sugoinufc

So you sub the player who is controlling the game for you instead? Also Cabaye rarely creates good chances in games Anita was class yesterday - but I'm sure he could understand being subbed as we played with two defensive midfielders and were chasing a goal. Cabaye is more of a threat. You could argue that tiote should have been subbed instead...he had a yellow and was very tired the last 10-15 min.

If we don't sign another forward this January I agree we should give him another chance in the second half of the season, because I would still rather play him than Shola. That said, he was an integral part of last season's failure, not (just) a victim of it. It could be argued we didn't play to his strengths (not sure which ones really, but there you go), but the fact we were treathened by relegation for much of the season was as much to do with not having a striker putting the ball in the net (especially second half of the season after Ba left) as anything else tbh. For him to refind his early form, it's not just a matter of Pardew giving him that chance, but also him taking whatever chances come his way and proving that he's on the way back, making himself undroppable. From what we've seen so far this season you have to wonder if he's even interested. agree, but still think we should give him chance - starting now! At the expense of who though? If we're changing our front three I would rather introduce Ben Arfa to be honest, at least he's shown he's eager in his substitute appearances and we all know what he can contribute. If we gave Cisse a number of starts to get him firing again we could very easily suffer in an attacking sense if he doesn't magically click. All in all, I still believe he should not be given a start before he displays some signs of improvement in his substitute appearances, which he certainly hasn't done lately. maybe try remy in wider role (left) instead of gouffran. Our 3 next matches should allow us to play with both! You could also argue that arfa should show some more tracking back / defending in his substitute appearances... You'd drop Gouffran for Cisse? Yeah, i think i would A remy (left) and an inform Cisse is better than Gouffran imho. There will still be game time for gouffran, but something more attacking could be nice...remy on left on the break could do more damage than gouffran... We need to know if Cisse can return to former glory...he has scored goals his whole career. I would like us to build him up (if possible) and keep him along with a new shola and remy type.

don't think you can judge him on that tbf. Give him 1, 2 or 3 starts in a row! Cisse is not the type of player who makes a great sub, i think. He needs confident (like many other strikers) obviously - he will only gain that by being trusted.

If we don't sign another forward this January I agree we should give him another chance in the second half of the season, because I would still rather play him than Shola. That said, he was an integral part of last season's failure, not (just) a victim of it. It could be argued we didn't play to his strengths (not sure which ones really, but there you go), but the fact we were treathened by relegation for much of the season was as much to do with not having a striker putting the ball in the net (especially second half of the season after Ba left) as anything else tbh. For him to refind his early form, it's not just a matter of Pardew giving him that chance, but also him taking whatever chances come his way and proving that he's on the way back, making himself undroppable. From what we've seen so far this season you have to wonder if he's even interested. agree, but still think we should give him chance - starting now! At the expense of who though? If we're changing our front three I would rather introduce Ben Arfa to be honest, at least he's shown he's eager in his substitute appearances and we all know what he can contribute. If we gave Cisse a number of starts to get him firing again we could very easily suffer in an attacking sense if he doesn't magically click. All in all, I still believe he should not be given a start before he displays some signs of improvement in his substitute appearances, which he certainly hasn't done lately. maybe try remy in wider role (left) instead of gouffran. Our 3 next matches should allow us to play with both! You could also argue that arfa should show some more tracking back / defending in his substitute appearances...

i would really like us to play with a no. 10 who really support the the striker. 2-3-1. Cabaye is not the man for that imo. Not dangerous enough!

What a great person - he played some good football here, unfortunately its 2 years ago or so. Its right to end it now. Good luck - hope you sign for Norwich and Chris

If we don't sign another forward this January I agree we should give him another chance in the second half of the season, because I would still rather play him than Shola. That said, he was an integral part of last season's failure, not (just) a victim of it. It could be argued we didn't play to his strengths (not sure which ones really, but there you go), but the fact we were treathened by relegation for much of the season was as much to do with not having a striker putting the ball in the net (especially second half of the season after Ba left) as anything else tbh. For him to refind his early form, it's not just a matter of Pardew giving him that chance, but also him taking whatever chances come his way and proving that he's on the way back, making himself undroppable. From what we've seen so far this season you have to wonder if he's even interested. agree, but still think we should give him chance - starting now!

well, i just think he should given a run this spring in order to gain some lost form. For how long he has been out form i do not no. But judging him on last season only is not fair imo. We played some of the worst football ever and if he doesn´t get any service and is left alone on top - what can you do? With remy probably leaving in the summer i think we should keep cisse and use this season to try and fix him. If remy goes then we still need 2 new strikers at least as good as cisse.

It was very much a yellow card - not a red!

question: Do you think we could fight off competition and sign a better striker than an in form Cisse?

well - you all have good arguments. All I'm trying to say is: i simply refuse to believe he is past it and i think we should give him a run this spring and then decide in the summer. Pardew should also find out how or if he can use him in the formations he prefer.

no? you don´t think so? I'm flabbergasted that you would think so, as the evidence clearly points to him not being all that clinical in the box, or even having the movement to create chances for himself in the box. If anything, I would say he's been better at finishing from distance hitting it first time in his period with us than anything resembling a lethal finisher in the box. he is not creating much for himself i agree. Finishing from distance is something he does well (when confident is present). What he is good at is finding space/be at the right spot and finishing first time. In order to do that you need service. If we could create enough chances during a game i think he will get goals and i also think we will struggle to find a much better striker than him.

no? you don´t think so?

cisse is lethal in the box. He is average outside the box. Last year - no matter what striker we had, would have struggled since there were no service. He was very much isolated on top. I still believe in him. I would like to see him much more - probably in a 4-4-2 with remy on top or maybe 4-5-1- with remy on the left. Think we should try that for the rest of the season since we will end 8 or 9 anyway. He deserves a chance and in the summer we could decide what to happen. I basically blames pardew for his form. The wonga deal and its effect on cisse i cannot comment on.

Ashley is the reason Pardew is here. well i know - but i was only talking about the players we have bought the last year or so. Our biggest problem is Pardew imo. The players are good enough but does not have the talent to take us higher up the table every year. As long as he is year we will always be a 7-10th club. A better manager could "easily" develop us further. What Pardew is practising is not long term!

i have no problem with ashley when it comes to his spendings. And I'm sure he will spend if theres a good deal to be made. My problem is Pardew. We have kept all of our key players for the last couple of seasons (Ba aside)....could it be that pardew isn´t good enough to develop them further in order to make them more qualified for the big teams?

wow, from that yotube compilation i have to say. YES please. He looks ace! won't happen I'm afraid. Cabella, a CB and a striker in - Obertan, marveaux, jonas and Shola (summer) out - business done!

Where does that leave Shola?

well, styles - basically just something more fluid and attacking! More attractive which focus more on developing our own game than focusing on our opponents. i guess this have all been mentioned before. By system i was thinking formation and line up. Personally i do not fancy our 4-4-2 or our 4-5-1 - not the way pardew is doing it. This is what i would prefer. Keeper + defends. Yanga should be a regular by now. I agree Mike took his chance well. But for me playing Mike ahead of Yanga is not thinking long term. Yanga is so much better than Mike. Same situation with Shola ahead of Cisse. Cisse is lethal - i know out of form, but how can we develop anything in attack with Shola....its beyond reason. And same situation with Arfa...he almost had 3 years learning arfa to play the way he wants....enough said!!! midfield should be something like this imo. (Best 11) when in form. Tiote sissoko cabaye arfa Remy Cisse or Tiote Anita Cabaye tiote, anita, cabaye, sissoko all work well in a 3 central midfield. Which should allow us to play remy, cisse and arfa.

Still very unhappy with him. Our great run was good but still it didn't feel right. I do not enjoy his football. Cisse out of form is 100 times better than shola. Still playing shola is such a joke! It will probably never feel right under pardew. Sadly as we have exciting players who could work in exciting systems and styles. The squad is really good ( always room for improvement) but it wont happen under pardew ( top 4). If it did it would probably still be boring and short sited. He is good at keeping the players happy, mind. Sorry for repeating myself.

Merry xmas to all loony toons

well he get the chance to deliver. Obviously they wait for the right man this summer imo. They write of this season /hope for the best and come back strong next season I'm afraid

Cabaye focus is on the WC. He will stay here. He will leave this summer. Maybe he will stay if we end top 4

Have to agree, we should be striving to find a way to accommodate him. IMO it's simple, just drop Shola in the vast majority of games and give HBA a free role behind Remy. This. Shola ahead of arfa, says it all. Like we are doing well, but it somehow does not feel right. Can't really be 100% excited even though i feel much better than last year/summer.

its either hell or heaven on this board. National team material FFS.