Cronky

Yeah, I pretty much agree. We were outclassed, but we did look better than where we left off last season. Cisse is too lightweight for the role that he's given. Tiote is too clumsy in possession. Nothing new there. The plus points were Benny and Dummett. Dummett looks more than ready and should start.

Watching Swansea, it's interesting to see how well some fairly ordinary players can pass the ball if they're encouraged to play with confidence and to have faith in their system. So many of their passes went into a team-mate's stride rather than behind them. That's a matter of confidence, and it makes such a difference in keeping a forward momentum. And they were able to find space between the opposition defence and back four so easily. Those are the basics which we struggle with.

Yeah, positive every time he had the ball and often had the defence shuffling backwards. I'm not sure that Zaha is the real deal. For once, defence looks the problem area in an England side. Both goals came from very sluggish defending.

Rather predictably, Rooney doesn't look fit, mentally or physically.

Looks okay to me. Sign him up, Joe. Well you've got to live in hope, haven't you.

There's no point in taking this President's words at face value. He always seems to be out to make some kind of impression.

With or without Shola, there's a problem with the lack of creativity in the midfield. Too often, we seem to be trying to open up a defence with one pass. Other teams seem to be developing a style where the midfield and striker(s) are combining to open up defences with a series of short passes. It feels like we're getting left behind.

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/087/e/1/profile_picture_by_watfaceplz-d4u7trn.png "He's an instinctive striker, a couple of the goals he got for QPR, if you're a football person you like them - they're a little bit out of the ordinary. That's what he offers a team. He might not be involved in the game for a period and you're thinking "where's Remy", then he'll just burst on the scene and score a goal and that's the type I think we need." Lowes: "He sounds a bit Cisse-ish." "He is a bit Cisse-ish. As a partnership, there's probably some work to do on those two cos they both wanna go in behind and stretch teams. Our link-up play is something we need to improve with Cisse and now Remy." I'm pleased to hear that he knows there's a problem. I'm worried that he thinks he can solve it by his coaching. I was a supporter of Pardew getting another chance, but my nagging doubt is that he over-estimates his capacity - or indeed any coach's capacity - to make a square peg fit in a round hole. No team is ever a perfect fit, but you have to provide the best possible environment within a team for individuals to play to their strengths. That inevitably means leaving players out who, in a different context, would play. I'm starting to despair of his judgement in this area. He seems to miss the bigger picture. We wasted a lot of time trying to get Ba and Cisse to work as a combination, and Pardew also seems to hope that he can encourage Tiote to be more of a playmaker.

I didn't see all of the second half, but I was impressed with what I saw. He looked confident in attack and defence and looks ready for his chance.

We've had a fair bit of possession, but as usual, we're relying completely on crosses and pose no threat down the middle. I don't know who the subs are, but I'd like to see Marv, Sammy or Campbell come on. Add an element of unpredictability.

But they also carry a threat down the middle, and that's very important. The pass that I don't see enough of is that 20 yard prod down the middle to a player that has found an unmarked position between the opposition midfield and back four. If the player can then turn, then the defence is in a spot of bother because someone has to move out of position to snuff out the immediate problem. That sort of move often means the full backs have to tuck in, which then means there's far more space to attack down the wings. If our central midfielders are just there to transfer the ball from one side of the pitch to the other - and that's how it often feels - then we're not going to create many opportunities for the wide players either. We need variety and improvisation in our attacking play and that's what we're lacking. There's no fluency about us at the moment. I often see people saying that we need another winger, but I'd much rather have a Beardsley-type. That would also make it much easier for the wide players that we have.

I think our problem is we're not creating much down the middle. We seem to concentrate on getting a full back and wide midfielder combining to get around the defence and put in a cross. We look very predictable and slow as a result. We could really do with a player who is comfortable operating between the midfield and the striker(s). That's how defensive systems are shaken up. Ben Arfa is a possibility, but he seems to prefer to collect the ball deep or out wide. There are also fitness issues. Marveaux is another possiblity but he has fitness issues and, as with Ben Arfa, you'd have to make sure any defensive duties were covered elsewhere. Sissoko and Gosling (I know, a big question mark over him) look like attacking midfielders who look best suited to making runs from deep rather than collecting the ball in a crowded area. Cabaye looks like a playmaker who prefers to operate from deep, giving passes rather than receiving them. Sammy has talent but I'm not sure of his best position. He's probably best suited further forward or out wide. The best fit in terms of natural ability is young Campbell. He's probably not ready but I'd like to see him at least given a chance, seeing that we don't have his equivelent at the moment. As I've said before, I'd like to see us go for Sean Maloney. For all the question marks over his age, he could really add a bit of variety to our attacking play.

It's really quite sad that with the most important tournament in the world's most popular sport, they ended up with a decision like that. From the point of view of the players and the supporters, it makes no sense at all.

I don't think there's a lot either ourselves or Lyon can do in this situation. Naturally, Gomis seems to be attracted by the idea of a Champions League club, and in the final year of his contract, he holds a lot of power. He can decide to sit things out for a year, and then move on a free. OM can sit back and wait. As Rich says, it's not as though we or other clubs haven't done the same kind of thing.

I'd love to know how you came to this conclusion. According to Aulas, OM have blocked the transfer by making an illegal approach. If Gomis wasn't interested in joining OM, there surely wouldn't be a problem. From what Aulas has said, OM haven't outbidded us.

Interesting, isn't it. A few years ago, England players were drawn from a much wider spread of clubs, including the lower divisions on occasion. Now the best talent is much more concentrated at the top clubs. They talk about the influx of foreign players into the Premiership making it difficult for the England manager, but it doesn't look like it there. The one problem area is goalkeeper. The squad looks horrific imo, considering that is a list of the best players this country has I've seen worse. Far worse.

Hello, Darren.

Interesting, isn't it. A few years ago, England players were drawn from a much wider spread of clubs, including the lower divisions on occasion. Now the best talent is much more concentrated at the top clubs. They talk about the influx of foreign players into the Premiership making it difficult for the England manager, but it doesn't look like it there. The one problem area is goalkeeper.

Even if you get a higher bid, how are you going to replace him with a player of similar quality, unless you're in the Champions League.

If Suarez had been an ordinary player, Liverpool would have got rid of him long ago. They stuck by him not as a favour to him, but as a favour to themselves, and in the process they themselves did nothing to enhance the good name of their club. I can understand them wanting to keep Suarez, and their need to put up a battle, but they really need to climb down off their high horse.

What did we play with Ba, Ben Arfa & Cisse? It was certainly advertised on teamsheets and through the official twitter as a 4-3-3. The problem with the terminology is it implies that the team is operating in straight lines across the pitch. It's only the back four, and to a lesser extent the midfield when defending, that do that. When attacking, a team has to get out of the straitjacket of straight lines.

That was one transfer I couldn't understand at all. He was nowhere near good enough for Man City.

Regardless of how you rate those six as individuals, somehow you can't see them functioning as a combination. It's like there's no pattern, no vision there.

That and the fact Ranger had no Premier League talent whatsoever. He had the talent all right. He didn't have the application. The minute he got that contract, he decided he didn't have to try any more.

Do you think its decent vs £8m for Ince though? I'm not sure about Ince. I can see why some clubs are hovering, and I can also see why they're hesitating. With Downing, you get an experienced Premiership player, and one who is fairly versatile. But like I said, I think it's all academic. This is an unconvincing rumour.