Gallowgate Toon

At least we have one of them (attacking midfielder), we don't have a single winger of note. We badly need someone to come in who can deliver a ball from out wide on that left side, and someone who can fill in when said winger is suspended/injured.

Really looking forward to seeing Sissoko next year, well, as long as he's not played behind the striker again. Think he could be a real machine for us when counter-attacking, the idea of him breaking with 3 players ahead of him is a good one.

There's nothing wrong with our wingers defending, it didn't really affect us last year when we were doing well. A big factor in us getting more goals next year will be letting Cabaye get into the right positions, he's very creative when in and around the final third (has a good relationship with Cisse in particular) and is good at shooting around the edge of the box, we'll see a big difference if we let him be more involved in attacks consistently.

We should be looking to Sociedad's season for a bit of hope for next year. Montanier was criticised in 11/12 for being too defensively minded, his team have played absolutely fantastic stuff over the last 9 months and still have a slim chance of making the Campions League. Hopefully Pardew will come back refreshed and with the mentality that we saw at the back end of last year.

Creativity isn't too much of an issue with our first XI, we only really need a good left midfielder to come in and there's good quality in there. Our squad options are very poor though, outside of Ben Arfa and Cabaye there's only Marveaux, and that needs addressing.

Depends on the type of creativity you're looking for. One of our best chances last week was when Gouffran got ahead of Mertesacker and put in a first-time cross across the goalmouth, Cisse was inches away from it. That's creative, not in the traditional sense but I think that could work for us. Admittedly, I wouldn't go for it unless we got a significant upgrade on the left wing in.

Yeah, he's competent out wide and could be good there if we played a creative player at the tip of the midfield diamond but his brief appearances up top show where he will be most effective.

Bellamy mostly caused problems because he'd beat players with pace and skill and he'd create. Gouffran as much as I wanted him to be of that ilk just isn't. He's a tidy, tenacious and quick decent finisher. He's not the answer to getting the best out of Cisse and never will be. I don't think he's like Bellamy on the ball but I do think they share similar traits off the ball and that could be really effective if we utilise it. As for linking with Cisse, I think he showed against Arsenal that against certain opposition he can be good foil, he runs the channels well and can create opportunities.

Coming round to the idea of him and Cisse up top more and more. Think he could be what Bellamy used to be for us in some ways, speed and movement causing defences problems and chipping in with goals too. Underrated player.

PEA won't come to Swansea or us, he's better than that and will have plenty of suitors. Bony could be good, I'm not too fussed about his goalscoring initially, we just need someone who can come on and hold up the ball, is he any good at that?

His quotes aren't too bad apart from the one about needing some monster to score from corners, that is very poor. As has been said, the transfer strategy needs re-thinking. We may have talented footballers, but do their abilities help form a cohesive and effective team? Are there enough options throughout the squad for different opposition? Do we have the right back-ups in case of injury or suspension? Do the players purchased suit the manager's philosophy? I really do think we'll see a big improvement next year but not because of the lack of Europa League or whatever, but we'll have had a chance to stabilise a little. As long as there are no major outgoings then the new lads can settle in more and the manager can be less protective of them and the team can get back to a more normal balance again.

Yeah, it may happen. I think having the new lads made him more negative at times, particularly the idea of attacking full backs and wingers together when they weren't settled. It was reported that Sissoko playing no. 10 was a contingency and stuff, surely to protect something?

Who would you have up top with Cisse in a 442? Gouffran? a big man like Carroll? or someone nippy like Aubameyang or Remy? Would definitely need to bring in real wingers for a 442, not sure it would suit Ben Arfa. Gouffran's looked useful in the limited amount of time he's played properly up front and I'm intrigued to see how he performs there over time, I'd already put him in the nippy striker category. We do need a target man in as well, which ever one plays with Cisse will be dependent on the opposition. As for the midfield, I think HBA's fine in a 4-4-2, he can go on his right foot and we have Debuchy to provide width. We desperately need a true wide man ahead of Santon though, someone who can work a bit of space and put in a good delivery.

4-4-2 or 4-3-3, it really depends on who comes in. I believe we'll start next season with a 4-4-2 and I'd have no problem with that, as long as we got a good left winger in.

We only need a few players, as long as they're of sufficient quality. I think we need a left winger to come in as a starter, then a target man striker, another winger, a right back and a centre half as rotation players.

I think Bony will be like de Jong from last Summer. We'll put in 10m or so only to be usurped by someone else. Not really aware of many decent target man types on the continent.

I don't mind when we play long balls like we did on Sunday, Cabaye played quite a few into channels for Gouffran for example. It would be interesting to see the proportion of floated, aimless balls compared to actual direct long passes. If only there was someone who could compile the data and produce a visual representation...

I'm strangely optimistic for next year, I think we'll refine our transfer policy a little (aka we'll bring in a style that Pardew wants, but not from England) and we'll do well. I'm not too fussed if we go 4-4-2, we saw on Sunday that we can make it work with an outlet, Gouffran's pace in this instance, and play good, direct football using it. Discounting outgoings for now, if we add 2 wingers (one for the first team, one squad player), a target man striker (a plan B) and a centre half, we'll do alright.

We'll have been scared off by the price after yesterday, nowt to do with Pardew.

Bony's on our radar according to reports in January and March. He'd be a good addition.

Cabaye's a bit of a conundrum for me. I don't think he should be the deepest of a 3, he's an excellet option to have in the final third. He may not be good at dribbling but his vision, quick passing and shooting are all very good. Having him constantly back isn't ideal, you'd want him in and around the edge of the box. Anita/Tiote Cabaye Sissoko Is probably the best we've got. Cabaye and Sissoko as a cetral midfield partership in a 4-4-2 could be interesting.

Carroll (a player of his ilk, he's still too expensive for us) and Gouffran/Cisse could be a very interesting partnership. I quite liked how we played on Sunday (first half), 4-4-2 when attacking but Gouffran dropped in to make a 4-5-1 when defending. It works well when there's some form of outlet, whether we have the midfield is another matter.

I think we'll get a continental version of him this Summer after Pardew's quote about needing players who complement the current crop. Carroll is out of our price range.

47% of our attacks came from his side yesterday, we are far too reliant on him. I hope Jonas never plays as a winger for us again, we're desperate for another half decent wide midfielder.

It's just another question to put to Pardew, why do none of our midfielders move off the ball? I don't get his philosophy on midfield, he's fine for full backs to bomb on and for our striker(s) to work space but the middle 4 have no off the ball movement whatsoever.