Memphis

If it were truly family-related, seems to me speaking publicly would make the most sense. People would sympathise to some extent. His silence is rather telling. So, either the rumours are true or there was an extraordinary falling-out with the manager, far exceeding anything normal. I can't imagine any scenario, including health issues, that would necessitate immediate retirement from football and a move back home, all in the space of a few weeks.

http://frenchfootballweekly.com/2012/05/24/2012-ligue-1-team-of-the-year/ Pretty fucking great that we now have two of the back four that made up last year's consensus Ligue 1 XI of the season.

From a scouting report on Yanga-Mbiwa from about a year ago - http://www.theelastico.com/2012/02/mapou-yanga-mbiwa/

Pretty simple...to the chorus of "Werewolves of London" "Ma-POOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUU Yan-ga M-bi-wa Ma-POOOOUUUUUUUUUUUU"

A Bola (POR) has a report - anyone speak Portuguese? http://www.abola.pt/nnh/ver.aspx?id=377928

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mxG28TgwvQ0/T0e_ZMa7suI/AAAAAAAAANg/IDpfG-YoCuo/s1600/san_lorenzo_viggo_mortensen.jpg

Bringing in Anita has not made a difference and he plays the same role. If we sign Sissoko we'll have him, Tiote, Anita, Perch all cabable of playing the DM role. Too many purple players. Anita's never threatened his place. At no time did anyone expect or think a fully-fit Tiote would not start at DM even with Anita's arrival.

Tiote needs to improve but what would motivate him to do so? Bringing Sissoko in would be outstanding not just because he'd improve our general play, but presumably because we'd get a better Tiote out of the deal too.

It's amazing how that performance on Saturday (and the Remy nonsense) just sapped my excitement for what should be a really excellent transfer.

He's shown himself today. If you're going to be in a relegation fight, you need a manager with conviction. He's shit his pants this afternoon. It's time to get rid. There's nothing kneejerk about that. It couldn't be more clear after today.

IF YOU TAKE MARVEAUX OFF YOU CANNOT THEN ALSO TAKE CABAYE OFF IF YOU PLAN ON TAKING CABAYE OFF AT 70 MINUTES FUCKING LEAVE MARVEAUX ON IT IS NOT THAT HARD

That was my thought too. No one in their right mind takes a comfortable 1-0 lead and makes the substitutions he made. His insane fear has infected the entire club.

Sounded loud to me. Might have been muted since about 15,000 had already left.

He should not have a job in 30 minutes.

I genuinely cannot believe how much Pardew has panicked. If he stays, he will be relegated. How could anyone trust the kind of managerial idiocy he's shown today?

When the manager gives up on a team, how can you blame the players for doing the same?

This - alone - is sackworthy. Really is.

Of course.

Shit scared to lose. Really speaks poorly of him.

"JUST GET IT IN THE BOX" - at least 10 times

Trying not to be completely deflated but failing miserably. Win tomorrow. That would help.

Debuchy mentioned it in a radio interview in France - he's staying with Yo.

...would have loved to hear Remy's phone call to Shaun Derry to ask how things work at QPR

From David McRossan on Twitter - "Remy phones Cabaye/Debuchy last night and asked Cabaye for news of the club and wanted to know how things work/how things are going at nufc"

Baby steps. Lost 7 straight away from home on the trot. Hadn't picked up an away point in the league all year. Had kept only one clean sheet away from home in any competition all year (0-0 at Maritimo). Decent platform from which to build, albeit very very ugly.