Gallowgate Toon

We did but it was kind of by default, due to the arrival of Cisse in the main. After his debut, the fee we paid and the hype, he had to start. He couldn't drop his top goalscore in BA ether and by that time Ben Arfa's wonder goals and skill was too tempting. When it didn't produce the reults though he dropped the whole system. Well, we played 4-4-2 a lot when Cisse arrived, we only switched to 4-3-3 against West Brom, IIRC. He has a habit of ripping things up when they fail, he'll do it with this current set up when it goes tits up. One of his biggest and most annoying flaws. Pardew simply doesn't trust the players enough or any other system other than 4-4-2, that's why he relies so heavily on his own tactics or rather that's why his own tactics dominate our play so much. He's a stats man, prozone etc., he is all about meticulous detail and percentages. He's a silver haired slim southern Big Sam basically. Ironically, one of the reason's Allardyce failed here was because he tried to be something he wasn't, he tried to be too varied and too mixed with his tactics, set-ups, systems and with the players. Had he just kept to what he knew best he might have done much better. I think that's simply untrue. I'd wager that over the last 18 months, we've played a 4-3-3 variant more than 2 up top, he obviously has trusted them with it but we've largely not delivered. I think he's got a bit more 'flair' to him than Fat Sam, same ilk though, I generally agree with that. I agree with your latter sentiments and points. It is a team game and we seem to have a good team at the moment even if it doesn't necessarily contain the best players. Shola starting for us in 2013? I know a lot of that is dictated by our lack of spending in the striker department since the arrival of Cisse/departure of Ba but still... Pardew uses him because he needs him, our whole way of playing needs Shola. He doesn't have the creative vision or the confidence and wherewithal to for example, build a team around the obvious talents of Cisse and Ben Arfa. There's really nothing wrong with Shola's role. Take Giroud away from Arsenal, Lewandowski from Dortmund, Mandzukic from Bayern and that will change how they play, they are integral to that style, for teams that are known for playing exciting attacking football. Having a player that can play in the air and on the deck has become pretty important over the last few years, it shouldn't be seen as a negative. I actually think Remy can play as the second striker, like he showed against Fulham, it just makes sense to have Remy-Shola in their current form. Sissoko is working wide-right for now but I look at his game, his attributes and when I see him wide I just think we are never ever going to see just what he can be or do. Same with Ben Arfa. I'm not too fussed if we don't see the complete best from him in the middle, if it's better for the team where he is now. Not that I think he's seen as a long-term option there, I think he will certainly get his shot in the centre in the future. I actually think we'll get the most out of him playing as a CM in a 4-4-2, rather than in a midfield 3 Thankfully Cabaye seems to be playing much further forward this season, I think that's more in part down to Tiote being fit and back to his old self rather than a conscious decision or tactic of Pardew's mind. I think that's doing Pardew a disservice. This is as good as Cabaye has been playing for us, even when Tiote was performing to a similar level in 11/12, Cabaye wasn't as advanced as he is now. Credit to Pardew, in my opinion. Surely if Cabaye was going against his orders, we'd have seen a recent change in his game? If it wasn't initially a Pardew decision, then he deserves credit for having the positivity to continue with it.

Mapou should definitely be starting, no question. The best thing about Sissoko and Gouffran on the flanks is that they have a lot of good movement. Compare that to earlier in the year with Marveaux and HBA out wide, they just wanted the ball to feet all the time and never really got the full back on the turn.

We played our best football under Pardew in a 4-3-3, I think it's pretty unfair to say he only knows 4-4-2. Not that playing 4-4-2 is in any way, shape or form a bad thing considering we've had some really exciting spells of football, of late. To be honest, I think we are a better team without Ben Arfa (at the minute). He's obviously massively talented but he currently doesn't offer as much defensive protection, work rate, consistency of decision-making or off-the-ball movement as Sissoko. I'm not too bothered about the former two attributes, but the latter two have been really useful over the last few games. At the end of the day, it's a team game and it's all about having the players that complement one another in a shape that works, we've found that and it's produced some really good results. Ben Arfa's time will come but he has to change his game a bit, not for the worse either.

I'd prefer it if we didn't rotate as I think the current starters are a good fit for a game where we'll be looking to counter, Shola's also a really good option for the long ball (which we've used well, of late, not too much). If we do change it, I'd quite like us to go 4-3-3 proper. Krul Debuchy Williamson MYM Santon Cabaye Anita Sissoko HBA Gouffran Remy Wouldn't mind Cisse starting either. Gouff on the right and Remy on the left. Fancy us to get a result here, 1-1.

Does it tell you anything when 2 of our most creative players can't get a game? That they, rightly, need to bring more than just some creative ability to get in the side? Although, I'd argue that HBA isn't in the team because of his lack of creativity, he could rack up a bunch of assists but his decision-making has been far too erratic.

I thought he was decent but his decision-making could have been better. He still did some excellent stuff though, he's a very good footballer, best all-round striker we've had in a long time.

He can go outside too, he's whipped in some lovely crosses over the last couple of games. Really never thought I'd say it but he's looking like a very useful wide man. I like the balance he and Gouffran are bringing.

Really poor, if true. Colo simply doesn't deserve to be starting, we hardly missed his captaincy skills when he was out either.

No animosity towards him at all. I don't think it's right to say he chased the money, I think he legitimately went there to try and win something. I can see why his way of leaving would leave a sour taste for others though.

He'll go at the end of the season, we get an out of contract Pirlo on a 1 year deal. ITK.

Really looking forward to seeing how Pogba develops, love his style.

Question for any Wigan watchers, how's McManaman been playing this year?

Spurs are so negative in possession, their players so rarely turn forwards when they get the ball. Paulinho hasn't looked really settled to me the few times I've seen him and Lamela hasn't adjusted to the physicality.

Don't think so, personally. He got the ball first, then went through the man.

We'll raise our game accordingly. 3-1 win.

Mackems can sod off whining about the red. Larsson should have been off vs. City, sometimes it goes your way and others it doesn't.

From his comments after the game, didn't seem like he wanted us to sit back at all.

Heard Cabaye was immense. Pleased they got through. Good news for us, not that they'd suddenly stop performing but it just adds that extra bit of motivation.

Why is it so certain that he'll play the same team? He switched it up after beating Cardiff.

Deary me That boy is an utter fool. I have no idea why he thought it would be good to put that in the public domain, although, judging by some of his other tweets, this isn't really surprising.

I'm not suggesting an alternative that is, I'm saying that hanging on for dear life isn't. I'm suggesting that there's one sure fire way to do it, I'm suggesting that there's a better way of doing it than we are now. First half against Spurs was a very good way to do it, and a way that I thought would be a good idea after seeing them recently. Second half we hung on for dear life and defended our lead. Why? What happens at half time? I know it has been a consistent theme, mainly over the last year or so, but I thought in yesterday's case, we just got pegged back and faded as it went on. To be fair to Pardew, he said afterwards that we were deeper than he would have liked.

I know, I'm just saying I can't think of too many times he's had a run there, the Everton games are the only ones that spring to mind for me. I do think his best position is on the right but I think a spell on the left would improve him, I think he needs to add more variety to his game and not always being able to cut in would help that.

You better start buying it because he can't..... he's proved it time and time again. I can't think of too many times that he's properly played there. His first appearance for us springs to mind, he was pretty damn good then.

I think he can play on the right, I just think he needs a spell on a side where he can't cut in as much. I think it'd make him a better player.

I'd start trying him on the left, to be honest. I don't buy it that he can't play there, a lad as talented as him can manage, he just needs to adapt and use his brain more than he does on the right.