STM

Sounds pissed, can they not filter out the nob heads?

The worst thing for Wigan is that should they take the lead, i still would fancy us to come back and win because the confidence/character in the group is fantastic at the moment. Wigan will give us hat-fulls of chances on saturday, i'd be very suprised if we don't score a couple at the very least.

It's a shame because there is simply no doubting his talent. I understand the arguement that he is not worth it given his reputation and i agree but just for a moment lets imagine... Cabaye Tiote Taarabt Ben Arfa Marveaux Ba

I'll be delighted if Santon gets a start, really looking forward to seeing what he is all about. I think people are right when they say Simpson should be the one dropped, especially since Raylor will be playing against his old club but do we move Taylor over to the right and put Santon in at left back.

From what i can see, he looks good in the air and has an unorthodox style with his feet, he reminds me of Martins in that respect. That's all i can take from the video clips i've seen. If we are willing to spend more to get him than we did on Ben Arfa, Cabaye and Tiote, then it says alot. Lets hope Carr has found a diamond for us.

I genuinely think we will batter them. God help them if we get an early goal.

Earlier on in the season i thought their was no chance that Sunderland would get relegated but now i'm starting to think they will be in a deep relegation dog fight come the end of the season. Their attitude reminds me of what we were like during our relegation, my only worry is that Sunderland will sack Bruce before he takes them down but i truly believe they are on the slide.

I think he should start, i have no idea in what position though. It's almost like Pardew is waiting for an injury to one of the first team.

Have no idea how good this guy is? I'd really like one of our resident frenchies to give us the full view on him.

When i think of "weak" areas in a team, i think of players who could cost us a game or someone who is so shit upfront that it doesn't matter what chances you create for them. With that in mind, i think Obertan is far from a "weakness" in our side. He's also far from a great footballer but he's very quick, covers his full-back and has clear technical ability. We definately need to get more out of him though or he may lose his place in the side. However, i'm not suprised that Pardew hasn't brought him out of the team, for two reasons. Firstly, i don't think he sees Marveaux as a right sided midfielder (who would be his obvious replacement) and secondly it's unwise to bring recently signed players out of the team, what does that say about his confidence in his new signing?

You know when you are watching a game and you have a completely un-realistic expectation of what the players should do with the ball. Like your winger picks up the ball and you think to yourself "Ok so dribble past three of their players and lay it off to the striker and he can slot it away". Well when Cabaye picks up the ball, he plays passes that i can't even imagine. I swear at the end of yesterdays game he played a cross field pass to Shola that didn't even exist. In fact, i'm not even sure he looked, he just "pinged" it out to the wing, as if he knew in two seconds time Shola would be standing precisely where he played the ball. The guy has a shockingly good range of passing that is complimented perfectly with an astute awareness of his team-mates and a fantastic vision. The sort of player that England simply can't seem to produce, apart from Wilshere, but there's a long way to go and he was brought up in the "Arsenal" way. My only slight critisism is that he doesn't seem the type of player that is going to get many goals, he may score the odd screamer or take penalties this year but i doubt he has the goalscoring instinct to really produce many goals.

Europeometer.

Krul Santon Taylor Coloccini Taylor Tiote Cabaye Obertan Jonas Ben Arfa Ba The only other possibility is Pardew naming an unchanged side again but i can't help feeling that he will bring Santon and Ben Arfa in to this one. Wigan are absolute toss, probably going to be the worst team to play at SJP this season, so i expect a comfortable win. I'll go 4-1

Allardyce has talked shite since his fat arse hit that sofa. He's a proper cunt too.

Could be bluffing, Redknapps dodgy as fuck. Would be a massive boost for us.

Aye, i reckon he's been told to take a rest. It was rather suspicious that he picked up a knock just before the international break.

It's an easy link though, i think he will end up at someone like Villa.

If Cabaye misses this game i would move Ben Arfa into centre midfield. The gamble would be that he is not disciplined enough to play a central role but if we can get him on the ball he can still create from this position. In reality he would be no more a gamble than Marveaux IMO and who would be the other options (other than changing formation)? Guthrie? Gosling? Abeid? Smith? No thanks. Front six: Tiote Ben Arfa Marveaux Jonas Ba Best

Alan Smith is a wet-lipped little cunt.

Why? He likes to drift about the pitch and pretty much switch flanks at times anyway. Marveaux could come in at some point and make himself undroppable (doubt that's a word TBH ) his performances so far have certainly been promising and I can see him being in the regular starting XI by the turn of the year. I seem to remember Jonas has been quite poor on the right for us and has rarely played there. But he's improved so much since he's been with us, and I would say having a left footer and right footer on the flanks being able to interchange would be quality. Certainly don't see how there is 'no chance Jonas will be played on the right' You mis-undertand Nath, i've never commented on his ability to play on the right. I'm simply saying that Pardew will not play him on the right.

I thought Newcastle and Sunderland don't play at home on the same day?

Not you man, wolf man over there.

You are weird mate.

I think he's alright. He's probably created more clear cut chances than Jonas so far this season, although the difference in workrate/attitude is obvious. I think Obertan certainly offers us something on the break, get the ball to him in space and he can't half run. Needs to do the simple things better.

No chance Jonas will be played on the right.