Minhosa

Good article that. Did anyone see Joey Bartons (yeah......I know) tweet last night about 'giving MA an excuse get rid of Pardew'? He tweeted it whilst we were 3 down but the tone was interesting. As though it's common knowledge that MA wants rid/is looking for an excuse. The article above also suggests that MA/JFK are 'waiting for an excuse'. Strange given MA has never seemed to need an excuse. I half expected him to be gone this am. I think the only thing keeping him in a job is the sheer lack of replacements on the market.

Rudderless.

MYM is a kid and needs some direction when he's in a new league with football played at a different pace/aggression. How many Tim Howard punts did he have to deal with in Ligue 1? Ronaldo's point about Colo is spot on. It's Colo's job to lead the line, marshall his troops and take MYM under his wing. Wish the Douglas deal was completed and at least we'd have the option of protecting MYM a bit because there's a real danger here that he'll collapse under the criticism.

sissoko needs to be the one midfielder always driving forward to help out in the box, he should be constantly up and down between half way line and 18 yard box, with or without the ball. He's the one picking up anything that comes out or the extra man. He ain't doing that. He's not and I don't think he's got the legs to either. He looked absolutely fucked after an hour last night.

He can't get the midfield to work. Cabaye could be effective. Anita could be effective but they have to be given very defined roles. I'd be inclined to flog Tiote at this point. I don't think we're going to see the same player that we had in his first season. Certainly not under AP. I'm not overly impressed with Sissoko. Can he influence games to the extent we need a midfielder to? Can he be effective? Feels like we've carried him all season thus far. There's no shape or plan to the way the midfield plays and as a result we're rendering half decent players useless. Who the fuck is drilling these guys during the week?

It's a shame we've not found the right partner(s) for him in the middle because this lad can really play.

2 decent ones in. Very good stuff. Glad you took advantage of there being goals. What you get on 3-2? It's classic hindsight but also 4/1 looks crazy value for that bet. 3-2 was 22/1. Yeah - I thought the 4/1 jumped out as being great value. We always struggle against physical strikers and Lukaku just seemed nailed on to score.

A guaranteed starter at the weekend according to the pr machine.

Hope tonight wasn't his Cacapa or Boumsong moment.

At least the heartless cunt stuck his head in a couple of times at the end. Must've been happier with his mate on the pitch.

Still think Mike's there to boot him.

2 decent ones in.

Aye - heroic comeback innit?

Nervy 4 minutes coming up here for them.

Watching Sissoko run makes time go backwards.

It's odd how players look better when they're signed from English football. It's odd that we can't afford Barkley too. It's all relative, maybe we can afford Karl Henry? or Catts? Karl Henry - we're not a sovereign state.

Bugger. Should've let Santon take it.

That's as blatent a handball as you'll see.

Running dat wing Is that what it's called?

Cos he's missing his boyfriend.

Is Sissoko still on the pitch?

90 Mins - when did that happen?

WTF? He's not even been our best RB tonight. That was Le Gouff in the 1st half.

Cabs looks wired.

That Barkley looks a player.