Lotus

I can't believe that the reason is to keep Ba happy, I've never believed that. I just think Pardew prefers a more rigid system. Bit of both imo, I don't trust the form of cisse to play the 433 with Ba on the left and Cisse upfront. What I do want is the 433 though so that we can play 3 CM's as we are getting killed in midfield time and again. Probably. I don't think Ba is 'ideal' for the wide position, but all things considered it's definitely the best option for the team. Why isn't he being played there then?

Actually, i can imagine Willo having a decent game against Stoke. They're not exactly full of clever runs and off the ball movement. Unless they play Jones, he'll just knock Willo over.

Rooney, who is a far better player, gets put on the left of a front 3 . Ba can't be told to though or he gets upset. Something wrong here.

Incoming transfers means Pardew gets paid less. I reckon he'll think that Willo played for a lot of last season and can probably do the same this year.

Who is that a quote from? Remember when we were told well in advance Hughton was out? Remember when we were told Pardew had been contacted and his contract drawn up? Remember that it was a couple of weeks before it broke out? The lawyer responsible for it let that little nugget go. All on the board for anyone who wasn't paying attention at the time.

We have to remember this: 'Part of Pardew's remuneration is based on how much the club's operating expenses (wge costs for him) are reduced. I think that this fact will influence much of this summer's decisions - ones that seem logical to us and ones that don't. ' You have to ask yourself if there are any other managers that you'd want, would they be happy with their wages being based on the above? Would YOU be happy if that was a strong factor in their thinking?

What does a 'fitness test' involve? Cones? Shuttle runs? A couple of 50-50's?

We've got players in our squad that teams we've been out played by would kill for. But the way we've got them perfoming you'd think we were from a couple of divisions down!

How many crosses does he provide from wide left? Cisse scored from a Ferguson cross in a previous Euro game. Think that's a confidence thing more than a weak foot thing as when he's played on the right he's struggled to put decent delivery into the box too. He's barely played there. If he can defend on the left he can defend on the right. It's not much of a difference. He might also put in the occasional cross from the right. Italy U-21's play him at RB. I reckon they know a thing or two about defending. Anyone who says (and i'm not including you in this) that he can't play RB is clueless.

Absolute nonsense. Wullie really lets himself down in this thread. We've got no strength in depth and and players missing in every position. If we have no strength in depth and are struggling to play two games a week, why did Pardew play so many first team players yesterday against poor opposition? Then the spastic was whining about losing Ben Arfa and Cisse as a result. Does that make any sense to you? I think he's trying to get a bit of fluency back in the side. Reckon we would have won too if those two had stayed on.

He looks like he's a bit low on confidence to me. Not sure of how he can affect games or what he's meant to be doing. He's weak too. But, he's quick, good stamina and good technique. Give him a bit of time. Reckon there's a tidy player in there who will come through.

Do you think he could handle the pressure? He comes across as so nice and cultured that i wonder if he's got that steely ruthlessness to really compete with the other b*stards near the top.

Might be wrong, but didn't he say something like "players that have played in the competition previously and done well. Didn't do so well tonight?" I thought he was referring to Bigi and Sammy mainly, as they were both crap and have done well in the Europa so far. Marv was hit and miss granted, but he scored and was our only attacking threat second half. Doesn't say a lot admittedly. Who knows? Probably just more hot air to deflect the heat off him. Aye, you might be right. I was fighting the baby at the time so he didn't have my full attention! Who won? I won the battle but i have no doubt she'll win the war!

Might be wrong, but didn't he say something like "players that have played in the competition previously and done well. Didn't do so well tonight?" I thought he was referring to Bigi and Sammy mainly, as they were both crap and have done well in the Europa so far. Marv was hit and miss granted, but he scored and was our only attacking threat second half. Doesn't say a lot admittedly. Who knows? Probably just more hot air to deflect the heat off him. Aye, you might be right. I was fighting the baby at the time so he didn't have my full attention!

Poor players. Nobody would look good in that mess. Seem to be the first time (that i can remember) that he came close to pointing the finger in public though.

I'd go for Martin Jol and see if he can bring Briggs with him. Young, athletic LB with lots to learn who's not playing much, we might even be able to afford him. Switch Santon to RB. Personally i'd play 4-3-3 with Jonas in for Cabaye (until he's back) and partner him with Tiote and Anita. HBA on the right and, even though he's showed very little, i'd opt for Marveaux or Obertan on the left (as Ba won't play there). I'd also play Cisse up front as he plays off the last man better than Ba and when we play Ba we just seem to bang long to him (see last night) and he's actually not very good at that. I think Ba is a terrific player but we change our style when he's on and go long (ineffectively). When Cisse plays we look to go through the middle more. My first thoughts anyway. I will feel free to change them as well!

I reckon if we don't score early we will be in trouble. They'll know our confidence is down and they badly need a win. They'll go for it. It's a shame we don't have any defensive solidity this season, we can't really take the game to the opposition either. Hopefully we'll get lucky and the ball will drop in a handy spot for Ba to smash it. You'd have to say they're favourites though.

Thought it was interesting when he said that some of the players who came in last night didn't really do enough to stake a claim.I reckon he was definitely referring to Marveaux. Maybe Sammy and Vurnon too.

Thing that surprises me is, we aren't particularly solid at the back either. Sure, we're not incisive and clever upfront, but we can't really keep teams at bay either.

I'd agree he is clueless not playing hoofball + tight defense when we are forced to use Willo. Willo isn't singularly the problem. He hits it long because we don't use the midfield because we are team that like to go direct. Also, are you actually criticising the fans for wanting our team to attack Swansea at home?? For real?? Tactically, we weren't much different today. 4-4-2, little movement, pump it long often. Tried to play it around a bit, felt unfamiliar, go long again.

I was a bit frustrated with today if i'm honest.

Bit of stretch to call that as assist

So obvious that Sammy wasn't ready. I'm not sure what Pardew values in a player.

Don't agree we was far the better side it was a day light robbery how we lost that i don't know. We should have scored but on the whole they had the better chances. You're just not being honest about that tbf.

He doesn't understand what's wrong so he doesn't quite know what to do to fix it.