ExiledGeordie

Santon is 6'2, surely that will be useful against their "aerial bombardment"

I'm fully expecting so ludicrous over-reactions in this thread tomorrow, lol "He's shit never going to be like he was against Everton last season"

Ah well the run was going to come to an end at some point. We were a fortunate away at Wolves and so some games just aren't going to go for you. As in victory no doubt the lads will learn a bit more about themselves in defeat. Take it on the chin and move on, they'll get knocked out in the next round and they're royally fucked in the league.

Not expecting anything and would take a point. Still me have some punch in us thesedays so you never know.

Yeah assuming once he comes into the team on a regular basis he'll really add something. Apart from Obertan's pace and some glimpses in the Blackburn game at home we've been pretty impotent down the right in general. Simpson is a decent defender but pretty poor going forward. Marveaux should help to change this.

No worries with Abeid starting coming in in midfield, be good for the lad to get games too. Looks a good player.

It usually takes foreign players a season to adjust to the premier league, Ben Arfa didn't even get that last season. Throw in a crippling injury followed by another fairly serious injury............ People need to dampen down their immediate expectations of the lad. He's a wonderful talent and I've no doubt he'll go on to have a brilliant season but people are being far far too quick to come to conclusions as to how he's performing or how he'll do. Look at Silva at Citeh, he did alright last season but now he's used to the Prem he's absolutely flying in the league this season.

Lad can never stay fit

A good performance from Marveaux at Blackburn will surely see him in the lineup against Stoke away.....well you'd assume anyway. I think we may well see much better from Obertan in time maybe as an impact sub but right now it's not happening and Carver/Pardew are going to be earning their money to get him up to something resembling a threat.

It's becoming clear that adding Marveaux to the right will give the side much more control, patience in attack and ultimately much more of a threat down the right. Right now Jonas is playing out of his skin but we aren't getting near enough down the right side. The disappointing thing is that in the interview the other night Pardew sounded like they were right on the ball with the Obertan issue with not attacking the full back enough and therefore offering nothing as a threat (apart from his pace). So for him to have such a poor game when they've clearly spent time with him in training is a bit worrying....................none of our players deserve to be fucking jeered off though and it's completely counterproductive.

I remember in that Scunthorpe match he looked pretty tasty. He's got guile, composure, can hit a pass has scored goals in the reserves and is pacy, think Pardew will have to do some thinking now. Get him in.

My sister's in laws used to own a few posh seats in the Milburn a couple of years back before their business went belly up. Some of the people or rather things you'd hear people say in relation to the team both at the pre match meal and then sitting watching the match were nothing other than cringeworthy. I remember one little arsewipe who it was pointed out was one of the biggest importers of fruit in the country or some bollocks shouting "we just want to be entertained" ffs Awful stuff

Charlie Nicholas did mention that yesterday about us being outnumbered in midfield against Wigan.

Ba should've had one but Best defo should've scored first half. Thought Charlie Nicholas' review of the game was fair, good account.

Well said, this is still a very new side so will take time to take it's most effective shape. I think most are in agreement that the best line up will probably include Ben Arfa, Santon and Marveaux but with what exact shape we're not sure yet and that probably applies to Pardew too. He's probably got something in mind and no discusses it endlessly with Carver. Football sides are ever changing though so when you think one thing works something else effective emerges.

Pardew mentioned about Perch being in line for replacing either Taylor/Colo if there's an injury what with Williamson still some weeks away so I think we'll defo see Perch play. Can't argue with that really. Harper Santon Taylor Perch Ferguson Gosling/Obe Guthrie Abeid Marveaux Barfa Ameobi

I think it's clear for all to see that Marveaux should be starting in place of him now though.

And then the next time he beats a couple of players and lays on a ball for a goal or takes a chance himself everyone will be like "fucking hell he's immense" Patience is a virtue.

If fans were sarcastically jeering him off that's a disgrace imo.

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.