AY

But in mathematics double negative is a positive, Pardew surely knows this.

Really not much of choice up front.. Bench is weak as piss

Coutinho breathing really heavily already..

Arsenal is playing so well at times it's ridicilous. And Gini is not involved at all. Just look at his movement when Liverpool's centerhalves have the ball. He doesn't even want the ball..

this 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 conversation is bollock. 4-4-2 is not automatically more attacking than 4-3-3 or some version of it. It's more down to players movement than numbers on paper.

We were alright, but it comes straight after one of the worst displays I've seen in 40 years - I thought it was THE worst the morning after, but on reflection, I'd say it's in the worst five. We just need to purge our squad of certain players. Richards is one of them. Chester is a good signing to replace him (sorry, but Clark plus 1m for Chester is a properly good deal) Our (unable to stop being a gobshite on twitter) chairman says we've got three players signed and to announce imminently. One will be Jedinak, almost certainly, I've no idea on the other two. We basically need someone with presence in midfield, we've needed it for five years now, and Jedinak would fit that bill. Didn't Jedinak start today for CP? he did

They are leading and all that, but seems odd for me to say he is an attacking coach. They are keeping the ball 85% of the time, still have very few chances. Of course Mackems have had no chances, but it's just the difference in skill. City can keep the ball the rest of the game without giving Sunderland a chance and without trying to score. Some say that's beautiful, I say it's boring. They have the skill to hammer these 3 or 4 nil.

I think it just takes time. We won't be losing these games in mid October.. Just takes time to settle. I am worried tho that we are not defending well

Guys need to remember that we had a pretty thin squad to choose from with De Jong, Moussa, Diame and Mitro (did I forget someone?) out. Aarons was the only attacking player on the bench. Armstrong is inexperienced. Playing Aarons from the start would have meant that we have pretty much no one to bring from the bench. We need wingers and a striker. I think the movement was poor anyway. That doesn't change by bringing Mbemba in place of Hanley. Chancel should start of course.

Naah, he dribbled past Fulham midfielders couple of times, wanted for the ball all the time, made few important tackles. Just needs someone better next to him. Faded in the second half of course.

Someone like him surely needed? He can't score tho but is strong and adds something different.

Our movement was garbage last night and that wasn't helped in the first half by Anita who gave the ball away relentlessly and Colback who is a donkey. We had no fluency in our play and we will beat teams like Fulham away once we get that. We need players making runs into space and we need to pass the ball a lot better than we did. Agree that the movement was rubbish. If we try to keep possession, then Colback has to be first to drop from XI. He takes far too many touches and slows the game. Dummett can't pass the ball at all and we had no number 10 on the pitch yesterday. Perez nowhere to be seen I was sitting Riverside stand just on level with the penalty spot we attacked 2nd half, everytime Janmaat and Ritchie crossed, Gayle was lurking between centrebacks. He has to make runs to near post or something. Not gonna score from there. Mitro's presence will open up chances for Gayle of that I'm sure.

Not entirely true. Teams will be sitting deep against us, and they will be 10 times harder to break without aerial ability. Playing four midgets up front means we need combinations, runs, deliveries etc to be spot on. They wont be at the start of the season. Mitrovic will add so much to our play.

I think Shelvey should be played, or at least someone who can pass to tight spots and receive a pass under pressure. Hayden was shouting for the ball for god knows how long and Wor Jack turned and passed it backwards/sideways. Colback is just too slow and predictable on the ball for possession game

I think atm there is very little he can do selection wise, Aarons and Armstrong were the only attacking players available for bench and one of them clearly isnt ready. De Jong, Diame and probably 2 wingers or winger and a striker will give a lot more to choose from. And I think Rafa will play very cautious away from home. Lots of 0-0s

Anita middle and Aarons on seems likely. Without Mitro we really dont have no one hit it long to. Colback is sooooooo slow with the ball its ridiculous

I am here. Sitting in the Riverside upper looking class as Oldtype back in the day. Not sitting in the stand yet ofc..

So excited for this! Flying over tomorrow morning

I don't think he will play as a winger if he is put to RW. He will come closer to Diame and Mitro/Gayle and Ritchie will be hugging the line left hand side. One reason is that we don't have an attacking LB and Janmaat will be bombing the right side, so Perez or whoever plays right forward has to cut inside to make room for Janmaat. Both fullbacks won't be attacking under Rafa anyway

It's not 1995 anymore dude. It's not a small fee anyway even in 2016.

Hope to god we win, took a day off just for this.

Dont really think its a step up.. Moyes is not tactically very good, just strong wing play, lots of crosses and set pieces. Might work, or then it goes tits up with their shit squad

They surely cannot be making loss anymore after the deal? Wages have also gone up though so maybe.. They maybe as badly run as we are (pre-Rafa)

I don't think the money is a problem now with the TV deal. They were broke I guess if you look at their last few transfer windows tho. No one just wants to go there. Relegation battle year after year.

If Sissoko had some end product to his game he'd be one of the best midfielders in the world. He has absolutely zero composure in the final third and offers little no goal threat so what exactly does he offer a top team? N'Zogbia scored goals and created chances consistently. Sissoko definitely looks like the better player and perhaps has the potential to be better player but at the moment he's all fart and no s*** He was never originally an attacking type. More defensive, over time his role and development has altered. This is why he's so frustrating, he's had his natural ability coached out of him and adapted to suit Pardew. Basically was meant to be a Vieira type or defensive type, and Pardew shoved him out wide on the right. Genius. Tbf he positioning an awareness is horrible for a defensive player. He only sees what's in front of him.