TherealnorthernTOON

Must give credit to the lad today. Just oozes with confidence at the mo. Just seeing him making dribbles in the middle of the park, running at villas midfield to open up space. Just wonderfull. Just wish he was a tad faster and he could easily become one of the best imo. Just got the most of it going forward.

Ben Arfa was frustrating and rightly taken off against Blackburn. However, he needs gametime to get back to his best. He wasn't a friend with the ball neither against 'burn nor Brighton. Hopefully he will get it more during the last games of the season. Score a few crackers and set up a few.

Seems like the club have been alot of tapping up on good talent in peculiar positions at their clubs. Will be an interesting window imo. Hopefully for the better. I do however expect a major transfer out this summer. Just hope we keep up our transfer buisness and get out of the window even stronger (yet again).

Imo raylor has taken leaps this season in my estimation. Mainly beacause he never gives up. He's a good passer of the ball. Has a delivery/end product. And can play almost everywhere on the pitch.

Would actually like to see this lad on the left side, cutting inside. As it seems more like his type of thing.

Yesterday was a real downer though, everytime he touched the ball it wasn't a friend of his.

Come back soon!

Cabaye, Tiote and Ba are big misses, Taylor less so. I for one think that is completely wrong. Williamsons agility is terrible, players twist and turn him all the time. Neither does he have the strength to handle bigger players either. Modeste was all over him today. My bet is steven would have won 90% of the battles with him today with the form he was in before his injury.

Saw an interesting stat on the telly while at half time. Bburn attacked us 80% through the middle. Imagine having tiote back there screening them away. Also think with both cabaye and guthrie there in the middle in our new project we will keep the ball more. HBA has to settle more down in play and keep posession and rather look for that sure chance instead of taking the world on his shoulders. Mind he didn't have his day today with the ball.

We had 4 players out who have played regularly so far. So you reckon Ameobi & Best are ahead of Cisse in the pecking order? cisse hasn't played regularly.

After that dreadfull relegetion I don´t get how people dare talk like we belong in the top4. We´re 5th right now, and much of it is down to this man.

all agree with that. But Ba and HBA has to be alot more closer to cisse in that tactic. Simpson and Santon has to get up the pitch to provide with.

Don't know a big deal about this lad. But hope he proves all the doubters wrong and excells in a bigger enviroment. We need more cover at the back and this can only be good imo.

Tbf, Cisse reminded me of a bigger and stronger defoe, sort of. Without the selfishness. However, would like him to take his chances abit more if ACoN is to go by. Can't wait to see him play though. Think he got what it takes to be ace in this league. Seemed quite complementary to HBA aswell. With his movement explicity going trough channels looking for that CC chance with their keeper.

I can see why people really are gutted after tonights result. Despite theese two last matches, I really want pardew to continue, this, and next season atleast. We need some long sought continuity at the club. And aslong as we got progression as a club I'm happy with him. When thing have stabalized. The club is self sufficient enough to actually use money, then we can have the slightest hope of getting a known manager at the helm. Where we are right now is at the hardest step in english footie. Taking the last step up to get into those CL spots.

As I stated earlier in the HBA thread. Cisse is much more a space creater then any of our nowbeeing forwards. As he is more in the Hernandez role. A player looking behind the defences for trough balls and running the channels. Will open up alot of space as the defenders allways will be watching over their shoulders.

much of it comes from Tiote first beeing injured, then away for ACoN. Will hopefully get a more advanced role in the future.

Best isn't a left winger, it showed. Despite this, HBA needs to drift more inside in this formation. Alot more. Cisse will probably provide much more movement amongst our attacking trio though.

Best keeps running into trouble. Stick him up front!

sweet baby jesus, that play was tremendous!

Think Elia could become a fantastic right winger. If he would do defensive work. From our own favourite movie site he seems like an fairly athletic player. But very right footed.

If we where to get him for such a fee of 4m it would be for first team. And I do not doubt he is ready to take that step. Would be fun if the 'biggest' talent of england would play in our ranks.

Senegal seemed to rotate a fair bit on their forwards though. Might not be that exhausted.

Andy johnson and Zamora was just too strong for our centreback pairing, none of them at the strength to muscle with them. And with Andy beeing far faster then any of our CB's their counter attacks where lethal. Allways rathed Johnson, despite allways beeing slammed down when voting for getting him.

Long ball worked just fine when Best and Ba was up top as they both are more then capable to take down the ball. However, when we have Shola up there it bounces all kind of directions all the time. When the ball is kicked up in the air the strikers got a good 5-6 seconds before it hits the ground and they should be able to position themself to take it down before it's even close to there. But again, sholas movement isn't exactly top notch and thats where it how it goes. It did work when he whipped it up to best on the left flank though. The goal when krul merely assisted though was a shit kick, and some others might have been. Despite this he's had a slight drop in that department the last games and should up his standard abit. Might become abit arrogant?