Hughesy

True - I reckon 6 on reassessing. Without being overly pedantic though - how many games do team really win comfortably? Think about the games we have lost. Have the opposition in all those games won comfortably? How many games have the teams around us won comfortably. I very very much doubt it's a lot more than us.

I was there. We were comfortable.

Quote from bbc report - "James McFadden came on for his first appearance for Everton since January 2008 as David Moyes' side had plenty of late pressure but Newcastle comfortably held on for the three points. "

Hadn't expected quite such a flurry of replies.. I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding about we are defining 'comfortable' here. I am not suggesting that 'comfortable' means we played well or blitzed the opposition. I am suggesting that 'comfortable' means we looked likely to get three points without too much danger of dropping points. Everton was certainly comfortable - I think we controlled that game quite well and I don't recall many clearcut chances that Everton had to equalise. Sunderland away - I can't remember them creating much all game to be honest. Bolton - I think this is a game where people are confusing scintillating football with comfortable. Blackburn away - yeah, I'll take that one back..

I've just counted about 8-9 matches where we won relatively comfortably. Name them..... I can count Blackburn, Stoke, Bolton and Man Utd as games we won comfortably by more than 1 goal margin. Not sure that you have to win by more than 1 goal to make it a comfortable victory. For comfortable victories, I would list: Sunderland, Blackburn, Stoke, Everton, Bolton, Man Utd, Blackburn. Apologies - I had forgotten how close the Fulham game was at home which is why I came up with 8-9.

I've just counted about 8-9 matches where we won relatively comfortably.

Whilst I have some sympathy with your point, it is quite easy to reverse your question and ask at what point do the players take responsibility for the football they play and how much control do you honestly think that a manager has over the mind and actions over 11 players? It is a bit of a circular debate - no-one knows what Pardew tells the players to do, but I just find it very hard to believe that Pardew has instructed the players to pump it long for 2 major reasons: 1) It is clearly ineffective and I have not seen any evidence in Pardew's managerial career to date to suggest that he is wedded to the long ball a la Allardyce. 2) We didn't use such a direct style in the first half of the season. Well then you have your eyes closed and hands covering your ears. http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/video_audio/61504.html?genre=6%3Bsport%3D3 12.40 Yep - currently typing with my tongue. Can't see that at the moment as I am at work - is this the fabled video where some bloke with an agenda says that Pardew plays long ball football and isn't very good. Forgive me if I suggest that that probably isn't conclusive proof of anything... What is proof then? I don't think he's saying it for fun. And you'd have to be blind to suggest Pardew sets out to play anything other than direct football. I think you need more than one video certainly. Who is the bloke in the video? Is he a well-respected journalist or pundit? Does he present his opinion in an objective and balanced way? Does he have an axe to grind with Pardew? I have absolutely no doubt that he is not saying it for fun - but I am not sure that that his analysis right.

Whilst I have some sympathy with your point, it is quite easy to reverse your question and ask at what point do the players take responsibility for the football they play and how much control do you honestly think that a manager has over the mind and actions over 11 players? It is a bit of a circular debate - no-one knows what Pardew tells the players to do, but I just find it very hard to believe that Pardew has instructed the players to pump it long for 2 major reasons: 1) It is clearly ineffective and I have not seen any evidence in Pardew's managerial career to date to suggest that he is wedded to the long ball a la Allardyce. 2) We didn't use such a direct style in the first half of the season. Well then you have your eyes closed and hands covering your ears. http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/video_audio/61504.html?genre=6%3Bsport%3D3 12.40 Yep - currently typing with my tongue. Can't see that at the moment as I am at work - is this the fabled video where some bloke with an agenda says that Pardew plays long ball football and isn't very good. Forgive me if I suggest that that probably isn't conclusive proof of anything...

Whilst I have some sympathy with your point, it is quite easy to reverse your question and ask at what point do the players take responsibility for the football they play and how much control do you honestly think that a manager has over the mind and actions over 11 players? It is a bit of a circular debate - no-one knows what Pardew tells the players to do, but I just find it very hard to believe that Pardew has instructed the players to pump it long for 2 major reasons: 1) It is clearly ineffective and I have not seen any evidence in Pardew's managerial career to date to suggest that he is wedded to the long ball a la Allardyce. 2) We didn't use such a direct style in the first half of the season. I think the manager has complete control over how we approach games as a team and I think that the dominating tactic will out over the course of a season and when under pressure the team will revert to it no matter what, like last night. We do know that Pardew has no input on the attacking side of the game and that he spends 80% of his training time on stopping the opposition, that's a pretty clear indication of what he's telling the players if you ask me. I think that that's a bit of a non-sequitur. Setting your team up to play a disciplined, defensive game does not mean that you are setting them up to play a direct style.

Whilst I have some sympathy with your point, it is quite easy to reverse your question and ask at what point do the players take responsibility for the football they play and how much control do you honestly think that a manager has over the mind and actions over 11 players? It is a bit of a circular debate - no-one knows what Pardew tells the players to do, but I just find it very hard to believe that Pardew has instructed the players to pump it long for 2 major reasons: 1) It is clearly ineffective and I have not seen any evidence in Pardew's managerial career to date to suggest that he is wedded to the long ball a la Allardyce. 2) We didn't use such a direct style in the first half of the season.

I think he actually looks too dangerous on the right to move him into the middle. He looks better with a bit more time and space that he gets out wide.

I don't think that Ben Arfa is ready to play in a free role behind the striker yet. His position, certainly at the moment, is definitely out on the wing.

He was a useful defender (and midfielder) but i wouldn't say he was bloody good in terms technique. He was a very good defender across the whole back 4. Certainly a better defender and better technically than Simpson and Williamson by some considerable distance.

One of the worst mistakes this club has ever done selling him for 1M. Yep - awful awful decision

Aaron Hughes was a bloody good player to be honest..

Quite often Krul does have to go long as the full backs don't pull out wide to receive the ball. Then that's surely the clearest indication that its tactical Could well be. I am still not convinced it is tactical, mainly because we simply didn't play like that earlier in the season.

Quite often Krul does have to go long as the full backs don't pull out wide to receive the ball.

The man's a fraud and like all good fraudsters he'll find mugs who fall for his patter. Just as well we have people like you who can see through it and let us all know.

He did absolutely fine today. Yep. Just loved the way he took it on his chest, let it fall to his feet and then sprayed a nice pass to a red and white shirt. Absolute class from this complete waste of space. Umm - Shola played well when he came on.

I am worried. My away record this season has been appalling.

But this is Ashley's M.O. Cut rate discounts. Fire sales. Everything must go. We've heard it for five years so it has to be happening soon. "Asset-Stripping" Remember that one? That was a good one. I like you. You seem sensible.

Rumours that Arsenal might do it with RVP. Although I agree it is highly uncommon. And a little bit stupid.

I don't, I do know ours isn't though. I don't think many, if any, are run like that. Certainly not on a regular basis - there might be the odd individual exception.

Yeah - just seems such a large difference. Derek then talks about using SJP in the summer as a great source of revenue, but I am not aware of Spurs making WHL into a concert venue or such like in the summer. I suppose it must be down to their sponsorship far exceeding ours.

Who on earth do Spurs make £50 million through commercial revenues and we make £15 million?