Cronky

I like our quirkish but bold habit of offering long contracts. They've obviously got some faith in this lad.

I'd agree, and that sounds to me like the common-sense view of the difficulty of playing two number 9's together. I think that Carroll may have been lined up as a replacement if Ba decided to leave, which now looks unlikely. I'm still a bit puzzled that, after all our experience in the second half of last season and the warm-up games now, Pardew may still be looking at Ba-Cisse as his first choice. It makes more sense to me to alternate the two. It sounds like he's given Ba some reassurances about his role as a way of encouraging him to stay, which strikes me as a) unwise and possibly b) naughty. If Ba subsequently gets the feeling that he's been conned / charmed into staying, we'll have an unhappy player on our hands.

The BBC report wasn't completely clear. It sounds like they've agreed a deal with Liverpool and been allowed to talk to the player. Part 2 - probably the hard bit - is persuading the player to join.

Me too, he's class. Jonas is a quality guy and he can definitely do a job in games, at times both offensively and defensively. Mainly the latter, but I think there will be times this season when he doesn't produce enough going forward. Step up Marv who's class I think in our current state of development we should play Jonas, but I kind of wish we didn't have to. With his work rate, experience and appetite for responsibility he's hard to leave out, but he can be very frustrating in possession.

Getting him through the door is one thing, Alan, but will he be over the line?

I wish Ramsey was English.

Doesnt help when the fullbacks are Raylor and Simpson and Cabaye doesnt play. for example i think 4-4-2 would work a lot better if we had Marveaux and Ben Arfa on the wings, Tiote and Cabaye in the middle and Debuchy ( if we sign him) and Santon at fullback. I would still think 4-3-3 is the way to go but 4-4-2 with that personnel could work in certain games IMO. I'd certainly agree about the full backs. Ben Arfa and Marveaux on the wings might leave us a bit vulnerable defensively though. But overall, I still can't get away from the feeling that we're trying to find a way of playing Ba and Cisse together, and it's not quite happening.

For such an experienced player, he does make some very nervy mistakes.

It looks like we're going to go for a 4-4-2 with Cisse and Ba up front. It didn't look great before and it didn't look any better tonight.

Marveaux and Sammy have looked good. Otherwise we've been poor going forward. I don't think Tavernier looks strong enough for a CB.

The fact that Ba had that clause inserted is in itself an indication that he wanted to look at his options at the end of the season. I still think if a good offer comes in from a CL club, he'll be off. I don't think that'll happen though.

Decent player and I think it's a bit of a waste.

The Senegalese were going in full pelt even when they clearly had no chance of getting to the ball first. The ref didn't have the courage to deal with it. Ramsey is our best all round central midfield player. Is there a particular reason why he's not starting? The curse of the British game much in evidence - passes played slightly behind the receiver because the passer didn't have the confidence to play it into their stride. The result - we end up going backwards.

Swansea didn't get the ball forward quickly and kept it on the deck. It's the worst possible style for a striker like Carroll. Assuming Rodgers isn't going to adjust, all this talk about Carroll's talent is pure flannel.

They could hardly say anything else. ie 'Yes, he's a replacement for Debuchy. We're just haggling about the fee'.

If he gets loaned to a club who can't play him, that's a blatant attempt to shorten the ban and surely the FA won't allow it. It doesn't say much for QPR. One minute they're saying how much they disapprove of Barton's behaviour. Then they're trying to shorten the ban for their own convenience. It gives Barton a mixed message.

Before his injury, he was on the fringes of the first team, and it looks from the two matches I've seen that his game has moved up a notch. He's moved himself into contention for sure. He's got the Ameobi temperament, in that if he makes a mistake he doesn't get either angry or lose heart. He keeps showing for the ball and trying things. He has a very mature attitude for a youngster and if he's pitched in, he certainly won't freeze.

The early warning signs are there. He needs to up his game. He's still a good player for the role in which we used him in the first half of the season. But given where we are now, the new options that we've got, and where we're trying to get to, he's no longer indispensible.

I'd like to see us give Vava's front three a try at least. At the moment, they might be a bit too lightweight for the level we're aiming for, but there's only one way to find out. Too many people are not acknowledging that there's an issue with Ba. The game is getting quicker all the time, and the higher the level we aim for, the more difficult it is to play with a striker whose movement isn't too great, no matter how strong his game may be in other aspects. Ba hasn't become a worse player. We're becoming a better side, and the danger is he's going to hold us back.

On the basis of what we saw tonight, Cisse and Sammy were our best attacking options and looked like a potential combination, either in a 2 or a 3 man attack. As for Ba, I'd like him to stay but he needs to fight for his place and I sense that he's not happy to do that. It's the first team or nothing for him. In which case, he can go.

Just the sort of player I was hoping we'd be in for. I'd have thought he'd have more promising options though.

I'd agree with pretty much all of that. Obertan and Vuckic lacked courage. Ba looked slow and we looked better when Cisse came on and gave us that extra movement. Sammy could be playing himself into the first team.

Bigi impressed me today. He's got pace, a good range of passing on him, and quick feet. He doesn't take too long to release the ball. Just needs experience and a bit more physical presence.

It all sounds a bit odd. Pardew does seem to get into these games where he's publicly appeasing a player. Whether it reflects what he's really thinking is something else. It reminds me a bit of how he handled Barton with some big charm offensive. Or rather tried to handle him. If Pardew thinks the team is better with Ba down the middle, then why portray it as Ba's wishes? If he doesn't think that, why pander to the player? The danger is he's going to end up looking two-faced (which Nolan hinted at) or these attempts at pleasing everyone will end up pleasing no-one. It's the one real doubt I have about his management style. Personally I think Ba should get the message that he'll play where he's picked or he can piss off.

Outclassed, but at least they tried to play some decent football. I'll look forward to their next game. Joking aside, Butland had a very confident look about him. He should have a good future.