Gallowgate Toon

Our lads will know what he's up to, they're just sound bites. If he said we're going to stuff them, our players would be at risk of becoming complacent while there's fired up. We have the better team, no doubt, but the mentality needs to be spot on here. I think he wants to surprise them, perhaps indicating he wants to get at them from the start. We did at their place this season.

The point is to make them complacent, or at least to put the pressure on them. He has previous for this, he's said this week that they're favourites.

that bad it's already gone ? Looks that way. Probably been merged into this: http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=774040&page=1

Classic http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=774054

The only thing we have to fear tomorrow is ourselves. It's in our hands, of course, but we look far worse in games where the onus is on us to break a team down.

Think that's a load of rubbish really. He'll have had them in for tactics today, he's too meticulous to leave it to chance.

It seems he wants them to be more attacking, suggesting that he wants 3 or 4 players in the box when they're going forward. If that's his plan then I think we'll get them on the counter, I'm far less confident against teams that come here to contain and counter us. Their defence is full of ponderous players, who've been given a lot of protection thanks to O'Neill's style, I imagine they'll not do well against direct pace. Gouffran, Marveaux and Sissoko against that back 4, we should be looking at getting a few. Unless he's bullshitting of course, he seemed to have a reputation for dull football at Swindon.

I think his overall play has been solid for a while now. He's moving the ball on much quicker, I think it's something he's been told to do, pop the ball off and move. He played a lovely over-the-top ball for Sissoko last night. He has a bit of vision.

Guff about Cisse/Fletcher and Marveaux's better than Sessegnon but can't complain with Rose or Mignolet.

His link-up was very good again, he's absolutely great at one-touch football.

Still think the position he played at Ajax is his best and it would work here too. He had a good game last night, better than Cabaye in the time he was on.

Glad Haidara's starting, looks like he's going to be a very good player. He should be able to keep that unfit mug, Johnson, at bay.

Sissoko Cabaye Ben Arfa Marveaux Gouffran Cisse Hell of an attacking force.

Think it's been said that he can't handle so many games in a week. He should've been the player on at half time though.

Gouffran would be a miss, I don't buy Marveaux and Ben Arfa in those 2 wide spots. Apart from Cisse, where's the goal-getting instincts? The team needs balance, we need someone other than Cisse running behind and between defenders, that's where Gouffran can be lethal for us. Give him supply and he'll get goals.

He is a bit top heavy, saying that, his acceleration was still very good, as was his touch and assurance on the ball. An excellent option to bring off the bench, no matter what the score on Sunday.

I thought he played well tonight, tenacious, persistent and progressive with his passing.

Is he not offside a lot because of the running he's doing? He's been chasing defenders around like a blue arsed fly for weeks

His passing ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous, it has to be said. I'm sure it'll all click into place for him on the distribution front, he was very assured on the ball in his first few games here, it's probably a confidence thing.

Aye I was very happy to see Sissoko played a bit deeper, actually. I know we attacked as well as we have all season in the second half vs Fulham, but I'd like to see Gouffran given another shot up top/Sissoko deeper against the Mackems. Wouldn't be against it either, Gouffran looked handy up top, we're not really utilising him on that left flank, I think he could score a good amount from there but we need certain players back for that. I was happy to see Sissoko deeper as well, he was looking good until the injury I thought, and it's great to see that Pardew has faith in him to do defensive work.

I haven't really seen that in him at all. Looks more of a fox in the box type that will work very hard outside it. Yep. He has shown he can do it on occasion but it's not really his game. He's a very decent footballer, good touch, surprisingly good passer of the ball too, we just need someone to pick out his running more. I'm confident he can get goals here but it's all about service.

Is this what they've been reduced to, our songbook is better than yours? :lol: 'Oooh one song, put our songbook up against yours and you will see how we leave yous for dead.' Read more: http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=772979&page=4#ixzz2PumCEoa1

A mackem's branded him 'a young, less confident Boumsong'

You can see at times he's nervous when the ball comes to him, he's obviously had some scares with how quickly opposition close him down, but he'll adapt to that quickly. His actual defending has been very good, in open play at least.

He scurries, looks like he's going slowly but leaves players in his wake. Class today.