ExiledGeordie

He's been built up so much that people are expecting too much from him too soon. He just needs games and his sharpness will come back and I'm not in the slightest concerned. If you think what the lad has been through it's just great right now that he's running freely on the pitch at this stage.

Doesn't seem to be anywhere near the Liverpool team at the minute.

I don't really have all the hate for him and not fussed either way how he does. What is certain is that so far he's left his boy hood club with fans adoring him to move to Liverpool where he's hardly done anything and isn't playing much. Furthermore we've kicked on, the team is happy and confident and we seem to be pushing in the right direction. Was the extra money in his bumper contract actually worth it when all is said and done? Not at the moment that's for sure.

Yeah I think that's exactly what it will be too. Complaceny is the danger here and AL Habsi having a barnstormer and it being "one of those days". I just can't see beyond that Wigan defence giving us some really good opportunities and if we put away a chance early then it will be really difficult for them.

After listening to that Pardew interview it sounds to me like Ben Arfa is going to play on sat behind Ba. Have a feeling that Santon might come into give Simpson a rest what with Simpson's stuff with his baby. Also sounds like Obertan is going to be told to have a proper go at the right back and good to hear that he's got Marveaux very much in his plans.

Great that Pardew and I'd imagine Carver have identified Obertan's lack of confidence at going at the full back. Clearly they're working on it and hopefully we'll see him utilize his pace to better effect.

Raylor has done enough to start the next match imo. Whether Bale had an off day or whatever, he didn't get much luck against old Ryan. I'd put Santon in right back and play Ben Arfa behind Ba. Krul Santon Taylor Colo Raylor *I'd like to see Marveaux start really but I think Obertan will start as Pards won't want to make too many changes, who knows we're playing well and winning anyway. Obertan* Cabaye Tiote Jonas Ben Arfa Ba

I think he'll eventually be particularly effective away from home too.

Does seem strange that in a team playing so confidently he doesn't look that confident. There were a few occasions when he could've taken people on with his pace but chose not too and he's very careless in possession at times. That said his pace scares the s*** out of sides and that is particularly effective away from home. Can see him working well with Ben Arfa too. A game coming off the bench would do him no harm though and Marveaux deserves a chance.

Sure he was a bit careless in position at times but he also looked a total class act on the ball the way he changed direction and shifted play. I'd like to see him start against a nervous Wigan and with Tiote and Cabaye behind him he can afford to occasionally lose the ball even if he has to be far more secure with it. Agree about him getting some of that reserve game under his belt. He's been out for ages, ball retention will come with improved sharpness imo.

Not sure about exact formation but given how their defence looked yesterday I think this is definitely a game for Ben Arfa. Santon to come in at either left or right back with Simpson dropping out imo. Also bring Marveaux in for Obertan.

Yeah I was just about to ask about Adebayor, is there any latest news on him? I think I read it would be a last minute decision. I have a feeling he'll be playing.

Haha probably

Wigan really do look in trouble, 6 straight defeats and we should really go for this lot next saturday. Abominable defending today against Bolton, christ.

Been out for a few beers but I will piss myself if we win this on sunday What will the media say (down here) if this one goes against their predictions!!!!!!!!!

Lawro reckons comfortable away win...........(don't start cursing me I don't necessarily agree with him, lol)

Exactly thankfully we're not languishing at the bottom of the table unable to score goals and desperately throwing in a player who has been out for a ridiculous amount of time. Plus the mere fact that the likes of Ben Arfa, Marveaux and Santon are waiting in the wings is forcing the players in their positions in the first 11 to play at a high level because they know as soon as they don't they'll be out of the team. It's a win win really and we haven't really had any injury issues yet either (touches wood) which might take the decision making out of Pardew's hands. Some people as Ian Wright says have just had a coffee and got a little over excited about all this and just need to calm down

Spot on, there's some absolute fucking nonsense being posted about this. The lad is being handled properly and to boot we're on an unbeaten run so haven't had to force the issue.

If we do get beaten on sunday fair and square or spurs are simply too strong for us people will need to put it in perspective instead of the classic moaning and griping you see with football fans. We are going to lose at some point and we will sadly go through a bad patch but we've done fantastically so far. If however we win......................all hell will break loose among the press,

Adebayor rated 50/50 in todays reports..... he'll probably play though I reckon.

He'll start Raylor because the lad has done alright (one particularly good bit of defending last week against Wolves) and has been part of an unbeaten team. I think he'll reward him on that basis and also because no matter how good Santon is he needs to be treated carefully. In a game like this one big mistake could really dent his confidence especially with some of the mongs in the crowd. I think as people have said he'll be brought on at some stage and then there are the Wigan and Blackburn games to bed him in and eventually make the position his own. Ofcourse if its' obvious we're all over the shop he'll be on sooner. Agree with this too.

Pardew is going to kop flack whatever he does. If he changes it and we lose people will question his judgement but if he doesn't make any changes and we lose people will also question him. It's a pretty difficult decision to be in but I think he'll start with the same team that has effectively gone unbeaten so far this season. Best and Ba have caused defences problems so far this season and seem to link up well. Ba in particular is on a hot streak. Even Ryan Taylor defended pretty well at times against Wolves last week (one in particular) so maybe he'll reward those players as opposed to removing them and keep the consistency going. The one big plus to bringing Santon in is it would free Jonas up in attack more whereas at the moment he's obviously been told to help Raylor out but even now he seems to be doing both jobs admirably. It's a very delicate tinkering situation but I think the team will naturally sort itself over the coming weeks anyway. Santon will obviously come in very soon maybe starting against Wigan (maybe earlier than expected if Raylor is in real trouble against Spurs and that situ will alreayd be resolved), Best will have to keep playing top of his game or Ben Arfa will be in and Obertan will have to be on his game otherwise Marveaux will come in. I'd eventually like to see and think we will see fairly soon: Krul Simo Taylor Colo Santon Marveaux Cabaye Tiote Jonas Ben Arfa Ba

Everyone talks about the weakness up front or atleast they did and while we could do with signing a solid striker the central defence really has no depth whatsoever. Even when Williamson gets back to fitness we could really do with going out and signing another good centre half.

Assuming Ba doesn't make it I think Pardew will keep the same side apart from switching Ben Arfa behind Best. I wouldn't have too many complaints if Raylor starts but I'd be more concerned if he opts for Lovenkrands or Ameobi instead of Ben Arfa.

Good luck to him but glad the circus has left