Lotus

i apologise You're spot on. just my perception. Probably clouded by Wullie's insistence that things have never been this bad in 15 years It's much easier to cope with the manager if the players are bollocks. Having to be in a position where players with real talent and pedigree look absolute toss and we can't accommodate Hatem Ben Arfa because he doesn't graft enough is unbelievably depressing. I've never been more frustrated as a Newcastle fan because I can see how close it is, that doesn't necessarily mean things are at their worst. Arguing over Pardew is one thing. I'm not daft enough to get into the debate of whether we should "accomodate" Ben Arfa rather than actually ask him to try and win the ball back when we're in the s***. I have a feeling that Pardew is less unhappy about that and more that he doesn't look to bring others into the game as much as he should.

Actually thought Tiote's lack of pace and awareness had a fair bit to do with their goal. Thought at the time Anita might well have got there to cut that pass out.

This year's Demba Ba. We create nothing of note, no real link up play between the forwards and then this guy just runs up and whacks it in the goal! REALLY hope he stays!!!

So they should, I think most will be happy to see progress over a period of time. Sure, as I said, I wasn't judging what anyone's expectations should be. You're like the forum Tai Chi master

Generally the way. The problem with good attacking players - they're good. Wish Pardew believed that of his own.

I do think HBA took the wrong option a few times against Everton. Just because he's playing on his 'wrong side' doesn't mean a guy with his talent can't be effective. He drifted inside a couple times. Looked better there. He should have done better. He should also have stayed on.

Fulham for example this season. Poor first half and very good second half + winner. You never know when he wakes up He got a 'telling off' as you will at half time from Pardew and benefited from it. That was actually good management tbf to him. I'll give credit where it's due but HBA did nothing different 2nd half tbf. Was well mentioned on here at the time. Personally think the same criticism was justified at Everton myself. Just wouldn't have taken him off for it.

People go on about this 4-3-3 as if it was a well practised formation we're used to getting results with. It worked against Villa, that's it! Have no idea what could get us working, none at all. We could try this i suppose. Lacks width though but seeing as we don't use that well anyway may not matter much... ..........................Back 5........................ ........Sissoko......Cabaye.......Anita........... .................HBA...........Marveaux............. ..........................Remy........................... Feliz Natal!

I think it's the genuine lack of options tbh.

This is what i agree with. He could do better bringing other players into the game when we're going forward. Would make him closer to a complete attacking player if he brought this into his game more.

Out of curiosity, who thinks HBA is a team player?

Haven't seen him play LW but i'll take your word that he would be good at it...

What would the 4-4-2 look like without Jonas? Cisse Remy Gouff Anita Cab HBA Santon Colo Mym Deb Attack Attack Attack From Pards point of 4-4-2 though.... Gouff Remy Sissoko Tiote Cabaye HBA Santon Colo Willo Debuchy So, no LW then.

2 v City wasn't it? And the first v Fulham. Doesn't bode too well does it! Man City have some big lads and Fulham have Hangeland & Berbatov (if he counts..) and Cardiff still scored. Really don't think we can let Tiote play coz of the FKs he'll give away.

What would the 4-4-2 look like without Jonas?

They'll be tired at the weekend though. You just watch. It is a tired line of talk. We won our group in this thing last season, quite easily in fact. Move back the Wayne Routledge revisionist history talk. He wasn'r much good for us but another manager has clearly had him performing for a while. We 'upgraded' him for Obertan though. Not so clever

This lot have a scored a few from set pieces non?

Ashley is businessman, if he thinks Pardew is going to fail again this season and cost him money and from the start we've made it's actually looking like a possibility, he will sack him. However he's not going to make a knee jerk reaction so early in the season when he's been our manager for 3 years and you have the feeling he likes to have the stability at the club and doesn't really want to be chopping and changing managers when things get tough. He's given Pardew another chance after last season's disaster but make no mistake about it, if he fails again, he will be gone. Why did you say 'fail again'? When did he fail the first time? We stayed up didn't we? He still failed his targets though, unless you’re of the opinion Ashley would take 17th every single year if offered and be happy with that. Tbh, i don't know his targets anymore than you do. It's obvious Ashley has no real sporting ambition though so we have to assume that staying in the league is good enough (i'm sure he doesn't want relegation dog fights every year because we'll end up losing one again but he's not motivated to spend the necessary to make us regular top 8).

Don't think you can damn Pardew on transfers. He doesn't appear to have much say in them.

Ashley is businessman, if he thinks Pardew is going to fail again this season and cost him money and from the start we've made it's actually looking like a possibility, he will sack him. However he's not going to make a knee jerk reaction so early in the season when he's been our manager for 3 years and you have the feeling he likes to have the stability at the club and doesn't really want to be chopping and changing managers when things get tough. He's given Pardew another chance after last season's disaster but make no mistake about it, if he fails again, he will be gone. Why did you say 'fail again'? When did he fail the first time? We stayed up didn't we?

I would actually be amazed in HBA was benched for Cardiff.

Aye, got to be good to do that.

was he not "hauled" off at half time? And? Pardew thought he was giving Coleman/Mirralas a free ride down the right so switched things around. Cardiff don't possess the same sort of ability that Everton do down the flanks, he’s not getting dropped, it was a tactical change at half time which worked but to suggest because he didn’t think Ben Arfa was right for that game means he won’t be right for Cardiff is just naïve. Was he right for Hull?

Fits in every way except the last point.

I do wish he'd look for a pass more often rather than (seemingly) always trying to take a player(s) on. Would make him more difficult to crowd out of a game.