Dr Venkman

excellent!

I don't, Pardew doesn't tend to tell porkies regarding fitness issues as well IIRC. Unless its regarding how soon Tiote will be back to fitness.

I like Pardew and he's bought himself a lot of time imo, but his crack in the press after our 'performance' at Anfield last season was so infuriating. We controlled the game, remember.

Highlights how badly we need centre half cover imo, Colo is never gonna be able to play all the games this season, he started to pick up a few niggles last season and I think it'll continue.

You need it before the season starts. It also looks fine.

This

What the hell happened here?

This can't be overstated, if a player can't bear competition then they can get bent and move to a club somewhere with a shitter squad imo. You don't win anything with a guaranteed first 11 and if players put being the hero above winning competitions I don't want then here.

No meaning to be a dick, but this is a mental response to people not rating Joe Allen, Charlie Adam, Henderson et al. Especially considering they were shit last year and they've not done anything to address it other than switch to an unproven manager who specialises in home draws. Borini might improve them I suppose.

They're really spending 15m on Joe Allen?

Watch him in a warm-up when there is no pressure. If I did would I learn that he's got great technique when he's not under pressure? Because through watching him play in games I've learned that his technique isn't particularly good when under pressure.

No. It's actually the same attitude that's seen us progress since we were in the Championship, by only doing deals when they're right for the club in the long term.

I'm not convinced by this theory that Obertan has great technique. Technique normally shines through over time, regardless of other considerations, hence why the best penalty takers are usually the ones with great technique, even when they're under pressure. This doesn't happen with Obertan, he loses possession over and over and over again.

People need to remember that it wasn't that long ago we were in the championship. We're going into a season more settled than I can remember for quite a while. We performed brilliantly last season and we've only lost one minor component of that squad (Best) but we're starting the season with Cisse which offsets that loss in the positive IMO. Our manager has proved himself to be tactically handy. While I do get frustrated with his reliance on 4-4-2, especially with these players, he's proved without a doubt that he can get the best out of pretty much all of them. Yeah it would've been great to bring in more players, I still think we'll get 1 or 2 first teamers but even if we don't, things are much better than they've been in ages man. Enjoy it.

Last season he predicted a champions league challenge.

Good old Pardew instilling confidence in the shitter players. If he'd started last season brilliantly he would have kept his place, no?

Sammy. Have to admit this pisses me off a bit as well, ironically enough it seems to be his second name that makes people think he's ready.

In general we sell before we buy, I'd be happy for Obertan to go like, get some money while we can. I genuinely think he's absolutely shite and I'm not even sure he'd need to be replaced.

I've watched him in the first team loads and he's bloody hopeless.

Pace and movement in abundance you say? In a 4-2-3-1?

Just keep reminding us that players would rather join them than us, that'll do ;-)

Replacing Agger with Williams would be hilarious.

Wasn't Simpson passed over for Perch a couple of times at the end of the season? Or am I imagining that?

Just sit with the home fans, I did it a few years ago.

Good post, holding out for Cisse worked out well.