Darth Crooks

I'm not going to jump the gun kneejerking on Pardew as a manager, but he comes across as an egotistical cock there

This lad is light years ahead of Raylor defensively. The impact was immediately noticeable when he finally came into the side. I would imagine he would look a lot better if our defense wasn't clogged up with two championship defenders on the other side.

I disagree, I think the problem is that he thinks too much. He is indecisive at times though, that's true. Ah yeah that kinda makes more sense, it's like he's trying to think of every scenario that could unfold when he's holding the ball up unecessarily . I think that's kinda what I mean when I say "no footballing brain" The fact it looks like he has several brains in his bulbhead suggests that they often work at once...but on different things. Hence his all too apparent herpderpabilty.

Anyone think that if he wasn't English (and ex man united) that he would a been fucked off quite a while back?

He's one of a couple of passengers that you just can't carry at this level. 'Excellent with good players around him'wouldn't cut it even I subscribed to that viewpoint. He is very technically poor and having Williamson who has similar frailties means we are carrying players that offer very little in games where you can barely get away with carrying one. Pardew's hands are tied to some extent with a thin squad and frugal leadership who were spiltting hairs over the price of the likes of Mariappa; who would have possibly provided decent RB and CB cover. I guess we'll never know. I've always believed the way you set up at the back dictates whether you play long ball or passing football; currently only our captain and a young lad whose best position is debated are able to provide this, with the other side having a mortal fear of the ball at all times. Ferguson needs a chance to bring some footballing nous to the back.

Dear the optimists, Look on the bright side all the time and like wanking you will go blind. Yours sincerely, The pessimists.

Je ne comprendez pas ton signification? Une version merde et francaise de Wayne Routledge?

Settled back line? It's been a glaring liability since the Saylor injury. All this Ben Arfa talk is a bit of a red herring. Yes I would have liked to have seen him brought on. It wouldn't have changed the outcome dastically if he had started though tbh. The fact that championship players standard players regularly make up 50-75% of our defense shows me where the real worry lies. Pardew mind.... http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQS_RDIpOJKP36EFo5ATILo4ca-LTeQMkVAB7B1tR2xaO4GpHO-IQ ...has to be said.

He was far worse than some of the others. He's not a good footballer at all when all is said and done. The real travesty is the fact that he's the only one that management feel can play that position....which is partly down to depth.

Must score game this.

Face value?

Spent the last half hour of that papercutting my japs eye. Now that's cheered me up a bit, can someone explain Pardews masterplan 2nd half then?

Ben Arfa sub may have given us a bit of magic. May not have. Pardew is a limited manager but he is also limited by the paper thin squad he has also arguably made to work with. He is clueless with his subs and wants some stick but the problem still goes far above the team and the players. No full back and no CB in Jan was criminal.

9 times out of ten he WILL give the ball away. The problems were there to be seen with regard to FB/CB before Jan despite the good results; and all at the top still did next to fuck all to address it.

Pretty sure the basis for nearly ll the goals has stemmed from the right side. Willliamson, Simpson, Obertan is going to see you drop off quite quickly. The former two are the crux of the problem for me. Very worrying.

Was just thinking that. Although we're a better footballing side than last season we do miss Barton's ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck. Or equally Kev would have been chasing shadows against a rapid midfield and Joey might have taken Parker by the scruff of the neck just as much as he may have the game. Pointless speculating. The leadership needs to come from the top...i.e taking the opportuities of getting adequate defensive cover in Jan. That was well blown obviously.

Thing is these are no great shakes at the back so far. We need to wake the fuck up in our yard.

Been a long time coming with this as a long term fixture I'm afraid. Nice as they both seem.

If between each 'Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na. na-na' there was a 'TOON!' It would sound mint imo.

Good Bar: Krul World

What could possibly go wrong. That tie fucking long enough like?!

Football folk really have no concept of what is acceptable in the real world do they?

Can't believe the Coloccini craic like. He struggle not to get in the top 3 centre halves let alone top 10. 'Middling' he ain't