Pilko

I thought today was the best start we've had to a game for as long as I care to remember, not that we flew out of the traps or owt like.

Krul 7 - did what he had to, made two saves and his distribution seemed that bit better than normal too Debuchy 7 - far, far improved defensively and alright going forwards Mapou 8 - excellent, passed the ball so much better than he did against Morecambe and made Berba/Bent look ordinary Colo 7 - composed, hardly noticed him, unlucky not to score Santon 7 - left a few gaps at the start but grew into the game and gave us width, needs to improve end product Ben Arfa 8 - lovely goal, end product has improved and clearly benefitting from a run in the side Anita 7.5 - efficient in possession, lovely little player - has that 'tackle' that Pardew likes also (Cabaye 6 - silly free kick to give away when he came on and needlessly booked, kept us ticking over) Sissoko 8 - magnificent, drove the team forwards and was only hindered by soft refereeing calls Marveaux 6.5 - imposed himself a lot more today and seemed to show for the ball more, which helped our play a lot (Remy 7 - nice little debut cameo, gave us a fresh outlet and lifted the crowd) Shola 5.5 - tidy on the ball and didn't fuck it up much but just so, so static and looked predictably tired (Gouffran 6 - better movement than the two planks that started up top but poor miss from Debuchy's cross) Cisse 5 - garbage, shocking decision making and piss-poor in the main Pardew 7 - set up the team correctly for a change and made good subs at the right time, no complaints from me today

That was the first time in fucking ages (since that Stoke home game?) we've controlled a game, almost completely restricted the opposition, made them look ordinary and played quite well. It's just we lack that presence of a confident, firing forward up top. Best we've played in ages and I'm glad we got that goal because we so so deserved it. A million miles improved from West Ham and Morecambe; maybe the benefits of playing the same team again? Tiote, Taylor and Gutierrez missing and we suddenly look way better. Mapou, Anita and Marveaux should remain in the team, hopefully they do.

I can feel Birtles willing that ball into the net.

Ben Arfa will blatantly go off before Shola.

Birtles is such a cunt, I'd forgotten how much I hated the odious prat.

Those complaining about the two strikers - Shola has been absolutely miles better than Cisse so far.

Mapou, Anita and Marveaux are so much better than Taylor, Tiote and Gutierrez it's not funny. We look so much more of a football team.

We look vaguely competent today not exactly flying but doing way better.

Hahaha fuck off Bent

Unlucky Colo

Dare I say it but Shola has started well.

Getting a bit of a pasting on Soccer Saturday for his comments about Fat Sam's team playing long ball last week.

Class finish by Elmo.

Quite enjoying BT Sport's coverage on the whole, apart from Owen who is as bland and self-important as ever. I like Halsey as the third commentator.

http://johnnoble.net/img/photos/denethor_e.jpg

Shola 135 minutes in the last 7 days and another 90 today no doubt. He will be absolutely pegged and even more slow and useless as usual, then.

I for one am outraged at the team news. P.s. haven't seen it yet.

Owen talking about how to do one on ones, little cunt. Ask him about the Portsmouth one.

That touch and tackle by Fernandinho

It's scary how much Jake Livermore looks like Chris Hughton. Or is it just me?

BTTS Norwich/Soton Accrington/Burton Oxford/Rochdale 9/2 All the Championship 3pm teams to score (10 games/20 teams) 300/1

I know loads of people don't rate Elliot but fucking hell, the way some go on you'd think he was Lionel Perez and John Karelse's fucking lovechild. He's a low-end Premier League goalie and pretty adequate second choice. He has good games and below par games. We got lucky with Given and Harper both being incredibly capable and I think people forget that most teams have a somewhat average sub keeper.

Derry City and Dundee double. Chelsea at nearly 4/1 to win a one off football match is also too good to ignore. Backed.

Skirge fights back.