Gallowgate Toon

We spend so much time worrying about the opposition that we don't have a style of play that we can call our own. The main reason we've often looked clueless is because we don't have a well known way of playing which the players know well enough and that's part of why we had a season like last. We tried to work on the weaknesses of the opposition instead of our own strengths. Our players are suited to playing the type of game we played against Man U and Palace and that's why it worked for us. The better teams have a style of play that they know and that suits the players they have, we need the same. They suited that style in those situations, that doesn't mean they can play like that in every game. Away games are naturally more open for us, you can't discount that when you look into how we should be playing. Manchester United have been the most successful domestic team in my lifetime, they've seldom had a defined style to me. In fact, I think the reason for their success has pretty much been that they've been a multi-faceted team that can adapt their strategy to different situations. I just don't look at these players and think they can play possession-based tiki-taka style stuff, it's just not what they're best at. We can go possession, at times, but it's not something we should exclusively be doing.

You're probably right but a new manager would have come in and would have had to learn the strengths and weaknesses of the players before finding a way to control a game. Pardew knew what he had and it still took him 15 games to do that and he abandoned it for game 16 only to bring it back, thankfully, for game 17. But that's not assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the players. It's not as simple as saying, 'we should play this style all the time', because that doesn't necessarily suit our personnel when taking into account the opposition and their style, strengths and weaknesses. We've shown we can play possession football to frustrate teams away from home but we've not shown that it's something we can do when we need play through teams that look to shut space down, especially when they come to our place. I don't think we've got enough specialists in tight areas to really make it our proper philosophy. We've seen lots of teams come here over the last few years and look to give us the ball, frustrate and catch us on the break and we've often looked a bit clueless in terms of breaking those barriers down.

I don't think possession-based is really the way to go here but I think they'll pretty much give us the ball anyway. I know some might think yesterday's style was the way forward but I just don't believe it suits us at home to 'lesser' teams, we've used it well for nullifying certain opposition when playing away but this will be a different type of match. We don't have loads of creativity in the squad and if you're going to play possession against a team like this - a side that will probably sit back in numbers and look to contain - that's important, as is having attackers that can play quick football in tighter spaces. We should start this at a really high tempo, lots of high pressing, playing at pace and taking risks. Force them into being unbalanced and capitalise. If we get the early goal, can see us getting 3 or 4. Fancy Hatem to start and produce a bit magic. 3-0 - Remy, HBA, Sissoko.

Think we could push 11/12, to be honest. Can see Gomis and another coming in in January, perhaps Marveaux out and a couple of the young lads going on loan.

Is that our 5th away win of the year?

Think Pardew will start him against Stoke, Cabaye moves back alongside Anita and HBA as no.10. That, or 4-4-2 with HBA and Sissoko on the wings, Gouff and Remy up top.

I think he's edging towards something more 'free' in the second half of the season. He's not been perfect but this has been a good first half of the campaign.

Really enjoyed that cameo. Showed good intelligence and had a nice balance to his game, just like the Man U match.

Good team. Think Cabaye's passing could do some damage if he's playing no.10. Hopefully, Sissoko and Gouffran keep their recent good movement going.

Lovely move, great finish.

It's direct football and it's great.

He'll play a big part on the second half of the season, IMO. I think that, since Everton, Pardew has been looking to get the work ethic back that was in the side 2 years ago, re-building that foundation. Hatem will be re-introduced pretty soon, I'm sure of it.

This is about right, for me. I think we've seen him given freedom over the past season and a third and it's not as good as when he was an important part of the system, rather than the focal point. I think he's just too maverick in his head to be given a really free role, he might be one that ages into it when his other qualities become more prominent. I think he's a player that needs to be well-controlled, managing him into the right mindset is key to getting the most out of him for the team.

Has anyone said he's less talented than Bale? The general point is, Bale produced over an extended period of time. He proved his consistency and grew into a player that became the heart of a good side. Ben Arfa hasn't done that, some of that is him, some of it is down to factors that are out of his control. I think he's tremendously talented but his application could be far improved. I think he does himself a disservice by wanting to dribble as much as he does, it inhibits the rest of his other abilities, because he does have two good feet, can spot passes and put in great crosses etc. I would like to see him use his head a bit more before he receives the ball, look at what else is going on. I feel he has generally treated passing and crossing as a last resort since the beginning of 12/13, which is a shame, and because there are times he hangs onto the ball looking for an opening to run with it, it slows us down as a team. Pardew was right in the Fulham game, he told him to pick the tempo up and be more aware, he put in a cracking second half performance that saw him create 2 brilliant chances and score a goal. As for the tracking back, I thought the was pretty excellent at it about a year ago. Of course, it's not his strength (nor should it be) but he's been given more responsibility and that side of stuff has regressed too much, IMO. I just want to see the Hatem we saw in the second half of 11/12. If he recaptures that balance, he'd be the first name on my team sheet, every time. I think Pardew tried to make him into the creative centre of this squad but it's backfired, he's now seen that and this is his way of rectifying it, not that I think it's the right way to deal with it.

I don't think we should accept that this is just HBA and we need to work around him, his game can, and should, be improved. As it stands, I'm not sure if he should be in the team, he shouldn't be behind Shola but there are a limited number of spots with other players playing well. If he wants the freedom that the likes of Suarez, Messi, Bale etc. have had, he needs to earn it while playing by the rules, just like they did. That doesn't mean he needs to be a workhorse, but he can't be a liability when he's not doing good stuff on the ball. His effort against Hull was atrocious and he's not proven himself to be good enough to be like that, nor are we a good enough side to carry someone. It's come back into fashion that everyone works hard, more talented players aren't really exempt from not doing their bit anymore, unless they're really special and regularly win games. HBA simply hasn't proven that consistently enough, his game could be better considering the talent he has.

I think saying we'd be generally brilliant with just a bit of fluid movement is a bit of a stretch. Genuine question, Bimpy, if you take Pardew out of the equation, what are the weaknesses of this squad (lack of numbers aside)? Pretty much agree on the Shola/HBA side of it, by the way.

If Shola's dropped/'rested' it'll be Anita that comes in for him. No way the others are going to be displaced. Hatem will get his chance over the next month, I'm sure he'll take it.

Don't think we'll lose, actually feeling quite confident of a win despite their better recent form. 1-3 - Remy, Gouff and Sissoko to score.

It really is a mystery as to what goes on. I don't know if he actively encourages sitting back or if he just doesn't give players enough direction which makes them withdraw, it really is strange. I think I read a stat the other day that said we were one of two teams that haven't scored more than 2 in a game this season.

Happens every game, the goalkeeper usually never makes that mistake. So yes I'd call it a fluke. It's not a fluke. There's an element of fortune to it, of course, but when you're closing down opposition so they a) make a rubbish back pass, and b) rush their consequent clearance, you're very much in the realms of making your own luck.

Remy chasing down a ball to panic the 'keeper into a rushed clearance isn't a fluke. A sheer fluke would have been Remy standing still and the 'keeper hitting it right at him.

Sissoko makes good decisions, he just doesn't always execute them well.

The only time Shola should be involved in this is if we need to alleviate some pressure. I'd be tempted to have Hatem start. I reckon Pardew will just go with the side that faced Man U though, perhaps putting Haidara in for Santon.

I think we need a big man for some games and situations but not all.