Tachikoma

Jones and Richards subbed about 19 minutes into their respective matches and Man Utd/City keeping cleansheets.

If Simpson does need protection, you could switch Jonas to the right and start Ben Arfa on the left in front of Santon. Danny is probably missing Barton on the right tbh Man, if only we still had Barton. The limp dick that is the Obertan/Simpson combination down the right wing, ugh.

Please tell me you're taking the p*ss. His positioning is arguably the worst thing about his game. FAO Mick, this is what I'm getting at. ^ In the attacking sense, he does get into good crossing positions (hence the reason he gets so many chances at f***ing up crosses). He's better than Obertan as a RW Erm, no FYI, I cringe every time I see him on the teamsheet. Answer's still no

Please tell me you're taking the piss. His positioning is arguably the worst thing about his game. FAO Mick, this is what I'm getting at. ^ In the attacking sense, he does get into good crossing positions (hence the reason he gets so many chances at fucking up crosses).

Who are the six? Tiote Colo Ba Krul Cabaye ... .... Obertan? Ben Arfa, Santon in time I think.

Taylor can't defend, for that reason alone he's not. Neither can Simpson. In fairness he's pretty quick and gets into reasonably good positions, which makes up for some of his flaws. But FFS man I'm a better footballer than he is, and worst of all he seems to think he's made it and doesn't need to continue to improve his game.

That makes me feel like crying He was crap today but he's hardly been consistently terrible. He'll need replacing eventually but we've got far bigger concerns at the moment. My point exactly. Well, besides my opinion that he has been consistently poor to horrible.

That makes me feel like crying

One bad game and out comes the hyperbole.

You'd sell one of our best and arguably our most important player? If his mind is elsewhere then he needs to go for the best price we can get for him. He was awful tonight - no denying he is a great player, but he seems to be trying to avoid injury with a view to going elsewhere. I don't want to lose a focussed Tiote, but this new, not improved version? Not really that arsed. How about avoiding injury because he wants to keep playing games for us? Or maybe he just prefers to not be injured?

Was like watching Laurent, class hits. As good as those hits were I thought he should have stayed a bit deeper to help Tiote out, I mean Tiote's great and all but he's never going to pass a ball around like Cabaye or Guthrie. last year tiote did, remember with the non working nolan ? What I meant was, Tiote's great at "keep ball" passes (hence his impressive pass completion rate) but he's not the type of player who drives a team forward with his amazing vision or something. Either way, Vuckic was meant to play CM and he kept drifting forward into Ben Arfa's position (which I suppose is his natural position).

I would have literally jizzed my pants if that went in, just like the Everton goal but with that crazy run up as well. But its a classic example of why he'd be better off on the wing, its great to have a player who could do it even through the middle but there's a reason it doesn't normally work out.

Was like watching Laurent, class hits. As good as those hits were I thought he should have stayed a bit deeper to help Tiote out, I mean Tiote's great and all but he's never going to pass a ball around like Cabaye or Guthrie.

Don't think there are many players in the prem who could see that, period. When he's in attacking positions his footballing brain is amazing.

Pretty much, I'm starting to question whether he's actually better than Perch, now that Perch has cut out the kamikaze tackles somewhat.

When they scored the third Colo was the only player we had playing CB, Simpson had gone forward to play on the right wing (ugh). Blame lies on Pardew for this one.

Surprised that Pards still persisted with a 3 man backline after we scored

OVER 9... HUNDRED AND NINETY-NINE

He beats the full back quite well and does well to get a few yards, but he hesitates when he wants to put a cross, as if he's trying too hard to look up and pick someone out. Most of the time, you can just launch in it into 'the danger area' between defender and keeper and Ba or Best will have at least a chance of getting to it. He ends up looking slower than he is because of how hesitant he is. When he just gets his head down and runs he is fucking lightening, quick off the mark too. I know what you mean about the looking for the perfect pass/cross. Annoying thing is, he usually ends up giving the ball away or playing it in to nobody in particular Yeah, I haven't seen him so much as _try_ to whip in a cross from a deep position, which is strange given that he ought to have the technique for it.

Just... how... what...

Absolute rubbish. he was against routledge who was shi& another myth....jose had a poor first season here. Jose hardly played at all in his first season

Probably been whooshed but I'm going to stick my neck out and say Arfster could play there, he has a little bit of history in that role. Love how comfortable Santon has shown himself to be on the ball and how looks to go forward as soon as he gets it. Very refreshing. I mean, obviously Ben Arfa would be fine but the point that was being made was that we were disadvantaged by having two opposite-footed wide players on the left side. He unfortunately doesn't solve that problem. (Unless I'm stupid and Ben Arfa is actually left-footed.) Oh dear

Just start him on the wing already. Big fan of Jonas but he isn't better than Ben Arfa (defensive contributions aside) and might benefit from some rest anyway. (Obertan is going to start every game he's fit for, no point arguing the obvious)

Honestly don't think Simo's that bad that he needs to be replaced by Santon and another left back brough in tbh. How many full backs are that involved in delivering fantastic balls, game in, game out? Particularly for the standard of team that we currently are? I miss Jose Simpson's semi-competent defensively but its not wrong to hope for better is it? I haven't watched the other teams a lot as of late but I don't think Simpson would be starting for any of the other teams fighting for 7th. maybe except Everton.