Gallowgate Toon

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.

There were some good signs vs. West Ham, in my opinion. Play the best team we have available (put Gouffran in for Shola) to get some confidence and momentum going.

Other way round from what I read. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/papiss-cisse-wants-see-more-5789463

He and Shola only exchanged 4 passes vs. West Ham Absolutely shocking partnership.

Remy will make a difference. He's by no means the perfect solution but he's a technically good footballer with a brain. He's the first striker we've had in a while that can score goals and play a bit as well. I bloody well hope so. I don't think I can handle Cisse running around like a headless chicken and Shola just being Shola until January. He's a good footballer, no doubt. Won't bumble about on the ball when we're building an attack and will move about for the midfielders. We've got Remy-lite in Gouffran but, for some daft reason, Pardew doesn't seem to realise his importance at present.

Great news.

Remy will make a difference. He's by no means the perfect solution but he's a technically good footballer with a brain. He's the first striker we've had in a while that can score goals and play a bit as well.

They're a good match for one another. Sissoko's dribbling from deep was good and he supported attacks well. Frustratingly, when he was getting forward with the ball at pace, he'd play it to one of the 2 up top and they'd slow it right down.

Watching this back, it's really infuriating that Gouffran didn't start. You could see we were really missing a striker that could receive the ball and keep momentum going, so many attacks were either slowed down or failed completely due to bad play from Cisse and Shola.

True it does look good, my concern is making sure that we are creating chances. I thought Anita and Sissoko looked good on Saturday but in front of them nothing was happening between them and the strikers. I didn't help that Shola and Cisse were standing there like statues but still creation is a big problem. Shola as a link man was fucking desperate. He was OK in the air but pitifully bad at linking play (bar one moment) on the floor and his movement and energy off the ball was disgraceful. Cisse tried to keep it simple and did move about a bit but he was far too slow on the ball and didn't show for it enough. Those two made Marveaux's presence pointless too, if we're going to play so narrow then we need 2 strikers that can show for the ball in pressurised areas, link play and interchange in tight spaces.

When's this guy expected back? Intrigued to see how he fits into the team, he's a much better footballer than Ba and suits Cisse as a partner much more. Really hope we can keep him fit, he's our best bet for goals in this side.

If Cabaye doesn't get his move by the end of the window, he'll be as good as gold. He won't risk his World Cup place.

Formations do play a part. Cisse with Marveaux behind him would get more in the way of chances because he complements that type of player. Conversely, if we go 4-4-2, he'd really benefit from a winger that can play an early ball. At the minute he's not got the right tools around him, either because the manager puts dangerous players in the wrong position or we simply don't have the players necessary that fit in with how Pardew wants to play. It's a frustrating situation. As it stands, I'd have Gouffran in the team before him taking into account the manager's seemingly preferred style and personnel (assuming Remy comes in for Shola at some point in the coming weeks). Cisse's game is about capitalising on space, we aren't a side that stretches teams.

If he can put in a decent cross and play as a 'proper' wide man in a 4-4-2, he'd make a huge difference to the team with those attributes alone.

We'll only spend if he goes as I suspect losing him will mean the management don't think our squad is good enough to finish in the top half.

Sign a winger, you cunt.