Lotus

I agree. I think (and i know you're not firmly in the 'Pardew camp' here) that seems to me like Pardew hasn't got a really in depth understanding of what was bringing the results so he was afraid to try something different. As an alternative, remember Manu doing well but still getting Cronaldo on the pitch to give him minutes even when he was, in those days, a complete show pony. Didn't stop Fergie subbing him on though to get him used to it all and start developing.

Wonder if we ever went over what he was meant to do when we had the ball.

Any RB would have a field day looking at that (imo).

I certainly haven't. Actually, going on form, i would think about bringing Shola on for Ba in the last 20 and keep Cisse on (if he's actually playing at all).

He was only really fit just before his injury, and Pardew's "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach was keeping the likes of Obertan and Ryan Taylor in the team, and the likes of Marveaux and Santon out of it. Didn't he play 120 mins in a cup game and still not get a look in during subsequent games? Not sure fitness was the issue. More like he didn't have enough about him in Pardew's eyes to displace Obertan or Jonas.

He wasn't getting a look in when he was fit and able earlier in the season, why do people assume Pardew will have changed his mind about him?

I don't think Shola can last 90 mins tbh. Bring him on when the oppo are tired and we want to make the ball stick up top.

Worth coming on in the last 20 minutes as he can bully most defenders.

19 points from 17 games is hardly "atrocious", its only slightly worse than the sort of form I was hoping for at the start of the season. You seem to be confusing us with a completely different team. You were hoping for slightly more than a point per game

he can do it from either side so let him drift, ba can pull wide as can cisse, imagine trying to mark them. we need that extra centralish midfielder to go the left of tiote and cabaye. Jonas was actually ok in the middle when we tried playing 5 there with a striker and LW. Maybe he could do it for now. Anyhoo, no chance of that type of floating offensive formation under Pards, i think he's very big on players being in the positions he wants them for when we lose the ball he wasn't. he was ok on the ball but as usual his distribution was poor and his basic positioning is atrocious. he's like an 8yr old just chasing after the ball didn't think he was that bad meself tbh. Don't think Guthrie could do it either, he seems much better dead central. I had little sparkly hopes that Vuckic might be that kind of player but after viewing the evidence, he's no where near it! I said in another thread, i think Pardew has an idea that he tries to fit the players to rather than truly assessing his players and then formulating an idea to suit them. So, no 4-3-3.

he can do it from either side so let him drift, ba can pull wide as can cisse, imagine trying to mark them. we need that extra centralish midfielder to go the left of tiote and cabaye. Jonas was actually ok in the middle when we tried playing 5 there with a striker and LW. Maybe he could do it for now. Anyhoo, no chance of that type of floating offensive formation under Pards, i think he's very big on players being in the positions he wants them for when we lose the ball

Why would Cisse play in the hole? I wouldn't choose to Cisse there either, however, why would you play Obertan there? What qualities have you ever seen him display to suggest he's be effective as a link between midfield and attack? The answer cleary is NONE so you have to wonder, why not try Ba there given Pardew himself has said he's put him some great 'number 10' displays and try Cisse up front?

Actually Arsenal have shown that they're not so hot at closing down if you start passing it between the lines. Our players have had so little practice at though and coupled with the clear instruction to bang long at the first opportunity it meant that we never tried to get in between them. Even when our evident plan A was failing to threaten their goal again.

Second half v Sundeland and first half today we actually played decent football. We did go long when Shola came in but it wasn't helped by our defence being so deep for the majority of the second half and our midfield having no sort of grip on the game with the anonymous Cabaye leaving Tiote with far too much work. We went long a long time before Shola came in, he was sent on because Ba wasn't coping with it. I know it's your position to defend the manager come what may but it's clear that kicking it long as much as possible are his instructions. It's been like that every week since before Christmas. Agree. Given our midfield consisted of internationals who can play some pretty good football you've really got to question Pardew's ability to coach a team how to attack effectively on the floor. He's not shaping his tactics based on the players he has, he has a mindset and sticks to it regardless of personnel.

This.

If he went and we put the money towards buying M'Vila, M'Biwa and Cissokho it would be worth it /daydreaming..

Problem with our 'direct' play is that it's very straight. Also, if Ba or Cisse do manage to get it they need a midfielder running towards them to play it off to. Our instructions are clearly though for the midfield 2 to remain deep at all times. Makes it very difficult.

They will be tight and maybe a little deep now and hit us on the counter in the 2nd half. I can see no point putting Ben Arfa on the right. Raylor is never far enough forward to turn their defenders around and then cross it. There's no way Guti's going to RW and Ben Arfa at LW so the only option Pardew has is to bring Obertan on for Raylor and hope Obertan pushes them back a little. Cisse seems a very good forward for smart through balls or early crosses, given the team has clearly been told not to do the former and doesn't really have the players for the latter i'm not sure it's worth keeping him on either. Maybe see if Shola can do his usual Mackem terrorism!

Cisse not in the game at all. Not his type of football tbf. Probs best bring Ameobi on to compete for all the sky balls.

I think Pardew needs some help. He needs to be allowed to hire a coach who will train the players how to attack the opposition end by quick incisive passing and clever movement rather long straight balls from back to front.

Not expecting much in the way of football tbh (unless Sessegnon puts on a show). Will be plenty of direct play i would think.

I agree. Your last line though....

Krul 6 Simpson 5 Williamson 4 Colo 7 Santon 6 Raylor 3 Cabaye 4 Tiote 5 Guti 7 Cisse 6 Ba 6 Ben Arfa 4 Shola 2

I think midfielders are there to protect the defenders in Pardew's scheme of things and as such, this boy will never fit in.