Gallowgate Toon

This is infuriating.

Sometimes, Pardew needs to grow a pair of balls. That time is now.

Colo man.

Worried that we haven't capitalised, very dangerous. Played some lovely stuff though.

Great to see him start, hope Pardew gives him enough time.

Pardew's just very, very cautious. He's got justification for it at the moment with results but it's really frustrating to see the potential within the squad (not just Ben Arfa) but he won't utilise it fully. The side he talked about in the summer, passing, attacking just isn't there now, I think he's stumbled on to this formula and intends to keep it.

Pardew in worrying too much about the opposition shocker. Shame, we could be a really good footballing side if he took the shackles off the team a bit more.

People are conflicted. They want him in the team but at the same time it's obvious he's less suited to that role than a striker who'll allow Ba to play his natural game. It's really not the right situation or time to flat out claim that it won't work, there are too many factors to consider and not enough time been given. I agree that right now, it's not suitable but I personally think it will be in the near future. I'm curious as to what you think Ba's natural game is by the way? In what way does HBA hinder his game, apart from apparent less work rate? I see a striker that is a predator in the box and has intelligent movement and pace that can see him work off the shoulder as well. It's not like he'd have to be some kind of targetman for the formation to work.

Certainly, he's only started 3 games since he came back. He needs to build up match fitness, momentum and most importantly, confidence. I ultimately think he does suit a free role but for now, the wide area is ideal. If we're going to play him as a number 10, the current set up of the side needs quite a bit of tactical tweaking to suit it. Our last few attempts at it, have been a little half-hearted imo, i'm intrigued as to how it would work against Norwich mind, in a more open game compared to facing the league's top sides.

Really don't see how anyone can claim he was forced out, it's an illogical argument. What exactly could they have done if he'd said 'no'?

It's a mirror image of what was happening with Marveaux before he got injured. He wasn't being played much despite being impressive enough when he got game time and he wasn't always used when he was on the subs bench. Pards places huge emphasis on simple and basic principles and it's getting him results. Defence has been the key for us, he probably thinks he'd be mad to toy about with it. It's unfortunate for Santon, he's obviously a superior footballer to both Taylor and Simpson but it's the luck of the draw right now. Hopefully he gets a chance now, he's a real talent and if we play our cards right, we could have a brilliant player on our hands.

He did, his best work definitely came through the middle in that one but that might not be a coincidence as he wasn't naturally meant to be there. He's a tough one to place though because when Stoke played up here, they just sat back and him drifting in all the time played into their hands, just tightening things up in the middle. There are certainly form and confidence issues there, he was all over the place when he played for us last year, constantly coming to get the ball, almost directing our attacking play but that isn't there now, perhaps it's tactical? I think for now, he should be played on the right, just at least to find some form, fitness and consistency, he needs a good run of games and then we can look at him off the striker. Now isn't the time to judge, now's the time to be careful with him.

He lacks fitness and confidence (there's a lack of wanting to get involved, which wasn't the case before) but he's never going to work in the hole unless we base the system around him, which I don't think Pards is truly comfortable with doing. I agree with Ronaldo about the wing spot and i've been a big fan of the idea of him as a free role player. Even if it's just to let him find his feet, get some form, confidence and let him experience the English game a bit first. In theory, a number 10 role should work with Ba having excellent movement off the shoulder and good pace but you need a forward moving midfield and full backs for a 4-4-1-1 system to really be effective, it has to fluid.

Terrible news. Met him a few times, with his family every time. Really, really nice guy, didn't mind doing photos or autographs or anything like that and was always good to have a chat about the team and what not. Must have been some awful stuff going on for this to happen, going to be interesting what comes out over the next few days and weeks. RIP Gary. Great bloke, great footballer.

Nah, a striker like Bent would be perfect for them.

It was a shame he didn't get at them a bit more with it to be honest. Perhaps he's finding his feet with dribbling again.

He was magical for the first 25 minutes or so, really ran our play, quick sharp passing etc. Dropped off after that and looked a little scared to run with it at times until he won the penalty, which was a shame. He won't be effective with the amount of hoofing we did today but Pards is a cautious manager and I can see his point in a game like this.

So chuffed with that, slightly disappointed that we didn't have that extra belief in ourselves to go for it more because for a 20 minute period in that first half, we were controlling them. That to me, showed the side we can become with these players and hopefully soon. Cracking defensive effort mind, can't beat that last ditch stuff. Well played.

Jonas has been shite today, so stupid.

Amazing acceleration I might add.

Get in Benny lad!

What's he meant to do when the ball is in the air half the time? We were actually playing well when we had it on the floor.

How many times are we going to not win a header, until we realise we can actually pass it along the floor?

We need to re-group here, just play some keep ball.

What a joke.