Lotus

Exagerrating for affect.

Shame about Haidara as Duff will more than likely p*ss all over Santon in his present form.

Was a bad mistake yesterday. Was obviously surprised the ball came to him after Moussa ducked it. He clearly didn't think about it. Was just instinct to get something to the ball.

I certainly don't think our midfielders are excellent. Better than this, yes. What they lack is any cohesion or plan, both attacking and defending. Every match they play they look like strangers. I know what the glib answer to that is but it really is baffling. For a group to train together everyday for god knows how long but still look lost on matchday. I think when you're in a relegation fight as we are players just lose so much confidence and the game seems to hapening too quickly for them. We haven't been sharp all season though. We've looked fatigued from about the 2nd match into the season!

As will often happen during a bad season, i think the manager and players have lost confidence in each other. Doesn't mean they don't like one another, just deep down i don't think they believe in each other. Our attacking players have a skill set that Pardew doesn't trust and the players are looking lost and directionless for large swathes of each match.

In the 2nd half we managed to string more than 4 passes together once while in their half of the pitch. We really need to address this. We have the players for it.

They will have lots of energy and will get about us early. Close us down, pack the midfield, force to play Cabaye to play balls over it. Unfortunately, we'll be knackered,we'll look knackered and the players will lack confidence and the manager will lack confidence. If we stay compact and don't make silly mistakes, keep it at 0-0, i think we'll grow into the game.

It was a very weird sub. Their back line was so high and we brought our (literally) slowest player.

He's much better for Cisse than anyone we've got when he's playing the no. 10 role. Don't think he'll be a regular under Pardew as he values different things in a player. Can see both side to that argument if I'm honest.

Odd thing to say, he didn't hold it up once!

They've not lost all season. The only thing going for us is if they turn up over confident.

He has 'moments' too often.

Think Benefica are quite dodgy at the back. Still, don't think we've got enough to win the tie.

You love that though.

Tugas are poofs.

Hope we can keep it respectable.

Ouch.

3rd time now.

15 mins in and we've strung more than 4 passes together just twice. We really need to practice with the ball more!

Good for the 1st 15 mins, a bit all over the place for the last 30. We seem very static. I expect that when we have the ball but I'm a bit surprised that we not picking up runners when they have the ball. We need a good team talk.

Morte aos Mouros !!!!!

Aye, Ashley and Llambias recruiting someone respected for their achievements. Likely. Their history of managerial appointments is not promising, I agree.

This constant mantra of 'well, the players like him.' I don't give a toss. I'd rather they were a little more in awe of him tbh, a bit more worried about putting in another average or worse performance. I'd rather our players respected him for his achievements and/or philosophy than just like cause he's 'really nice guy'.

I'm of the belief that his biggest problem is that he doesn't give a s*** about West Ham or Liverpool. Playing for us he had the lure of playing for the team he supports and playing to further his career. He had friends and family around him to look out for him if necessary. Once he got his "big" move and huge wage packet though, what more was there left for him to play for? Who was there to look after him on and off the pitch? Coming back here could give him the chance to redeem himself and become the player he looked like he could become before he left. Is that really the attitude a professional should adopt? Especially one who had actually proved nothing in his career.

Carroll is very capable of bringing other, more potent players into the game off scraps. He'll also attack the corners that our lot put their heads down for. You never saw that based on his Newcastle performances so you must be referring to his time at Preston and Liverpool. Never watched him there so i'll have to take your work for it. I saw it clearly in the final year of his Newcastle career and occassionally since. Nice try, though. Nah.