themanupstairs

The only reason I thought we may have stumbled upon a very good manager in Pardew last season was the fact that he looked like he was learning from his mistakes, and tinkering slightly with line ups and formations until he found a way to get the best out of Ben Arfa and Cabaye in that 433. It lead to us cementing our place right up there, and got the results we needed to finish in the top 5. This season he doesn't seem to be trying to remedy the obvious paralysis in our attacking play and ball retention. This is what has me worried. We're also conceding goals we weren't letting in last season. Fair enough we've had to make personnel changes right through the back 5, but even when we did that last season we only really paid for it at Norwich and Fulham (Spurs away was just one of them days). He has got to stop us playing to contain the opposition and let the opposition worry about us, which in my mind gives us the psychological advantage going into a game when the opposition see Ba, Cisse and Ben Arfa lining up against them in a front 3. At the moment we are losing that battle before a ball has been kicked as the opposition manager and defence go into the game knowing that all they have to do is get to the long ball first.

Yo-Willo, bro. Will-Yo stop it ffs

Not seen it mentioned in this thread, and admittedly I've only skimmed through most of the last couple of pages, but Pardew said in his post-match that Cisse had come off at HT because of a back problem.

My record of never having seen us win in person continues. *sigh* If that record spans over 5 games, you should never go see us again. ffs Beren

There aren't that many of these types of wingers out there anyway. I wouldn't swap the likes of Jarvis and Etherington for Ben Arfa/Sammy/Marveaux etc.. Our "wing" players have a multitude of skills and ability and shouldn't be shafted out to the wing at every possible opportunity. Use the wings by all means, when the opportunity presents itself, but f*** me if someone like Ben Arfa is going to be limited to tactics that make him so easy to mark out of a game....then we really are heading nowhere. We should abandon the "width" in terms of structure, and use width during the game to change things up, as we have some players who can exploit it - to a certain extent. In the main though, we should almost always be going through the middle because of the type of players we have. I think Pardew's fear is losing the ball in the center which theoretically makes us more vulnerable to a counter, as opposed to losing the ball out wide. We should be seeing more goals (chances) like Shola's against Brugge, Obertan's against Bordeaux, Ba's first against Reading, Cisse's first against Chelsea, Cisse's against Stoke etc.... Final balls coming down the throat of the opposition CB's. Enough setting up to whip crosses in, when we can't even muster 2 or 3 of those in a game to begin with. f*** all to do with investment. Sure it would have been great to have made a few additions, but in no way does it excuse the pathetic displays we have seen this season.

Fuck me that was absolutely woeful. We can't be having that, I'm sorry. Have no problems losing to anyone, but have major problems losing in this manner. If WH were even slightly ambitious they could have had a hatful. Why bring on Ameobi to have no one in the box beside him to mop up the knock downs? Taking off Cisse because he wasn't in the game? He wasn't in the game because of how shit our pattern of play is. Maybe Cisse needs to shake something off in his head to get back to form, but he's still got 3 goals this season, and I lay the full blame at the feet of Pardew for why this lad isn't performing. Utterly miserable.

subs?

Forza Davide! Excellent news! Score one today please.

Completely forgot they have Maiga. Carroll and Nolan will do fuck all now. Maiga will be the one who shines.

Saw that, it was rank. He just stood there in it as well. Can never ever understand what would possess a grown adult to do something like this. Not exactly what I'd call civilised behaviour no matter how shitfaced the c*** is. Same goes for the pig who shat on the table on the ferry. No excuse whatsoever.

amen

The lasting memories of his time with us will always be lifting that Championship trophy and knocking the 3 past the spackems. He was a passenger in so many games, but in the grand scheme of things I only have good feelings towards him. Unless he embarrasses us today today ? anyhow, it was the old argument about a player, 'he does nothing but score goals" which for some people is ok but for me a central midfielder cannot be a passenger for most of the game and who now would swap nolan for cabaye ? fuck. Tomorrow obviously. Wishful thinking.

The lasting memories of his time with us will always be lifting that Championship trophy and knocking the 3 past the spackems. He was a passenger in so many games, but in the grand scheme of things I only have good feelings towards him. Unless he embarrasses us today

We can't give them too much respect, especially in the first 15 minutes or so. If we come out half asleep as we've done on so many occasions at home this season, we'll lose.

Will Nolan get a good reception, or will he just be ignored? I imagine both Carroll and Allardyce will be throttled, but can't see Kevin Nolan getting anything less than respectful applause.

Ince, Benat, Debuchy, Sissoko, CB in the next 2 windows with no one leaving please #fmtastic

Birthday boy Mike Williams. Would've been great for him to have scored tonight. Happy Birthday Willo. 3 pts and a clean sheet on Sunday please.

England International, Jordan Henderson Anyone see his 1 on 1 today? What an impostor this twat turned out to be.

I really like Tavernier's ambition and attitude towards playing full-back. Some lax passing and other silly moments, but like him as a player. Hope he continues to develop. His positioning tonight, defensively and offensively was spot on. Not long ago he was caught out about 10 times in the first half away at Atromitos. Lad is learning and it's great to see.

Al Jazeera panel (Andy Gray, Ray Houghton, Curbishly) doing the analysis pre-Spurs match. They have not stopped talking about Liverpool! During the build up to the Spurs game, still talking about Liverpool! They all look gutted

Decent enough game I suppose. Should have won it at a canter. Thought Sammy, Marveaux and Obertan had done well. Bigi showed his inexperience, but it's so easy to forget how young he actually is. James Tavernier for man of the match. Apart from that horrible clearance which led to their second goal, he was superb. I'm not on the anti-Simpson brigade, but I hope he was watching Tav tonight. Could have learned a lot about how a full-back should play.

Romain Amalfitano. Ba is out for Sunday if he's not risking Cisse.

Loving Tav's forward runs. Looks comfortable on the ball.

That chant is really shit! "Come on bitches, come on bitches"