Lush Vlad

Thought he actually did ok ish first half. Cabaye had to sit too deep for my liking, again. But he got forward a few times and played as a box to box midfielder. Doesn't look comfortable on the ball though and was just so fucking stupid for their goal and then the red If Tiote is still out, just pray Abeid, or even Vuckic get a chance. Imagine Smith against Swansea's 5 man, possession mad midfield

That's wonderful, what is your point old boy?

I know he came back to defend set-pieces, but Shola was actually playing up front with Ba Even if we lost the next two games, we'd be minimum 8th with 26pts from 17 games. Is that really a sign of a 'struggling' season? Say we don't beat Swansea or WBA, we would be going into an away game with Bolton, with no win in 6, struggling with injuries and confidence at rock bottom. ACN and the dreaded transfer window looming and so would back to back games against Liverpool and Man U. I would say we'd be struggling if we don't get 4 points as a minimum from the next two.

We knew he would be going to play for his country at the ACN when we signed him, the worry is we don't have anyone of that quality - or anywhere near - when he goes. I was very surprised that United have only scored 3 goals apart from BA. With the weakness we have in defence this is a worry. I'm sorry, what? We've scored 21 goals this season, Ba has 11 of those unless I misunderstand what you're saying, your maths are wrong

Probably nowt in it, but isn't Obertan a 'Pardew' signing? Perhaps sticking with him because of this. I've had just about enough of Obertan, he's fucking brainless. I don't even get excited when he manages to actually beat a man now, we all know he'll do sod all with it. Tony Gale I think it was commentating summed him up well, despite all his pace and trickery, never looks like beating the full back and his final ball is poor.

I thought his first was better than his second. Beating the offside trap with ease, killing the ball coming over his shoulder dead and then casually finishing with the same foot, just oozed class. Both quality goals mind. Ruthless finisher. Certainly going to miss him when he goes away to the ACN.

Probably all been said before, but AP was due a howler and this was it. I accept his hands were tied a bit with the injuries, but he got it so wrong it was unreal. Starting Shola, Perch and Simpson as centre backs, Obertan lasting for as long as he did, totally wasting all 3 subs. Really was a poor day at the office. No win in 4 now (granted 3 games against the SKY 4), with two supposedly winnable home games coming up. Will be interesting to see how he reacts to all this. A lot of injuries and confidence must be a bit dented. Everyone knew we'd have a bit of an injury crisis and a mini slump in form, Pardew has to earn his money know and sort it out. If we don't get 4-6 points from the next two games we're struggling, regardless of injuries.

Probably already been said 100 times, but Sammy on for Obertan, really? He looks so raw and naive it's unreal (Sammy BTW, Obertan just looks shit). All 3 subs were wasted by AP on Saturday and the whole 'can't play out wide' thing is utter bullshit. Not trying to do a Christmas Tree, but I can see HBA leaving in the near future. AP clearly favours two strikers, seems to love Shola and I can't see us playing 4-4-1-1 too often.

Where did you read this mate? Din't read it, mate had his son at training ground, seen Colo training.. this was yesterday Ta muchly. Reading AP's quotes today are a bit more promising. Making it sound like Colo will play and if not he will be ready for Swansea. Williamson to be in and around the squad for Swansea as well

Would love us to get Taiwo, can't see it happening mind. What are other people's thoughts on him? Always thought he looked class for Marseille, hoped we would get him for quite some time. Not a French football expert like some on here though...............

Where did you read this mate?

Yep. At times in the Chelsea game, I was struggling to tell who was who. Not a slight on Guthrie, because his passing was as good, if not better than Cabaye's, so couldn't differentiate (sp), just a shame they were both so predictable. Sit deep, lay it off short, barely move, receive the ball back, lay it off short etc. Or, pick the ball up in a bit of space in their half, delightful diagonal ball out to one of the wingers, winger losses it. Repeat to infinity. Gosling didn't have many touches of the ball in the Everton game, but he grafted his arse off and broke forward a few times. Hopefully does it against Norwich and nets

Potentially, he could work well with Cabaye. With Tiote missing, Cabaye has been sitting a lot deeper lately. Guthrie never looks that comfortable breaking into the box, or even hovering on the edge of the D. I personally prefer Yohan further up the field, but he's already shown he's fairly versatile and still looks decent playing a bit deeper. Not so much a DM, but a holding playmaker or a 'quarterback' as Sky seem to call it now Gosling clearly lacks the tenacity of Tiote and his passing range isn't as good as Guthrie's, but he will offer something different going forward. He's already shown in the few times we've seen him he's happy to break from midfield and try and support the attack. Against so called lesser teams, I can see him netting a goal or two.

That is a good point you know. When HBA started wide left against Everton, he did drift about a lot and he had Enrique behind him. Couldn't start him left wing with R.Taylor at left back, it would be absolute carnage. Same can be said for starting him wide right to a point, Simpson is hardly great. Obertan may be pretty rubbish, but his tracking back is ok and his natural position is an out and out right winger. Not sure if he has a position the giganticus cranium cuntis.

From Pards' recent interview. Can't say I agree with that myself, will usually play 4-4-2 I would guess so not many minutes for him. Can't see how you can justify players like Obertan and Lovenkrands playing out wide instead of HBA

Oooo such cutting sarcasm My post was in relation to someone suggesting we wouldn't miss him too much against Norwich and Swansea. Obvbiously all games are tougher without your best players, pretty simple logic. I just feel, against Swansea's tricky, pacey players, Perch, Simpson, Kadar or whoever will really struggle. Feel free to crush me like an egg again if you want

He's about 5ft 10"-11" still, I agree about putting him at centre back, mad idea.

We'll miss him against Swansea

Their midfield was fucking woeful and we had Tiote running the show. The Stoke game, a midfield wasn't really required, the Everton game he went off injured and the last 3 have been City, Man U and Chelsea. Not surprised he's dropped off a bit in those games TBH. I think he sits a lot deeper with Guthrie and will certainly be better with Tiote back. You have a bit of a point mind, I do fear he might burn out a bit. Still trying to get to grips with the pace of our league, seems to now play in every international game and isn't playing in a midfield 3 like before at Lille.

Yeah, I don't mind feeding the troll now and then.

Persistent fucker aren't you. Fail to reply to he last part, you've posted so many wind up posts, you seem to have lost track on what your actual opinion is I suppose we could just let 5-6 chances a game come from our left hand side and just hope Krul has a great game everytime and the opposition players leave their shooting boots at home if we're being pedantic, I'm pretty sure Sturridge cut in from their right hand side, although like you say, why would you even mention the last two goals when we were playing with 10

Yeah, we just need to attack down the left and leave Raylor to fight for himself. He did wonders on marking that Sturridge lad out the game on Saturday and the result was class. Wasn't it you that kept saying how we should stick with our tried and tested formation, tactics and players that got us to 3rd/4th

O no, he offers a fair, balanced view on HBA, we just only praise him all the time because we're fan boys. Didn't you know?

Lovenkrands was AWOL for long periods, put in a couple of decent ish crosses and played the lovely pass to Ba for the luiz YELLOW card. He spent a large part of the game trying to play through the middle and literally didn't help Raylor at all. He was poor IMO, but I suppose you need to try and justify how great he was because you dislike Jonas so much

Where are people getting the idea that Santon can go to centre back? Has he played there before?