Deckard 13

Can't get in a Pardew match day squad. Moves to a CL team and a very likely candidate for the Serie A Title. Sounds about right.

Will only play a handful of games and then be 3rd choice next year when they replace drogba. I prefer Demba to Remy and he never played, can't see why it would be different for loic.

You need players like gouff in your squad. He is the definition of solid and unspectacular. There is no way he should be playing every game for us though.

2 weeks ago: "fucking Jack Colback?! ffs" 1 week ago: " not half as bad as expected tbh" Today: England international. Ginger Pirlo. Been a canny fortnight for the lad.

That laugh...

Maybe have more than 1 ball?

Gouff for obertan and ayoze for riv the next two sub's by chance Alan?

Learns nothing.

Embarrassing. How many times will Willo do that?!

Looks like they've been instructed to "pass" and that's the extent of the game plan.

Aye but that means he's got to be on the pitch so I'll take that trade off.

That shirt is awful. Where would even allow that? Surely he'd get ejected out of the stadium wearing that.

And foot the blame when we lose. Magic!

People pitch a fit at Sissoko 'control'. They'd love Welbeck. Moussa and him can have a running competition to see who loses the ball under their own feet more often. Tbh tho, we are welbecks level and he is ours. Its not the worst link I've heard.

Doesnt fill me with the same dread as when the ball goes out to Dummett on his own. Could have done better for the first goal but there wasn't a great deal of danger until Colo went mental. Gonna agree with the standard "Debuchy-lite" comments. Look more than good enough for our level.

I think he struggles with some of the criticism HBA got/gets. When 90% of all of the chances we create involve him, it looks more obvious that he's "making bad choices" or whatever because he is failing more than succeeding. On the other side to that there is no one else in our team even close to offering what he does. He drives the team forward, he creates space for other players, he never stops running and I rarely see him slow. So yes, he might miss chances, he might misplace a pass or get it stuck under his feet when he's singled out on his own. But the fact that he had more assists than anyone last year is not by luck. I think if we can see more of him in the centre we'll see more of what people like about him. FWIW he's the first name on the team sheet imo.

A good addition to the squad. Should never be burdened with having to be the main main for a 38 game season.

Felt like he was one of the main reasons city collected about 6 yellows. Looked in control. Can't do it all on his own tho.

Going into the season without a striker who guarantees goals? Should be a fun watch. Convinced we'll see some fringe players flogged. Wages go down and once again we'll have turned a profit on transfers for another year.

I would have went young if I didn't already have Sanchez, hazard, Ramsey Mata and sigurrdson. Yes, my bench is shit.

I think young will get the nod early doors like. Shaw is injured now and previously not fit. I suppose I can see the logic, I just tend to prefer my money out on the pitch.

7.0 worth of striker on bench puzzles me. If its only for the 1st game who comes out of that midfield to accommodate?

I'll be desperately disappointed if some discontent is not shown on Sunday. I just hope that all this new season optimism doesn't distract people from the same problems that havent just went away in 3 months. If we can just have the Cardiff game from now until pardew leaves please.

Tiote doesnt sit in front of a back four because he can't play it out and he doesn't have the discipline to plug the gaps at the back. He isn't effective as a DM in my opinion. Hell have games where hell dominate physically for sure, but against better players just charging around isn't useful. He looks more and more limited as the years go by. I like him a lot as a person and he never hides but ultimately I think we should move away from the idea of a midfield hardman, especially one whose game is either all or nothing. Smart team pressing is better than relying on one player to win the ball back. If he's replaced, sell. If not, keep. Either way. I'd rather he not start.

I'd be happy with 48 points. At the start of march. I don't even understand this from the point of view of tempering expectations. He has said the club is mediocre and by looking to only match that mediocrity he is in turn mediocre. Its baffling even for pard's. Basically saying "The club was shit when i got here and I've not managed to improve it all during my time".