Gallowgate Toon

Rather Shola played here than at Man U. Their centre halves are quite small, IIRC, and I think the Remeobi combination could cause them a lot of bother.

Interesting. These are the sorts of insights should be talked about more, not Alan's latest meaningless drivel which really shouldn't be taken notice of.

One was excellent for us, the other is excellent for us and I couldn't choose between them. They are both obviously very good strikers, no doubt. But, I know if I was looking for a player who could do more than score, Remy is the one I'd pick. Ba has been the better goalscorer for us, his consistency was outrageous.

depends on the day, he had days when his control was evostik-like, when whatever came to him stayed there, other days he could control it 10yds. That's one of the main differences between Ba and Remy, for me. Ba was capable of sublime control (as is Cisse, to be fair) but it wasn't much of a shock to see him completely miscontrol it either. It's very rare that Remy doesn't have the ball where he wants it, his touch is really smooth and it sticks, the majority of the time.

There's just no way Ba slays Remy at anything in terms of general play. Remy is just a better technical player and has shown some real intelligence outside the box in his time here, he's a class act. You could put him pretty much anywhere along the frontline and he'd be effective.

He's a much footballer than Ba. We'll see if he's as consistent a goalscorer, I think he'll prove himself to be.

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.