Sifu

Except for Tiote. So Zambia to win 3-1

Penalty shootout. Yeah can actually see Zambia winning it.....

Got to say, all credit to Zambia tonight. They've worked hard and are playing decent enough (plus their 'keeper has been great)

Demba Ba @dembabafoot I feel the pression more than when i play! I pray for ivory coast

Close! Good save.

Unlucky.

Awful penalty

Penalty to the Ivory Coast!

Of course

I actually enjoyed some of the pranks Rio did back in 2006.

MERK'D.

Yeah, think that's what Ben Arfa was getting at. He wants to see us play the passing game like Swansea has done for most of the season (credit to Rodgers like). Not going to take too much from that Ben Arfa interview though tbh.

Howay Cheik!

Very good points there. In pre-season, I reckon Pardew knew where and how he was going to play Ben Arfa this season. Thus, you could say that Hatem's injury in the US was a setback for Pardew as he had to throw all his initial plans regarding the system out the window. This meant that he basically had to start again and develop an entirely different one, one which has turned out to have served us well for most of this season.

Good news I guess. Patience is the key really.

Not watching the Villa-City game. From what I gather from this thread, nothing's really happening?

well i would love to. but recently took out basic sky package and the bastards dont include ssn I miss having SSN on Freeview. had it on virgin- but not on sky- how odd. We cancelled Sky last year and iirc, we had the entertainment pack and that included SSN.

well i would love to. but recently took out basic sky package and the bastards dont include ssn I miss having SSN on Freeview.

Sky Sports News @SkySportsNews The Suarez-Evra affair reaches Government level - find out who's said what #SSN

Bloody hell IP

Now Lille 4-5 Bordeaux, obviously.

Which is some feat

True, but think he will stay for at least another season (one where he's essentially injury-free). He's not going anywhere this summer or next January. Think Ben Arfa's still motivated enough to try and prove himself to Pardew/in the PL. The only way he'll still be here next season is if he's starting fairly regularly by the end of this one. Players of his self belief don't spend more than one season warming the bench. That doesn't just apply to Ben Arfa but any player with ambition to play at the top. As it stands, I honestly think he'll get his proper chance (a run of games in the side) between now and the rest of the season (especially with Tiote and Cabaye back). If not, then I'll probably change my view like I've said above.

True, but think he will stay for at least another season (one where he's essentially injury-free). He's not going anywhere this summer or next January. Think Ben Arfa's still motivated enough to try and prove himself to Pardew/in the PL. Wishful thinking IMO. He probably feels he still owes us after his injury and I know that he's frequently said that he's a more mature character these days but if the rest of the season is like this I think he'll put in a transfer request in the summer. The only thing that would affect that would be us finishing 4th which is very unlikely. If things do continue as they are (as in Ben Arfa is still not being selected even if all our big guns (the likes of Cabaye/Tiote) are fit and ready), then I'll probably change my view but as it stands, I'm still not too worried as such.