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Pardew talks entirely too much.

That is an absolute load of tosh. I was about to post the same. I'm not trying to make it an indictment of Hughton, brother. I think he's a thoroughly average and acceptable manager that presents the club well in the media, and I am very pleased we gave him a chance to show his talents. It probably wasn't coming otherwise. If you think I'm referencing the football he played in the Championship and his half season in the Premiership, that's not what I meant. It was a reference to this season. I think they've been one of the worst sides in the entire league since December. They were in free fall even more than we were, imo. Their season ended like ours in that they only stayed up because of some late wins against sides who were already relegated or on holiday. They also play horrible, blunt football, with absolutely no ambition. They have a lower standard of player, but that doesn't excuse how poor it's been. It looks like they'll have some better players and therefore higher expectations next season. If it doesn't improve, he'll be unemployed, like Mr. Pardew.

I'm willing to give Pardew another chance. I don't think it is a fair conclusion to say that last season's success was somehow lucky or the result of sheer talent and the vestiges of Hughton's (whose football was somehow worse than what we produced this year) team spirit, while this season's failure lies at the feet of Pardew. The two years are really mirror images of one another. Last season everything went better than you could really have hoped for. Cabaye, Ba, Cisse, and Ben Arfa just took to the team incredibly well and became leaders of the side, despite having half a year's experience in England between them. Young players like Krul and Santon blended in seamlessly. Rubbish reserves like Ryan Taylor, Williamson, and Guthrie, and Ameobi were able to hold things steady when we were inevitably struck by injuries and suspensions. We did play quite conservatively, but it worked because we were reasonably stout defensively, excluding Spurs, Norwich, and Fulham where it fell apart. We were also a consistent attacking threat through direct play towards Ba and the counter-attacking, quick strike ability of Ben Arfa and Cisse in the new year. It was opposite this season. Anita and the new boys in January have helped keep us up, but none of them have really solidified themselves in the team. The younger players, excluding Bigirigmana, and unfortunately including Davide, have failed or regressed. The reserves have generally failed. Our style of play hasn't changed dramatically, imo, but we've somehow lost all cohesion going forward (making for boring, ineffective football) and all confidence at the back. I think Pardew has suffered a crisis of confidence. He's looked beaten down in his interviews and scared when things go wrong on the pitch. It's the same expression Cabaye was sporting the final third of the season. Look, I'm like most supporters on here. My patience ran out after the 3-0 defeat at Sunderland. The meekness of our performance in that environment was beyond inexcusable. If he had gone, I certainly wouldn't have protested. If it wasn't for the capital that he created last season, I would have been enraged that he remained after that or Liverpool. However, last season sticks in my mind. The man, for all his faults led us to the highest points tally we've had since Sir Bobby, in what I consider to be a stronger version of the Premiership and with a playing squad I think is inferior to one we had available this season. If Ashley trusts him and will genuinely support him financially in the market, which he has done with the exception of this summer, I'm be satisfied to see how things progress for the last few months of 2013 with this squad (e together for a season. If he fails again, let him go, the leash should be short. If he recovers his managerial form I appreciate the stability.

Big moment for Varane.

Why would you import a Chevrolet?

I felt badly for Efe Ambrose last night. He has taken much of the blame for Celtic's collapse last night, but he had just finished a grueling continental competition in which he played all but one match (red card) at a different position than centreback, including the biggest game of his life two days prior. Who would think it wise to then throw him right into the middle of defense against the Italian Chmampions?

I wouldn't argue with much of that. I think the Premiership as a whole is better funded and and has better players compared with the 1990's and the early part of last decade.

I think we have the talent to be equivalent to be equivalent to Everton and Liverpool meaning that we should challenge for European qualification if the season progresses properly. The Manchesters and Chelsea are much better than us. The North Londoners are both more talented and deeper, imo. Below that, there are a group of about five clubs that are will occasionally be well-run enough or spend well enough to compete also, but will not be able to maintain this because they lack the funds or prestige. Our goal should be to further stratify the table. We need to be aiming for at least top-seven the next two seasons with what we have at our disposal. Assuming survival this season, if Pardew does not look capable of this by November, he should be sacked.

Mba and Oboabona might not go back home, man. They've been fantastic. The rest of them looked rubbish and/or didn't play so I doubt they will ever be heard from again.

He looks good these days. Rather he was playing for England than Downing. shame he is Nigerian then... That's the point I'm making. We let him slit through the net (played at every youth level for England) while other pointless players play for the national team. The guy openly said that he chose to play for us because the competition would have kept him out of the England squad. It's funny because I genuinely think he would be starting for you if he stayed. I agree like, I'm a bit bewildered by the ubiquitous Martinez love. Dont understand what he's done that Steve Bruce and others haven't. Surely Wigan have been up long enough that saving them in the final games shouldn't be considered an especially good achievement. Wigan's team is remarkably terrible. Martinez has done a great job of making them play good football, but I hope he does control player recruitment.

Shola should never have been invited in the first place. It is ridiculous that Pardew pulled the stunt of not letting him come, though. I'm not keen on him playing for my country, but it is harsh on him to miss out.

I'm so happy for this team. They deserve everything they have gotten. The party was brilliant and the players have done it through hard work not just skill. This is by no means a vintage SE or even the best of the last five years, but they have succeeded where so many others failed. Keshi is an African legend for bringing the trophy back to its rightful destination. The tournament overall was rather poor and the final was a bit of a nonevent, tbf. The Burkinabe were nervous and we should have led by more than 1 at half. I thought our midfield was in control throughout, but they did a good job of pressing Mikel Obi and Mba so the attacking play lacked fluency. It was more grit than anything else at the end. I like parts of our team and Oboabona, Omeruo, Ambrose, Obi, Onazi, Mba, Moses, and Emenike represent a backbone that can be built on for the next five years. This team should win more medals if we let it grow.

Loudest cheer of the first half was the sixteenth minute when they all got up and clapped for Di Matteo. I actually don't blame them, tbh. They've been terrible under the Spaniard.

Agreed. Embarrassing. Both are very good players. I think Cisse is slightly better, but they have very similar limitations.

Chelsea are such a soft team now with the players they have on the pitch. Mentally and physically they capitulate quite often.

This boy does get away with a lot of rough play. I guess that is the difference between looking like Cabaye and looking like Tiote.

Shea? He's not involved in any way, yet. He's quite young, yeah?

Ben Arfa for the second half of last season is the best he has ever looked at any point in his career. Bale has been doing this rather consistently for a while now. Anyway, the game was completely even, imo. Spurs won because of a stupid mistake by Coloccini. That is how football is sometimes. We need to keep fighting and going forward, though, as we are not out of trouble yet.

http://en.starafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Illustration_Football__Logo_F%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration_Congolaise.jpg I still think Republic of Congo is the worst I've seen.

Nearly all of the Egyptian players have been catastrophes when they've left Ahly/Zamalek and made the move to Europe. They fail at a 90 percent rate.

Yeah from DC. I'm a DC fan, but I also think he's objectively a very good player. Could make the transition to Europe quite well, much like Dempsey at Fulham a few years ago. Left winger who can also play as a center striker or withdrawn forward. Not as potentially explosive as Brek Shea, but a tougher and more well-rounded player. Hope he makes it, then. I used to go to a few matches down at their stadium and the fans were always quite good, better than the football. Luciano Emilio was unbelievable as well.

The US is such a spoiled nation. You had the World Cup less than 20 years ago! England, the creator of football, has hosted it once. Brazil will have waited 64 years for a second shot. DMX...is that Pontius from DC? I don't watch or follow your league, but I know of him.

I think all of you are pronouncing Bancé incorrectly.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38067000/jpg/_38067576_fadigajoy_300x300.jpg Khalilou Fadiga One of the bright stars that was instrumental for Senegal during their surprise 2002 World Cup run, Khalilou played for a host of Belgian and French clubs early in his career before moving to Inter Milan from Auxerre. It was at Inter that the heart problems which troubled the rest of his career were discovered. He moved to Bolton next, and collapsed with a heart attack during training. Fortunately Mr. Fadiga survived and amazingly continued playing football with a newly-installed defibrillator despite the protestations of medical professionals. Fadiga continued to ply his trade in England and Belgium until his eventual retirement. I don't know how Sewelly is writing so many words. Too much effort for me.

Mutu had a brace against Lyon five days ago.