AyeDubbleYoo

I will be laying the blame squarely at Mike Ashley's feet if we fail to win the league and there's nothing you can do about it Ian Deluded Geordies and their unrealistic expectations. Etc etc.

Don't see anything wrong with your post Hans, I hope that's how Pardew and the players are thinking TBH. I'm not sure we can get ourselves into title contention, but it's important that we're progressing and improving and adjusting our goals all the time. At the start of the season 4th was impossible, now it's (just about) reachable and we should be going for it. Like to see a bit of positivity.

We should definitely aim for 4th, we should aim to go as far as we can. But if we finish in the top 7 I hope credit goes to everyone for a class season.

Other clubs might be in decline at the moment, but that's a very normal part of football. Everyone who achieves something, except maybe Arsenal invincibles and people like that, do it in part because their opponents have poorer seasons than them. We have almost won the title in recent history, we aren't Wigan. The mythical 'top 4' can't expect to always be there, some of them will avoid the normal cycle by spending insane amounts of money (Man City) but otherwise they will go through transitional periods that will allow other clubs to come to the fore. At the moment we're progressing and others are going backwards. Let's enjoy it, we've been on the other side often enough.

I don't really understand where Pardew is coming from on this. HBA has looked as good if not better than all the other options in his position almost every time he's come on. Pardew should just admit that he is wedded to a conservative system with two big strikers leading the line and a defensive and hard working midfield. That's fine, it's a valid point, but it's not Ben Arfa's fault.

You're hilarious but also right.

Man Utd's are probably more talented, but they don't perform better and aren't backed by as good a team. Aguero is world class but Balotelli is inconsistent/unproven and Dzeko is just OK. And Tevez is AWOL.

Parker is overrated but Modric is class and will hurt us most likely. Cabaye was an idiot getting himself suspended like that.

Dalglish's interviews get more insane by the day. Can't stand the guy.

Is Kaboul injured, or was Carroll just expected to dominate him?

Sure its not the stick up ya arse that's causing the pain ?

True, but it isn't as simple as that. Pardew has to consider the overall sum of the parts. Whether he's right or wrong is debatable, but it's not as simple as you're making out. And I love Ben Arfa.

The apostrophe is causing me actual physical pain.

Football isn't played on paper. Shazam.

Ryder doesn't know anything though.

The whole point is that there's no need to change, but some people might prefer a different style. It's a valid point, obviously it's also fine to say "let's try and keep going with what has worked so far". Nobody is saying anything is drastically wrong.

There's a similar guy who plays for Stoke, tall lad. Crouch is it?

It's not often we've been in a losing position tbh. Ridiculous stat, it just means we haven't been losing much. I don't think Man Utd and Man City will be worried.

Yep, can't see anything changing except replacements for the injured players.

I can see where reefatoon is coming from like, and that is why Pardew has stuck to the 442 generally. He has got great results with it so doesn't have any incentive to change really. As a fan I just want to see more of HBA!

Ba isn't really moving very far in that formation, it's just a formalisation of the fact he likes to play deeper than Cisse.

Mata's was incredible, better than Cisse's for me. To volley a ball on the run like that is amazing.

To lose this lad without giving him a chance to shine would be a massive disappointment. He's exactly the kind of player we love and haven't had for years. I understand the worries about protection for Simpson, I just hope we find some way to make use of Ben Arfa's immense talent.

How would a stepladder help I use my real ladder to be honest. I'm not on speaking terms with my step-ladder. The arsehole. You're not my ladder!

Looks sore that! Also can't believe they didn't mention it on MOTD... looks like trial by media for random players at the moment.