stozo

Finished 2-2.

Excellent move for him. Hope this gives him the opportunity he needs.

Have noticed a few people criticising Pardew for the use of Shola. Does anyone seriously think he'd be using Shola if he had another natural striker available to him? When you're trying to win games and Shola is our only first team striker then it's inevitable that some of the time Shola is going to end up playing. Hopefully after the summer we won't be in this situation but until then I don't really think you can criticise Pardew for using Shola.

Pure rubbish. We scored 4 goals yesterday yet we clearly don't work on our attacking play? Unfortunately after our poor first half of the season, where Pardew admittedly made mistakes, it seems some people have simply decided he can do virtually nothing to redeem himself.

That is utterly laughable. I suppose Mancini is being carried by Aguero, Toure and Kompany? Ferguson by RvP, Rooney and Evra? What else are managers supposed to do other than be 'carried' by signings - they can't turn water into wine.

Just over 15 mins until the predictable 'PARDEW WHY U NO PUT BEN ARFA ON BENCH?!?!'

Some people on here are unbelievable. Do we not remember the Fulham game where we brought him back from injury (obviously too soon) and lost him for over two months? If that we're to happen again then that's him out for the season. Much better to ease him back in gently and have him for the rest of the season than rush him and lose him.

No Santon. Hope there is no injury.

@Sammy_Ameobi: The 'real' boss is finally back #hatem

Only just realised that the number of players we now have out on loan has creeped up to 7. Let's hope a few more go out in the next few weeks.

I think he'll do a decent job given time but I have to say he's no Graham Carr when it comes to signings. He's spent almost £35m on Allen, Borini and Coutinho and didn't bother starting any of them last night. That's without mentioning the fact that Borini and Allen have done very little to justify their price tags (too soon to tell with Coutinho).

I'd have Obertan over Jonas for this one. Was thinking that myself but every time he impresses me it seems to be when he plays on the left rather than the right.

All season I've been semi-dreading the Europa League games due to us playing our second string. Difference now is that our second string actually doesn't look too bad. I'd go: Harper Santon Yanga-Mbiwa Coloccini Haidara Tiote Anita Jonas Sissoko Marv Cisse

Definitely agree on Gosling. Wouldn't surprise me if he's moved on in the summer.

This. And it's the reason why I'm actually quite confident with Ashley in charge going forward.

Interestingly Sissoko's average position on Saturday was more advanced than Cisse's.

Pardew said he's two weeks away in his BBC post-match interview.

Feel a bit sorry for QPR fans today. Must be ecstatic to know they're signing players who might keep them up but it's all going to end in tears. Within the next five years they'll be in the same situation as Portsmouth.

This post should be made into its own thread and stuck at the top of the forum.

Balotelli is one of those players who you just feel will throw his talent away because of his stupidity/laziness. I hope it works out for him though because if he does get himself together then he'll be a great player.

Think we'll end up lining up like this: Krul Debuchy Yanga-Mbiwa Colo Santon Anita Cabaye Jonas Gouffran Cisse Marveaux Subs: Elliot, Perch, S.Taylor, Sissoko, Obertan, Sh. Amoebi and Sa. Amoebi

Duly note the winks that are after the words on his tweet. Methinks he's on the wind up.

Challenge will be finding the right clubs and the right level for the fringe players we want to loan out. Ameobi, Ferguson, Dummett, Tavernier, Amalfitano and Abeid would probably all need to move to a Championship club for the move to be worth their while, which is challenging as their are only so many clubs who need young players on loan and 20 Premier League clubs who are looking to loan their promising youngster to them. Hopefully a couple will get the right moves. The one who needs it more than any other is Ameobi. Seems to have pretty good raw talent but limited footballing brain which would surely improve by playing every week.

This. He's a decent honest player who's always done his best but sadly isn't good enough to be playing week in week out in the Premier League.

Laudrup or Martinez. Need someone who can get us playing good stuff on the deck.