Lotus

Wait, haven't you been telling us the last couple of days that he's been s**** this season? No! CD has merely pointed out that he's been sh*t in the air, sh*t decision making, sh*t positionally, doesn't want to be here, shadow of his former self, had his head turned, lack of heart. Apart from those minor flaws for a CB he's alright. First name on the team sheet for CD ! Well he's better than Williamson and was vital for Saylor's revival. For the last couple of season's has been among the best in the league. This year he's been poor. If he's poor he shouldn't be playing. It's not that simple. Until Mbiwa came along we definitely did not have the quality in reserve. If you have a Rolls-Royce that is not performing to its level do you pack it in for a Focus? No, you work to improve the Rolls current performance. That's the last resort. Well, i'd say by your reckoning Colo's cost us more goals than Williamson so surely it's a no brainer.

I would think Jonas will start. Think it just illustrates that Pardew sees Cabaye as a more influential player, which of course, he is!

Wait, haven't you been telling us the last couple of days that he's been s**** this season? No! CD has merely pointed out that he's been sh*t in the air, sh*t decision making, sh*t positionally, doesn't want to be here, shadow of his former self, had his head turned, lack of heart. Apart from those minor flaws for a CB he's alright. First name on the team sheet for CD ! Well he's better than Williamson and was vital for Saylor's revival. For the last couple of season's has been among the best in the league. This year he's been poor. If he's poor he shouldn't be playing.

Wait, haven't you been telling us the last couple of days that he's been s**** this season? No! CD has merely pointed out that he's been sh*t in the air, sh*t decision making, sh*t positionally, doesn't want to be here, shadow of his former self, had his head turned, lack of heart. Apart from those minor flaws for a CB he's alright. First name on the team sheet for CD !

Thats another thing, have no idea who Ipswich have brought in but i am willing to bet they havent shipped over a load that normally wouldnt go there other than for a club partnership like Udinese. Seven or whatever from one club is a pisstake. Why? If it isn't against league rules then why?

I seriously doubt we were told to start deep, just that they got a fair few players around our box at the 1st opportunity and our defensive line sat a little deeper as a result. As to why we don't come out firing on all cylinders for the 2nd half of games, i don't know, haven't a clue.

NO, not acceptable. Southampton were all over us for 5 whole MINUTES! The whole slow start thing on Sunday was ridiculous. That said, we were a bit sluggish coming out for the 2nd half and not just against S'oton but just about every Prem game we've played this year. They're sort of separate issues because Sunday was unusual but why we're off the pace at the beginning of every half is a bit weird!

Didn't Llambiarse say everyone is allowed one bad season? I guess this is Pardew's (unless we win the Euro cup). I guess then that next season will determine if they stick or twist.

I'd perhaps agree if it wasn't about to be saved by Krul anyway. Ya but we can only assess the value of that contribution based on what actually happened not 'if's scneario. I've just told you what actually happened. That statement seems rather stupid.

Which mistake has he not learnt from recently? (starting slowly does not constitute a mistake as I hardly think he sets the team up to back off for 10 mins) Putting Cisse on the wing maybe ? Which he's done once in the last 6 games, barring the odd 5 or 10 minute spell here and there. Hardly a mistake when it's part of a gameplan that ends up winning the game. I don't why i'm arguing this, i've not been one who thinks he f**ks up CONSTANTLY but in reposte to you, i don't think Cisse on the wing contributed to our success that night. As regard to my view on Pardew (not that you asked ) is that i don't think he's done particularly well with what he's got. We could and should be better. Better players helps but better players help anyone and everyone. Before the Jan signings i thought we looked in a real mess and we were slipping well into a dog fight to stay in the league. We had better players AVAILABLE at the time than that but we were still there. I thought some of that would be down to him. I thought that if we went into the bottom 3 he should have gone, as it was the board opened it's purse and we have a much improved squad. No threat of relegation now in my mind so Pardew should stay. If the rest of the season goes well, unless someone of a very obvious step up in quality fancies it, Pardew should probably get next season too. If the rest of this season is poor, i think the board need to examine their options. They'll have a squad full of assets piddling down around the bottom, which isn't good enough for anyone i'm sure.

Which mistake has he not learnt from recently? (starting slowly does not constitute a mistake as I hardly think he sets the team up to back off for 10 mins) Putting Cisse on the wing maybe ?

^^ When he gets into the CL for a couple of years on the trot i'll reckon you might be right.

You have to say, his side of the back 4 has seemed a little vunerable lately. Especially when he's not there when the ball's pinged in. As others have said, it's all good him going forward, especially if it results in assists but then, as a team, we have to cover the hole he leaves. That or he gets back into position or considers his defensive duties paramount at all times. Just some plan or system has to be implemented if our FBs move into attacking positions.

Looking on a Saints forum. They seem utterly confident of getting a result. They see no reason they shouldn't come away with less than 3 points.

If you pass him the ball, 9 time out of ten, he'll use it well but he doesn't seem the kind of guy to go looking for the ball if you know what i mean. Doesn't try and dictate a game, get on the ball as much as possible and show what he can do.

Be surprised if he's not on the bench for Sunday

Agree with this.

Wow, role reversal here! I thought he was ok tbh. Felt fairly confident he would find a team mate with the ball, that he would defend well enough, etc.

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. Got to totally disagree, i hate when shola's on the pitch, but today he had an allrite game. suppose agree to disagree. But yes he never looked like scoring, but he did look like getting an assist or winning the long balls we where playing. Aye we can disagree Don't hate the bloke or owt. I will say he was better than i expected. Have to say, i feel very calm if Shola's taking a penalty!

Looking forward to seeing him in the Prem.

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.