Gallowgate Toon

What is with the shit pressing as well, absolutely terrible there.

Tiote and Cabaye need to be better positionally here. Same issues as last week, drifting and leaving gaps.

No complaints starting wise, really excited to see Mbiwa start. Shame about Ben Arfa but there's no point in risking him right now. I do hope Anita and Marveaux get some game time today though, they were both excellent when we were at our lowest, they deserve to be given more of a chance than they have of late.

Quite amazing that he was probably our best player against Fulham, scoring a terrific goal but his hamstring was practically hanging off at the time. It also says something about our medical staff mind, not picking up on such a serious injury.

There's physical defenders in Ligue 1 but the style of play they defend against and consequent defensive attitude is completely different. Defending there is more tactical and subtle, here centre backs are far more hands-on, particularly in the box with shirt-pulling, holding and general scuffling going on. That's natural though, as the majority of teams in the league cross the ball a lot instead of playing it into the box, so teams set up to counter that. I just don't think Gouffran's got that level of power in him to make it work as a lead striker here, especially considering the way we play. His wide role was different at Bordeaux too, he was more of a winger when played there, not a wing forward, and they didn't have a tendency to knock lots of balls in like we do. I think he'll get plenty of opportunities playing where he is now, it suits his game more, which is based around quick and intelligent movement, especially with Debuchy's delivery improving.

I agree he could do a job, but the majority of his goals when moved central for Bordeaux were finishes in the box from crosses/scrambles. That's OK in this league with a more strong, determined striker like Ba, but in the box defending is far more powerful here than in France, and I think Gouffran would struggle to get those opportunities while more closely marked.

Met him down the Sunday market on the quayside a while back, really down to earth bloke. Loves his dogs, was carrying a little one under his arm while buying all sorts of stuff from the pet stall.

Not too convinced Gouffran would work that well in a central role here, as a stand-in perhaps, but not permanently. A lot of his goals in France were Ba-esque finishes in the box, mainly from crosses, but I think he'd really struggle to find space in the same way with more hands-on defenders. His best role is coming in to the box from wide and causing havoc with his movement. He'll get plenty of goals from there IMO.

If he stays fit and the team doesn't change much over the summer, he should be aiming to get into double figures for both goals and assists next year. I think he's one of, if not the most, well-rounded footballers in the league (good athlete, great footballer, good attitude and work ethic, nothing he can't do with the ball at either foot) but he needs to translate that variety into outputs now. I thought he was performing well before his injury, but there was only so much he could do considering the train wreck going on around him regarding our shape and attacking play. I think he'll finish the year strongly, it's going to be exciting seeing how he fits in with our new look team.

Ben Arfa's problem earlier on in the season was the rest of the team being a bunch of statues. I honestly don't think moving him up 10 yards will make a massive difference in terms of his output, he was beating players for fun in virtually every game, but nobody else even attempted to capitalise on his good work. What will improve his output, is players around him who are far more comfortable in their roles and are actually moving around a bit. Christ, Ba and Cisse was a woeful partnership.

Tiote got done by a piece of movement. Someone moving forward in a straight line? He left that side of the pitch open to an opposition player. If Santon goes forward then Tiote should be the one looking to close that channel off, surely as a left sided defensive midfielder, that's his job? He saw there were 2 players but decided to try and pressure the man on the ball instead instead (something Gouffran was already doing), an amateur move, and then didn't go and bust a gut to get back despite being the closest man. Edit: On second viewing, he was initially in a decent enough position but stupidly decided to go and get the ball when Gouffran was already doing it (even though he could see the other player was free), leaving their right midfielder acres of space. He could have caught him as well, but didn't.

Great news, now we can hopefully get Ferguson somwehere.

Agree with that Hindu, his positioning needs to improve, as does Cabaye's but that could be a tactical thing. He should be getting a lot more stick for the second goal mind, people are bemoaning Santon jogging back but Tiote was doing the same, and was actually closer too.

Taylor's a good defender, but simply a level below both Colo and Mbiwa. The latter is the best defender at the club IMO and will be regarded as one of the best, if not the best, central defender in the league by this time next year. Sensational footballer, it's unbelievable we got him and I believe he's our strongest signing of the window.

Gouffran and HBA work just as hard as Gutierrez IMO, they just play a little higher up the pitch so it's less noticeable. We won't miss his work rate at all with those 2 playing, they're diligent in their defensive work, but more importantly, they have the ability to keep the ball very well. We should be looking to 'win the passing' in the majority of games, when everyone's back fit.

He's been better but is still way off the pace of our other attacking players, in terms of ability and wavelength, basically I don't think he's done enough on an individual level to keep his place. It's a shame, he's probably the most likeable character in the squad, but HBA is 10 levels up as a player and Gouffran brings qualities that we don't have in any other player in the entire squad.

Probably Giggs, he said in his interview that Pardew told him to utilise his quick distribution before the game. Good to hear.

He's done a lot better of late, but there's still work to be done (there always is tbf). Simply getting Cabaye, Tiote and Sissoko a bit more organised positionally would go a long way in helping us defend better, and simplifying how we pressure opponents would too. I don't agree that we don't look good in attack however, we counter brilliantly. Southampton were very well organised yesterday and were tough to break down, they spent 40 minutes in their own half for the first and stifled Cabaye well (although the fact he was having dizzy spells probably contributed just as much) but we still carved out some good openings. For me, the game highlighted that we're lacking a bit of spark in wide areas at times, someone who can get the ball on the line and create some extra space with some skill and drive. Gouffran is excellent on the counter attack and moves brilliantly off the ball but isn't the type to waltz past a couple of players and deliver a quality cross/pass/shot. We have HBA for that, if he'd have been playing yesterday, I think we would have smashed them.

Great quotes, despite all the new challengers he's still my favourite current player and I think when he's back, we'll go up another level in terms of attacking play. I think we'll see much more of his vision and intelligence when he returns, I thought he was playing well before his injury on an individual level but now, with far more movement around him, he won't have to do so much on his own in terms of creating space and opportunities (for both himself and others). I have a feeling he'll strike up and instant partnership with Gouffran, who makes so many excellent unseen, off-the-shoulder runs between the full back and centre half.

He's using his left foot far more now and that's made him more unpredictable going forward. I strongly disagree it was his fault for that second goal, the whole point of having a 5 man midfield is because it's so versatile, the defensive midfielder should cover the full back when they bomb on. We can't expect the lad to attack and defend at the same time. Better organisation would protect the space he leaves open, which is something we need to work on still.

Agree with the sentiments regarding others needing to fill in when he gets up the pitch. Cover needs to come from somewhere in midfield.

My MOTM. I thought he was excellent in everything he did.

Was thinking this during the game, when we press we don't do so effectively, it seems to everyone or no-one, it's not consistant and generally fairly ineffective. One of the CMs should've filled in for Santon who was forward for a while before getting caught out for the second n all. Can't knock AP today though, 2 wins on the bounce in to must win games, job done. Looks like the brakes are off a little too which can only be a good thing RE: home form/entertainment. Completely agree, especially regarding their second goal. We have a bit of a tendency to be over-zealous/naive with our pressing and we consequently leave some gaps in the middle. I'd swap Tiote and Cabaye around too, it looks odd when their keeper lines up for a goal kick and Tiote's next to Cisse and Cabaye's covering headers in front of the back 4.

The midfield's a bit too muddled, especially when we don't have the ball. If we sort that put then we won't ship as many daft goals, I think it's an organisation issue, especially regarding covering full backs when they go forward.

He was good but should never be playing behind Tote, I hope Pardew changes that soon.