Lush Vlad

Saying in the press conference he isn't going to panic and make changes to our shape, style etc. The rigid 4-4-2, with zero movement and aerial bombardment for 90 minutes is the way to go obviously

Anyone seen the Bolton press conference? It's terrible TBH, no real team news, not much talk about our players, some BS about the transfer window being tough and then questions on Kean and the recent 'alleged' racism from Suarez and Terry. However, one reporter asked about Obertan and him being jeered when he came off. AP had a bit of a tantrum and said it didn't help him highlighting it, Gabby has been trying to get back into it after an injury (kept him out for one game BTW) and he's been briliant for us so far I know he's not going to kill one of his own players off, as he's obviously fragile as it is, but there is no need to lie is there. Going a bit off topic he was saying there is no need to panic and start swapping players and making changes to the style, formation

Such a worry that he's not even been here half a year and this is his second knee problem already

Not sure I agree with that like. We just go route one and hit and hope when Best is in the team. We never try and play it on the deck or look for anything off the ball, granted the non existent movement doesn't help. Launching the ball 70 yards is a poor way of retaining possession. This is coming from a Best fan BTW, I like him, but he's not offering much at the minute. Personally think he's got more to his game than just headers, but for whatever reason, we just play hoof ball lately. Probably to do with the likes of Perch, Raylor and Simpson treating the ball like a bomb.

NEWCASTLE United are sweating on the extent of the injury suffered by Davide Santon at St James’s Park. The defender didn’t appear for the second half of last night’s 3-2 defeat to West Bromwich Albion after suffering a knee problem. And boss Alan Pardew admits the injury – which was today being assessed by the club’s medical team – is a concern, after Santon was sidelined shortly after joining from Inter Milan in the summer with a knee problem. “We’re not sure about Davide,” Pardew told the Gazette. “But he’d just got into the team and got settled, and it’s disappointing.” http://m.shieldsgazette.com/sport/sport-columnists/black-white/newcastle_sweat_on_santon_injury_1_4085245#.TvM0LeR5tgI.twitter Great

Attacking wise, he's been shite since Spurs I think. Stoke he was brilliant babysitting Raylor, but since then he's been dog's breath. Plays better when there is competition for places. Him and Obertan must be lapping it up, what with the HBA won't play out wide comments and Marveaux's injury.

Yeah for some reason I was thinking of Ba as my post to Mick was relating to Demba. Best didn't even play against Blackburn in the cup. D'oh!

In the cup he played 120 mins, not in the league against Blackburn.

Mate has just said he looks like Sylvestre after a nuclear disaster. That is all.

Was a reckless tackle as well, could tell he was fucked off about getting the runaround and zero support from the midfield and Perch. Not saying he didn't play badly BTW. Would be just our luck to lose him for the dippers or Man U.

I think that's a bit unfair, against Swansea he played well and got shots on target from crazy positions when he started with his back to goal. My comment was more aimed at the fact he's far less effective up top when we just play long ball after long ball. He doesn't actually win that many flick ons for his size and doesn't strike me as a Kev Davies/Emile Heskey type shithouse that thrive on hoof ball. I don't think he's happy to just back into the defender and make a nuisance of himself in the air, he's so much more than that and it isn't his game. Someone eluded to it in the other thread, we're trying to play a Stoke'esque sort of game without having the players to do so. Hope that clears it up.

Aye, that's great when lovewillneverdie (TPFKA "White Cafu") does it at right back, but when he's charging through the middle of the pitch, he's leaving a massive gap behind him (our fullbacks are primarily pushing forward at home). Anyways, back on topic, Best doesn't look match fit/sharp. However, Ba plays better (and scores more) when there's another big unit up alongside him (Shola or Best) - really need those two to be pushing each other for form and fitness to get into the side. Is this based on anything more than a figment of your imagination? Am I right in thinking the only time he has started a game with HBA behind him is Man City, Man U, Chelsea and Blackburn in the cup, when we rested quite a few players in our first XI? Bit early to say whether he looks better with a 'unit' next to him or not I think, although in fairness he does like to drop deep to link the play. He would look better up top on his own if we didn't insist on hoofing it long all the time and actually tried to play it on the deck. He's not great with his back to goal trying to play the Heskey/Best role.

It was a great strike, but I thought Foster should have saved it, he got both hands to it.

Poor, poor player. When he got that short corner, managed to miscontrol the ball under no pressure, eventually shift it onto his left foot and try a shot, although I'm not sure what it was as the ball just trickled to one of the 3 players closing him down. Box was packed and we needed a goal, sums him up really. Clueless footballer, with an awkward style. Limited as a defender, but is solid enough most the time. Going forward he is pretty much useless. Seems to spend a lot of time pointing, shouting and blaming others as well. IF and it's a big if we got a left back, I wouldn't be arsed to see him moved on.

He always looks a miserable sod, but there is no way he can be enjoying his football here.

He did alright in the first half I thought, did the simple things well. His touch deserted him in the second though, his workrate dropped right off and he looked fucked. Did one great bit of skill if I remember correctly, did a Maradona turn past two of their players, was quite surprised seeing him pull it off. Problem was, after that he seemed to be thinking too far ahead and everytime the ball came near him he did fuck all with it.

Had zero control without him last night, our most important player after Ba and Colo.

I sit in the Gallowgate Upper and I noticed their second and third goals came during the "he just can't get enough" chant. Jinxed it I tell ya! Ba is just ridiculously good. Including the offsides, he got the ball in the net 4 times, went close with the curler from the outside of the box and had the header after Vuckic rattled the bar. He's pretty fucking ruthless, screwed when he goes to the ACN, hopefully Senegal go out first round.

I was expecting him to just take the volley on, or bring it down and work it onto his left, think WBA players were as well. Class

Well, this is the same man who took Ben Arfa off for Shola Ameobi at half time for no apparent reason. When did that happen? Not sure it was for no apparent reason, but Chelsea. Hope Santon is fit to play on Boxing Day, looked really dangerous going forward, didn't seem keen to punt it 70 yards all the time and has some nice skills. Fucks me off how often he was getting ignored on the overlap, he had so much space it was unreal. Was the same against Swansea. Has similar frailties to Raylor defensively, but he's far quicker, taller, stronger and he's actually a defender by trade at least. Positionally he's a bit suspect, but he is only 20 and new to the country.

Can certainly hit a ball, had two great efforts and two ok ish ones. Seemed to drift in and out of the game though, which is understandable given his age, inexperience and lack of competitive playing time. Still a pretty decent full debut and there is a shit load of potential there. Checked on chalkboard stats and he attempted and completed around half the amount of passes as Tiote, 30 odd to Tiote's 70 completed. Sort of backs up the theory that he went AWOL for long periods. Looks more of an attacking midfield player, wouldn't want to see him in a 4-4-2 again unless needs must. Promising.

Quite and edgy crowd last night, really tense atmosphere and desperate sounding. Playing useless knackers like Obertan hardly helps like, offers nowt and the fans don't like him, negative vibes around SJP whenever the ball gets anywhere near him.

Agree with Ronaldo. Our back line was more of a scattered zig zag, than a flat compact unit. They were just playing average through balls that totally carved us open. There was acres of room any time WBa wanted to make a forward pass. No coincidence that we look all over the shop and concede a lot more goals when Perch plays. Perch was getting applauded quite a bit in the first half for his last ditch tackles, if he wasn't so far out of position in the first place, he wouldn't need to make a last gasp sliding tackle FFS

Poor tactics last night. Let's bring on a #10, continue to play long, aimless balls that haven't been working all night and see what happens.. Showed why he should be starting out wide for us, everytime he beat someone in the middle of the pitch, he just got crowded out and lost it. Yet in wide positions once he beats his man, he is going to have room to work the ball. Obertan is so shite and Jonas has gone right off the boil. But Pards' knows best, HBA hasn't got the 'relish' to play out wide

Funnily enough i watched the Swansea game again and Besty was making runs that go unnoticed, creating space for others, vital part of team play that but one worry was when we had the ball out wide he kept moving into the same spaces as Ba, if and when the cross came in. There were 3 crosses where Ba and Best made exacly the same run, if one just held back they would have had a chance to score from about 10 yards. Must be difficult trying to guess where Obertan and Joans are going to cross it though, I don't think even they know, they seem to just hit it and hope.