thenige

Thought Shola actually did okay for the first 30 minutes in winning headers and putting himself about a bit. Was then knackered. Expect his next decent performance at some point in mid to late 2014.

Feel sorry for the chap. Lacking in confidence, struggling to finish and only the occasional flash of who he was when he first signed. It's like Torres in England in fast-forward.

Think Debuchy is bloody good at heading for a full back. Gets a great leap considering his size. The difference between him and Danny 'ball just occasionally hits my face' Simpson in this aspect is staggering.

Old person in slightly racist shock. Wrong of course, but nothing to see here. Just wheel him back where he came from and be done with it.

Didn't deserve to be dropped but in fairness to Tiote and Cabaye, both had strong games. Probably Tiote's best for quite a while. Which sadly isn't saying that much.

There's no space for considered logic that this here, you should be ashamed. We get fifty thousand fans in a week and have some players who are decent in FM - we should be winning every game by at least three goals and doing it like Keegan's entertainers.

Made one mistake today and it was costly. Played very well other than that, won near enough every header that came his way and added a much needed presence defending setpieces. Never looks overly confident with the ball on the deck but did boss the defence vocally well today, credit to him. Think he'll get caught out time and again against real quality and someone with pace but fine against lower middling Prem sides.

So why did we sit back 15 yards 2nd half? So we could absorb their extra pressure and play them on the break?

So Williamson playing and Jonás coming on were the right decisions? We've won today because Cardiff were monumentally s*** in the first half and Rémy's scored two fantastic goals. Not because the team selection and Pardew's tactics were right. We've been extremely fortunate. So they weren't shit because of the way we played? Christ, I'd suggest finding something better to do on a Saturday because if you feel like this when we win I don't think it's worth it.

We won didn't we? I'm sure your tactical masterstrokes would have made us win 7-1 instead, but Jonas didn't put a foot wrong defensively and Ben Arfa worried them enough when he came on.

Got the team selection right, got the subs right. Second half performance wasn't a patch but on the first but once they scored fans got into it and Cardiff looked better. We've done what Man City couldn't. Definitely started a hundred times better than at Everton and credit to him for that. He's still a cock mind.

I can't think of any other player who put so little effort in from the kick-off of both games. There were players who were poor in both yes, and some who let their heads drop, but none straight from the off. Even Debuchy and Mbwia.

Deserved to be dropped based on his effort last two games. That was the biggest thing lacking. Hopefully Benny takes it the right way, plays amazingly when he invariable comes on when we're playing crap and the rest of the season is filled with Villa like performances rather than Hull ones.

I don't know why this stuff is even being discussed. We all know Pardew tactically is extremely limited and sets the side up in a way that seemingly doesn't suit the majority of the players we have. We all would prefer a more talented manager to help fulfil the potential of the squad - biggest issues are the fact that there's a strong chance of Kinnear taking over (at least for a short time) and we have Ashley to choose the proper replacement (oh Tony Pulis is unemployed...how lovely...) I have no faith in the powers that be appointing someone better than Pardew. Which given the choice, seems almost impossible.

Ben Arfa on his day is easily our most talented player. But last two games he's looked totally disinterested from the very start of the game. His body language suggests he'd rather be anywhere else and his defensive attempts (an obvious reason as to why Pardew started him on the opposite side to Baines) have been nigh on pathetic. He should have taken him off at half-time against Hull. At Everton he may have started on the 'wrong side' but he's more than good enough to be able to put in a decent shift there. One shot aside he did nothing. Saying that the biggest problems were getting the ball from defence to midfield, and the entire midfield going missing everytime Everton had the ball. Lots of things went horrendously first half and the changes that Pardew made improved us. But he started us in a setup that clearly didn't work.

Didn't look interested against Hull and same again today. Credit Pardew for pulling him off as it may be the kick up the arse he needs. Something's clearly gone on behind the scenes mind. MOTD praise gone to his head

When people are saying things as fact and I have no idea about it, generally my guess is Twitter.

Thought he was one of our better players last night. Surprised at the reaction here.

Whisper it...looks half decent.

Made a lot of enemies quite quickly at Brighton. Yes they played a decent brand of football but all was not well behind closed doors. Work with a guy who also works at Brighton and he rates him highly to an extent - it's just he doesn't exactly bring harmony to a club. Example was with Vicente. Player did very well at first, but due to family issues became homesick and asked Poyet for a move. Poyet said if he tried his best and carried on at the club he'd definitely let him leave at the end of the season. Come end of the season, Poyet changes his mind and tells Vicente he has to stay and he never made such a promise. Not exactly wonderful man management. Also a direct quote from Vicente:

I can't believe anyone is surprised at this after watching the game against Brighton last season.

Would be immediately targeted in the air, seemingly long gone are the days of Alan Wright's and mini-full backs. Last thing we need to do now he's starting to look settled is move him into a new position.

Wasn't his on the ball performance that bothered me that much, even if he was having a bit of a 'mare, it was the lack of tracking and effort that was most frustrating. Some players if they're having a bad game roll up their sleaves and try and work twice as hard, he just looked as if he'd given up. Honestly thought Pardew was going to bring him off at half-time. Could have had no complaints if he did.

Was he out on the lash last night? Has looked knackered since the first minute. Hasn't bothered to track and has cost us two goals today. From the sublime last week to being carried this week. That's why he's playing for us and not one of the 'big' sides.

Am at a wedding today with no reception so had to follow the game from afar. Saying that, as soon as I saw our starting line up I had a tenner on an away win. No free bar tonight but at least my drinks are paid for