Lotus

Given that he's been out for a while, i didn't actually think Taylor was that bad. There was that instance when he was knocked over fairly easily but on the whole, he was considerably better than Williamson.

It doesn't depress me, like. Though I think I differ from many on here in thinking no game is lost before it's started. Very few think a game is lost before it's started. After half time team talks, subs and tactical tinkering however....... Aye, righto. Have yourself a look at some of the pre match threads, especially after the lineup is announced. Tbf, those thinking we wouldn't get a result must have been right about 75% of the time this season. And the line up is a fairly good indicator (although not perfect) of how we're going to play.

Is the point not reasonable anyway though? We scrapped as hard as Villa really, just they were scrapping to get a goal and we already had the lead. Both are types of battling. Obviously nobody can argue we've been playing brilliantly like. I think Dave's asking why we can't fight to get back on level terms or win when we're chasing a game. Why is it, we've never won a league game when going behind under AP? Quite a baffling stat, actually

Yeah, but Shola ended up around the edge of our box, Anita was further forward.

Out of interest, do you think he tells them to retreat and hold onto the lead and play possession football or does he tell them to retreat and hold onto the lead by panicking and hoofing the ball to the opposition? Both, when stress is slightly applied and we are in the lead or holding out for a drawn, we will sit deep and the players will drop dribbling forward. Just watch the last 20 games again. in the second half our players stop dribbling up the field and choose to hold positions. Its exactly why we start hoofing it. GO watch the Game stop being muppets of Pardew when you guys dont actually watch it properly. Sitting deep and not dribbling in itself is not a tactical flaw. Plenty of teams can effectively close a game out by retaining possession and not taking risks. Nothing wrong with sitting deep in itself, I agree. It's a great opportunity to hit teams on the break if you set your team out right to take avdantage of the opposition throwing everyone forward. But you need to pass the ball out when you get possession, not thump it 70 yds down the pitch in the direction of 6'5 substitute striker. Well - I agree entirely with that. Lumping the ball upfield is brainless and self-defeating - especially when Shola had no-one within 20 yards of him to even play the ball to. What I am trying to gauge is whether people think that Pardew actually tells them to do this or it is the reaction of a team that is low on confidence, desperate to get a win and was under severe pressure. I just don't believe that Pardew actually instructs them to hoof it upfield whenever they have the ball. What else are they going to do when you bring on Shola then ask your centre forwards to drop onto the right wing? I don't want to labour this point because I'm sick of making it. I just don't see any evidence that we've ever planned how to bring the ball out of defence in Pardew's time here. Let's hope now he's got his quality players he'll be able to develop it. We still had another 10 players on the pitch other than Shola...! It's not like you suddenly have to abandon all rational thought just because we've got a tall striker on the pitch. They had plenty of options every time they had the ball. Like pass to Cisse on the wing? Come off it man, like Wullie said, if it was one game you might have a point. I do find putting Cisse on the wing a bit baffling, but why can't the ball be passed to Cisse on the wing? Are you genuinely trying to say that a professional footballer can't fill in effectively on the right wing and have the ball passed to him? It wasn't like we were playing him as a centre half. You can put professional footballers wherever you like, but it's generally a good idea to play them in their natural position. Putting Cisse on the wing is not a justifiable excuse as to why we can't keep possession of the ball. The focus of our coaching and game preparation is not to do with having the ball. We practice mostly what we do without it. Given that pass, control, move, receive, etc is not an ethos of the club currently, trying it on matchday when we're under pressure is inviting trouble. Hence, we treat a bit more like rugby, get it out of our territory or in to touch so we can regroup.

We've done it so many times that it's not a coincidense. Pardew is clearly setting us up to defend the lead, with every fucling player, except Shola, behind the ball. Of course, that just invites pressure. Also, what Steve Stone said a while ago... Pardew is a tactical mess which has it base in him being a f***ing coward. When did Steve Stone say that? After the Swansea game at home. Can you point to the quote? Or was it at a talk in?

We've done it so many times that it's not a coincidense. Pardew is clearly setting us up to defend the lead, with every fucling player, except Shola, behind the ball. Of course, that just invites pressure. Also, what Steve Stone said a while ago... Pardew is a tactical mess which has it base in him being a f***ing coward. When did Steve Stone say that?

Didn't honestly think it was a pen. I think Debuchy will come good

Tbf, Villa's first 10 minutes or so after the break were frightening. They were really on fire. I think quite a few teams would have struggled with that. Pardew's subs didn't really help, Shola can't hold a ball up nor chase down defenders. If Obertan would have been on the bench then he may have used him instead, try to hit them on the break. What we really needed to do last night was counter attack and players we didn't have available, HBA, Marveaux and, yes, even Obertan would have been good for that. No idea why he left Jonas on, he did nothing. Sometimes i think Pardew judges a play more on character than ability.

Yup Marveux for Guti and it would have been 3/4 goals in the first half. We haven't scored four in the league since April 2011. Just 3 then

Yup Marveux for Guti and it would have been 3/4 goals in the first half. Yeah, i think so too. Having Marveaux and HBA in the team/squad will make us quite a different proposition. They'll combine so well with Sissoko.

Tbf, i do think we'd have played a lot better if Marveaux had played today. Think he'd have got an assist or possibly even a goal.

There's giving credit where it's due, and there's taking it too far. He might end up a good manager, but he left out the two players who would clearly hurt us most and he set up his midfield to be dominated from the off. First half they were limp, you're right. But the way he changed it, wow. End up a good manager? He IS a good manager. Despite that, i think they could go down. To give everything the way they did and still lose. They'll be shagged next game. I understand why he's rated, but to me he's actually actively pursuing relegation. He's playing young players when they aren't really ready, and he's putting them in complicated formations they can't really handle. Fair enough if they are prepared for relegation, but it might be very expensive for them. I completely get what you're saying. I think in some ways it might be good for them to spend a season in the Championship. I think they'll dominate (if they keep the players he likes), gel as a team and come up a better prepared side. They've some good footballers there, but, as you said, too many of them are young, inexperienced and clearly feeling the pressure. Bit too emotional. Yep, longer term they might end up stronger for it. As you said though, it's a very long term view!!

There's giving credit where it's due, and there's taking it too far. He might end up a good manager, but he left out the two players who would clearly hurt us most and he set up his midfield to be dominated from the off. First half they were limp, you're right. But the way he changed it, wow. End up a good manager? He IS a good manager. Despite that, i think they could go down. To give everything the way they did and still lose. They'll be shagged next game. I understand why he's rated, but to me he's actually actively pursuing relegation. He's playing young players when they aren't really ready, and he's putting them in complicated formations they can't really handle. Fair enough if they are prepared for relegation, but it might be very expensive for them. I completely get what you're saying. I think in some ways it might be good for them to spend a season in the Championship. I think they'll dominate (if they keep the players he likes), gel as a team and come up a better prepared side. They've some good footballers there, but, as you said, too many of them are young, inexperienced and clearly feeling the pressure. Bit too emotional.

There's giving credit where it's due, and there's taking it too far. He might end up a good manager, but he left out the two players who would clearly hurt us most and he set up his midfield to be dominated from the off. First half they were limp, you're right. But the way he changed it, wow. End up a good manager? He IS a good manager. Despite that, i think they could go down. To give everything the way they did and still lose. They'll be shagged next game.

Odd that because Goof and Moussa looked far fitter than Jonas. Surprised he kept Cabaye on too. He was gone (understandably) after 70 mins.

Credit to Lambert. He really fired his team up, made astute changes, got them believing they could get something from the game and they nearly did. Considering the age of their team too. If they do go down but keep the core of the players, i think they'll bounce back up and much better side. Can see why he's highly rated.

Aye, Gabby is very quick. Debuchy didn't look like he had much pace against anyone though. Hopefully he's just learning.

Thing is, he can't hold it up. He doesn't have the control and gives away more fouls than he gets.

What does this guy drink, man? Who, Jonas?

I agree.

I would imagine the fact that Benteke's about is 6' 3'' might colour Pardew's thinking.

I reckon we couldn't put out a better side or formation. Le Goof and Marveaux to swap sides now and again to cut in. Pards has got to get them walking onto that pitch feeling like lions. Just tear into them. Can't wait!

I'm surprised as i thought Pardew would have wanted him to have more training with the team. He's obviously too good to need it. If i was Villa i'd be pooping myself