ExiledGeordie

Philips referring to St James as "Sports Direct" dear oh dear

Back to his absolute best and primed ready for Jose, get in.

Maybe he is utterly clueless but he's all we've got isn't he, there isn't another option. Putting the lad under even more pressure at matches especially at home with abuse is only going to further undermine us

Holding on for 40 minutes, christ. The defending for that goal

I think Tiote will be saved for next weekend for the grudge match with those cunts.

If Marveaux hadn't got injured this clown wouldn't have got anywhere near the side

We are weak in defence with Williamson, Simpson is "decent" at best but no more than that and Santon is still unproven at left back. That all leaves Coloccini and Krul far too exposed. In midfield it all looks a bit disjointed to me. Cabaye has gone off the boil and we don't have nearly enough attacking options which leaves us looking a bit stagnated imo. For all I love about Jonas he doesn't offer nearly enough of a regular goal/creative threat imo. Obertan is just s****, lol I thought Arsenal's play probably deserved the win and they had enough chances to put the match away in the last 20 mins but to concede like that at the end was ridiculous. There wasn't anyone anywhere near the right side when the ball fell to Vermaelen to striker, pathetic. Got to learn from situations like this.

Eventually I'd love to see him at right back with a quality left back signed. He would be more effective attacking on the right side and an overlapping full back on the left side would give miles more balance to the team. Would work better with Jonas too.

I think people underestimate just how long it takes to get back to absolute full fitness, strength and sharpness. Ben Arfa in the second half against the scum was about as close as we've seen to the Ben Arfa in the Everton video in terms of his breakaway pace etc. He just needs a few games now to continue this.

Pretty much his first touch of the ball forced a corner. As Elliotman says, just give him a run out. He has the pace and cutting edge to tear a fullback apart and get to the byline of cut in and unleash fierce crosses and shots. A couple of the things he did yesterday were outrageous and I'm hoping from the quotes Pardew came out with that he's finally realised he's just simply got to persist with him. He opens the pitch up so much man, it's not rocket science. Cabaye/Tiote immediately had more room to operate because they were stretched and it put far more pressure on the Sunderland because they were suddenly having to defend two flanks no just senseless narrow play with hoof ball lobs up to the front two.

I'd like to see: Krul Santon Will Colo Raylor Tiote Cabaye Guthrie Ben Arfa Jonas Ba He won't move Santon to right back but I think sticking Ba on his own up front with Jonas/Ben Arfa supporting and Cabaye pushing forward with Tiote/Guthrie to mop up. A 4-5-1 that gives us protection for the defence and support against their mobile midfield but enough in attck to create. I'd like to see Ferguson get some time too, he's very direct.

Always thought and still think he's a decent, hard working professional who is good to come in for one or two games but that's it. I expect he'll be 3rd or 4th choice next season because Saylor will be back and we'll probably sign another centre half. Worried about what Arsenal will do to him to be honest.

I don't think our play has been helped by the fact that Cabaye has been awful since the Man U game. When Ben Arfa came on and opened things up giving the two central midfielders more space even Tiote was more incisive and coming forward like he was the creative force ffs. To be fair it took Silva at City a season before he started to really begin to play in this league. It's still early days for Cabaye and you could argue that this is Ben Arfa's first real season too what with the injury. I think both will go on to become much more effective once they've bedded in a bit more.

He's the lynchpin of the defence and together with Krul is vital. Bring back a fit Saylor, sign another solid centre back from the continent and bring in a new left back and we're looking good. Awesome news

This was part of a dream I had last night, clearly starting to play on my mind.

He's alright to come in as backup for a few games but thats about it. The combination of him and Simpson in the back four is really unsettling.

It will ALWAYS be St James Park. However whatever happened to this urgency to have the ground sponsored?? I thought then and still think now that it's purely a marketing tool for Ashley and that he never had any intention of getting another party in to sponsor the ground. While he's at the club all the tacky sports direct stuff will remain.

Hopefully stick Ben Arfa on the right or Ryan Taylor after him. Just don't see what Obertan offers in a full match, impact sub at best.

On the sofa with Best and Ba on goals on sunday at 11am................

Yep the brutal truth from Martin Jol back there. Maybe Pardew should have changed things sooner but atleast he's acknowledged he got it wrong. Thing is going away to play one of if not the best midfield in the league without your two starting beasts in midfield was always going to be a huge factor. Maybe we didn't realise how much of a factor it was going to be. Sticking Tiote and Cabaye back into that side will make all the difference and there's still plenty of games left including those against the top sides for us to have another go with all our big guns. Sometimes you just have to take one on the chin and accept a hiding.

Win lose or draw I'm actually looking forward to the match with our front two. A Best/Shola combo here would just result in a non-plus feeling

Can see him scoring today, still an unknown entity for defences. Ba already commands plenty of respect and tight marking. Can see Cisse sneaking in for a goal or being given enough room for a shop from a knock down from Ba.

He's almost guaranteed to start Obertan

Great post from Sewelly. Agreed will be good to see potentially our strongest 11 with the exception of Saylor.

I cannot for the life of me understand how anyone can be throwing the plaudits at Allardyce. I remember going to Reading away when he was in charge playing a defence that consisted of Michael Duberry. With N'Zogbia and Milner available to offer some width he played 4 centre midfielders across the midfield and basically said "I'll take a draw". He might have kept us up that season but the football and tactics under him was some of the worst stuff I have ever seen. In fact had he kept us up we would probably have been stuck watching that shite for a couple more seasons before someone finally got rid. Awful bloke, awful football, jesus