AyeDubbleYoo

Agree with that too madras, the lack of off-ball running from the wingers is annoying (although Obertan does it a bit). Hopefully with two proper fullbacks (if you count Simpson) the wingers will feel confident in committing themselves forward a bit more. Especially important to give HBA more options than just Ba.

Bolton are rank and we must defeat them. The biggest advantage is that they don't have the attacking pace that WBA have, so we should be OK at the back. We could probably get away with a 4-4-2, just swapping HBA in for Best. Would be lush to get 3 points, feels like forever since we won.

I can't see why he's stuck with the system and Personnel as the wheels were always going to come off the way that we were going. He should have been proactive instead of waiting until his hand was forced before changing anything. Even last night he was looking lost on the touchline and only brought on Ben Arfa when the crowd started chanting his name and by doing so having a go at Pardew. In theory I suppose you're right, ideally he would have acted earlier. But at the same time we had three almost impossible games and then lost most of our defence for the next couple, it's been a tough time for other reasons than Pardew's errors. Hopefuly he'll now realise that the likes of Santon and Ben Arfa must be fixtures in the team, and that he needs to find a way to stop us playing such direct passes all the time. Cabaye's return should help with that too.

Yeah, the second goal was appalling by both CBs, no idea where they were supposed to be.

Challenge for Pardew now, good managers have to be adaptable. I can see why he stuck with the system and personnel that did so well for him at the start of the season, but now is the time to change. Get HBA in from the start, ideally in a 451, and force the players to keep the fucking ball on the ground.

May as well give him the No9 if he's still out main striker next season, but it's not a big issue.

Absolutely agree with that. Thirded, it's a fucking joke and Liverpool should be ashamed. The least they should do is treat the situation with quiet respect, even if they still support Suarez in private.

Definitely a possibility, I wouldn't be surprised if he's been asked to play because there are no other options. Still, I think the general shitness of the defensive unit was the problem last night... and not many people can live with their strikers for pace.

He has to collect the ball deep if it's being launched over his head the whole time though, no?

According to MOTD he "stamped his authority on the game from the start".

If the Santon sub was injury then I agree about the subs, but HBA should have started and we should never have attempted such a high line against WBA's rapid frontline. The style of play was also bad, but whether that is what Pardew wanted or whether the players were doing their own thing is unknown.

Jonas stopped making forward runs off the ball a while ago, maybe when Enrique left. He used to do it quite a lot when he first arrived, not sure what has happened in that area.

I don't agree that Pardew has to reassess his view that HBA is a Number 10, he just has to play him instead of Leon Best for 5 or 6 games and see how he does.

Agreed. Colo and Williamson already have an understanding from playing with each other week in, week out last season - this can only benefit our defence. Whey he obviously doesn't actually want to play Perch.

Hopefully he is learning that he can't just rely on average players because they overachieved at the start of the season.

WTF were Perch and Colo doing for their second goal? Perch is an embarrassment of a footballer. Vuckic, two gorgeous strikes, so unlucky not to score.

Two fucking immense goals.

Except with Obertan, because it obviously will be. We absolutely must smash Bolton.

Very strange, all the signings we made suggested a change to a more attractive passing game. Can only hope that Pardew realises that he has some good players (Santon, HBA) and some average (Raylor, Best), and selects the team on that basis in future.

If Colo and Tiote have bad games, Perch is playing and Pards has a mare, we lose.

High line against Long and Odemwinge always seems a risky option.

Have to admit I'm a bit less hot for Pards after these couple of games. Subbing Santon was truly weird.

It's hard to follow a game on here like!

Best for HBA the way to go?

Seems like we've had quite a few chances TBF.