Conjo

Was never really tested today. The lack of aerial battles favored him today as well.

The appearances that HBA has made have been disappointing this season which inevitably has affected Pardew's confidence in him. Sammy did show some promise in his first appearances so is probably just edging it at the moment. Yeah, one good performance against Scunthorpe(?) weighs more than a few slightly below average performances against two of the best teams in the PL. Baffling how Sammy two times, Ferguson and Vuckic has been preferred in the two past games when there has been clear as day that Ben Arfa was better suited to make something happen. No-ones saying Ben Arfa definitely will make something happen, but the probability of him doing it is several times higher than the likes that have been substituted instead of him. Pardew needs to explain this, and unless his actions are justified he needs a boot up his ass from someone.

Someone needs to print this on a king size bed sheet and flag it at full mast the next home game.

What bugs me the most is that no-one ever asks Pardew about why he makes those kind of decisions. Is that a common thing in England not to ask about? I´d love to hear his opinion on why he doesn´t use Ben Arfa more. Same way I´d love to hear his reasons for using Raylor so long when Santon was fit.

Ben Arfa on for Jonas...............in the 91st minute. u mad nufc fans?

Simpson has had a few decent crosses into the box today, with both feet even.

How precise are Colos passes btw? Ridiculous

Is this going to be one of the infamous FM games where we dominate all stats and lose 0-1 with Swanseas only shot on goal?

Actually, it says the reports are bullshit Jol. Elm´s advisor denies it and claims it´s rumors taken out of thin air. http://www.expressen.se/1.2653197

Foy is a man on a mission.

I just knew that would go in. Robinson left too much space at the near post. He wasn´t going to place it anywhere else. Good freekick though.

We would have won 0-2 yesterday with Samba in our team.

What´s wrong with him?

hihihih

heheheh

It¨s easier to accept it when we are doing well. Why so surprised? It´s not like people haven´t complained about this before when we were winning as well.

Good idea just don't think that's in Pards' way of thinking at the moment, if only because you need to have a confident, settled, capable full back who can run up and down for 90minutes. With the big disruption in defence, I just don't think Pards trusts Ben Arfa to work hard closing down up front (which is ironic, given his support for Obertan) when we don't have our 'spine'. Ben Arfa might be a victim of us having our 3 best defensive players out injured: Colocinni, Taylor, Tiote. Maybe he's seen as a luxury we just can't afford at the moment? EDIT: on that note, how many games was Ben Arfa fit (and in the team/on the bench) with Tiote fit? There is a massive difference when you defend Pardew based on his beliefs compared to what he SHOULD do. OK, there wasn´t anyone he should put on IF Ben Arfa weren´t able to play on the right wing, but when the fact is that Ben Arfa COULD play on the right, your arguements does not have any legs to stand on, IMO. I know you kind of agree based on your recent posts, but why post your intial thoughts then?

Biggest cliche together with the borehole one

Don´t expect a response. Way to constructive on your own part Mick.

Yes, but fortunately it didn't sound too serious. In the interview I saw (in Australia), if I recall correctly Pardew only said that we'd need to "take care with him", and towards the end of the interview he added that we'd come through the match "pretty much unscathed". Hopefully, if it does prove to be an actual injury, then he'll only miss one match. It's early days, of course, and Paulo Maldini's standing is probably safe for the time being , but I thought that on today's showing we definitely have something to work with where Santon is concerned. TBH, that could mean that Santon is out for "only" 4 weeks, while one other unlucky bastard only will be out for 2 weeks (TBA).

I thought Shola was better than usual. He seemed to be up for it, arguing with the ref a couple of times, and turned into a bit of a playmaker when we were down to 10. As others have probably said, how come when he got clattered clearing the ball it was yellow for whatsisname but the "experts" agree Gosling's was a straight red? Actually, even the Sky commentator said Gosling's yellow was a cheap one to keep the baying crowd happy, so two wrongs making a big wrong there. I'm always glass-half-full (and if it's not I'll refill it) so I'll posit that we have the makings of a decent team here if we keep them. I can only hope I imagined a long-haired Alan Smith wandering onto the pitch at the death, but if I didn't then at least he managed not to make his usual impression by getting booked or sent off with his first contribution. And while my glass is overflowing, that Cabaye impressed me yet again. He put me in mind of an NFL quarterback in that he can take one glance, see where everyone is, where they're going, and where the ball needs to go. I'd like to keep him but I increasingly feel that we are in constant selling mode. S**t, my glass just fell off the table. S**t. Actually tbf to Shola, that was a great through ball to Ba for our second goal. Well....it was easy to spot, and I think he was kind of lucky to strike it with the appropriate force that was needed. I don´t expect him to do as well the next time the same scenario arises.

Have made this point in the Pards thread, but who would you have brought him on for at 3-2 down? Pardew has already made the 'Ben Arfa will only play as a number 10' comment - so I think it's very hard to find a place for him on the pitch when we've only got 10 men. If he'd been brought on for Gosling after the 3rd goal, with Cabaye dropping off to anchor the midfield, that would have been a smart move IMO. Doesn´t make his comments less stupid as he rarely finds place for him with 11 players on the pitch as well, whether we are in the lead or catching up. I would have brought him on for Obertan. Easy choice imo. If he doesn´t fit in with the system we are playing, and he isn´t going to be put on the wing, that would make him eligible for abt. 5 games each season. Tremendous waste of our best technical player who could serve a purpose no matter what kind of situation we are in. The Teves/Mascherano scenario springs to mind. Is he even capable of using great players? Im seriously starting to doubt it.

http://images.slashdot.org/articles/08/12/17/1415230-1.png

Missing 3 of our CB¨s we were always going to struggle massive on set pieces, especially when up against a forward like Holt. We conceded from 2 corners, 1 set piece and one cross into the box. We´d probably won the game today with a Campbell back even. That we miss 3 of our 4 best CM´s didn´t help us either mind. Gosling had a shocker, and created the one goal that did not come from set pieces. Pardew didn´t help either. No excuse for not putting on Ben Arfa. Especially on 3-2. Im really getting annoyed by Pardew and his reluctance to use Ben Arfa. Cabaye and Ba is the sex.