Lush Vlad

Did he not get booked last night? He must have committed 7 or 8 fouls! All his hard work and a lot of tidy passes, completely undone by losing it 3 or 4 times 25 yards from our own goal. Teams have wised up to that suicidal turn he always tries. Good physical attributes, but he lacks a brain.

It's such a shame. I really rate him and thought he'd be ideal in that midfield. Cabaye pushing a bit further forward, Tiote in his usual slugger role and Anita just passing and moving, sat in front of the back 4. He went missing and there were always gaps to exploit. Whilst I saw Tiote (often through his own doing granted) and Cabaye tearing up the turf to get back. Anita was often nowhere to be seen.

I really rate him and thought he was decent earlier in the season. Not sure if he's lost form and confidence, but he was dire in the games against Anji. He was invisible last night, bar his reckless challenge that possibly could have been a red. Too often, the game just seems to pass him by. Even with Tiote in his poor current form, I don't see how Anita could replace him. Doesn't get stuck in, doesn't impose himself and he doesn't get on the ball enough. Maybe Pards is misusing him, I'm not sure. I'd rather see Jonas in the middle, or Sissoko deeper, with Marv as the attacking midfielder. Jonas impressed in the middle and he looked good there last season.

I'd forgotten how compotent he was in the middle. Looked good there a few times last season. Assuming Cabaye is out, not sure whether I'd rather see Sissoko drop deeper, or for Jonas to play in the middle? Think both would be a better option than Anita. I was really disappointed with him last night.

Yeah, very similar to the words "Only God Can Judge Me" not the actual tattoo itself #pedant

The fact that you can even read what it says is also pretty alarming. I can't really. Although I do have better than 20/20 vision But it looks very similar to the old 2Pac "Only God Can Judge Me" tattoo.

Not sure what's worse. That tat, or the fact I know someone who isn't religious, with the same tat

Fair point Icke. Is he doing the same this time then? He's changed his mind on a regular basis since he's returned from France. Lots of proposed comeback dates, he's looking fit, to he's not looking fit, he needs match sharpness etc etc. I'm sure he kept changing the return date for him to just start training on a weekly basis as well! He's too positive for his own good

Sounds a lot more promising, but all too familiar. I'm sure we kept getting proposed return dates after the leg break and again this time around. Only for the dates to pass Hatemless. Fingers crossed it is just a 'slight strain'.

Well getting a specialist in doesn't exactly bode well does it? Surprised if we see him back fully fit this season. Considering we decided against an op. You have to wonder why we didn't consult or bring in a 'specialist' in the first place? Also pissed off with all the duff info we keep getting off AP. Keep getting my hopes up for fuck all. I long for the good ol days of Chris Hughton denying things that are common knowledge

So we let it heal for 3 months, decided against surgery and now we're getting a specialist in to get to the bottom of the problem? Top effort.

Should have done more to get an away goal. Far too keen to shut up shop early on. Perchy MOTM by a mile I thought. Whole back 5 were awesome.

Gonna be mint in the summer when we don't sign a CB and are back to square 1. Exactly. The injury prone Taylor completing half a season and Williamson floundering about like a carp on the river bank. FFS.

Fuck sake. Brings Williamson a step closer to the team and Taylor seems incapable of staying fit. It was also a rare treat to have 3 quality centre backs vying for a start and if we progress in Europe, it's going to take its with MYM and Taylor playing every game. 3-7 weeks, he's homesick and he's gone back to Argentina.... Something tells me it's going to be nearer the 7 mark

Chants being used by other clubs shocker! You could say that about every football club FFS. Sorry we're not all spectacular wordsmiths old bean.

Fucking joke that he is saying he's disappointed with his fitness. Was saying just the other week he returned from France in terrific condition and even thanked them for the work they've done. Saying he was just lacking sharpness and match fitness. Now, he's saying he's not fit and making it sound like he's 2 weeks away. Why is there a setback every week with Hatem? I swear there is more than meets the eye with this. Stop getting our hopes up Pardew

Quality pics there Paully, you lucky fucker! Avram

Really? He's played well in the Europa and League Cup and Harper has been terrible for a season or two now. I was nervous about how he'd do in the league, but glad he got the nod over Harper. Who I later found out was injured any way.

Straight down the tunnel and was supposedly ill and feeling dizzy. I can explain that

Not seen him live for a while. I forgot how well he attacks the ball in the air. Won a lot against Lambert and really throws himself at set pieces in both boxes. Bit slow to react on the first, but it was a runner from midfield and I don't really blame him for the second. Just a quality ball after Tiote and Santon let Lallana waltz in down our left and a quality run and finish from Lambert.

I thought he wasn't as good as his previous games and he drifted in and out of the game. But as others have said his pace, movement and workrate are all top drawer. Refreshing to see him go to goal for the first as well. We're used to seeing Obertan run very fast into a blind alley and Jonas constantly cut back on himself. The stepovers were great to see and all. Pace and skill

Sliced a few kicks in the first half granted, but I thought his kicking was decent on the whole. Seemed to drill a fair few flat out of hand and got quite a bit of distance from the ground in the second half. Seemed to actually aim for someone and it was a big improvement on Krul's distribution. The throw was outrageous. Reminded me of Gomes.

He's back..... Started off charging about too much I thought and he was at fault for the second. He saw the threat developing and chose not to get across to cover. DM's should be clever enough and mobile enough to cover the flanks when it's needed. We really need him to be doing this effectively in that formation, especially when you consider how attacking our full backs are. Perhaps he needs to stay in position a bit more and he still gives fans a heart attack when he's on the ball But at the same time, I was impressed by how much ground he covered. He looked a yard quicker and seemed fitter for some reason. Put in some superb tackles and blocks and was much improved in general. Hopefully he carries on improving, as he's still short of his best.

Has ridiculously good feet for a big fella. The amount of times he has it wide on the touchline, with 2 or 3 players around him and he somehow keeps it in play and comes out the other side is unreal. Down the right flank in the second half when he just brushed that bloke off and left him on the floor. Looked like an adult playing against a kid in 5 a side

Not sure about that. It was Pardew's stock response last season as well. QPR and Everton at home are two examples that stand out in my mind. Rarely look to counter, plonk everyone behind the ball, hoof it straight back to the oppo and face wave after wave of attacks. It's scary as hell to watch Taking a lead too early seems to almost be a hinderance with AP. I don't think he'll ever change his ways on this either. But at least with the better players and the extra pace in our side, we might accidentally create some decent counter attacking oppourtunities. I felt if Metalist had a goalscorer in the side, they would have got at least a goal last night. It was evident in the first leg as well. Good, well drilled, technical side. Useless in the final third. This approach is going to be suicidal against a better attacking side.