TRon

This. They were class together in the first half of the Championship season which people tend to forget ( I know, Championship...), but there is certainly potential in the partnership. Decent left back and I'll be happy with the defence for now, although Simpson still worries the s*** out of me. I agree, but about Simpson i'm usually critical against him but tbf to him he was solid today. Say it quietly, but even Raylor looked okay today. In the first half Gervinho was going past him at will, and it was Colo and Taylor who saved his bacon on more than one occasion. He still looks awful defensively to me, although granted he was playing on his wrong side.

Yeah it was pretty depressing. Being generous I'll say it might be down to lack of preparation for one reason or another, and it was still a decent point. It's one thing buying technical ability players though, and another being able to utilise them properly.

The same happened with Best if you recall. People like to judge instantly and the ones that do it can barely tell their arse from their elbow. Who's judging? Anyone who thinks he had a shit game when the only time he received the ball was when he was scrapping for balls hoofed towards his head from 50 yds away.

Agree. For all the talk of adding pace, we missed it through the middle and up front today.

Said it before but I'll say it again - absolute Rolls Royce of a player. Credit where it's due, Stevie Taylor was outstanding alongside him as well.

The same happened with Best if you recall. People like to judge instantly and the ones that do it can barely tell their arse from their elbow.

I was really concerned about how we got pressured into just clearing the ball upfield in the first half. It's hard work getting the ball back from Arsenal so it's criminal to give away possession so easily. We missed Enrique badly on that score and Pardew needs to show he can get the team to follow his instructions if he wants passing football because it starts from the back. Early days though, we didn't look fully fit either.

Pardew had his side out there today, with his signings all playing with his star striker who apparently cost more than we think. If he's got other strengths then I'd suggest Pardew should find a way to use them. He got the formation wrong in the first half but you know you've had a shitter when you're taken off ahead of Shola. I think the fault was with Pardew rather than Ba. We were still playing long ball football for 45 mins.

He showed the willingness to, Barton and Cabaye tried a few in the first half. Will be a good player to have this year. there was a couple of occasions where he took up great positions and was waiting for the pass but the service in general was terrible. I think he'll be fine when we actually start to play football. It was better in the second half.

Amazing how so many people calling Ba awful failed to pick up on the fact that we were hoofing long balls at his head for the whole of the first half. He looks like he'll be a different player when you get people sliding balls through.

I was surprised in that first half, we ended up pumping balls long and that's why it was difficult for Ba in particular. We could do with full backs who bring the ball out better if we want to get the passing game on.

I wonder if Shola will be dropping back into midfield much? Might be why he's preferred over Best.

The squad's not going to stay like this is it? nah we're gonna sell a few more people like colo and tiote You forgot Cabaye and Ba. I'm sure we'll be in profit if we can shift those two off the wage bill.

Wouldn't have started if Ben Arfa wasn't injured, I guess. I would have fancied our chances of goals with Ba and Best up front rather than Shola.

The squad's not going to stay like this is it?

Sunderland equalise. You'd have won this in our colours you Judas cunt

A draw wouldn't be the end of the world. We could do with Sunderland being demoralised for next week but Liverpool stumbling is pretty sweet also.

The new premier season seemed all bright and shiny until I was reminded that Sunderland are still part of it. Get the Domestos out.

9th Terry Venables has us down to finish 16th btw, below the likes of Sunderland, Blackburn, Norwich and Wolves. Slimey cockney bastard.

Alex Ferguson prefers an English core to his team and squad, something we seem to be trying to get rid of which I don't agree with. Alex Ferguson can afford to pay the price of top English players so that helps. I sort of agree it's a big risk to pack the side with European footballers but a decent coach could really make it work.

Because King Cunny's a twat. Hopefully he'll wreck Liverpool's team like he wrecked ours. Not today though.

smug

Good post. I've said previously in this thread that it will be interesting to see how he sets out the team with so many continental players in the side who will be used to a totally different style that we play over here. It's a real test of his managerial ability and if he's not up to it I expect a foreign manager will be brought in next.

I think the Mackems will still be mentally traumatised from the physical battering they took off Carroll and Shola at St James. Wouldn't be surprised if Carroll does them over again - I certainly hope so. He's a Geordie legend once again for 90 mins today.

Two weak defences, but they've got more goals in their forward line up. I'd take a draw right now.