Lush Vlad

Gouffran struggling. De Jong 'unlikely' to start. No word on Cisse. Shola to start then?!?!

If I was him I'd try to make some sort of argument that missing one game is enough. What and re-write the FA rule book?

Probably, but we all know it should be Hatem - De Jong - Remy. Shame Hatem never could grow into that ACM role for us. Him in front of Tiote and Sissoko would be class (on paper) I don't think he has it in him in the PL, myself. He needs space to run in to, he'll end up just running in to trouble more central imo. He'd be hounded out from minute 1. Right hand side, cutting in. That's where he needs to play for us every game. This is exactly it. i agree. I also agree. Plus playing Hatem in a midfield 3 behind 3 strikers, would be like playing FIFA 98 back in the day and going 4-2-4.

"I'm pleased we've managed to sign Luke Young from QPR. He's a great fullback."

Was talking about the bottom one just the other day. Great point. If it's a pass or a heavy touch, usually because the player is anticipating the challenge. It's always a foul. If you've had a shot 'no sorry, you had your chance and fucked it. Goal kick.'

Ehm, Stoke under Pulis? Yeah I may have forgot about them and overexagerated slightly. It was annoying either way. Grey area to me. If the pass is played and both players are running for the ball. How does the defensive player have possession? You'll often see the defender step across, obviously without talking a touch and then just cut off any attempt by the attacking player to reach the ball. You're obstructing the player from reaching the ball and you have no intention of playing it. If you're stood in the middle of the park and you actually have possession, holding a player off Tiote style. Then it's totally different surely?

How much time is wasted over throw ins and stoppages in play in general. This was something I noticed last night. I have never seen a team take so long to throw the fucking ball man. They didn't seem to have any ball boys. Potter over to the touch line, pick the ball up, look about for a bit, steal about 10 yards, then throw it. This went on all game. I'd be surprised if the ball was in play for more than about 20 minutes a half. Elaborating on the above. But players taking the throw about 5-10 yards away from where it went out. It rarely gets pulled up on and makes a big difference if you're on the front foot trying to box a team in. Again, regarding my first point. You'll often see someone down injured and getting treatment for at least a couple of minutes. 3-4 subs. The ref deciding he's going to give players a 1 minute lecture for a foul. All the fucking about when the ball goes out of play or there is a set piece. "There will be an additional 3 minutes of added time" Obstruction. Why are players allowed to shield the ball and block a player off when it's going off for a goal kick? If you did that anywhere else on the pitch. I'm pretty sure you'd get pinged for it.

He might actually get 20 minutes off the bench tonight. Get in.

Did you not hear the "Great ball Mike" from Pardew after one of his many aimless hoofs up to Shola

Still livid I didn't go to Bruges or Bordeaux. Away games in the Championship is one the best things I've ever done. I'd imagine Europe adds another dimension. Spoke to a Bordeaux fan the other day, Swede who's moved down there. Said our fans looked to enjoy ourselves more than any other team that's come there despite losing 3-0. Also said Gouffran was progressing well when we took him and is the most honest player you'll find and that Obertan should not play professionally. They were shocked when Manchester Utd came for him. Lost 2-0 didn't we? Sorry to be a pedant Brugge fans said similar though. They said when Birmingham was there. There was quite a bit of damage to property and cars etc and a bit of bother. Don't get me wrong, I saw some fans being right twats on the walk. But most the Brugge fans I spoke to seemed to say the majority of us were friendly and liked to enjoy ourselves. They couldn't believe how much our fans drunk

Ah the memories. The little courtyard with the 3 bars together and the massive skyscraper of plastic pint glasses

This post is hilarious and depressing in equal measure

Should start Saturday. Which means he won't. Or if he does, hell be at left back or right wing.

Only see the second half and ET. But I thought he was very good again. What he lacks in pace, he makes up for in fitness. Constantly up and down the flank and loves to get stuck in. His keenness sometimes gets him in trouble. But I'd rather him try to cut things out and intercept passes, as oppose to standing off like most of our defenders.

Agree with this. After last season, despite all of his excuses. It seems to me like he'll be able to get away with almost anything except relegation. Perhaps if we're in the bottom 3 with 10-15 games left Ashley might roll the dice and hope for an instant change in fortune mackems style. But he might be wary of that after attempting it with Shearer. Is it wrong that at his moment in time, I would genuinely rather have Kinnear as manager over Pardew? That's how sick of him I am.

Eh? What's that got to do with the price of fish? No he hasn't been terrific for them. Ba has been played out of form and used sparingly. He went there for money and to win things and he's no longer the main man. What's your point here. Try to stay on topic please.

Well Kid Icarus' meltdown has cheered me up slightly For the record, I tend to agree with him. Every thread seems to have plenty of posters claiming a player is shit, or inconsistent. Yet we have seen a lot of said players perform well elsewhere, for their country and when they first signed. Oops it's that theme again.

Strange that all of our players are inconsistent. Apart from the ones that are just consistently shit. Have these players always been like this? There's a theme here somewhere...

Well I hope this fucking 'false 9' experiment is now over. Just like his constant change of tactics and formations. It was a typical Pardew knee jerk dropping him and then shifting him into the middle. We don't play the right way for it to work and I'm not sure I want to see him with his back to goal, getting swamped by 4 players every time he gets the ball. Another player to add to the 'He's shit, inconsistent and overrated' list? Or is that the 'You've been Pardew'd' list?

Anita getting games ahead of him and then getting the armband seems to have worked wonders. He still dwells on the ball too much. But he was almost like the Cheik of a few years back that we grew to love and appreciate. Hopefully he can continue, as we're going to need players like him this season. We look so disjointed on the pitch and we'll need all the battlers we can get to pull through.

Even without the goal. He was our MOTM behind Tiote. Although they were probably the only two players that deserve credit TBH, so that's not saying a lot. I like him and I'm glad he's hit a little bit of form the last 2-3 games.

I thought he was pretty crap myself. Seemed slower than I remember, didn't look great in the air, albeit against Distin and challenging for pointless long balls. Seemed lazy and uninterested as well and his touch was off. Still managed to score and be one of our better players mind Fuck we're bad.

Played well. Showed pace and the odd bit of skill. Was unlucky not to score. Should be starting ahead of Cisse from now on and I'd rather see him through the middle than Remy.

Krul Debuchy - MYM - Colo - Santon Anita - Sissoko Ben Arfa - Marveaux - Gouffran Cisse No way we'll play those 3 behind Cisse though and it probably wouldn't work with our tactics anyway. Fully expect 4-4-2 with Strolla starting.

Liked how fired up he was. Celebrated both goals, was always talking to the ref and he was first in to calm Angry Shola down. Also clapped the fans at the end. Sounds like nothing, but I've often seen him looking disinterested during breaks in play, ignore celebrations and just stroll off the pitch after the game. Even when we've won and all.