simonsays

What about the time when Ba was in space and only needed to be slipped through to have a clear run on goal, instead of doing that Ben Arfa heheld on to it too long and tried to beat the fullback again before losing possession. What he'll find is if he doesn't start releasing the ball at the right time soon then our players will stop making those runs, we've seen that with unpredictable players here in the past. He had a split second, and that's all it was to try and bend a ball between two defenders. Ba had a Distin between him and Ben Arfa and Ben Arfa had the fullback next to him so the gap was tiny, he also had McFadden closing him down. Mick, Ba was not only unmarked when HBA picked the ball up but he had plenty of space to run in to with only the keeper between him and the goal if it was played early enough, he delayed it far too long and ended up losing it. Talented played when it usually comes to beating a man but I'm doubting the lads got a footballing brain. What utter shite. Anyway, weren't you supposed to be leaving when we didn't sign N'Zogbia?

I think Moses has looked good for Wigan this season - wouldn't mind seeing us in for him when Wigan go down (assuming we don't get Hoilett)

A lot of people on here seem to think that we only need 11 players and that we have to play that same 11 every week. Has anyone thought that one of our strikers may get injured or lose form. Also has anyone considered that ba and best are playing well because we have the likes of Ben arfa waiting to take their place if they lose form. I can't believe it has gone from everyone saying we should be building the team around him to the majority saying the only spot left up for grabs is on the right wing.

My hope is that rather than becoming a selling club we are becoming more like Tottenham in the way they do transfer business, in that if they don't want to sell a player it would take an obscene amount of money for them to agree to the deal.

Mike Den is weak is piss like - neither of those were penalties. He was just evening things up

What about if you are targeting the near post for your corners, looking for flick ons or for a striker to nick in ahead of his marker? I think in that case you can expect to hit the first man quite often

He supposedly bottled 50/50 tackles which I still haven't seen after watching the match twice tonight. The only thing I felt he could have improved on was a few of his first touches being a little heavy and he'll soon get over that. There were definitely at least two occasions where he pulled out of tackles that he could feasibly have won. Perfectly understandable after the injury though and I'm sure it will just be a matter of time before he gets the confidence back

Even though I don't rate Lovenkrands it would be interesting to see how our system works with a pacy striker up front, assuming that is the type of striker we are looking to buy in January.

I think the ref brought the play back and booked him for the earlier challenge where he slid in an tried to bring their player down but missed

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2039032/Olympic-arena-renamed-Ann-Summers-stadium.html

Everyone is playing right footers on the left wing now, maybe we will start a new trend for playing full backs on their weaker side

I think he's safe from those accusations as the people who dish them out seem to stick exclusively to the 'transfer rumours in the press' and 'twitter bollocks' threads.

GET IN!!!!

Shit thread, but I actually quite like the title

Are there any transfer rumours in the press today then or is it still ' we are looking at lots of options'?

What the hell happened to your sig, Wiggum? It was the only thing keeping me going

Still doesn't sound massively promising. Do you really think he has the potential to be a regular first team player?

Why not? what does he offer us? He's a prospect. We're in no need of selling. If you by getting rid mean "get out on loan", I agree. Pardew has made it clear he has no place in his plans and he is a complete waster who seemingly can't even be arsed to turn up for training on time. He may have potential but it looks like he will never fulfill it. I say get rid now while someone might be willing to take him off our hands rather than paying his wages to play for our reserves for the next 5 years. Actually he hasn't. Although it's looking quite dark, the door is still open as long as he continues to improve [re: Pardew's ultimatum recently]. This could also have something to do with that no club wants to pay a decent amount of money for him. Another thing that just seals the fact that we're in no need of selling just now. Has there been any indication that he is improving? Either his behaviour or his performances on the pitch?

Why not? what does he offer us? He's a prospect. We're in no need of selling. If you by getting rid mean "get out on loan", I agree. Pardew has made it clear he has no place in his plans and he is a complete waster who seemingly can't even be arsed to turn up for training on time. He may have potential but it looks like he will never fulfill it. I say get rid now while someone might be willing to take him off our hands rather than paying his wages to play for our reserves for the next 5 years.

Stoke must be unbelievably clueless then, Pulis has just said that they hope to bring in another 5 to 6 players before the end of the window. Poor deluded saps. Or perhaps they have an owner prepared to back his manager with some money?

No, because that would be brazenly twisting his words. Well done for being the first though. Why haven't we replaced him then? Surely having two left backs at the club is not that outlandish? Every other team in the division seems to manage it OK. Can you name any other team in the division who has two "first-choice" left backs? Man City maybe.... I'm not sure it's possible to have two first choice leftbacks, but there are certainly a lot more teams in the division who have two senior leftbacks than those that don't have 1 recognised leftback in their entire first team squad You said every team in the division has two left backs at the club. Now you've said "senior" left backs. Who is Chelsea's 2nd senior left back? Or Arsenal's? Or Man United's? What I actually said wa there are more teams with two senior leftbacks in their squad than teams with no recognised leftbacks in their squad. If you are going to ne pedantic please at least read my post properly

No, because that would be brazenly twisting his words. Well done for being the first though. Why haven't we replaced him then? Surely having two left backs at the club is not that outlandish? Every other team in the division seems to manage it OK. We will replace him. As I've just said, he just pointed out that we couldn't afford to have 2 first choice left backs on our books. Disappointing obviously, but not particularly outrageous either. Especially if we are looking to bring through Furguson and in particular Kadar this year. Ferguson is primarily a left winger, Kadar is primarily a centreback. Could we not think about getting a 2nd choice leftback in? Wasn't that the plan when we were involved in the farcical bid for Neil Taylor?

No, because that would be brazenly twisting his words. Well done for being the first though. Why haven't we replaced him then? Surely having two left backs at the club is not that outlandish? Every other team in the division seems to manage it OK. Can you name any other team in the division who has two "first-choice" left backs? Man City maybe.... I'm not sure it's possible to have two first choice leftbacks, but there are certainly a lot more teams in the division who have two senior leftbacks than those that don't have 1 recognised leftback in their entire first team squad

No, because that would be brazenly twisting his words. Well done for being the first though. Why haven't we replaced him then? Surely having two left backs at the club is not that outlandish? Every other team in the division seems to manage it OK.

I can see why you have a strong disliking to the man, but I honestly don't think him or any other manager would chose to work in these conditions. All the strings are being pulled by Ashley, it's his fault we are where we are. Pardew may come across as patronising to us, but he's completely devoid of any control. And, of course, if Ashley didn't call the shots, we wouldn't be stuck with this wally. Perhaps he should keep his mouth shut then and stop coming out with all the bullsh*t he spouts whenever he is asked a question