Lotus

Who would pick him for Sunday and where would you play him?

Shearer Debatable. Fatt Le Tits? West Ham RB years ago was good. Ray ......... You thinking of Julian Dicks? He was a LB though... Anyway, Shola. Thought he did roughly nothing tonight but he is a fantastic penalty taker. Got to disagree. Shola was strong tonight. Caused the full backs trouble. He's a striker who wouldn't have scored if they'd had 3 at the back instead of 4. I will say, well done to him for not giving away 50 fouls. Also, fantastic pen. Its not all about scoring.. I dont get people that think that. Shola had a good game. Would you still be saying this if he had an assist for cisse? But he didn't. Look, sorry, i don't think Shola's much kop and although he wasn't as useless as usual he didn't ever look like scoring.

Was baffled by the decision but Shola did everything that was asked of him tonight. One of the very few times bringing the inclusion of Shola as a negative doesn't make sense. What?? What threat did Shola offer? Won the ball pretty much every time it was played to him, had a good shot deflected that went for a corner, put Sissoko through and possibly Cisse (can't remember but sure he did for the outside of the boot chance), some very nice little flicks and touches, scored the penalty. If Cisse had put in the same performance we would have rightly had a collective tug. Shola just seems to start on -10 for some and has to work harder than anyone else to have his performance accepted as good. He had a shot, i remember that. One shot. Sorry, just didn't think he threatened much. FWIW, thought Cisse's wing performance was also ineffective.

That's scary! Would play Elliot over Harper if forced.

Shearer Debatable. Fatt Le Tits? West Ham RB years ago was good. Ray ......... You thinking of Julian Dicks? He was a LB though... Anyway, Shola. Thought he did roughly nothing tonight but he is a fantastic penalty taker. Got to disagree. Shola was strong tonight. Caused the full backs trouble. He's a striker who wouldn't have scored if they'd had 3 at the back instead of 4. I will say, well done to him for not giving away 50 fouls. Also, fantastic pen.

Thought he played well. Was pleasantly surprised. Tried going forward too.

Anyway, so chuffed we're through but i couldn't see us scoring until the pen. Shola offers nothing and Cisse's not a winger.

Was baffled by the decision but Shola did everything that was asked of him tonight. One of the very few times bringing the inclusion of Shola as a negative doesn't make sense. What?? What threat did Shola offer?

Shearer Debatable. Fatt Le Tits? West Ham RB years ago was good. Ray ......... You thinking of Julian Dicks? He was a LB though... Anyway, Shola. Thought he did roughly nothing tonight but he is a fantastic penalty taker.

Looked our best CB tonight. He really IS class and a top athlete too.

Agree with Dave, he was no better or worse than Cabaye. Thought the pitch did him a few times.

Our best LB over the 2 legs.

You have to remember that Obertan was a Pardew buy though and AP wanted to prove something. Nothing usual in that, lots of managers try and prove a point about signings that aren't really working out. Guess it's possible. i don't think it's this at all, pardew had a clearly defined gameplan based on us being solid and nicking goals from the off last season - imo he'll have thought HBA was a defensive liability and would therefore have been reluctant to play him no doubt in my mind tbh, HBA forced his hand in the mackems game Obertan showed nothing to prove he could contribute to that game plan.

You have to remember that Obertan was a Pardew buy though and AP wanted to prove something. Nothing usual in that, lots of managers try and prove a point about signings that aren't really working out.

Frédéric Kanouté

Thought he played alright actually. Would've preferred Anita but Tiote got about and put in some good tackles.

He didn't fancy any 50-50s last night so i doubt he'll give anyone a 'tackle'.

Thought he'd be better in the air tbh. On the whole, he got better as the game went on. I'm sure once he's had a few games he'll relax and we'll see his natural game and talent.

Jonas played well, it seems some people must have a scapegoat and Simpson is no longer playing to Jonas will do. He's slipped you a button as well.

Peyote.

Thought Saylor was our MoM, played very well. Thought Santon wasn't good enough. When they looked most threatening it was down his side, often with him a fair way from the action. Lost the ball too many times and played Cabaye into a whole heap of trouble.

We were very, very lucky at times. Their finishing was worse than ours.

no complaints about shola? i cant take pardew seriously as long as he keeps using shola. offers absolutely nothing. Anita would be much better and then stick sissoko on top for example. this is god knows how many times in row shola gets game time without doing anything. cant run, not even in the box and so on. Shola's rubbish, but without Gouffran he's the only available striker. Sissoko was playing brilliantly, why move him? Shola i can understand, as you say he had no options. But playing at home in a tie you want to win and starting Obertan and Jonas in attack positions. I mean, please.... Should have started Marveaux if he was fit. Obertan is player you can bring on if you score to help counter attacks - well help get the ball up the pitch until he puts it into touch/goalkick/passes it to a defender - but at least the ball spends some time in their half. Jonas offered nothing. Looked like a very keen amateur. He's a 'character' though, maybe that's enough.

He got better as the game went on.

Me too, no idea hows he's found himself out of the team latley. Might just need a bit of a rest.