Pilko

He's always outclassed by greenhorn managers. Because they're usually progressive and fresh-minded.

Poor bastard, walking right into this mess. I wonder if he'll want to stay if you ask him again in a few weeks.

Absolutely shocking tonight, first three were a direct result of him getting his angles wrong on the saves. Then again, had he missed those, we'd still never have scored tonight and Chadli's was a peach. He'll have better games; we have far far bigger problems all over the pitch and obviously the cunt in the dugout.

Agree with that. The "not-Souness" effect would be similar here IMO.

He's Pardew's ultimate scapegoat. I don't blame him for giving up, every time we lose a game or two he's dropped and that makes the results even worse. Players like Ben Arfa and Marveaux are the sort who need to be playing week-in, week-out for some return. They'll not do much in 15 minute outings.

Cabaye, Best, Perch and arguably Williamson have improved under Pardew. Krul has too, but that's surely down to the goalkeeping staff. Everyone else has regressed or not particularly changed too much.

0-3, 0-3, 0-4... and you can bet your bottom dollar Taylor will still be in the side next week.

No, that was Ben Arfa silly.

That pass at the end can't wait till we peddle this gimp. He's finished here.

Give us a wave

I don't see them getting more than a point from those next three games but the key is really not getting howked. If they lose by a goal or two (or even three if the performance is spirited) then it won't affect their morale too much for those important home games.

I've yet to see Haidara do much of anything useful, apart from firing in crosses against a Stoke team shorn of two players. Also, Dummett has yet to have a shocker of a game (being shoehorned in centrally at Sunderland away notwithstanding) whilst Haidara has had some awful showings already - the Liverpool 0-6 game was beyond pathetic and even his sub appearance against Arsenal over Christmas was one of the most dire ten minute cameos in recent memory.

I'd like to see Dummett given a run in the side, he's looked reasonably impressive when playing at left-back. As for Haidara, he's absolutely desperate for a loan. He doesn't look anywhere near ready to me.

Torquay better than evens at home to beat rock bottom Northampton?!

Please fucking drop Taylor.

0-2. PROGRESS

Looking forwards to seeing him in the Spurs and Villa games tbh. His fitness should be nearer par after 90 minutes today.

Cisse and Xisco are the only strikers we've spent more than £1.5m on in Ashley's entire tenure. Hang on, what about Lovenkrands wages over three and a half seasons?

Saying Poyet > Pardew doesn't automatically mean you're also saying you really rate Poyet, you know. It's that old fave, the straw man thing again.

Steady showing today I thought. I hope he's edged ahead of Haidara with it.

The wrong game to try him in that position. He was good on the ball but pretty ineffective off it. Maybe try that again in the Villa game if our options aren't back.

Might as well do it now though. Nothing to play for in the league. Play Sammy, Gosling and Dummett in that case. Sammy's earned his shirt for now. Good game at Norwich followed by being the best of the worst in the previous two shambling performances.

At least he picked out three of our best/least bad performers for praise.

Sammy was the only one who looked up to much today. De Jong looked decent enough to suggest he'll do okay when Gouffran, Remy etc come back. Dummett didn't disgrace himself and Santon was good on the ball but shit without it. Otherwise, the performances ranged from 'meh' to fucking terrible.