Memphis

The entire team looks tired and jaded. No energy, urgency or communication. The only bright spots (Ba excluded), not coincidentally, happened to be Vuckic and HBA. Players who haven't played much and have much more energy. Changes are needed quickly. Cannot continue in the same way and expect anything less than more defeats and insipid play.

Colo must not be even close to fit. He was awful. Tiote also was awful. Vuckic very very promising and unlucky not to have at least one, if not 2 wondergoals. HBA needs to be playing, end of. Santon off at the half was disgraceful, especially seeing as how it did precisely fuck all for our defensive prowess. Without Ba, we'd be in deep trouble.

Shola apparently about to come on. WTF

THey're killing us down the right in particular because Jonas doesn't have the energy to play LB/LW like he did for two months and Raylor is shit.

Obertan is playing all over the place - again, if he's going to do that, replace him with the much better option in HBA.

Colo's having a diabolical game. Doesn't look at the races.

High line is killing us. We do not have the pace and organization to do it against WBA.

Santon off? That's the change? Goodness me.

Lots of long ball, really not playing it like we did a few weeks ago. I still contend we don't have the energy as a side we did back then. Mentally we're making far more mistakes than ever before - another sign of fatigue. Need HBA if for no other reason than just to freshen up the ideas and give us a different look.

Colo's been as much at fault tonight for the goals as Perch, I'm afraid. Tiote has been really poor, Jonas too. Wing play has been so so appalling. Obertan's now cutting inside far more than hugging the touchline; might as well bring HBA on.

That was incredible from Vuckic - you cannot get closer than that from 25 yards out... Still so unlucky...

Poor, poor, poor - everyone just switched off. Another 3-3 on the way?

Apparently Ba made a point of celebrating with HBA - per Caulkin. Why not try playing them together, Alan?

If Ba's knees weren't so shit, he could be a decent player.

HOLY SHIT WHAT A FREE KICK

Can't stress it enough - we just don't have that extra gear right now, West Brom picked it up a bit, we don't seem to be able to. Wing play is nonexistent and as such we don't look a threat at all.

We look very leggy. Not nearly as much snap and vigor as we had a month or so ago. Seem like a tired group in general - Jonas specifically looks a yard slower than October/November.

Odemwingie's had the beating of Colo all night thus far. Pace giving him problems, unfortunately.

Sammy over HBA takes the piss. I'd be petulant too if I had HBA's CV and I was watching Sammy and Shola play from the bench. Pardew struggles to make adjustments in games like this. Wigan was similar except for a moment of brilliance from Dreamboat. Pardew didn't get as fortunate today. He's got to let creative players play more and let go of this vise grip he has on the orthodox 4-4-2 - especially when the wing play was as shit as it was for most of the day. When you can't change your system at all, forcing you to choose Sammy Ameobi over Hatem Ben Arfa again and again, you are far too stubborn.

I've given Pardew a lot of credit and rightfully so, but the lack of a clear Plan B really costs us on days like this. Needed to freshen things up in the 2nd and did nothing. Not utilising potentially our best creative outlet in HBA and instead leaving Obertan on for far too long and replacing him with the increasingly poor Sammy Ameobi shows a lack of flexibility. Very, very disappointing afternoon.

It is remarkable how they haven't gotten a single yellow despite constant fouling.

Obertan is so frustrating. Why does he have to take 50 touches to make even the simplest decision?

Ba's determination to get his shot away is fantastic - he gets in position to shoot so early and muscles defenders away. And his first touch is immaculate. What a player.

Tiote definitely looks very short of sharpness. Several poor passes and looks a bit slow. Colo's presence - not that he's had much to do - has made Perch look like Saylor. We're miles better but look a bit sluggish. Jonas has been poor again.

Pardew's apparent inability to name a starting XI without Obertan is problematic. Tactically, there are ways around using him on the right wing. I applaud Pardew for the job he's done so far, but his Obertan myopia is getting to be a serious concern. Also, the idea that you'd play a 5' 8'' Perch in the middle against 6' Grant Holt and 6' 2'' Steve Morison was never going to be anything other than a failure when it comes to set pieces. If nothing else, Kadar is 6' 2''.