durhamunigeordie

It says according to Joe Cole Pardew has been seen at Lille matches a half dozen times.  Not that he has been meeting Cole himself.

 

I doubt Cole could pick out Pardew in a 30000 crowd so they probably said hello. Moot point anyway, the question is who at lille is being watched?

 

Most likely Mathieu Debuchy.

 

Could also be Aurélien Chedjou or Dimitri Payet. Or youngster Lucas Digne? But he has only started 8 games for Lille in the league this season.

 

Idrissa Gueye? 21 games played (11 from the start), defensive midfielder and 21 years old.

 

Doubt it's Eden Hazard.

 

It's most likely Mathieu Debuchy.

 

I've no idea why this post made me titter so much.

 

It's like he answered the question, thinks out loud for a bit, then reconfirms his first instinct...Bingo.

 

Why even bother writing that?

Why did you bite?

 

But maybe you didn't and are relaxed. Maybe you are feeling peaceful as you type in your bath.

 

Why did you bite?

Heard a stat on the Tuesday Club - not sure if it was true or not, but went along the lines of Stoke have played something like 5 through balls all season!

GET IN.

 

Connor Sammon coming on.

It's highly unlikely that QPR's games with Spurs and Chelsea are going to be dead rubbers - it will go right down to the wire. Anyway they are both derby games, the one vs Chelsea in particular.

His crossing is awful.

Pretty sure Ferguson was left back in the cup game. Jonas definitely played through the middle in the league game as well.

Abeid in the centre for me, Gosling not good enough for that I don't think, Abeid looked good I thought in Blackburn game in cup at home. Hope Cabaye pulls through else that centre looks weak as f*** apart from Jonas. Would prefer maybe Ferguson slotting in to Gosling also

 

You'd prefer Ferguson to play in a central midfield three rather than Gosling?!

 

Yip, every time I have seen gosling he looks slow and lethargic and ball control is shoddy, Ferguson always looks tidy on ball, quick and hard working

But centrally?!

It may not be his fault, but he does have a habit of picking up small injuries that keep him out for a while.

Abeid in the centre for me, Gosling not good enough for that I don't think, Abeid looked good I thought in Blackburn game in cup at home. Hope Cabaye pulls through else that centre looks weak as fuck apart from Jonas. Would prefer maybe Ferguson slotting in to Gosling also

You'd prefer Ferguson to play in a central midfield three rather than Gosling?!

Where have you plucked Ba being out from?

The three points are essential, but it's a big opportunity to improve the goal difference - which we could really do with.

I think our goal difference is so far behind that its too late to make a difference. Obviously im not saying we shouldnt go out looking for goals, just cant see it mattering.

 

Spurs +20, Arse +21, Chels +18, Nufc +6

You're right it is unlikely, but remember we have to play Chelsea still and so any goal difference shift would have double effect.

Think playing centrally in a 4-3-3 will be the making of him. As a footballer one of his main weaknesses is actually kicking the ball any distance. The ball seems to stick to his feet when dribbling and he is excellent at passing in triangles/the short passing game. Clearly can pick a killer pass as well (see his ball to Ben Arfa v West Brom and the ball to Cisse v Norwich). His work rate is second to none and so will never give the opposition central midfielders anytime on the ball. He could probably do a job man marking someone in there, thus allowing Tiote to break play up. He also knows how to win a foul. For me the 4-3-3 formation is perfectly suited to having Jonas in the middle.

Catts. Class.

Anyone else think Cattermole should go to the Euros?

Really hope he is fit on Monday.

I'm interested to know if young Gabriel Obertan has an injury, or if Pardew has frozen him out due to his non-performances.

Said he was injured on his  post match NUFC TV interview. Said he was doubtful for Monday, but intimated that he would be ok for Stoke.

  Spearing is closer to the England squad than Cattermole.

I think Pardew suggested on NUFC TV Cabaye and Tiote will be back for Stoke.

Seemed like he was keeping his cards close to his chest. He said we would be struggling for numbers for Bolton, but would be ok for Stoke. That was after he had been asked about Guthrie and Obertan. I hope by the time Stoke comes around we will have plenty of options off the bench.

I am a sensible mackem, but this post won't get a good reaction:

 

Don't think Tiote is all that, prefer Lee Cattermole is the middle.

Would still have anyone other than Raylor in there. Gosling or Abeid are the obvious options.

Raylor was excellent when he came on today and won possession for the second goal.

 

Get the blinkers off man, he's a tidy footballer who very rarely gives the ball away and takes a mean free kick.

 

He wasn't excellent, he was just fine. He also made a pathetic attempt at a clearance on the edge of our penalty box that nearly gifted them an equaliser. We were really up against in once he was in the middle until we scored a second and they basically gave up.

 

Sure that was Jonas...?

If it was then I am guilty of having the blinkers on. Weirdly though I thought it was Jonas first time I saw it and then am sure the replay showed it was Raylor. However, point still stands. First half they were just passing around on the half way line. First 20 mins of the second when Tiote went off they were much more threatening and were able to pass it about a bit on the edge of the box. Thing is Raylor isn't even an athlete - he isn't very mobile at all and so once someone has gone past him he cannot recover quick enough.

Would still have anyone other than Raylor in there. Gosling or Abeid are the obvious options.

Raylor was excellent when he came on today and won possession for the second goal.

 

Get the blinkers off man, he's a tidy footballer who very rarely gives the ball away and takes a mean free kick.

He wasn't excellent, he was just fine. He also made a pathetic attempt at a clearance on the edge of our penalty box that nearly gifted them an equaliser. We were really up against in once he was in the middle until we scored a second and they basically gave up.

I think it's a bit arrogant to suggest that we can afford to rest Ba for this one, particularly given our habit to make hard work of so called 'easier games'. We are potentially missing Colo, Tiote and Cabaye (Saylor as well of course, but he has been out long-term) - that is a massive part of the spine of our team. Our strength is currently our front three. Cisse, Hatem and Shola just isn't as dangerous as Cisse, Hatem and Demba. There is also the psychological element - Bolton players won't fancy it at all if they turn up against our best three. I don't see any logic in changing that.

The lads have nearly two weeks off after Monday - Demba can sit on a sofa with his feet up watching Top Gun and drinking strawberry syrup for that whole time for all I care. There are six games to go and the fact of the matter is that there is a genuine chance we can finish in the top four. That is not being delusional, that is just a fact. Out of all the possible permutations possible, us finishing in a Champions League spot is probably the least likely, however, we owe it to ourselves to give it a go. Demba is a professional athlete. He has played 60 minutes today and has two days off now. He hasn't scored in a while and should be hungry to get out there on Monday and get himself on the scoresheet. It is make or break time - if we win Monday then we are genuine contenders to finish in the top 4, but if we don't I think it will be too big an ask.

I'd be surprised if Tiote made monday, although that is based on nothing other than the fact that it was enough for him to go off in a premier league game at half-time, i would think it would be unlikely that he would be fit to start one two days later. Ideally, I'd love Colo to come back in for him and Perch to play in midfield.

Maybe give Ba a rest?

 

Can see the thought behind it, but I think he needs to play.

 

He needs to get out of this mini-goal drought.

 

Think fresh legs and coming off the bench might help. He'll be a handful in the last 20-30mins against tired legs. Would have him involved, but from the bench, possibly.

Seriously?! Fair enough if we had other options, but we currently have Obertan, Marveaux, Best and Sammy Ameobi all injured. We could go back to 4-4-2 I suppose and play Shola up top with Cisse, but given the success we've been having with 4-3-3 I wouldn't want to change it. With Cheikh injured Jonas is very important at breaking up play. They have nearly 2 weeks before the Stoke game after Bolton - they can rest then.

He didn't look to happy from the bench when we scored 2-0.

But on the plus side he only played 60 minutes so will have plenty in his legs for Monday.

Good game today. Will do his confidence the world of good. Hopefully will be the left-back for the rest of the season.