Gallowgate Toon

The players were hugely unprofessional and deserve heavy criticism for it, they were hung out to dry by their manager, in terms of a suicidal line up and tactics, and when they needed him for solutions he couldn't come up with them. I didn't think the players were apathetic, they looked defeated, humiliated and devoid of any confidence and I think Taylor summed it up perfectly post-match, they were feeling sorry for themselves, which is not good enough. I personally think Pardew was most at fault for yesterday's debacle but the players need a backlash too, they're most likely frustrated at the manager but there are far better ways to show it. There either needs to be some leadership from the dugout or on the pitch, we don't appear to have either right now, which is especially worrying as the bloke in charge seemingly leans on individuals so much to get us results.

Hung out to dry. What an abysmal tactic to play against Sturridge and Coutinho. Gerrard as well, he's not that good anymore but he can still pick a pass.

I wouldn't be surpirised if some players were mystified at that team selection and it may have been the straw at broke the camel's back for Pardew. Imagine you're them, that line up was tantamount to surrender.

Do you trust Sissoko to play as a midfielder?

Everyone knows what Cabaye's about now, apart from the bloke that counts. Finally moved him in position today but plays no other attacking players bar Cisse, then when he brings the attackers on he moves Cabaye into that deep role where he tends to do little other than run around and get annoyed.

I think he'd be a smashing player for us if we played to his strengths. Have a guy next to him taking the knocks and let him play further up the pitch. It seems so simple. I don't think he's as good as people make out either mind, however I do think he wouldn't look out of place in the Man City/Man Utd/Chelsea squads. So figure that one out. Don't be daft, man! The guy's only 5'8 and is neither particularly strong, nor quick, let's make him the midfield engine!

LOWLIGHTS MORE LIKE, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! f*** it, can I die soon please. Ha! I was thinking about this after the game Death? Aye, that keeps on happening to me after our games as well. It's surely preferable. I'm not being morbid at all, just logical. One of my first thoughts after recent games has been the lowlights craic. Waiting for some dopey chav to come along and post 'shite-lights moar lyk m8', or some equally unoriginal yet hilarious comment.

LOWLIGHTS MORE LIKE, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! f*** it, can I die soon please. Ha! I was thinking about this after the game

His biggest weakness is that he doesn't start with his best/balanced team...It's always a defensive compromise. He is spineless and soul destroying...He is the dementor of football. That starting 11 today was pathetic. 7 or 8 (depending on how you count Cabaye) defensive players leaving us with f*** all attacking intent. Front foot football my arse, just do what the other teams do and try to win the game. Symbolic of a man with a small man mentality, starting that team at home in a crucial game as if we're minnows. What was he thinking? All to get a point. Why is he so scared to play Sissoko as a midfielder? Why was Gouffran dropped after a good performance last week? I wonder how the players reacted when hearing that was the team. They looked frightened from the first minute.

That second half was so brainless like, as if he could have done any worse from a management perspective after that opening 45. He made the correct substitutions but then just decided to hoy everyone forward without protection and go for it, against a team that had absolutely torn through us by countering. He's so extreme in his mentality. When we chase a goal, it's never smart, it's just get everyone forward and hope for the best. He at least should have put Tiote a bit deeper and told him to protect in case we got countered, see their 3rd, Ben Arfa has 3 men on him with no options to pass to, Tiote's the deepest midfielder but he's 20 yards away in the opposition's half. If he'd given it an ounce of thought, he should have looked to not concede in that opening 15 and see how the Gouffran and HBA changes made a difference. At least then we might have been able to preserve our goal difference a bit and could have built some momentum for next week with a solid half of football.

Taylor and Colo have always looked poor against teams with pace, surely if there's a game to play MYM in, it's against fairly non-physical opposition like Arsenal and QPR? Fair enough, we'll need Taylor against Carroll. MYM looks fine one-on-one but hasn't when it comes to the 'unit' defending. It's probably either a communication problem or he's lacking a partner who can organise, while he adapts.

It will be next year. I think he'll have the first 15 games or so and if it's no better, he's out.

Is that the first time this season that Shola's been available on the bench and he's not brought him on?

Yeah, he looks absolutely devastated. I didn't think Tiote's post-Reading pessimism would be beaten but it has.

I remember Diame's performance against us at home, he was brilliant. That's what I thought Sissoko would be for us... No idea how this will pan out. Think we'll obviously be better than today and may perhaps scrape a draw. I hope to God that Jonas doesn't start.

Remember his first game? *sigh* Even Fat Sam can play Diame in the right place.

Sissoko is proof of that, looked like our answer to Yaya when he arrived, now he looks terrified of the final third It's so frustrating to watch. Sissoko should be picking up the ball and driving the team forward with at least 3 players ahead of him. Instead we've seen him asked to be a one man wrecking ball and right winger. I have no idea why he can't just play Sissoko alongside a defensive midfielder.

Class

Well, that was painful. Perch and Tiote were really shocking at protecting. Defence all at sea and your defensive midfielders not doing much, recipe for disaster. We looked like a school team in those clips.

I can't believe their 'keeper kicked it out and we were left 3 v 2. How bad is that?

That second goal man, no fucker on Coutinho, Debuchy's not got back. So amateur.

I can't even believe what I've just read there. He did a canny job today then you thought? The players just made us look a bit of a mess with the way they played? That was our heaviest home defeat since 1925, 2 weeks ago we had by far the most humiliating result in the time I've been supporting the club, don't know about you. But nah, he's doing OK, the players just aren't organised enough or something. Are you taking the mick or what? Erm, what? I thought his apology/reaction was alright in the NUFCTV piece but have complained bitterly all night about stuff he got wrong in about 10 threads on here. Where the f*** did I say he was doing an alright job? The only thing I was questioning was whether some of the basic errors were down to players or rubbish instructions. Perch, Tiote and Jonas were abysmal for tracking their men, whether that's because they weren't sure who to track or if they're because they're thick is what's got me stumped. Soz mate, I actually mis-read your post. Thought you said "I thought that was OK from him personally" and presumed you were talking about his performance today. I haven't read his comments after the game, can somebody post them please? Again, apologies - jumped on you for no reason there. No problem, tensions are running high. Edit: they're on one of the last 2 pages.

The 3 players you've mentioned shouldn't have even started. No s***, that's why i said the starting XI was wrong and there's evidence of me lambasting it on here.

I can't even believe what I've just read there. He did a canny job today then you thought? The players just made us look a bit of a mess with the way they played? That was our heaviest home defeat since 1925, 2 weeks ago we had by far the most humiliating result in the time I've been supporting the club, don't know about you. But nah, he's doing OK, the players just aren't organised enough or something. Are you taking the mick or what? Erm, what? I thought his apology/reaction was alright in the NUFCTV piece but have complained bitterly all night about stuff he got wrong in about 10 threads on here. Where the f*** did I say he was doing an alright job? The only thing I was questioning was whether some of the basic errors were down to players or rubbish instructions. Perch, Tiote and Jonas were abysmal for tracking their men, whether that's because they weren't sure who to track or if they're because they're thick is what's got me stumped.

How can a lack of organisation be down to players? I was going for the not communicating with each other and neglecting their responsibilities angle.