Dr Venkman

Reminds me a little bit of Cabaye at the start of last season, just not used to the rhythm yet, he'll be fine.

I haven't seen anyone else able to beat two players by moving the ball 3 yards away from himself and running onto it, not in such tight situations. He did it today in the first half, it was similar to the little touch between players for the Bolton goal, it's like he sees things in slow motion.

Everyone's calm, I trust him as well but it's a growing concern imo. This concern has some substance though. Pardew has said in public that Ba had been worried about what position he was going to play, and that he'd told him that in 90% of games, he'd be down the middle. Really that can only mean 4-4-2, unless he's going to drop Cisse, or push him wide. In that respect, he's made a bit of an exception of Ba. No-one else has been given those kind of public assurances. That's never felt right to me. It's really strange I agree. Imagine if Pardew felt the need to say he's promised Ben Arfa he doesn't have to track back if he doesn't want to, there'd be more than a few raised eyebrows and rightly so. Why is Ba any different? He's not the only player who had a good season last time out.

Everyone's calm, I trust him as well but it's a growing concern imo.

I'd add to that Cabaye today was looking to pass over 3-4 opposition players heads and land the ball on a 5p piece in order to get us in on goal. If we work the ball to him further up the pitch it's a pass between two defenders on the deck.

I've said this a few times but if Pardew is letting Ba dictate where he does or doesn't play then it's really worrying. I can't imagine it though, Pardew seems quite strict and authoritarian (his treatment of HBA last season for example). I can't imagine Pardew would risk the hard work he's put in so far just to keep one player happy.

I'm pretty stunned at the negative reaction to this thread, it's undeniably worthy of discussion imo.

While I thought we were poor and I'm a bit frustrated with 4-4-2, pretty much this. I'd be interested to see HBA's stats, I missed the first 20 minutes but I saw him give the ball away twice in the rest of the game. And I swear he gave someone a thumbs up while he was dribbling on 77 mins.

Ben Arfa DID just give someone a thumbs up while he was dribbling the ball, didn't he?

Ben Arfa freedom to roam and it's all us.

Ben Arfa's amazing man.

it's pardew's achilles heel atm. It seemed to be last season, fwiw I think we'll see 4-3-3 second half. The problem with 4-4-2 is that it's based on us being hard to break down and nicking a goal. If we're not hard to break down it falls on its arse and we find it hard to create. It's not the same as playing for a draw because we've got such good strikers, but it's similar.

Bloody terrible tackle

i'm in this club same, can't stand him Besty mate with Denis Wise too. He's unbearably smug imo Smug tends to mean very punchable. Exactly, unbearably punchable.

i'm in this club same, can't stand him Besty mate with Denis Wise too. He's unbearably smug imo

i'm in this club

HBA last goal, 2-2. 180/1

Didn't Lindisfarne play before the game at the Leazes? One of the funniest things was when Steve Walsh scored and we started singing his name to the Andy Cole song. Didn't know about that.

Last season I was pretty pissed off every time we lined up in a 4-4-2, Pardew's earned the right to be trusted now though imo, as much as I would lke to see us in a 4-3-3 every week. Think he knows when to use what formation tbh. See Man Utd (h) last season. Yep, like I said, he's earned our trust.

Last season I was pretty pissed off every time we lined up in a 4-4-2, Pardew's earned the right to be trusted now though imo, as much as I would lke to see us in a 4-3-3 every week.

It's a concern like, an injury to Krul and we'd drop like a stone. Why, do the other ten players forget what to do or something? Hardly a daft thing to say we'd drop a hell of a lot more points without Krul. He's better at saving shots, it's as simple as that. Of course he is, but we wouldn't 'drop like a stone'. Ridiculous thing to say. Depends on your definition, I meant we wouldn't finish anywhere near as night as last season, imo. That's based on a long term injury obviously. We might not even if he stays fit all year, so it's impossible to tell. Last year pretty much everyone exceeded expectations. When Carroll left everyone thought we'd drop like a stone and we didn't. When Taylor was crocked everyone thought we'd drop like a stone and we didn't. When Colo was ruled out against Spurs everyone was slitting their wrists but we won. We have a very good team, no single player makes such a big difference IMO. I see where you're coming from, I'm not convinced though, I think the difference a good keeper makes over an average one is considerable.

It's a concern like, an injury to Krul and we'd drop like a stone. I understand the worry as Harper is nowhere near the quality of Krul anymore but most Premiership fans would have the same worries if their 1st choice keeper got injured. Look at the shear panic after Reina got sent off against us last season. Its very difficult to have two top quality keepers we were very lucky Harper was happy to be Given's understudy for so long. It would be a big blow if Krul got crocked but I don't think we'd capitulate. I can accept it was an exaggeration, purely pulling a figure out of my arse I reckon we'd be 8-10 points worse off with Harper instead of Krul.

It's a concern like, an injury to Krul and we'd drop like a stone. Why, do the other ten players forget what to do or something? Hardly a daft thing to say we'd drop a hell of a lot more points without Krul. He's better at saving shots, it's as simple as that. Of course he is, but we wouldn't 'drop like a stone'. Ridiculous thing to say. Depends on your definition, I meant we wouldn't finish anywhere near as high as last season, imo. That's based on a long term injury obviously.

It's a concern like, an injury to Krul and we'd drop like a stone. Why, do the other ten players forget what to do or something? No, but he won us quite a few points last season and we've got exactly the same team. I don't believe Harper or Elliot would win us as many points.

It's a concern like, an injury to Krul and we'd drop like a stone.