The Prophet

He needs to be playing further up the pitch, it's as simple as that for me.

I'd drop Obertan before I even considered dropping Jonas.

The mackems can breath a sigh of relief, Brown is going off.

When I do bad weeks, I do them properly. I'll be lucky to break the twenty point mark this week.

In fairness the ball boy has had a good work out.

Hopefully the backlash is as none existent as the one following the City humilation. You mean when they won something like 7 on the bounce 1-0. You suggested they'd muller us. I'm not ruling it out, I'm just saying it didn't happen last time around as expected.

Hopefully the backlash is as none existent as the one following the City humilation.

From a purely results based point of view it's difficult to argue with Pardew this season. It's our second campaign since returning to the top flight and we're sitting in seventh place just four points behind the top six. Despite such form I'd be lying if I said serious concerns hadn't begun to emerge during our recent run of games. In truth we haven't played particularly well since our monumental performance at Stoke. We ground out a result against Everton, put pay to a shocking Bolton side and produced some quite brilliant last ditch defending at Old Trafford, but all without looking particularly convincing. The fine tuned, well drilled performances which Pardew deserved so much credit for have seemingly given way to mistake riddled snooze-fests with seemingly little or no game plan in action. It's my theory that Pardew is trying too hard to solidify us at the back again. I think it was post-match Swansea during which Pardew talked of us trying to become a unit again. Of course there's nothing wrong with this in theory, but it's starting to seriously affect the way we compete in matches. We're dropping too deep, the wingers look reluctant to get forward, Cabaye isn't influencing games in the opposition's half, we're panicing on the ball. A lack of confidence combined with this desperation to remain solid at the back culminated in a woeful performance at Liverpool. Clean sheets come from confidence, confidence comes from results, results come from playing your best players, something which simply isn't happening. Pardew needs to stop worrying whether Santon speaks fluent Geordie or if Ben Arfa is going to play box to box for ninety minutes and get them in the side. Similarly we need to develop an effective attacking game plan. We've got a striker who's bang in form and he's spending large parts of the game watching the ball sail over his head. This has seemingly developed from a complete lack of confidence in the wide players, if that is the case it's Pardew's job to sort it. Try Jonas on the right and Ben Arfa on the left perhaps? Or if he's that concerned about Ben Arfa's fitness, stick Sammy on the left and shift Jonas to the right. Sammy is far from an ideal but he can't be any worse than the man from Area 51. During the first half of the season we've built a very good foundation to push on have a go at that top six. However some cracks are starting to emerge which need maitianing before they become too damaging. Pardew's obsession with the defensive side of the game has seen our biggest attacking talent sat on the bench, our influential 'quaterback' reluctant to leave his own half and our in-form striker with neck ache. Clean sheets will come with confidence, the kind of confidence we had when we were playing with a purposeful gameplan. It needs sorting sooner rather than later.

Everton playing forwards? Holy shit!

Have a feeling this might be a decent game. A draw would be lovely, keeps both teams off our back for the time being.

Like he did at Anfield last season?

Is he pissed off like?

He hasn't played well since Stoke.

Looked really nervous, every time he got the ball he seemed to panic.

Usual no show at Anfield. When we weren't by-passing the midfield they were absolutely woeful.

Just noticed, we've got a cushy gap between our weekend and midweek fixture (Friday and Wednesday). In comparison, a lot of sides have to play Saturday and then again on Monday.

Don't see how that's relevant but aye, I can't see this one being legit. Because he is a bad apple, doesn't take care of himself, causes problems in the dressing room, is disliked by team mates. There are a lot of things wrong with him. He is the sort of player that should be avoided at all costs, a player the old pre-relegation Newcastle would have signed. I hope we aren't targeting him because he's an average player who's past his better years. There's also rumours he's a bully in and aroud the dressing room. A previous drinking problem doesn't necessarily make you a bad apple. It's irrelavent anyway, I agree with the crux of your point.

Don't see how that's relevant but aye, I can't see this one being legit.

Given Ben Arfa floats inside a large amount of the time I doubt he'd give Enrique too many problems.

RMC have a lot more credability than Douglas, an interesting month awaits.

I'm aware the need for a centre back has become a priority over the last month but we still desperately need a forward. You'd think the higher-ups would see the excellent start to the season as an oppertunity to build and have a real dig at the top six, obviously not. Can't say I'm suprised though.

Douglas has got to be the favourite like. He's highly rated, he's a decent age and most significantly he's out of contract in the summer.

Thought Bale was injured so took him out, can't put him back in because he's gone up in price.

He's had a decent game and a half in almost 17.

Surely the best option would be to shift Jonas on to the right and get Ben Arfa/Ameobi down the left flank. Might give Guiterrez a new lease of life too.