healthyaddiction

I disagree as the comment about "evaluating the squad" heavily implies that we won't be fielding a first team in these competitions. It's not particularly news but the whole thing reads like a total lack of ambition and year on year mediocrity.

I'm with this line up. But I'd push Ben Arfa and Remy up more to a 4-3-3 but I assume that is what you are doing. Yeah, I was just trying to make it look pretty.

I can understand giving Tiote, Marveux & Gouffran game time. Even Sammy to a certain extent, but it'd be suicide to just change the whole side round. We should give some key reserve players a bit of game time and look at options for players that aren't performing. No more than that. Krul Santon Mbiwa Colocinni Dummett Tiote Anita Ben Arfa Marveux Remy Gouffran That mixes things up plenty to look at options and still gives us a side prepared for winning the game.

I haven't written Debuchy off but when players under perform they need to be dropped. In the league cup i'd go with mostly the same team as against Hull Except with Dummett in for Debuchy (and Santon swapping sides), Gouffran in for Cisse and Marveux or Vuckic in for Cabaye (i'd prefer Marveux but I don't think Pardew seems him there at all). Then these players know that they are playing for these positions. A good game against Leeds can get them a start against Everton.

Based on a quick google, 13 games managed 14 players signed. So yes.

I think i'd go: Krul Santon Williamson MYM Dummett Bigirimana Tiote Marvuex Vuckic Sammy Gouffran Though it might be more sensible to play Cisse upfront, get Gouffran out side and play Marveux behind Cisse. Really want to see Santon and Dummett as the fullback options and Gouffran as the forward as while i'm not writing off Debuchy and Cisse, you need to drop them when they are regularly not performing.

This is what i'd do. Though i'd test it out first against Leeds.

I'd certainly drop Cisse for Gouffran for the next game, i'd also put Santon at right-back and Dummet at left back. I'd stick with MYM and Colo though. I'd play Dummet, Santon at full back and Gouffran centre forward against Leeds and see how they perform. Hopefully well enough to then go in against Everton.

I don't know, I am not sure anyone on this forum is that stupid. Btw, does anyone else think that Ben Arfa is better than Messi?

Looking at some other forums it seems incredible how a small comment by Alan Hansen can affect the opinion of people. I've seen a few places now where fans just talk about keeping off his left foot / from cutting in.

She was in the team photo. And I doubt Campbell will be on the bench as Shola wasn't on the bench last week. It'll probably stop us from getting him a loan sorted though.

If we don't have a category 1 status academy, how are we playing in the under 21 premier league? You had to be category 1 to be included. Did they just let us in to fill the numbers?

22 games, 5 goals I think. Goals against Everton, Villa, Southampton, Stoke and Fulham. edit - we've actually only scored 22 goals in that entire time as well. I think more than anything there is a problem with scoring and creating in the whole team. Though 1 in 4 is obviously not good enough for the main striker.

I love watching him run with the ball, sometimes he doesn't even need to touch the ball the beat them. There was one run against West Brom a couple years ago where he goes past 3 defenders without shifting the ball. They just shit themselves so badly all three go for his legs and he slaloms past. I also appreciate that a lot of players like Ben Arfa would dive a lot, but he totally doesn't. I think it's just because he so wants to continue skinning people to score the perfect goal. Basically he's amazing.

He's good on both sides (because he is an amazing talent), but continually letting him cut inside and shoot at your keeper is just suicidal football and Villa let it happen repeatedly. He needs to be doubled or shown down the right. Luna/Villa as team did neither of these things. How many warnings did they need between the current match and the goal against Fulham to stop letting him cut in left? They were doubled up on him when he took the shot to score at Fulham and when he took the shot that led to Gouffran's goal.

I like the aerial duels stats from yesterday. Top 5 Aerial Duel Winners Santon - 3 Sissoko - 4 Clark - 4 Debuchy - 5 Benteke - 13

That's the problem. Low long ball stats but we also have below average short pass stats and possession (47.7%).

BenArfa10x on Youtube does every match.

Technically Cisse get's the assist. edit: which is also why assist stats are bollocks.

Wanted to see the penalty shout. Suppose it doesn't matter really.

Played as an attacking mid with Anita and Sissoko behind him. He was general average. Didn't do anything of note except a shot near the end of the first half that might have been better to try and play across the goal. Didn't give the ball away or put in any stupid challenges though. I can't remember him creating anything though.

These were annoying me as well, though I can appreciate the inventiveness. When you're in a rut like he is, surely the best thing he could do is go back to basics and try to keep things as simple as possible? He was the only negative thing about today for me, though I thought Cabaye was fairly poor as well. I'd say that Krul and Cisse were very poor, though Krul had little to do he ballsed up the two things he did need to do and Cabaye was a bit poor as well.

I'd give him a few more games with these players around him but if he doesn't pick up i'd certainly put Gouffran up front ahead of him.

GOUFFF

Ben Arfa looked offside there to me. Although I didn't think to look see if he was behind Cabaye.