Gallowgate Toon

He's watching the 3 players he mentioned. He's not suggesting all of our players are good at it, that's why it's one of our main training focuses at the minute. Well maybe if he played Marveaux a little more instead of putting f***ing Perch in, it wouldn't have been as bad. See i like this kind of post, it sums him up. Pardew says something and the reality is completely different. The bloke refuses to let the team play and then moans we don't play enough. What a cock. Pardew's obviously had a re-think over the Summer, he can only be proven a hypocrite on what he's currently saying after he's had his chance. True, doesn't explain playing hoofball in the friendly the other night though, of all the times to try something different it's then. He knows no other football, direct unlikable, percentage ugly, whatever you call it. He's a poor Fat Sam. It would seem illogical to me that he would set up to play passing football one match and then the antithesis the next. It may have possibly been other factors not in his control. I understand your frustration and where you're coming from but, personally, I'm prepared to give him a little bit more of a chance to see what he comes up with.

He's watching the 3 players he mentioned. He's not suggesting all of our players are good at it, that's why it's one of our main training focuses at the minute. Well maybe if he played Marveaux a little more instead of putting f***ing Perch in, it wouldn't have been as bad. See i like this kind of post, it sums him up. Pardew says something and the reality is completely different. The bloke refuses to let the team play and then moans we don't play enough. What a cock. Pardew's obviously had a re-think over the Summer, he can only be proven a hypocrite on what he's currently saying after he's had his chance.

He's watching the 3 players he mentioned. He's not suggesting all of our players are good at it, that's why it's one of our main training focuses at the minute.

Tbf he might well be GT, but do you think he has any idea how to do it though ? If we can replicate some of the stuff we played in 11/12 more consistently, I'll be happy, and he obviously has some idea of how to execute that. He's making the right noises at the minute, the big question, for me, isn't about whether he has the ability, it's whether he has the balls.

Is he not suggesting that perhaps we're not physical enough to handle open, end-to-end type matches? We're more technicians than athletes. Working in tight areas could mean he's looking to force teams into their own half more and we have players that can thrive in less space.

Don't see the fuss, he's only come in as a scout to look for domestic talent.

Exactly, and to play in exactly the same way, hoofed balls and set pieces in our pre season friendlies, games where you can experiment, well has he learnt ?, don't look like it. Didn't we reportedly play good, on-the-deck football against Motherwell?

Result means naff all at this stage, see Man U and City losing on their tours. We'll see how it goes, I'm confident we'll be an improvement this season, on every level.

2 forwards is enough IMO. As long as one of them can play as a 'wide forward'. Remy and Gomis would be great business if nobody else left. Ideally I'd like to see Williamson shipped out with another coming in.

He played there last year and obviously enjoyed the freedom that came along with it, he did an interview with the Chronicle last season iirc. I'm not sold on him as a no. 10 but I do think he'll perform better there with HBA back fit. In an ideal world, it would be Sissoko and Cabaye behind Marveaux.

Just caught his interview from yesterday's Chronicle, he obviously likes playing no. 10 and it's good to hear Pardew's told him he needs to score more, hopefully means more than one player in the box next year. Personally, I think he's a central midfielder but he might perform much better behind the striker now he's not being asked to be the hub of the team.

Great read and it seems like the right areas are being targeted to be improved upon. We definitely didn't look match-ready last year, some of the fitness (Cabaye's for instance) was really poor with players hobbling about after 80 minutes.

The PL is much more open than Ligue 1. He should be looking to hit similar numbers.

He'd be a good signing for us. Not the most consistent goalscorer but a useful player who can, at the very least, be a target man for us. Lots of power and pace, I think he'll do well in this league. Him and Remy in and I'm happy.

Doubt we'll accept anything less than £25million and wasn't it widely reported recently that he wanted to sign a new deal here?

I'd go as far as to Ba > Cisse > Gouffran is a massive decline. Bit like how Bruce managed to turn Bent, Gyan, Welbeck and Campbell into Bendtner, Wickham and Ji Gouffran's actually a good striker though, he'd scored 22 goals in the season and a half before joining us.

I've only seen highlights but it seems as if he was breaking forward a lot and was heavily involved in a couple of the goals. Obviously, it was only a pre-season friendly but great signs. I think his strong running will be far more effective from deeper positions and I hope it shows over the coming weeks.

Sounds like he had a good match last night. Really hope he gets a run at CM over the coming games and shows Pardew he's our best option there.

Giaccherini is supposedly a decent player but he's come from a division as far-removed as possible, he may well not adapt at all. I'd have been happy with him as a signing but not as a first-teamer. Currently, I wouldn't have Altidore ahead of Cisse or Gouffran, who've shown they can get goals in a top league. Fair play to them, they're trying something they've needed to do for a long time but it can't be said they've improved yet and I don't feel that their scouting has been particularly considered either, they've shopped in risky leagues so far.

Their squad wouldn't have gotten near 5th in a million years, ours actually did, showing we have the core of a good team and don't need to make too many changes. A couple of signings is all that is needed from us this Summer. They however, have been battling around the dregs of the league for a while and have shown no signs of going anywhere, they've taken a radically different direction but whether or not they've actually improved remains to be seen.

We finished 5th the season before last, that's a pretty damning fact that our squad was way above the level of theirs.

Actually, you have no idea whether they've improved because we've not played a minute of competitive football yet, their signings could all turn out to be rubbish that don't settle. And while your point may be that Pardew reduces our quality of player, what about their man in charge? He's also unproven and didn't finish the season well. We need a couple of players to strengthen, they needed a massive overhaul. We've got the core of a squad that finished 5th let us not forget, that still counts for something despite last season. Keep your head in the sand, man. Constructive. I think I'll stick to facts rather than conjecture, thanks.

Some good goals on show, happy for Vuckic. For anyone who went, how'd Gouffran and Sissoko get on in their proper positions?

Actually, you have no idea whether they've improved because we've not played a minute of competitive football yet, their signings could all turn out to be rubbish that don't settle. And while your point may be that Pardew reduces our quality of player, what about their man in charge? He's also unproven and didn't finish the season well. We need a couple of players to strengthen, they needed a massive overhaul. We've got the core of a squad that finished 5th let us not forget, that still counts for something despite last season.

I'm positive I was in the year above him at school, but dim from what I remember.