Lotus

Fair enough. So I presume you were on about current ability, not potential. I still think you're wrong; he'd be an asset for many a Championship side already, and I think he's proven in his last two outings (albeit against lower league opposition) he is an asset in our squad too. Out of interest, do you think he's got what it takes to be a useful Premiership player for us, because that's not the vibe I'm getting from you? I'm going to go out on a limb, put myself forward for future humiliation and say that in a couple of years, when he's got some power to him, he'll be a good addtion to a Prem squad. As Ron said, for a 21 yr old, he is lagging a bit but i think that's because he's so tall and extremely thin. Fill out a bit, work on his power and stamina. While i'm making wild predictions i also reckon Haidara will end up better than Dummett. Yep Yep. He's better than Dummett now I think a few on here think it's the other way around imo. Understandable as Dummett's been doing ok and Haidara is nowhere to be seen.

We really need HBA to be on top productive form. Baines needs to be frightened of wandering up field. Sissoko on the right of a midfield 3 to use his pace and muscle to help Debuchey out. HBA to stand in the hole Baines has left.

Fair enough. So I presume you were on about current ability, not potential. I still think you're wrong; he'd be an asset for many a Championship side already, and I think he's proven in his last two outings (albeit against lower league opposition) he is an asset in our squad too. Out of interest, do you think he's got what it takes to be a useful Premiership player for us, because that's not the vibe I'm getting from you? I'm going to go out on a limb, put myself forward for future humiliation and say that in a couple of years, when he's got some power to him, he'll be a good addtion to a Prem squad. As Ron said, for a 21 yr old, he is lagging a bit but i think that's because he's so tall and extremely thin. Fill out a bit, work on his power and stamina. While i'm making wild predictions i also reckon Haidara will end up better than Dummett. Yep Yep.

Not getting into a 'who's better' debate here but if you look at your arch nemesis, Laudrup. He gets his players moving very effectively. Even when they change out most of their team, the other players who come make good runs and create space. That's clearly not Pardew's style (there's pros and cons to both - Swansea can look far too open at times). The only way we're going to play that way is if we buy players for which that is their natural game. You want us to buy players that don't necessarily fit with the managers ethos. That's hindering Pardew not helping him.

He's got no end product that's the problem. The one where he was clean through on the keeper it was easier to score than to miss. He lacks belief, shooting power and can't cross. But he can run quite quickly, if he had even one of those qualities I listed he'd be a useful squad player. Pace in itself is a useful attribute when you're in the lead and need to relieve pressure is what I was getting at. He is by no means a first team player, and I wouldn't mind if we shifted him, but the grief he gets on here is largely based on how fed up people (me included) were back when he was keeping Hatem out of the team. If that was young Campbell yesterday we'd be saying he looked promising for getting into goalscoring positions. Tbqph, if Campbell displays that level of 'composure' in front of goal i'd have even more serious doubts about his future.

That's also true! We really do have an odd recruitment policy..

He is a strong lad for his size, like. Knows how to use his body too. Far better than Cisse out of the box, that's not even really up for debate. I'm starting to wonder if Pardew had ANY input in the Cisse signing. He offers so little apart from shooting on sight. Would Pardew really have looked at him and thought he could use him as a central point of attack?

Despite his other present failings he's better in the air than Williamson!

I loved that. Me too !!!!!!!!

Nice back heel for Obertan.

W4 D1 L1 Liverpool Mackems Man City Chelsea Tottenham .. is a harsh run that could do for him. 5 points would be a good return. Given that we're not judging him on the Man City game surely it's not fair to judge against any other good sides either? Just the sh*t and average ones. Everyone pretty much accepted our season started after the Man City game. He wasn't going to be sacked off that result or anything. I said he has 8 games after it that will tell us if we're relegation bait or not. A decent haul against West Ham, Fulham, Villa, Hull, Everton & Cardiff would suggest we're not going to be struggling in relegation places all season. Which would be enough to keep Pardew in his job. For better or worse. However, with that draw in the league cup we now have 5 games following that are all REALLY difficult. Whatever has happened in the 8 preceding games, if he were to lose 5 on the bounce, there would be hell on, irrespective of the opponents, and the #Pardewout might get their wish. It turns out though that Man City weren't that hot at the start (lost to Cardiff and drew with Hull) it's just that we soooo bad that day. As the season's started now though and teams are finding their rhythm surely it's unfair to judge him against the other top sides? Like Liverpool, Man City (again), Spurs, Chelsea, etc. Because they'll be firing on all cylinders now. Great point for Hull that like. Brucie would have been delighted. Corrected just for you, Nobby.

Very next match they lost to Cardiff then a hard fought victory over Hull and then managed a draw against Stoke. We stank that day. Couldn't have been worse.

W4 D1 L1 Liverpool Mackems Man City Chelsea Tottenham .. is a harsh run that could do for him. 5 points would be a good return. Given that we're not judging him on the Man City game surely it's not fair to judge against any other good sides either? Just the sh*t and average ones. Everyone pretty much accepted our season started after the Man City game. He wasn't going to be sacked off that result or anything. I said he has 8 games after it that will tell us if we're relegation bait or not. A decent haul against West Ham, Fulham, Villa, Hull, Everton & Cardiff would suggest we're not going to be struggling in relegation places all season. Which would be enough to keep Pardew in his job. For better or worse. However, with that draw in the league cup we now have 5 games following that are all REALLY difficult. Whatever has happened in the 8 preceding games, if he were to lose 5 on the bounce, there would be hell on, irrespective of the opponents, and the #Pardewout might get their wish. It turns out though that Man City weren't that hot at the start (lost to Cardiff and drew with Stoke) it's just that we soooo bad that day. As the season's started now though and teams are finding their rhythm surely it's unfair to judge him against the other top sides? Like Liverpool, Man City (again), Spurs, Chelsea, etc. Because they'll be firing on all cylinders now.

Think i'd keep the same 11 (injuries permitting). Don't really have options tbh.

If i was a manager coming off an extremely bad season, had seen in the summer the owner appoint a DoF who described me as a 'decent bloke and a decent coach' (hardly a ringing endorsement) and i knew i had to get this season off to the best possible start because i think they want to sack me, Marveaux would not be a player i'd want to that outcome to depend on.

If he isn't being marked tight, and is allowed to collect the ball with no pressure, then yes, it isn't bad at all. However, many footballers can be respectable in such circumstances, many of whom aren't even professionals. Such conditions are few and far between if playing in any respectable league, which sucks for him and us. I agree. Think he isn't much good at all with his back to goal. And of late he's often been shooting from really stupid angles instead of looking for the better pass (outside foot through ball to a non anticipatory Gouf last night being an exception).

When he fills out a bit he'll be a lot stronger. Then he'll have a physical advantage and that is extremely useful in the Prem. He also hits the ball very well, nice contact. You can see it in his passing at times and his crosses. If he gets the rest of his game together he could be good. Quite a lot to do though.

Was a nice bend on the ball to take it past the Leeds player when he sent Sammy on his tbf! Other than that. Hope he keeps improving. Looks like he's at a stage when he might look like a decent Championship player and we wait and see if he can turn into a decent Prem player. Never going to be an absolute top quality FB, like. But there's plenty of players in the Prem who aren't either.

If AC was available surely it would have been better to bring him for an 'evaluation'. No need to evaluate Gabs...

W4 D1 L1 Liverpool Mackems Man City Chelsea Tottenham .. is a harsh run that could do for him. 5 points would be a good return. Given that we're not judging him on the Man City game surely it's not fair to judge against any other good sides either? Just the sh*t and average ones.

Wassup with Adam Campbell?

Looks like he's getting stronger which is good (and needed). Was too good for Leeds. Let's see if he can keep on improving to the point at which he can compete in the Prem.

He was better. At least he tried to be involved.

Eh? 1st time we've beat a lower league team within 90 mins under Pardew. Previous wins were all after ET (Scunthorpe, Forest). Err.....