Lotus

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.

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