TherealnorthernTOON

Demba is kind of right though, he is such a goal threat when playing up front. And when it's on now in our current formation, we just burst so fast forward with ba, ben arfa cisse and cabaye that he just can't find himself in goalscoring positions before we're off again. For next season I really would want us to get a real work horse with some pace to burn, Just so we can allow Ba to play higher up field.

This new formation really gets the best out of all our players bar Ba's finishing. But if we are going to keep this formation for next year we need more attacking players. Not only to switch it up a little, but also because we ain't got that many quality players of the order required to play this brand of footie.

was Jonas playing as defensive midfielder today?

Hoh, the liverpool players plays like they came to a club with success. I really think that's where the problem is!

I agree what has been mentioned about Cabaye regarding more box-to-box. But as mentioned beforehand he wasn't anywhere near used to all that running. It still is his settling period and he might just get to do that more often come next season.

The lad is good going forward. But really need to work on his defensive discipline.

Perch was probably MoM for me tbf. Awsome performance, just loved his dedication to bits.

Indeed, tho the problem is that for such a system to work we need two quality fullbacks providing the width when Marveaux and Ben Arfa are narrow. Hopefully the summer will provide the answers to all these silly questions hopefully at least some of the questions, but probably not all of them.... "Alan’s plan is to get a smaller squad, with better quality - so the bench is better. That’s our aim over the next two years. We can’t do it all this summer " Can we really afford to have a smaller squad then we allready have?

Sounds quite reasnonably, according to his latest interview. Where he stated he just found the love for the game again. Hope he picks himself up and drives us to 5th place finish!

If he keeps playing like he did against sunderland, he will get a goal every 3-4 games wich is quite good for a right winger. Hopefully he will assist quite a few aswell. The end product of this lad is just so good compared to the other players we have.

Allready falling in love with this guy, just love his way of the ninja(the way he plays). Quickly applying pressure on opponents. Running the channels. Will be a decent asset to the team.

Imo, the biggest damage done to our squad this season was Steven Taylors injury. With him out our whole defence has been on a slim path. We got no one with steel back there to muscle the ball away he did. And it's so clearly lacking. We need that aggression and willpower of his to get the ball way out of trouble. With Williamson and Colo it more or less just bounces right back at us and invites more pressure on our defence.

I want this young exciting piece of player to succeed as much as anyone else. But what has hit me lately, he seems to have a professional mind when he plays instead of that playfull one he had earlier. Any thoughts?

I really think people are putting way too much to that one line Pardew told the media. It's not like they wasn't training together for a whole week before the game. What happend between the Villa and Tham game wich should be looked at.

Has anyone given the thought that our progression was too fast for Pardew to comprehend? The plan, if we were about 10th, in that mix, our gameplan would've been good imo. But looking as it is, our gameplan is too simplistic for a top6 team. Wich we aren't if we are realistic. We just came up from the championship. We are trying to build a team. It takes time but as most people say our personell are looking more and more forward oriented then defending oriented. Give it time and we'll see how it turns out.

15 more points this season, and I'll call it a really hood season.

The only player playing for over my estimation atm is Ba. Never ever thought he would be that kind of player. That put aside, Cabaye hasn't grasped the games to my liking as much as I hoped for.

good debate and intelligent points...well done, give yourself a pat on the back This is just a typical example on how the forum mostly have two modes. Either it's we're gonna win da lig, or it's everything about the club suck, sack them all and start fresh. This scapegoating has to stop, it's evident that we have a small squad, players will have off days. And we don't have squat to say when they play poorly atm. because there is no one to come in and do a better job. Season so far has been tremendous and we should embrace it for what it's worth. My personal hope is 60 points, and that would be tremendous progress. Hopefully the rest of the squad will be assessed in the right manner during the summer and we can push on and repeat the buisness of this season into the next and cement our position as one of the top clubs instead of the middle/lower-bracket clubs.

we lack steel, and it's so evident. Both tiote and Saylor out is a massive hit.

earlier in the season he rather often found himself behind one or two players in that number 10 spot. This thing has however been better on the wing due to the fact there usually are fewer players there. And you have to remember, not only is HBA supposed to get the ball, the other players has to be able to pass him the ball. As the best playmaker in the league (atleast I think so), you can look at how hard Silva works to get in positions where team mates can see him and pass to him.

Of course he doesnt use it as his only evidence. Pretty sure he watches our games too..... FWIW 'workrate' that is constantly bleated over with regards to HBA is not only defensive. His offensive workrate is also questionable at times imo. Look at Jonas/Ba/Cisse(only one game but) and they are always moving and working for the team looking to not only receive the ball but bring others in too. HBA too often tries to do it alone like he did in France whereas here its more pass and move football working people out of position. This has been one of my main gripes with HBA all season long tbf. He doesn't look to get the ball enough, and that was the main reason he failed at the classic number 10 spot.

That is correct. While hba and Ba drops down to offensive midfielder positions to help out in defence aswell cabaye can allow himself to cover more up at simpsons end as guiterrez allways do at Santons end.

I don't get where people banging on about a 4-3-3 formation has the wingers all the way by the line all the time. It doesn't have to be so. Ba and HBA should deploy themself closer to the middle, with Ba further upfield while in attack. It will be more of a free floating attacking triangle of doom tbf. ------------------cisse ba---------------------------------------hba thats the way people picture it, while it should be more like -------------------cisse---------------- ---------ba----------------------------- ------------------------hba------------- having fullbacks creating a more of a 5 midfield with the trio behind completing the width together with jonas and cabaye.

More or less because he was very alone with given at that time, he was offside for the whole run.

I would believe we will see that 4-3-3 formation against wolves when tiote/cabaye is back again. And the following matches. I think thats the way he wants to play to bring more fluid football to the club, as he has spoken so much about.