Dr Venkman

Ruel Fox

Last season after 9 games we were 4th and 6 points better off so we are similar in that we played poorly early on but we did get better results. That's true, we haven't started quite as well, I really do think injuries have played their part though. Especially Krul, we'd have won at Reading with him playing imo, and probably Everton too.

Krul, Colo, Saylor and Tiote must have played barely any games together (all players) which must take something out of our defence and out of our freedom to attack. Even when they have played it's been getting them back from layoffs. Given they are all key players this must have had a real effect. It's made a big difference imo, Pardew is very cautious and he'll restrict forward movement even more when we're missing defenders. It's one of the reasons I think we'll progress significantly with a new full back, having four good defenders will improve our attacking play.

Don't be daft, of course he would. Generic 'everyone would rather play for Liverpool than us' Dave post.

This season is so similar to last in many ways. We're playing poorly and I've been quite perplexed by some of Pardew's decisions but lets face it, we're picking up points without hitting our stride. I'm fully expecting a run of form soon, Krul, Colo and Saylor make a massive difference and we've looked better in the last two games.

Indeed, if they stopped worrying about trying to better us they could just enjoy being what they are, a lower half team from a small provincial town.

That interrupt thing is ducking hilarious.

Yes........

He hasn't even had the games that Colo had.

Obertan shouldn't start, because he's shit. Neither should Shola, because he's much better as a sub and only 1 or 2 starts away from everyone hating him again. We're due a performance and the signs are there that one is on the way, with the first halves in our last to games being particularly good.

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I want O'Neill there for at least another year like, I want them to be absolutely on their knees when he leaves with at least 75% of their squad old, shit and on massive wages. He must be given time to finish the job.

He has, but he's abandoned it amongst rumours of Ba not happy out wide, and he even mentioned himself (Pardew) that Ba was concerned about how much time he was going to spend playing out wide. We're now in the position where even Shola is pushed out wide to accommodate Ba's stubbornness. Imo it's very clear where the problem lies, and I think Pardew is trying his best to be diplomatic with Ba in order to keep him at the club so money can be spent elsewhere and not on replacing him, which would be difficult. Erm, I think Pardew isn't moving Demba because he's the one scoring all our goals. Ok, does that explain why we started this season with a 4-4-2 with Ba central after finishing last season very well in a 4-3-3? Or do you think it's better explained by the fact that Pardew said he'd had to reassure Ba over the summer about playing centrally, and now that we are flirting with a 4-3-3 we're seeing none of the interchanging that was going on last season, at all, Ba is either central or not on the pitch. AND SHOLA IS BEING PLAYED ON THE WING. How much more proof do you need!?

He has, but he's abandoned it amongst rumours of Ba not happy out wide, and he even mentioned himself (Pardew) that Ba was concerned about how much time he was going to spend playing out wide. We're now in the position where even Shola is pushed out wide to accommodate Ba's stubbornness. Imo it's very clear where the problem lies, and I think Pardew is trying his best to be diplomatic with Ba in order to keep him at the club so money can be spent elsewhere and not on replacing him, which would be difficult.

Feel like I should clarify what I've said about Ba. I DON'T want to see him sold, and certainly don't think he'd be easily replaced. I just don't think it'd necessarily be a crushing blow if the replacement was really considered and used as a method of getting us into the 4-3-3 regularly, which is surely the way forward for this team. I fucking love Demba Ba though, don't get me wrong.

:lol: Been drinking have we ? No Ba > no goals > no 3 points. Or if Ba played on the left. More Goals > more wins > more 3 points. It's not just a coincidence the rest of the team are under performing. Do you really believe the only reason that we don't play 4-3-3 is because of Ba? What other reason could there be? You don't just scrap something that was producing results. I agree with you but I don't think it's Ba's fault, not as cut and dry as that. It's Pardew's fault essentially but I think it's to do with full backs being exposed and trying to keep Ba happy in the hope that he signs a new contract so money can be spent elsewhere. I can't help but feel that if we'd brought in Debuchy and a striker things would be considerably different.

We've known this for some time.

I also find this very, very frustrating. I imagine Pardew does too fwiw and I think Ba will be moved on before too long, as much for his wage demands and general trying to have his cake and eat it with release clauses etc etc as anything else.

The fact that our transfer policy is based on value above the needs of the squad is years old news.

We played well in the first half, Jonas, Shola and Simpson stuck out like sore thumbs, they just couldn't keep the ball moving accurately. Anita deserves a run of games in a 3 imo.

Sensible post. In many ways this season is similar to last. This season though we've got more games to play and we've had injuries to Krul, Colo and Saylor, those players make a massive difference to our fortunes. Last season we started poorly and picked up wins, this season it's been mostly draws due to the missing players, Krul made a couple of match winning saves today.

if you think solely getting a better right back will change the entire team, you in for a rude awakening. I don't, so I'm not. I just think Pardew is more likely to allow the midfielders to pass and move out of their starting positions if we've got a more capable defence. what? one new right back and that will make pardew "allow the midfielders to pass and move out of their starting positions if we've got a more capable defence." i hardly think one right back and will change the entire defence, so the other 3 defenders in our back four are so incapable that one new fullback will solve the problem for our midfield? im not getting where you're coming from. It doesn't matter

Games like this where teams have shots at our goal, aye. I just meant close games.

if you think solely getting a better right back will change the entire team, you in for a rude awakening. I don't, so I'm not. I just think Pardew is more likely to allow the midfielders to pass and move out of their starting positions if we've got a more capable defence.

Fancy us to get a result here, they're nothing special and we might take some confidence from today. Cisse will be his act together eventually, why not next weekend?