Ash

Don't worry, the usual characters are still lingering with their negativity. No prizes for guessing who.

After his performance at Forest, I'd be more than happy with him coming in to replace Tiote whilst he's away. Looks very composed on the ball and can pick out a decent pass although he likes to keep it nice and simple most of the time which is effective as he appears to be a very tidy footballer. Wasn't afraid to get stuck in either which was something I didn't expect to see from him, bonus.

Up front, probably. So you both think Ba was brought in as backup? Interesting. I don't think so myself. The striker we didn't end up bringing in for whatever reason would likely have been our most expensive signing of the summer. I doubt he'd have been coming to sit on the bench. Whilst I appreciate transfer fees aren't the be-all and end-all of judging ability, some of the players we apparently made bids for/were interested in would have quite comfortably been our best striker.

Up front, probably.

Or maybe he's in the squad for tonight?

I can imagine Colocho hoping Ben Arfa gets injured tonight just so he can say his stupid idea of how he should be implemented back into the team was right.

Kelvin won't get anywhere near wor Hatem anyway, he'll be too busy milling around in Cabote's back pocket.

Why the hell would anyone expect or want him to say that? Nice straw man though. I simply find it a strange comment to make, considering the fanfare made when we signed him and he's the only left back we have on the books. He was brought in so we wouldn't have to put Ryan Taylor there. Pardew clearly says that even if he was fit he would not (not might not) be in the team ahead of Taylor - don't you find that a bit of a weird thing to say? I don't. It'd be a kick in the balls to Taylor if he said Santon was to walk straight in.

Didn't exactly endear himself with those posts about the rivalry between us and the mackems being "neanderthal-esque". Liar. We don't need Hatem Ben Arfa to beat Nottingham Forest. We don't need him to win a Reserves game either, so why bother playing him in that?

Where's everyone drinking tomorrow?

Joey7Barton Joseph Barton Just found out Lib Dems staying at are hotel tonight, if @vincecable and nick clegg need advice, ill be in lobby between 7-9pm.

I reckon it'll be Smith and, unfortunately, Sammy dropping out from that squad. Can't see Pardew opting for Sammy over Lovenkrands as an option on the bench which is a shame.

His rehab is complete? How do you know it isn't?

You've said you'd "give him 20/25 minutes against Blackburn if his rehabilitation is complete", what happens if it's already complete?

Great read. Superb to see Hatem in such high spirits too.

WUM.

Sounds decent.

What I am eluding to the fact that your opinion is always the correct one, and everyone else's opinion is pointless and boring. I am also suggesting that the majority of your opinion is based on what you read on twitter. I cunningly kept all of this concise, and I even refrained from using capital letters to keep in theme with your username. All of this was done effortlessly and within a few seconds, such is my wit and banter. Of course, I have now explained my actions and cunningly evil plot, so that means I'm either going to be foiled by James Bond or Scooby Doo. No. /taxfree

Err, the transfer window's closed.

How easily does "HOOF IT UP TO SHOLA!" translate into Italian? How do you say our current fullback's cant play football and that is one of the main reasons we play hoof ball? Even Colo and Steve Taylor end up whacking it long, and when you include the keeper, that's 5 out of our 11 who are thumping the ball downfield. If anything Simpson is probably the most likely to try and play it forward. Santon will help, but tactical mastermind Pardew will also need to encourage the players to pass more. Simpson's the most likely to play it forward? Absolutely no chance. I do see Simpson carrying the ball forward occasionally, although he always looks like he wants to get rid of it asap. He's no Enrique though, obviously. Would still say Colo takes it forward the most. Taylor also tries to take it forward too. Definitely to a lesser extent than last season and that includes Krul too who also looked to keep it short. Hopefully we'll see that return when Santon is included in the side and we start playing better football.

How easily does "HOOF IT UP TO SHOLA!" translate into Italian? How do you say our current fullback's cant play football and that is one of the main reasons we play hoof ball? Even Colo and Steve Taylor end up whacking it long, and when you include the keeper, that's 5 out of our 11 who are thumping the ball downfield. If anything Simpson is probably the most likely to try and play it forward. Santon will help, but tactical mastermind Pardew will also need to encourage the players to pass more. Simpson's the most likely to play it forward? Absolutely no chance.

*chuckle* of course, you do realise that now I've said all that, it'll be a 14 goal thriller, don't you? More than likely! Having withdrawal symptoms of football anyway; this will be my first game of the season so there's no way I'll be giving up my ticket. If it turns out to be a good game it'll be a bonus.