Lush Vlad

I was impressed with the majority of his play on Saturday. His hold up play was good, was winning a bit more in the air than normal, showed some class skills on more than one occassion and was unlucky not to score. My only gripes were, a few times he went for goal when he shouldn't have and was too greedy, the sliced left foot volley from a ridiculous angle was one that stands out. He also tried to beat their whole team a few times, would go past one or two, maybe even three, then just run into trouble and lose it. Minor complaints though, he really has been fantastic for us

Assuming Liverpool win tonight, we will still be 8 clear of 8th placed Stoke and 10 clear of the rest. It's a cushion we may need, as these winnable games are looking tough now. Very impressive though, never thought we'd be positioned like this going into December

Exactly. He could also drift in off the line and would find himself with more time and space a lot of the time. Seems to be crowded out and marked quite well when playing centrally.

Despite missing Tiote badly for this one, I was still impressed by both our centre midfielders, particularly Guthrie. Someone else eluded to it, against lesser opposition, I would like to think the current pairing is good enough to dictate play and boss the midfield. We'll need to, as the defence isn't going to boss anything

Has all the attributes to be a good winger, but has no brain or confidence. Usually plays the wrong pass, holds onto it too long and his crossing is atrocious. Not sure what AP sees in him, a couple of half decent performances away from home and that's about it. I keep trying to be patient, as there is a quality player in there somewhere, but how long are we supposed to wait? He should spend 2 hours a day at training just practicing crossing and picking out men in the box, it's almost always the wrong decision when he gets anywhere near goal.

He was actually embarrassing without Jonas. Makes you now realise how much Jonas' attacking game has suffered due to helping out the defence. He couldn't even follow basic instructions. The commentators mentioned Pardew has asked his full backs to sit deep and not push forward. After another howler from Raylor being miles out of position, they cut to AP looking massively fucked off, holding 4 fingers up and seeming to gesture for him to sit deep. Santon must be fucking rubbish in training like, Raylor has been one of the worst, if not the worst player in our last 3 games now. There is some right bile in here mind he's done an ok job filling in, won us points against the mackems and Everton and he's a good squad player. Someone saying they pretty much hate him

Don't think he was that bad against Chelsea. He's certainly far less effective when he has to sit deep, the tackle on Sturridge was clumsy as fuck mind. That said, he was only back there because Ryan Taylor was floundering about 60 yards out of position having a coffee break. He breaks up a lot of play, he really hounds midfielders, stays on his feet, challenges the opposition player, nicks the ball, leaves them on the floor. He did this about 3-4 times against Ramires. I think if he's not picking hollywood diagonal balls or hitting 25 yard screamers, people seem to think he's had a poor or quiet game, but he's always involved one way or the other. We did miss Tiote badly though, as many predicted, we struggled against their midfield 3.

This. I'm all for changing the tactics when it isn't working, but personally think Pardew got it wrong leaving Obertan on. He was diabolical and I can't actually remember anything good from him all game. He's only played well for us away from home, his passing, crossing and decision making are barely at Championship level. Lovenkrands also flattered to deceive, showed the odd glimpse, but he's not a winger and just disappeared for big large parts. I thought maybe AP was worried about HBA not offering R.Taylor any protection, but he didn't get sod all from Lovenkrands anyway. I love Pards, but this Ben Arfa can't/won't play out wide is bollocks. Not working playing him in the no.10 role ATM, still lacking sharpness and the team have no idea how to utilise him effectively.

Yeah pretty much! Too much like hard work for me on a Friday so I'm happy to agree to disagree and stop killing this thread!

Nowhere near Smith standards for me. He's actually a half decent finisher, scored a lot of goals in the championship, cost sod all, probably gets paid sod all and seems a likeable guy. Smith is the polar opposite. Didn't say that he was at Smith standard, just that he was starting to go the same way in terms of what he offers. The championship proved that he was a decent finished, however, of course we aren't in the championship anymore. He just isn't good enough to create those opportunities regularly in the premier league, particularly not against the top defenders. For me he is therefore a waste of a substitute. He seems a likeable guy, but then again so does Smith so it is a massive exaggeration to say that they are the polar opposite of each other. Playing devils advocate a bit here - if we are looking at the character of the player then wages are irrelevant - Smith cannot be blamed for the amount of money the club are paying him on. I accept that there are of course difference and that Lovenkrands has contributed far more to the club on the pitch than Smith. At this precise moment of time they are both burdensome, all be it that Smith is a more expensive burden. Lovenkrands is if you like the lesser of two evils. I didn't mean as a player, I meant my dislike of him as a player is nowhere near Smith standards. Worded it wrong, should have made that clearer! How is it a massive exaggeration? Smith is on massive wages, cost £6m, has had a handful of good games for us, never scored and seems like a bit of a nob. On what I have just mentioned, he is the opposite to Lovenkrands, fail to see the argument? But lets play devil's advocate for no particular reason. People are obviously going to pick up on the fee paid and wages, it's what fans do isn't it??? When you pay that kind of money and dish out some ridiculous 5 year deal, you want some returns on that. Seeing as we currently run a tight ship and have an owner that isn't keen on spending money, I think it's a valid point.

Nowhere near Smith standards for me. He's actually a half decent finisher, scored a lot of goals in the championship, cost sod all, probably gets paid sod all and seems a likeable guy. Smith is the polar opposite.

Spot on, With Shola and Best in the squad, there should be no room for Loverman.

Assuming he is fit as he has had ressie games i would rather him start at LW than Sammy tbh Really? He doesn't have much pace. I thought Sammy did OK against Man City? Why should pace be the only factor? Would rather someone with any sort of ability to pick a pass, cross a ball, strike a ball from distance etc than an extremely raw kid who at present pretty much only displays pace and a good attitude and workrate. Don't see him as a winger TBH, just cuts in all the time and doesn't look comfortable out there. Don't think Sammy is ideal, but would rather have him on the left.

Could have just had a setback? With Pardew saying it's 'nagging', could just be it's not quite healing as well as they thought it would? The logical explanation! If this was someone like Simpson or Best, I doubt many would be getting worked up over it. The fact it's one of our best, most valuable players is making everyone a bit paranoid and on edge. Have to say I am dreading the transfer window and I do think Tiote will be sold, either in Jan or in the summer. More importantly, as much as I think Guthrie's done really well, I think Cabaye plays far better with Cheik and doesn't sit as deep, he is far more effective higher up the pitch. Hope Tiote plays sooner rather than later. Could have done with him against Chelsea, think we're going to stuggle to keep hold of it against their midfield 3.

This.

Decent, will be recording that.

TBF to him, in his whole time with us, he has never once gone into his shell, feigned injuries or gone missing. Even when he was Comedy Coloccini in his first season, he would still keep plugging away and kept giving 100%. I don't think I have ever changed my opinion on one of our players, as much as I have done with this man. I remember me dad (who is an old school Arsenal fan BTW) saying he'd come good after going to Fulham away with him in the relegation season. Said he really rated him and he has obvious class and reads the game so well. I laughed at him how wrong I was!

Not true though, he's been in loads of the training pics this year, been on the bench a few times and even got on against Fulham!

Walters and Tevez do this, not a fan of this technique me self, I wouldn't dare try it! I'd end up skying it over or doing a Carroll and hitting the keepers legs.

Says who? He looks better going forward like, but shit defender?! Not sure what team I'd play, we'll probably just see Sammy in for Jonas and that will be the only change, expect Tiote to still be missing.

:lol: Was it Brazil? IF so it explains a lot, the hideous, clueless old cunt.

Some massive straw clutching there. I don't think the yellow had any impact on his game, just that he's obviously going to find it difficult to sustain a top level of performance for 90 minutes, pretty much a year out through injury and clearly still rusty. Plus the increasing amounts of long balls played and Man U improving as the game went on would have been a factor for him fading. 'Walking the line' as well, it's not like he's Cheik Tiote or Steven Taylor. I suppose he might have got done for diving, but he doesn't seem like a cheat, might be wrong mind. Whilst it was a bit OTT, I was quite pleased with his reaction, shows he gives a fuck and Rooney is a knuckle dragging wanker who knew he had done wrong straight away, he should be pulled up for it the dirty prick.

Ben Arfa assist to BA for the goal. But they still can't play together. Problem Ronaldo. Seriously though, I think they could form a very good partnership, HBA has set him up for two decent chances now, away from home against the two best teams in the league. Once we start getting more possession, they develop more of an understanding and HBA gets some sharpness back, I reckon they will do well together. I'm a big fan of Best, but we rely too heavily on punting it up to him. After this weekend, we should be looking to keep the ball down and get the likes of Cabaye and HBA into the game.