durhamunigeordie

Scored today for MK Dons in a 1-0 win. Is that his first competitive goal since Man U beat Roma 7-1?!

Don't see it as forcing it at all. Good man management if you ask me. The game was won so take the guy off who is on fire and protect him, whilst giving a full 90 to the man who could do with a goal. It's not like he left Shola or Best on and took Cisse off. This is Demba Ba, our top scorer - no qualms at all with him getting the 90 minutes. He will get a confidence boost just by being left on for the entire game.

I can see how it is good man management but when we are so successful with Cisse through the middle we should keep him there. I can also see the logic in taking Cisse off when the game looks won. It is slightly annoying though when I'm sat in SJP hoping for more goals and we take off our current in form striker. From memory, Ba scored most of his goals when we played 4-4-2 with Best alongside him.

I imagine most in the ground were expecting to see Cisse go off and Ba stay on? Those around me certainly were and agreed with the decision.

Absolutely bossed the middle of the park today. Won everything in the first. Shame the Beggar got to his shot.

Yea was excellent, although a fair few passes went astray today. At least he is trying to drive us forward though. The fact that his season has been so stop start hasn't helped him IMO - hopefully he can finish the season strongly.

Class today. We stopped dictating play when he went off. Hopefully just precautionary - he was signalling over to the bench before taking a freekick on the half way line before he scored. Fingers crossed he is fine for next week.

Ba played well but I thought it was sentimental from Pardew to take Cisse off and leave Ba on. We tend to rotate Cisse and Ba as to which one is playing through the middle during the game. Ba seemed to play through the middle all the time after Cisse scored. Ba's next goal will come when it comes. We shouldn't try to force it. He's not a charity case.

Don't see it as forcing it at all. Good man management if you ask me. The game was won so take the guy off who is on fire and protect him, whilst giving a full 90 to the man who could do with a goal. It's not like he left Shola or Best on and took Cisse off. This is Demba Ba, our top scorer - no qualms at all with him getting the 90 minutes. He will get a confidence boost just by being left on for the entire game.

If we give him more than 25k per week it is a waste of wages.

What is happening here?

Man. He needs to stay here until 2018, 36 years old for a testamonial. Quite sad that I'm looking that far ahead and praying for it to happen.

If Shola is still here in 2018 I will happily go along to his testimonial. Reckon he would get a decent line up along as well - I bet he has a lot of friends in football.

Could be some thundery showers about during the match. A wet pitch will probably help us.

Indeed and make sure every towel in the stadium is locked in a cupboard.

Krul, Best, Guthrie, Perch and Obertan all in training photos. Didn't catch a glimpse of Marv.

4 games to go and...

 

- the title is yet to be decided

- the champions league spots are still wide open

- it is still any 2 from 4/5 to get relegated

 

Not mediocre for me.

 

It doesn't matter if all that is still to happen, if the quality throughout the division is crap then you still will have the big teams at the top and a close relegation fight.

True, but then it depends on how you interpret the question. If it was asked whether this season the league is of the same quality as it has been in previous years then i would agree that it is probably not, however, I would not describe a season where everything goes down to the last couple of games as mediocre.

You could also throw in the fact that anyone seems capable of beating anyone on their day. Man United are probably going to win it despite having lost 6-1 at home. Arsenal beat Man City at home and then followed it up by losing at home to Wigan.

4 games to go and...

- the title is yet to be decided

- the champions league spots are still wide open

- it is still any 2 from 4/5 to get relegated

Not mediocre for me.

Hughes was immensely underrated. He was good in defense and in attack. Simpson dreams of being as intelligent as Hughes. Who sold him? Souness, wasn't it? Prick.

 

100% agreed. Hughes was just miles ahead of Simpson on the ball and also reliable in just about every position at the back. I can never see Simpson being involved in the sort of attacks Hughes played a part in.

 

The one that especially springs to mind was when him and Solano combined and he crossed a half volley for Bellamy to head in at home to Bolton (01/02). He also finished off a brilliant move at home to Southampton in 02/03.

Couldn't believe we had sold him really. It's not like he was over the hill or anything - he's played another 200 odd premier league games. Would probably have nearly got that many here.

Good to have as another option off the bench.

Anyone gone for Stephen Carr at right back?

Perch won't play. Pardew has showed already this season that he is prepared to be ruthless by dropping Guthrie.

EDIT: Provided everyone is fit.

The away went mental when Cabaye stuck that free kick in at Ewood. The result was almost not important after that - everyone was too knackered physically and mentally to celebrate again.

Drogba doesn't dive so much anymore. Certainly cut the silly shit out his game (bit too late, mind )

 

What, apart from a few weeks ago in the Champions League?

That was actually ridiculous.

You see people being brought back for a yellow card after the advantage has happened.  Shouldn't it be a red card here?

 

The offence is denying a goal scoring opportunity. The opportunity hasn't been denied so no red card.

 

Doesn't quite work that way, you can give advantage anywhere on the pitch and go back and book or send someone off, but when its the GK and advantage is played it never happens.

 

Its like an unwritten rule, just very odd.

Be a bit hard to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity elsewhere on the pitch mind.

 

True but its advantage played i was more aiming at, wherever it is on the pitch the ref can go back and give any punishment he feels, if advantage was played after a yellow/red card offence, yet with the GK it never happens if that advantage leads to a goal.

 

He should have been booked. Am pretty sure it actually says in the rules or a fifa guidebook or something that if advantage is played when a clear goal scoring opportunity is denied then the ref can go back and book the player, but not send them off.

 

Would agree with that.

 

Then it seems Atkinson didn't see it a foul ffs.

Maybe he didn't see it as a foul worthy of a booking?

You see people being brought back for a yellow card after the advantage has happened.  Shouldn't it be a red card here?

 

The offence is denying a goal scoring opportunity. The opportunity hasn't been denied so no red card.

 

Doesn't quite work that way, you can give advantage anywhere on the pitch and go back and book or send someone off, but when its the GK and advantage is played it never happens.

 

Its like an unwritten rule, just very odd.

Be a bit hard to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity elsewhere on the pitch mind.

 

True but its advantage played i was more aiming at, wherever it is on the pitch the ref can go back and give any punishment he feels, if advantage was played after a yellow/red card offence, yet with the GK it never happens if that advantage leads to a goal.

He should have been booked. Am pretty sure it actually says in the rules or a fifa guidebook or something that if advantage is played when a clear goal scoring opportunity is denied then the ref can go back and book the player, but not send them off.

If that tackle had been in the middle of the pitch with a normal player then the game would have continued and then the player yellow carded when the ball went dead. So why hasnt Cech been red carded?

 

Because the yellow card then is for the foul, not for denying a goal.

Exactly.

You see people being brought back for a yellow card after the advantage has happened.  Shouldn't it be a red card here?

The red card would be for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. If they've scored then that hasn't happened. Could book him for the foul though maybe?

Carlo is still one hell of a keeper.

Was there a minute's silence at OT?

 

More than that.  About 90 minutes worth.

Just realised what a massive game this is for us.

 

You been somewhere other than this planet this week?!