Gallowgate Toon

I thought he was better and the service was improved, even in the first half. He was unlucky with that header. I think Remy could be good foil for him, he's a player who has good movement but is also comfortable on the ball and happy to drop deep to link play (with success).

I'd happily take Gomis. I think Cisse-Remy is a really interesting partnership that I'm intrigued to see more of and Gouffran's a cracking squad option but we need one more in, even just to make sure Shola is properly down the pecking order.

We played attacking football under Pardew?! Hopefully he gets the idea of starting Shola out of his head now.

He was frustrating at times too but he was definitely making an effort to play more crosses from wide, I liked that.

As with Marveaux, I'd like to see his creativity while we've actually got a capable, moving striker on the pitch. Nobody thinks faster in our team than Vurnon.

Hard to say with him really, I'd like to have seen him play with Remy on the pitch.

Very direct and moved well off the ball. Surprised he missed that header, he's a much better striker than that.

Well, that was 1000 times better. I thought we were more positive from the off compared to last week but we just needed that bit of quality and balance in the attacking players to put it together and when it did, we looked dangerous. Feels lovely to say we played well, won and deserved the victory.

Looked much better with 3 players moving off the ball. Gouffran was good at moving into the box from the wing when Hatem was in possession.

Looked like a quality footballer. His overall play showed what we were missing, someone who could show for and do something positive with the ball. Really impressed. I thought his movement off the ball was class too, opened up a lot more space for Cisse.

I think it will be the same team as last week, perhaps Sammy in for Marveaux. It's a obviously flawed XI but it's got enough in it to at least get a shot on target. We need to be quicker and more confident. 2-1. Remy to get the winner.

Have I missed something here?

I thought he looked confident in that he went looking for the ball a lot but whenever he was in a pressurised situation, he generally shit himself. It's hard to know with Marv, he took a while to get going last year.

Being a narrow side isn't really an issue if you have the strikers and wide men to suit it. Ben Arfa and Marveaux drifting in is fine but there either needs to be forwards moving about ahead of them or strikers comfortable showing for and playing quick interchanges in tight spaces.

Marveaux wasn't his usual self on the ball tonight. His touch was off and he got outmuscled too often.

Lovely footballer but a bit of a wimp.

Hatem showed some of the others how to do it, managed to withstand their tackling and strength. Marveaux was too lightweight tonight.

Pretty much sums it up. He's definitely not going to shine on a small pitch in a clogging match which this was in the first half. He's a big lad that should have been far more commanding when on the ball. He didn't take his chance, we all know he's a better player than what he showed tonight.

Thought we were OK second half. A few of the players looked a bit intimidated by their physicality.

That's the most driven performance I've seen from him, perhaps Pardew's words were the motivation?

You could tell he knew what to expect from them. Looked assured.

His decision-making was much better tonight. He played some lovely passes.

Gouffran to score a hat trick.

What's happening with Holtby?

Gomis and Remy are indeed dastardly Frogs so I guess we should all feel disappointed if they turn out to be this summer's major signings. Still need a winger IMO and then there's the Cabaye scenario.... not playing wingers could well get the best from ben arfa. Still think we need someone on the left side to give the team a bit of balance, let Ben Arfa do what he wants to an extent but the team would be a lot more balanced with a quality winger on the left balancing out Ben Arfa's roaming runs. Sort of like how City has Silva on the left floating about but Navas holding the width on the right. whereas I see our midfield as being perferctly set up for a 3. that would also give bena raf the chance to roam, attacking full backs to do that. the key being the other forward....can't be a stabdrad through thye middle striker like cisse, got to be someone mobil, can drop deep but looks to get on the end of things IN THE BOX. (hopefully remy). last season i'd pushed the idea of ben arfa and marveaux playing off cisse or ba but after watching them enough neither has getting in the box to get on the end of things in their game. Remy is definitely a key we need him to be our Aguero here but obviously not as technical or anywhere near as good, but i wonder could Cisse and Remy work in such a set up? The way i see it for us to have any success with 442 then Remy needs to have a great season, then its a question who is the most suitable partner. I'm undecided on who that would be. I think Remy and Cisse could be a good partnership, but not an ideal one. As Cisse's game is based around capitalising on pockets of space, having someone with the movement of Remy alongside him can open up a few gaps. There's also the added bonus that Remy is a good enough footballer to be the one to drop deep more and link play. Pardew said they'd need work to operate as a front 2, I don't think they'll need to do that at all as they're different players.