguson could probably deal with their pace better than Raylor. We should have lost against QPR and SWP had a field day V Raylor, absolutely skinned him time after time. The alternative is Santon LB with either Raylor or Simpson RB. Raylor has worked his socks off, been playing out of position and scored a few crackers in all fairness to the lad. Simpson looks good at times and woefull at others. Simpson has got everything in his locker to be a good RB but its his decision making that lets him down the most. In Jan hopefully we'll be back in for Cissokho or similar. Ferguson would make a great understudy. If Cissokho did come in. I'd be tempted to sell Simpson if a good offer came in £4-5m +. He seems to be rated by alot of oposition fans, unless that is he really gets it together between now and January. Young Tavernier looks promising as a RB understudy and we'll keep Raylor as cover so he can't score wonderous free kicks against us. If Raylor keeps scoring and winning us matches he may even justify his place in our team if we are not letting much in at the other end because of him.

Sorry i'll try and change the record. It's clearly something thats occupying my head too much! It just hard talking about some of the shite some of you toss pots talk about. But i'll give it a go: So.... erm did any one see Downton Abbey the other night?

I'd play Jonas right to help our RB (i'd go with Santon to try and nulify Bale). But even if Marveaux starts on the right it is an improvement on Obertan in my opinion, who hasn't been bad (certainly an improvement on Routledge), its just Marveaux and Ben arfa are better players. We ned to unleash our best team on someone. Spurs at home seems a good place to start. I don't like this not making changes till we lose idea. We should play our best availiable team in order to try to win. To take it to extreames if we signed Messi would we not play him for the same reason?.... Of course not that would be bloody stupid as he'd give you the best best chance of winning the game and it's 3 points and a big opourtunity lost. When Rooney returns to fitness Ferguson plays him, he doesn't wait till they lose a game in order to justify it. With all due respect for our unbeaten run thus far Alan needs to grow a pair and make the right choice to try and keep our run going. Not wait till we drop three points. Santon for one of the full backs and Ben arfa for Obertan are complete no brainers really. Dropping Best is a bit tougher as he's been playing well, but Ben Arfa will play better than Best and Marveaux better then Obertan. Ok Marveaux and Ben Arfa aren't Messi and Rooney but they are the nearest players we have to that kind of quality. Krul Santon Taylor Colo Raylor/Ferguson Cabaye Tiote Jonas Marveaux Ben Arfa Ba Subs: Harper, Ferguson, Williamson (if fit) or Kadar, Mehdi, Obertan, Sammy, Best (if Lennon comes on he'll cause Taylor problems like SWP did @ QPR, i think Ferguson should come on) Should be a cracking game. I'd fancy our chances of a good result say 2-1 with the team above but know that it is unlikely pards will change it and that Lovenkrands could come on before Ben arfa or marveaux. In which case a narrow loss or draw at the best.

I really hope your right and that he starts. I'd play Jonas right to help our RB (i'd go with Santon top try and nulify Bale). But even if Marveaux starts on the right it is an improvement on Obertan in my opinion, who hasn't been bad (certainly an improvement on Routledge), its just Marveaux and Ben arfa are better players. We ned to unleash our best team on someone. Spurs at home seems a good place to start. I don't like this not making changes till we lose idea. We should play our best availiable team. To take it to extreames if we signed Messi would we not play him for the same reason?.... Of course not that would be bloody stupid as he'd give you the best best chance of winning the game and it's an oppourtunity lost. When Rooney returns to fitness Ferguson plays him, he doesn't wait till they lose a game in order to justify it. With all due respect for our unbeaten run thus far Alan needs to grow a pair and make the right choice to try and keep our run going. Not wait till we drop three points. Santon for one of the full backs and Ben arfa for Obertan are complete no brainers really. Dropping Best is a bit tougher as he's been playing well, but Ben Arfa will play better than Best and Marveaux better then Obertan. Krul Santon Taylor Colo Raylor/Ferguson (if Lennon looks likely to play i think Ferguson should come on) Cabaye Tiote Jonas Marveaux Ben Arfa Ba Subs: Harper, Ferguson, Williamson (if fit) or Guthrie/Gosling, Mehdi, Obertan, Sammy, Best

To think in that wonderful thing hindsight we could have had a back 4 of: Santon Taylor Colo Enrique with the rest of the team and possibly another Striker we should finish in the top 6 this season and could perhaps give the likes of Spurs a run for their money for fourth place with Arsenal and to a lesser extent Liverpool looking so out of sorts. Krul Santon Taylor Colo Enrique Cabaye Tiote Jonas Marveaux Ben Arfa Ba Subs: Harper, Williamson, Mehdi, Guthrie/Gosling, Obertan, Sammy, Best

Fullbacks are the weakest part of our team so bringing in Santon for one of them for the Spurs Match is a no brainer decision for me. Which one though i'm not 100% sure as we can either put Santon on Bale or let him attack more up the left. Both Ben arfa and Marveaux look better, far more effective players than Obertan. So he should make way for one of them. Obertan could be a decent, very effective Sub with his pace and is at the very least far better cover than Routledge when inevitable injuries etc occur. The hardest decision for me is whether to drop Best or not as he has been impressing and playing well. They seem likely to play Bale on the left and van de vart on the right drifting in. With Bale in particular in mind perhaps we should tweak things and go: Krul Santon Taylor Colo Raylor Cabaye Tiote Jonas Marveaux Ben Arfa Ba Subs: Harper, Williamson?/ Simpson, Mehdi, Guthrie/Gosling, Obertan, Sammy, Best Hopefully Santon and Jonas can nulify Bales threat. Jonas with his tremendous engine can still brake forward and take players on when we have the ball. Hopefully our defence and midfield will pick up Van de Vart i know he's quality but i don't fear him quite so much as i would say Lennon running at Raylor (like SWP did very sucessfully QPR). I quite fancy Tiote and Cabaye to get the better of Sandro and Parker athough it will be an interesting battle. Ben Arfa in particular and Marveaux should be able to create all sorts of problems for Spurs and provide themselves, Ba and possibly Jonas too with good scoring oppourtunities. I have a horrible feeling that these changes will not occur though and Lovenkrands may even be ahead of Ben Arfa and Marveaux in the pecking order !! Which will boil my p*ss. The only good thing is that hopefully pardew will keep his team selection under his hat and just as we are not sure if Pardew will make the changes neither does Harry Redknapp which makes us a little harder to plan against. To think in that wonderful thing hindsight we could have had a back 4 of: Santon Taylor Colo Enrique with the rest of the team and possibly another Striker we should finish in the top 6 this season and could perhaps give the likes of Spurs a run for their money for fourth place with Arsenal and to a lesser extent Liverpool looking so out of sorts.

Can't disagree with any of the above. This seems to be a very fair summary. Fullbacks are the weakest part of our team so bringing in Santon for one of them for the Spurs Match is a no brainer decision for me. Which one though i'm not 100% sure as we can either put Santon on Bale or let him attack more up the left. Both Ben arfa and Marveaux look better, far more effective players than Obertan. So he should make way for one of them. Obertan could be a decent, very effective Sub with his pace and is at the very least far better cover than Routledge when inevitable injuries etc occur. The hardest decision for me is whether to drop Best or not as he has been impressing and playing well. They seem likely to play Bale on the left and van de vart on the right drifting in. With Bale in particular in mind perhaps we should go: Krul Santon Taylor Colo Raylor Cabaye Tiote Jonas Marveaux Ben Arfa Ba Subs: Harper, Williamson?/Simpson, Mehdi, Guthrie/Gosling, Obertan, Sammy, Best Hopefully Santon and Jonas can nulify Bales threat. Jonas with his tremendous engine can still brake forward and take players on when we have the ball. Hopefully our defence and midfield will pick up Van de Vart i know he's quality but i don't fear him quite so much as i would say Lennon running at Raylor (like SWP did very sucessfully QPR). I quite fancy Tiote and Cabaye to get the better of Sandro and Parker athough it will be an interesting battle. Ben Arfa in particular and Marveaux should be able to create all sorts of problems for Spurs and provide themselves, Ba and possibly Jonas too with good scoring oppourtunities. I have a horrible feeling that these changes will not occur though and Lovenkrands may even be ahead of Ben Arfa and Marveaux in the pecking order !! Which will boil my p*ss. The only good thing is that hopefully pardew will keep his team selection under his hat and just as we are not sure if Pardew will make the changes neither does Harry Redknapp which makes us a little harder to plan against. To think in that wonderful thing hindsight we could have had a back 4 of: Santon Taylor Colo Enrique with the rest of the team and possibly another Striker we should finish in the top 6 this season and could perhaps give the likes of Spurs a run for their money for fourth place with Arsenal and to a lesser extent Liverpool looking so out of sorts.

Got a horrible feeling your right. He really seems to like lovenkrands too. Santon in for Taylor or Simpson and marveaux in for obertan would seem to be a no brainer IMO. Not sure if Ba is going to be fit for this. Assuming he is. Hopefully v spurs: Krul Raylor. Taylor. Colo santon Cabaye. Tiote Jonas. Marveaux Ben arfa Ba I'll be a little p*ssed off if he insists we have to lose before making blatant improvements as it's wasting opportunities. A fit ben arfa would get into most teams. This would be very annoying: Krul Simpson. Taylor. Colo. Taylor Obertan. Cabaye. Tiote. Jonas Best. Lovenkrands

Krul Raylor Saylor Colo Santon Cabaye Tiote Jonas Marveaux Ben Arfa Ba Have thought for a while that long term this will be our best team going forward. Best has been playing very well though so it would be unfortunate for him to be dropped as he does not deserve to be. Ben arfa has to play though he's absolutely world class & could hurt any team. Our fullbacks are currently the weakest part of our team so santon has to start in place of one of them. It's a very close call but simpson has been possibly the worst of the two. Both ben arfa and marveaux look way superior to obertan. So one of them should replace him. The toughest call is if best should be dropped or not as he has been playing very well and pardew has said it's his shirt to lose so I doubt he'll be dropped

Think he'll be cautious again and we probably set out as if we are playing man u away. We will probably see: Krul Simpson. Taylor. Colo. Taylor Obertan. Cabaye. Tiote. Jonas Ben arfa Ba/best Keegan probably would have gone: Krul Jonas. Taylor. Colo. Santon Obertan. Cabaye. Tiote. Marveaux Ba. Ben afra

I suspect he'll go with the same team and I wouldn't be too disappointed with that. However there is always room for improvement. We have to accommodate ben arfa santon and marveaux as well in my opinion. Krul Simpson. Taylor. Colo. Santon Tiote Cabaye. Ben arfa Jonas. Marveaux Ba We want to win so need to go with our best possible team. We need it geling before we meet Spurs Nothing against obertan really, there maybe a good player in there somewhere which with the right coaching may improve him. As he has all the natural talent it's just he dosen't seem to have a good football brain at times and his decision making is questionable. Marveaux I think will prove the better player given the opportunity. He seems to be quick skilful very creative and has great intelligent play. Subs: Harper, kadar?, Guthrie/gosling, abeid, sammy, obertan, best

Just the usual talk your player(s) up, run of the mill manager comments. Relax man, I keep telling myself this, might be totally wrong but I find it helps me keep my sanity. Although our results have been good. As has been mentioned by others I'm not sure Pardew has the balls sometimes to think longterm and drop senior players. Much seems to depend on who has been knocking on his door the loudest which is very worrying (Loven and Shola i assume are near deafening door bangers). I hear these comments and start to dread seeing the line up which i fear may well be: Krul Simpson Taylor Colo Raylor Lovenkrands Cabaye Tiote Jonas Shola Best With Smith coming on if Blackburn are poor and we find ourselves two up just even things up a bit and give us all anxiety like with Fulham. I suspect its going to take an inevitable howler or two from Raylor and some points dropped before Santon eventually gets in the team. Ben Arfa and Marveaux in the team before Lovenkrands and Shola please Mr Pardew.

Even the likes of Boothroyd should have burried some of those opportunities and on another day SWP and Taarabt could of had a couple each, not to mention the old clogger in midfield who missed a couple too (forget his name). Taarabt didn't get forward nearly as much as he should have. Cabaye got forward alot more against Villa and had a hugely impressive game. Cabaye is adjusting and getting better and better. With our personel we should be able to do that to other teams. Ok Best may need a few oppourtunities to score one but if similar opportunities fell for the likes of Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Marveaux, Sammy etc i'd fancy a comfortable score line.

Coulden't agree more. Whats the point of playing two strikers if they are hardly getting any chances. I'd rather try and dominate posesssion and create alot more. We have the players now to run from midfield now in cabaye, Marveaux, Abeid, gosling and wide areas Ben arfa and obertan/Sammy/jonas (unshackled from helping Raylor once Santon is LB) and get in the box. I usually like a 4411 . But by going 433 we could completely dominate games. We are almost 451 when defending without possession and when we push our full backs up more of a 253 when all out attacking. Opposition would find us very hard to deffend against. Despite Tiote and Cabaye being absolute top draw central midfielders QPR's 3 man midfield with inferior quality completely bossed our two. How QPR didn't score was beyond me really. It was quite inspiring and something we can learn from. We have far better players than they do and could really rip into teams. The three center midfield players offer us far better protection and miles more creativity. Play to our strengths forget two up top. We end up hoofing it when under pressure too when two up top which was effective at times when we had Carroll and Nolan up top but won't be this season with a wealth of midfield talent..

Blackburn are not that good, we should be going for all three points against them at home. I'd want to get straight at them from the off just as QPR did to us 433, no messing about, if all fit enough start with: Krul Simpson Taylor Colo Santon?? (if fully fit) Tiote Cabaye Marveaux Jonas Ben Arfa Best Sammy to come on for Ben arfa around 60 mins or whenever he needs a rest. The very impressive Abeid to come on at some point too. We need our best team thats geling well before we start playing the likes of Spurs two games after this one. Subs: Harper, Raylor/Ferguson Abeid, Gosling/Guthrie, Obertan, Sammy, Ba Very excited about seeing more of Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Sammy, Abeid, Marveaux and Santon. Tiote starting to play better, S Taylor and Colo immense at the moment lets pray they are not injured. Puzled why pardew doidn't start Ba up front against forest. As thought that would be the perfect game for us to see if he can challenge Best as our best out and out striker. Whoever knocks on his door te loudest seems a very important factor/motivtor to Pardew. Jonas edges out Obertan at the moment. Jonas is a fantastic workhorse which teams need and always very involved in our games. Obertan for all his natural ability looks good in flashes (which hopefully will inprove with coaching and confidence) but often doesn't get as involved and sometimes lacks a football brain and takes the wrong options.

What's our "best" team though? Obviously due to your agenda against Jonas, I know he's not in it. I love how not particularly liking one player equals an agenda. I think the best team for me if everyone is fit is this. Krul Simpson -- Taylor -- Coloccini -- Santone Tiote ------------- Cabaye Obertan ----------------------- Marveaux Ben-Arfa Best I think the ones in bold are in most peoples starting 11 and the only waverers are Obertan and Best. As Best is scoring then he should keep the shirt. That just leaves Obi. If you are a big Jonas fan you will want him in instead, if you are sick of Jonas's lack of end product you will want to stick with Obertan. The cross from the bye line with the outside of his boot for Coloccini was sublime. I would say that's our best line up with the exception of Jonas in for Obertan on the right. Jonas has a tremendous work rate, is defensively excellent for a winger and as already stated is an excellent outlet to just run the ball out of defence taking the pressure off us when other teams are trying to play higher up the pitch. Ok his crossing is not good from the left, perhaps it will be better from the right. After all he is right footed. We should at least try him there, it may be a revelation there like Barton was. Obertan has shown alot of promise and i suspect Pardew likes him and will stick with him to try and bring him on another level. He's has all the natural ability (big, strong, pacey, very fit and skillful). But he frustrate's as doesn't have a good football brain at times and takes the wrong option. Perhaps with more game time, and coaching his confidence will grow that part of his game will improve. Pleased we have some good options on the wings and in center midfield. A good few youngsters coming through to. We need some up and coming CB's and of course a really good striker.

Thats a really decent, very creative line up i'd be very happy with that. They all really need more games under their belt, its a real chance for them to show us what they can do. I'd like Sammy to come on at some point too when we rest Ben Arfa. I also would be surprised if there is no Shola and Loven as we already know what they can do.

Yes he seems to rate Obertan who has all the natural ability (pace, strength and skill). But like Bramble and routledge who also had natural abilities just seems a little ineffective thus far (early days though it is). He shows what he's capable of in flashes, but certainly needs to do more. Krul Simpson Taylor Colo Ferguson/Raylor Tiote Cabaye Marveaux/Gosling Jonas Sammy Best/Ba After getting completely overun in our last game in midfield because they went three in the center we have to adapt to something similar as pardew more or less conceded afterwards. As someone like Bent will not miss the chances QPR had. We have to go with three in center midfield and one up top, we need the extra protection but more so the creativity this provides. From what i've seen of the two so far i'd probably opt for Marveaux over Gosling but its very close as we haven't seen enough of either and Gosling has been impressing in the reserves. Cabaye as well as tracking back needs to support Jonas by getting forward when we are on the ball and make things happen more. Same for Marveaux/gosling with Sammy. Those two need to be making runs into Villa's box when we are attacking Jonas on his right side should be able to cross alot better and Sammy causes havoc, he is the most creative player i have seen for us thus far as well as being a goal threat. There is no point playing two stikers if we cannot get them any service. Although Best has clearly been the better striker thus far. We have to give Ba a chance as the main striker at some point to see if he's up to it. This formation may suit Ba and if we can provide the kind of chances QPR managed to provide for Boothroyd he should score. All he has to do is stay up top, stay central and try and get on the end of the crosses and passes that should come his way. Ba to come back and help defend set plays. We are pretty much a 451 when deffending and push the fullbacks up so we are almost a 253 when attacking (i can't wait till Santon's fit such a shame he got injured). Pardew may go: Krul Simpson Taylor Colo Raylor Tiote Cabaye Marveaux/Gosling Obertan Jonas Best/Ba Although i have a feeling Shola and Best will be accomodated somehow.

Simpson i am not sure about. Thought he was poor in the championship. I thought we should get someone better in once promoted. Then in all fairness he had a decent season in the premiership last year. He's been fairly poor in general at the start of this season. Against Scunthorpe he was bordering on atrocious. I'd ideally want someone better in and have simpson or possibly the promising Tavernier as back up. We may even get a good offer in for Simpson as some people seem to really rate him. We'll see between now and January how good he is/isn't. Assuming Santon does as well as is expected, Simpson will be the weakest link in our back four.

I've always been a fan of 4411. But against QPR of all teams their shape and movement was fantastic, they completely overan us with their 3 in center midfield to our 2, despite our players being better. So its made me realise there is actually alot of positives to a 433. I've thought for a while this should be our line up: Krul Simpson Taylor Colo Santon Marveaux Cabaye Tiote Jonas S am/ Ben Arfa Ba/Best However Maybe this has better merits to it: Krul Simpson Taylor Colo Santon Tiote Cabaye Marveaux Jonas Sammy/Ben Arfa Ba/Best We certainly at the very least need to be able to revert to something similar to this if what happened at QPR happens again. Our results have been flattering due mainly to our hard work, keeper and very impressive deffence but we have been out played by most of the teams we have played so far especially those with three in the middle and we have certainly ridden our luck at times. I can see what Pardew was thinking to an extent. Tiote and Cabaye are so good, we may get away with playing only two in the center and then he can play two up front. However their three man midfield totally dominated. Pardew knows and admitted its back to the drawing board as he needs three in midfield now. If we went for a 433 it may bring the best out in alot of our players. Tiote sits there and breaks up everything he can. It allows the creative Cabaye and Marveaux to get forward picking passes to the quick breaking Ben Arfa (or Sammy when he's injured/rested) and Jonas on his right side which should improve his crossing. Jonas also gets back well to help out Simpson. When attacking Santon and/or Simpson can push up so we are almost a 253 type of formation. Ben arfa and sammy would score alot of goals and create from their position. Marveaux and Cabaye should feel able to get further forward at times to help score goals especially when they have just passed to Ben Arfa/Sammy and Jonas they should be breaking forward looking to get into a foward position looking for the return pass. Not sure who's better out of Ba and Best yet. Best can certainly do an okish job for us until we get someone better. Ba could possibly be better than Best, in this 433 kind of formation which may suit him much better. All he'd have to do is stay forward, central and get on the end of the crosses/passes coming his way just like Jay Boothroyd luckily failled miserably doing against us. When defending we are almost reverting to a 451. The hard working Jonas we already know will muck in there. Sammy and Ben Arfa may also be better than some think. Ba can come back for set plays. Good cover in places too with Gosling and Guthrie in midfield and Mehdi could cover either midfield or possibly the two forward wide areas with Obertan. Shola shoulden't really get a look in in this hard working type of formation and would currently probably be third choice for the striker slot

I've always been a fan of 4411. But against QPR of all teams their shape and movement was fantastic, they completely overan us with their 3 in center midfield to our 2, despite our players being better. So its made me realise there is actually alot of positives to a 433. I've thought for a while this should be our line up: Krul Simpson Taylor Colo Santon Marveaux Cabaye Tiote Jonas Ben Arfa Ba/Best However Maybe this has better merits to it: Krul Simpson Taylor Colo Santon Tiote Cabaye Marveaux Jonas Sammy/Ben Arfa Ba/Best We certainly at the very least need to be able to revert to something similar to this if what happened at QPR happens again. I can see what Pardew was thinking to an extent. Tiote and Cabaye are so good, we may get away with playing only two in the center and then he can play two up front. However their three man midfield totally dominated. Pardew knows and admitted its back to the drawing board as he needs three in midfield now. If we went for a 433 it may bring the best out in alot of our players. Tiote sits there and breaks up everything he can. It allows the creative Cabaye and Marveaux to get forward picking passes to the quick breaking Ben Arfa (or Sammy when he's injured/rested) and Jonas on his right side which should improve his crossing. Jonas also gets back well to help out Simpson. Ben arfa and sammy would score alot of goals and create from that position. Not sure who's better out of Ba and Best yet. Best can certainly do an okish job for us until we get someone better. Ba could possibly be better than Best, in this 433 kind of formation which may suit him much better. All he'd have to do is stay central and get on the end of the crosses/passes coming his way just like Jay Boothroyd luckily failled miserably doing against us. When defending we are almost reverting to a 451. The hard working Jonas we already know will muck in there. Sammy and Ben Arfa may also be better than some think. Good cover in places too with Gosling and Guthrie in midfield and Mehdi could cover either midfield or possibly the two forward wide areas with Obertan. Shola shoulden't really get a look in in this hard working type of formation and would currently probably be third choice for the striker slot

Play Sammy in the Hole then. He's very creative, tricky, on form, good passer and can score goals. Correct about Santon we need him against Villa we have to restrict their chances. He knows how to play at LB its not as if we are trying him out as a striker/midfielder. Test him out in training against Obertan and play him with Colo and Jonas Tiote and cabaye as much as possible.