Dr Venkman

To be fair Anita looks like he can play a pass.

The official Twitter's been wrong about the formation before, but for it to be wrong again I guess we'd have to see Ba out wide.....

Yeah I don't get that, especially in a game where set pieces haven't been working, a short corner to Ben Arfa is a really good option. That said though pretty much everyone who goes to watch us is fucking stupid and knows nothing about football.

Obviously it's a factor, you can't prepare for two games at once, no matter who is going to be on the pitch on the night. If the EL is so far down the priority list though, why not just prepare for the league game all week and just play the same way on a Thursday night?

Appalling fitness record, actually feel sorry for him because he is a committed player for all his faults, I thought he was brilliant in the first half of last season. Unfortunately though he cant be relied upon, and frustratingly, we all knew that.

He's my pals little brother, local lad. Wouldn't be surprised if he was signed up on here.

He's the boss though Ian, he decides what Pardew's job is.

Leave Bimpy out of this, he's one of the best things to ever happen to the forum.

Remember when we 'dominated' Liverpool at Anfield last season? Remember being able to hear Pardew screaming at all of our players to knock it long to Ba for 90 mins?

And that is exactly what he reckons wins games, he then proceeds to completely go against that with his formation and long ball tactics. The blokes a fucking idiot. He's certainly contradicting himself in this instance.

We need to control the midfield you see, that's paramount.

I'm not necessarily for sacking him but the problems we're seeing on the pitch absolutely reek of the sort of thing that'll be sorted if a new manager comes in and gives the players back their confidence in a passing game. I'm not saying Simpson and Williamson are going to suddenly look to pass it on the floor all the time but remember the difference in the TEAM once KK had a few months with them after Allardyce? It was such a massive difference and we're starting to look a bit like we did under Fat Sam.

But we know from watching us last season (and this) that Pardew teams aren't about movement, they're about staying in position (ie the opposite of moving) keeping it tight and hoping for a front man to produce a bit of magic. We've seen it with our own eyes and we've heard it from coaching staff and players as well, you shouldn't blame the players for following the managers instructions. I don't mean deviating from position, free roles etc. I'm talking about pockets of space between opponents that all players look for and get into before getting the ball. 4 or 5 yards. Not exactly going against the managers words that, its just natural. The only players doing this yesterday were Santon and Anita. Everyone else just stood still. If it's natural for players to do it (and it is) then the absence of movement tells me that they're being told not to move, surely? You only have to have watched us play for the last two years to see that's the way Pardew wants it.

But we know from watching us last season (and this) that Pardew teams aren't about movement, they're about staying in position (ie the opposite of moving) keeping it tight and hoping for a front man to produce a bit of magic. We've seen it with our own eyes and we've heard it from coaching staff and players as well, you shouldn't blame the players for following the managers instructions.

I agree with this in principal, but I think he needs to be given the right type of players to succeed, and I don't think it's going to happen.

I think that ship sailed a while back mate, he had his chance to progress the football over the summer and did fuck all, it was clear to see within four matches that he wasn't addressing the issues. Funnily enough I fancy him to have a go with the 4-3-3 with Ba wide over the next few weeks, if it doesn't work though I think he'll hide further in his shell and we'll get more and more defensive if we fall into a relegation fight.

I can see Pardew reverting to the 4-3-3 with Ba wide under all this pressure.

He deserves to be sacked for that decision alone, Pardew Out!

I'm happy to accept he might get the odd one in on his say so, day to day transfer business though? No chance

What evidence is there to back up the idea that Pardew has 'no real say' on recruitment? I think that's nonsense. Who gets brought in depends a lot on finances and how much other clubs and players are asking for, but that's the same with any club. I don't think anyone gets targeted without Pardew's say-so. Imo it absolutely beggars belief that people still think this way.

Is that added to the central defender and right back we need? Yes. I haven't got much faith that he'll turn it around but without the players to play his long ball game there's absolutely no chance.

He needs to be backed in January and by that I mean by bringing in players he can actually use, if we're playing long ball then lets get a target man and someone who'll feed off his knock downs.

I think we should play a rigid 4-4-2, keep our positions and hope that someone produces a bit of magic. Do I get the job?

He'll go in February imo, for obvious reasons.

He's absolutely safe until February 1st imo.