Lotus

Good post, can see what you're thinking. Don't you think though, with your formation, we'd lack a bit of width? Do you think getting a LB who can cross and switching Santon to RB?

More interesting. What have you seen of HBA that he could play there?

I'd be very, very surprised if we were to see all 5 of them start a game for us. Obertan has the most about him (skill set wise) to play on the left. Not that he has much competition. I don't think all 5 of them fit into the same team effectively. Nice problem to have when it actually comes up!

Don't think Marv will do much from the left, sorry!

Would Marveaux be at RB?

Cool replies, was interested to see what people thought. I think though, from what we've seen of him, Marveaux isn't as effective on the left. He's better in the middle. Possibly a better passer and runner with the ball than Cabaye but doesn't do half as much without it. I think Marveaux on the left may not work great. Didn't he even say so himself?

HBA is best on the right (imo), not his best in the left. Marveaux better behind the striker(s), seems to be out of the game too much on the left Anita & Cabaya are best as part of a midfield 3. Without shoe horning players, how would you line them up?

Utterly awful defending from Simpson. Terrible.

Feliz Natal!

Pardew, quite rightly, is more mindful of what a player can do without the ball then with it. Especially in midfield. He doesn't like us to player through the middle (not 'on the front foot enough') but it's imperative that we limit the opposition's ability to play through the middle. There's not natural place for Marveaux they way we set up.

Reckon Pardew will play: Back 5 Obertan Anita Perch Jonas Shola Ba

Completely agree with this. Cisse is a waste of purple ink. We'd be better selling him and putting the money towards a Kenwyn Jones type. I think, ultimately, HBA will also prove to be the wrong sort of player for us. We need someone who will get the ball early to the forwards, not someone who wants to dally about or look to take a player on.

Cisse doesn't fit for what we trying to do here. Wrong type of player.

We don't need width. What we use is length. Ooh err missus. Truew though.

He'll start the game .

Would be a shame if we lose Marveaux just as he's starting to show something but end up keeping Obertan.

I couldn't agree less if i'm honest.

It does make sense squad wise. We don't do 'squad'.

Think we'll line up the same as against City.

Just can't see us going for this bloke unless Ba goes. Doesn't make economic sense otherwise.

Think the other thing is that Cisse likes the ball passed into dangerous positions where as Ba can just hunt for mistakes by the defenders. For the type of football we play, if we're honest, Cisse isn't really the striker you'd want.

Is he saying that when HBA's been on the pitch the oppo's LB has felt totally safe to wander up the line ?

Aren't they Pards quotes in relation to the HBA interview?

HBA cutting with Santon providing an option would be awesome. Santon plays RB for Italian U21s so it's hardly like he's unfamiliar. He makes good runs with the ball from LB but can't deliver. He needn't make good runs with the ball at RB, he could pass and move into a good crossing postion, you know, a bit of teamwork, would make us very potent from that side.

If Pardew feels he needs a Carroll type then i'd rather he tried for Llorente (whom i believe is out of contract in the summer).