Parky

Said something similar in Pards and Tiote threads. It's the modern game: movement and fluid positions with midfielders/forw playing two roles.

This is a good point and something I brought up in the match thread. After about 30 minutes, I suggested brining Anita on and taking Cisse off in order to try and gain some control through the middle of the park. That was in the vain hope of nicking one back and throwing all caution to the wind in chasing an equaliser. Appreciate it wouldn't have gone down well and many will probably disagree but midfield is where we lost the game yesterday. In particular, that first half an hour. The midfield has been crowded out/ out played most of the time most games this season. 2 in the middle used to be ok a decade ago but nearly all PL sides rotate a 3/4 man central mid. Man U being a good example. Two running forwards drop off and hook up with the CM pairing this immediately nullifies all our mf play and time on the ball is non-existent. Rooney and Wellbeck due to their pace and athleticism can play as loose forwards we don't really have that kind of player. Ba isn't athletic enough even when he does drop off and Cisse looks like a fish out of water when he drops deep. Neither although not slow aren't blessed with a turn of real pace either.

Ba can do it but he hates being there, so we get a kind of stunted version of him. But agree he can if he is forced to play there. I remember him looking up and picking out advancing midfielders in particular Hatem...Something has changed mentally with him there is no getting away from it. Sulky at times. He's in a good scoring streak so now it's almost impossible to instruct him to go back there.

We've ended up with two out and out finishers with no much else to their game. This is the crux of Pards problem.

Think the eight year contract has brought with it a wierd pressure that he could have done without.

Pulis had a proper go at Suarez in his post match - took up nearly the whole 3min.

It's not meant to be funny. It's meant to subliminally make you commit suicide. Nearly there.

Top post Tooj. Long ball for the long haul - Pard8.

Even 3-5-2 would be better with our lack of fullbacks. Santon RM and Fergie LM. Hatem in the center with license to record various Bond theme tunes.

Spot on. But why is he sticking to this hell on rollerblades? We have no juice for the fluid or summink.

Don't like him on the left.

First 5 mins Harper and co hit 6 hoofs generally in a forward direction. I mean what kind of shit is that?

He started messing around with the team too much at West Ham 2nd season iirc. [/startsunfoundedrumour]

The whole thing is beginning to have a nasty look about it.

Every game just about.... He starts off to contain.

Our preperation for this season has to be questioned. Too many players are not firing and the transfer window was a strong negative. If you add to this the revealing lack of consistency of formation and belief in what our best starting set up should be I'd have to say Pard8 has to take a lot of the blame for that. After a top 5 finish and a squad on a high there was a chance this might happen (maybe some of them thought they'd get an insta-move to a top tier side I don't know). It just seems to be a lot of their minds aren't right and there is a difinite lack of composure and focus. A season which we all wished we would kick on a bit or even have that hunger to continue is one or two games away from becoming a struggle with no end in sight.

Our preperation for this season has to be questioned. Too many players are not firing and the transfer window was a strong negative. If you add to this the revealing lack of consistency of formation and belief in what our best starting set up should be I'd have to say Pard8 has to take a lot of the blame for that. After a top 5 finish and a squad on a high there was a chance this might happen (maybe some of them thought they'd get an insta-move to a top tier side I don't know). It just seems to be a lot of their minds aren't right and there is a difinite lack of composure and focus. A season which we all wished we would kick on a bit or even have that hunger to continue is one or two games away from becoming a struggle with no end in sight.

Pard8 won't commit to a 433. In effect the team are playing 2/3 systems nearly every game. Also don't like seeing Hatem on the left so much seems to detract from his game too much.

Just been lookin at the odds for 2-2. [/deluded]

Pardew and HIS 442.

Need one bf half time.

Started with hooofs ended with 0-2

This is brand association armageddon.

It surely can't be wonga.

Has that actually been confirmed btw? It is actually 7.5 + add ons the Virgin deal. what are the add onns? Euro and cup games. But it's def £7.5 basic not 10m.