toptoon

I'd go with this (Best on for Ba if he's looking poor). QPR looked good down our flanks and got some really good crosses over and we should be doing the same. We obviously need much more of an attacking threat and more players who can shoot. The on form Sammy and Marveaux i'm hoping can provide that. Santon looks a real athelete i'm really looking forward to seeing him play he should hopefully take care of whoever attacks down our left and may even push forward to help Jonas. I thought it was poor judgement by Pardew not to bring on Sammy alot earlier than he did against QPR. The kid is on fire banging in goals and creating havoc for the opposition so play him ffs. Its not as if we have alot (any?) attacking flare at the moment. We need to give the opposition defence more problems that is clear. In saying all that we are getting results, but we really rode our luck last night at times and there is still alot of room for improvement. Subs: Harper/Elliott, Raylor,Ferguson Guthrie, Gosling, Obertan, Best

Pardew 4 - needs to be braver with team selection and use of subs. We could not link midfield and attack and ended up hoofing it to our poor strikers. If qpr had a decent striker he could have helped himself to a hatrick. Krul 6. - good kicking and positioning. Simpson 4 poor positioning, decent at times. S Taylor 8 really impressive again. Our best player last night. Colo 7 solid R Taylor 3 - really out of his depth against swp, poor game. Jonas 5 - tried to attack but spent too muchtime defending. Cabaye - 5 overun Tiote -5 overun Shola 4 - we are really in trouble if he,s our main striker Best 5 started brightly then faded Ba 5 looked brighter than Sammy came on in 87 minute should have started and looked bright ran at them and created. Something we clearly lacked Clearly santon (or ferguson) and sammy should have started and possibly marveaux as well. Sammy could have played off best and been someone for our midfield to pass to and who could run at qpr.

I'd be fairly happy with that starting line up although its a bit harsh dropping Raylor who has been surprisingly good and won us a couple of matches. I woulden't be massively surprised if Raylor was to score again should he start. Simpson has been wobbly so i'd drop him to accomodate. I'd like to see more of the on fire, goal scoring and very creative Sammy Ameobi. Not sure Ba and Best together work well as a combination. Ba has been disappointing thus far although still very early days. Best although he needs several chances scores goals and knows which positions to get into the box. Marveaux and Jonas i'd also swap round it narrows the field of play for the opposition. Marveaux looks like he could be a good quality addition if we get him fit. Not too sure about Pardews selections at times i.e. Lovenkrands. Hope Smith does not feature again either.

Krul Raylor Saylor Coloccini Santon Marveaux Cabaye Tiote Jonas Sameobi Best Harper/Elliott, Willi/Kadar?, Simpson, Gosling, Obertan, Vuckik, Ba Unbelievable we didn't sign a decent striker. We also need a good right back, CB and a fit Ben Arfa Best at the moment at least seems to be able to score and get in the right positions although he needs several good chances to score one. Sameiobi will probably be on the bench as a super sub but i'd love us to start with him. He's fantastically creative, very dangerous, quick, skillfull, unpredictable, very on form and we could then rip into them with him right from the off. Obertan doesn't look as good as Marveaux so far in my opinion but its still very very early days there. Simpson is wobbly has started badly and Raylor has done surprisingly well thus far. It would be a bit harsh dropping Raylor and it wouldn't be too surprising if he scored in yet another game from a (Sameobi won?) free kick. Can't wait to see Santon Play.

This except i'd play Best insteads of Ba and Sameiobi whilst Ben Arfa is out. Ba has looked woeful thus far, Best looks like he can at least score goals which is a good start. Obertan has also looked poor to me thus far. Sammy has been banging them in and creating, against Scunthorpe, pre season and for the reserves. He's in form he could be a very good player. I'd give him a chance. Krul Simpson Saylor Coloccini Santon Marveaux Tiote Cabaye Jonas Sammy/HBA Best

I 100% agree with you. Cisse up top Pieters or Cissokho at LB, a young up and coming CB like Situ and we have a team that could really push for European places and win trophies. Just one problem ......Ashley and Llambias. I really can't see it happening! They won't be spending the type of money we need to get a top quality striker in. Best, Shola or Ba will be spearheading our attack. Prepare for some frustrating times ahead. What a prat Derek is cocking up the Situ deal on top of the striker situation. That could easily come back to haunt us big time.

-------------------------------- Krul -------------------------------- R:Taylor!!------ Taylor ------------ Coloccini ------- Santon Marveaux ------- Cabaye ----------- Tiote -------------- Jonas ------------------------------------ Sameobi -----------------------Best ------------------------ Marveaux should be fully fit by QPR looks a class above Obertan and Ba has been absolutely woefull thus far. Best at least looks like he can score and pose some sort of threat. Sameobi looks a fantastic prospect, really in form right now and is creating and scoring for fun at the moment. It would be great if as well as a striker we can get a really good RB. Or is having two good fullbacks just too much?

Agreed.

EXCELLENT SIGNING!!!! (seems very good value at the reported 6m euros?). I'm hoping he marks Zoggy when we play Villa game after next. I don't fancy Raylor or Simpson marking him. Striker is priority now. But we also need another good Fullback as i'm not too sure about Simpson.

Obviously new signings may change this but at the moment I'd go: Krul Simpson. Taylor. Colo. Taylor Marveaux. Cabaye. Tiote. Jonas Sameobi Best Harper, ferguson, gosling, obertan, Vuckik, Ba , Gola

Krul Simpson Taylor Colo R.Taylor Barton?/ Cabaye Tiote Jonas Marveaux Sameobi Gola/Best Obertan/Gosling or prefferably Mehdi in if Barton leaves and Marveaux hasn't recovered. We started Arsenal, Sunderland and Scunthorpe games offering next to nothing going forward and have ridden our luck at times. Although we have looked fairly solid defensively we need to offer something offensively now. The second Half of the Scunthorpe game is the best i have seen us so far especially when Sameobi took the field we need alot more creativity in the absence of Ben Arfa. Harper, Ferguson, Obertan, Vuckik, Gosling, Mehdi, Best/Gola After a Star Striker and LB we need another back up CB and then a better RB.

Guthrie on the wing. Have a word... Got to agree. Guthrie is a decent enough squad player in central midfield. Has been horrendous every time i've seen him play out of position on the wing though.

Our results have been good, we haven't conceded a goal yet and our defence and midfield has looked prety solid (defensively) so if we do not have a new left back in why tinker with defence/midfield? Its our forward line that has looked poor and needs to be more effective. Krul Simpson Colo Saylor Cissokho/Pieters/Raylor Barton Tiote Cabaye Jonas Marveaux Ba Subs: Harper, Willi, Gosling, Obertan, Best, Shola, Mehdi/vuckik/Sameobi Got to be either 451 or 4411 in my opinion. I prefer the 4411 with Marveaux linkling the midfield and the attack (in the Ben Arfa role). Obertan is possibly better as an impact sub and wasn't very effective at all against the mackems. I'd currently start with Marveaux who scored one and made two in the reserves in his last game for us. Lets see how Marveaux, Obertan and the youngsters (Mehdi/vuckik/Sameobi) play against scunthorpe first though (should they play).

Harper Taylor. Taylor. Willi. Ferguson Obertan. Cabaye. Gosling marveaux Sameobi/vuckik Ba

1. If we aren't then why the hell not? We bloody well should be. 2. What would you say his value is then? £8m - £9m would seem reasonable for a player of his calibre. 3. Bloody find out! We have been promised £20m to spend, then the £35m which was promised to be reinvested not to mention the £6m for Enrique + £??m for other players and other incomes. We have done fairly well picking up a few bargains but now we need to splash out decent money NOW on at least a LB and a striker. This may be the difference in us challenging for Europe or not. Particularly the striker, the thought of watching our sub standard strikers fluffing most of the few opourtunities they get isn't a great one. We need a clinical absolute quality striker and its the one area of the pitch you can probably afford to break your wage cap for a single player if its going to benefit the team and club.

Just stop messing about and pay the dam £8m for Aly Cissokho!! Absolute golden oppourtunity they have here to put a really strong quality player into our team. Looks like he could possibly be a better version of Bernard for us who was mint. Whilst you have your hand in your pocket we need a goalscorer too, or we are all in for a very frustrating season watching our current sub standard strikers (possibly Ba aside as undecided) fluff most of the few chances they get. Papiss Cisse for me please. Get it sorted TODAY

Yes i'd start with this. Obertan looked bright, creative and could be an ok utility player or maybe better. Shola's record against the Mackems is great, he and Taylor have to play in this one if fit (although i'd usually opt for Ba and Obertan). If Shola isn't threatening bring on Ba at half time or 60 mins. Maybe bring on Sameobi for Obertan if Obertan isn't making any head way. He's been on a scoring streak at the moment. We could be in for a very frustrating season without a quality goal scorer this season. It is worrying. Yesterday was the kind of day we needed Ben Arfa to create something out of nothing (gutted he's out injured again) as we barely threatened Arsenal in the final third. Although our midfielders and defenders deserve alot of credit. Anyway lets go full on at the mackems again and hope someone can score for us.

No idea about the outcome but is a good time to play them and agree the best tactics are to get at them get physical and bring the game to them. Not sit back let them play and find ourselves 4 - 0 down again. Enrique leaving at this point may have really hamstrung us. Who on earth do we play there if Ferguson & Kadar apparently are not. We could possibly play Taylor or Gosling who has played Right back or really go for it Kegan style with something like: Harper/Krul Simpson Taylor Colo Jonas Barton Tiote Cabaye Marveaux?/Obertan Shola Ba Subs: Harper/Krul, Willi, Gosling, Marveaux?/Obertan/Mehdi, Vuckik, Sameobi, Best

Gutted he's going. They have just bought a fantastic player of us. For £6m he's a bargain. Worth at least twice that for me. Very surprised more clubs didn't come in for him. We'll get alot of people realising just how good he is now. He is top 4 left back. Hope they have a crap season! They have some very good players now. Daglish was dogshite for us though, lets hope he employs the same tactics for Liverpool and they have a start similar to last years. To think if we had an owner who loved the club and had a bt more ambition we could be lining up: Harper Simpson/Beye Taylor Colo Enrique Zoggy/Barton Tiote Cabaye Jonas/Milner Ben Arfa Carroll

Krul/Harper Simpson Taylor Colocinni Enrique Barton Cabaye Tiote Jonas Gola Ba Subs: Harper/Krul, Will, Guthrie, Gosling, Best + two of Marveux??, Obertan or vuckik, sameobi, Kadar, Tavernier Whilst Barfa is out that is what i would go with for the first two games as things currently stand. You have to play Gola (the Mackem destroyer) against the Mackems he needs a proper game to warm up for this and i also think Gola is the best option we have against Arsenal too. Can't see us having too much success on the floor against Arsenal with the likes of Best, Vuckik etc their lack of movement isn't good enough to trouble them. Arsenal are a bit too slick for them unfortunately. With Gola we don't really know what your going to get and neither do they. Ba and Shola are both a handful in the air and Arsenal are weak at the back its a gamble i'd take. Ba and Shola should cause them problems at the back with their strength and height if nothing else. Best and Vuckik i just doubt will be good enough and be marked out the game. With Barton, Cabaye, Tiote Jonas we have a very good defensively hardworking midfield. Barton is positionally brilliant knows when to get forward when to defend when to cut inside and can ping fantastic crosses over all day long. Cabaye is solid also and can pick a pass through the middle and hopefully get forward himself. Tiote is excellent (probably our best player) and will make sure we are not overun in the midfield. Jonas also good defensively and will also run at them all day long carrying the ball from our back line to our forward line winning free kicks and maybe one of his mazy runs will create something. If spirits are high with this team we should at least give them a game. I may stick a few quid on Taylor to score if he starts.

How about: Simpson Taylor Colocinni Enrique Cabaye Tiote Obertan Barton Jonas Ba Yes very good defensively solid midfield with some pace and creativity on the wings. Ba is very isolated though.

Krul/Harper Simpson Taylor Colocinni Enrique Barton Cabaye Tiote Jonas Gola Ba Subs: Harper/Krul, Will, Guthrie, Gosling, Best + two of Marveux??, Obertan or vuckik, sameobi, Kadar, Tavernier Whilst Barfa is out that is what i would go with for the first two games as things currently stand. You have to play Gola (the Mackem destroyer) against the Mackems he needs a proper game to warm up for this and i also think Gola is the best option we have against Arsenal too. Can't see us having too much success on the floor against Arsenal with the likes of Best, Vuckik etc their lack of movement isn't good enough to trouble them. Arsenal are a bit too slick for them unfortunately. With Gola we don't really know what your going to get and neither do they. Ba and Shola are both a handful in the air and Arsenal are weak at the back its a gamble i'd take. Ba and Shola should cause them problems at the back with their strength and height if nothing else. Best and Vuckik i just doubt will be good enough and be marked out the game. With Barton, Cabaye, Tiote Jonas we have a very good defensively hardworking midfield. Barton is positionally brilliant knows when to get forward when to defend when to cut inside and can ping fantastic crosses over all day long. Cabaye is solid also and can pick a pass through the middle and hopefully get forward himself. Tiote is excellent (our best player) and will make sure we are not overun in the midfield. Jonas also good defensively and will also run at them all day long carrying the ball from our back line to our forward line winning free kicks and maybe one of his mazy runs will create something. If spirits are high with this team we should at least give them a game. I may stick a few quid on Taylor to score if he starts.

You would think a loan deal with option to buy would be the way to go on this type of player rather than a 5 year contract. Very unimpressed by this player cashley must be getting him cheap. We really are the bargain basement deal club now. Like cabaye, marveux, ba and mehdi but We should be wrighting wrongs and bringing the n'zogbia's back and trying to buy the likes of papiss cisse which should not be beyond us especially after the 35 mill for carroll and wasn't there £20 million in the kitty we were promised before that. Signing zoggy and someone like cisse would make us a force to be reckoned with. A uefa spot at least IMO Now if we do lose Barton and we do not get a really good striker it could be a very frustrating season for us as we won't have the tools we could so easily have acquired.

Even for £35 million? I doubt we would get £35million for him - for that price I would consider it (though it would be on the same basis as the Carroll deal, it gets reinvested fully in the team and not on fancy showers and toilets at the training ground) Of course we wouldn't get £35 million... £15 mil tops. Unfortunately, the owners of the club will probably sell him if an offer above £15 million comes in... may be me being naive but if 15 was the top offer to come in i dont think we'd let him go another season like last season and he'll be worth a lot more come next summer Have to agree with this. Last season was his first in the Premiership and he was adjusting and was still incredible. This year he has a years experience under his belt and knows what to expect. He should be even more awesome. He'll also have better players around him too, Ba, Ben Arfa, Cabaye + possibly another couple, on top of the likes of Barton, Jonas colo etc. People noticed him last year as a stand out player, this year his value should rocket even more. This may persuade Ashley to keep him at least another year. If he does go and i pray he doesn't, Matuidi could be a good replacement.

We should not sell our best player Tiote. I always feel we have a good foothold in a game when he plays for us as we are never over run in midfield even when outnumbered he seems to be everywhere. Phenomenal player who should be even better this season than last season and i can't waitr to see him in action again. We don't need the money after the Carroll sale. Our second best player Enrique is probably off at some point in the next 12 months too and will be extreamly hard to replace with a similar quality player. Would be a huge gamble letting Tiote go and will unsettle other players who have come to play alongside him. Pardew was building the team around Tiote and Ben Arfa. Ashley will no doubt have a price in mind he'll sell for. Quite possibly a high one. Hopefully Chelski will be looking elsewhere though.