Lush Vlad

Probably already been mentioned, but Gervinho also dived and got a free kick in the first half. Raylor never touched him, right in front of the lineo as well.

I'm normally his biggest fan, but thought he was pretty s**** Saturday. His set pieces were terrible as well.

I agree completely, Shola worked his socks off in the first half whereas Ba just seemed to jog ebverywhere, even the challenges for 50/50 balls. I was really unimpressed by him, which is probably what Pards thought aswell subbing him after 45 mins.... On the flip side he didn't get any service from the midfield, was this due to his slow movement or our crappy midfielders??? I'm sorry, what?

Absolutely convinced he'll get 10 goals in the league at a bare minimum. If he plays the majority of our games and doesn't miss too many because of the ACN, then I would say he'll get 10-15 goals.

He's a left winger according to Chris Waddle. Mind you, waddle thought Arsenal should have had a pelenty so i wouldn't pay much attention to him. I thought ESPN had Craig Burley on? I wasn't that pissed was I?!

Pardew in the Sun... I took Demba off because we werent holding the ball up enough. We couldnt get enough assets from him, he said. For tactical reasons I brought on Gabby...." Did he mean Shola wasn't holding the ball up or Ba? I don't know that much about Ba but I never figured him as a forward whose asset was holding the ball up, at least not when the ball is being launched at him through the air.

This. Personally didn't think he looked as bad as most are making out. Few times he made some clever runs and we seemed to hold onto the ball for too long. Shola was a disgrace as per usual so hardly helped Ba and in the first half we were worse than shite. Against Arsenal in a game of few chances he did alright ish. I thought he was better on the ball than Shola (not much of an achievement granted) and think he'll come good. Going to find out in the next 5-10 games I guess.

This is a good point. Still got Marveaux, Obertan, HBA and hopefully a new striker to come in and get some minutes. Hopefully inject a bit of pace and movement.

We bypassed the midfield too often, we had Shola up top, we were playing Arsenal, first game with Cheik and it was his first game in the premier league. All that considered, he still looked half decent to me. Get Tiote sitting deep and look to get Cabaye on the ball a lot more further up the pitch, against teams outside the top 4 he's going to be a very effective player IMO. Still put a shift in to be fair.

Why? Being injured when the season starts is not optimal like. Not up to speed doesn't mean you are injured. Unless he has been confirmed as injured and i have missed it?

Tempted to get Cabaye, but don't think I will tempt fate. Asprilla 11 for me I reckon, wouldn't bother getting a number but it looks shite without one. Getting Best on the away, part of a deal as my mate is getting Sammy

Was thinking it will be more lke that. Would start Gosling and Barton on the right though. Can't see us going 4-2-3-1 and throwing Vuckic in. Think we should though if Marveaux isn't 'up to speed'.

Sounds like Marveaux won't be starting. Pardew again saying he's off the pace because of his injury last season, sounds like Obertan might start. I would like us to play 4-2-3-1/4-5-1 and pack the midfield, but think we will play 4-4-2 with shola up top.

HP?

Never got a run of games with the goons, due to the quality of their side. If he is playing most weeks, I can see him being far more consistent. Would like him here for sure.

Hope that's true, could do with him against Arsenal and for the next season or two!

Walcott hasn't played at all in the last 3 weeks, don't know if he's back in training or not, but at the time of his injury it was reported he'd miss the first 2 or 3 games. Even with a weakend team, I'd still take a point. Got quite a few new players in the squad, this new style of play and no left back.

Don't know whether to laugh or cry at how inept our club is with transfers, fuck sake.

6 weeks from today is 22nd September, highly doubt we'll see him before October. Oh and the QPR game is Monday 12th Sept, then we have Villa away on 17th. Can't see him back in training for these.

Confusing that? So 1 or 2 before arsenal and then maybe another couple before makems but then says 1 or 2 before window shuts, so was that ment to say 2-4 before the window shuts? Errr think it was a pisstake mate. AP changes his tune pretty regularly.

Need to be registered by midday tomorrow I think. Not a chance.

AP has previous though, he mislead us on Carroll's injury before he left and did this exact same thing with HBA last season. Why not come out and say it how it is, or do a Hughton and use the cautious approach, would get a lot more respect if he did IMO. I've never known a manager to move the goalposts as much as Pardew

Aye. It's like the whole saga last season, when AP kept saying he'll be back, then putting the date back and then he's suffered a setback etc, only for him not to play again. The man talks shite, shame he's such a bullshitter, I quite like him for some reason, must be his lovely smile.

That's good then, only up to four games with no left back and an average strike force.