Smal

Other than his goal Mata was really quiet. Santon did a good job.

It could have gone anywhere? By that logic no goal is good.

What?

Good. He's been very poor this season.

Knowing him he'd still have a shot

yeah, it's amazing that Anita hasn't been used in the same role that he played for Ajax yet. We must've bought him because of the way he was playing there. He's one of the ones that Pardew went over to watch as well, isn't he?

Ahead of Perch? I'm pretty sure nearly everyone would. Ahead of Marveaux and Anita, not most of the time, no imo. You'd play Marveaux in DM? No?

He turned up to training late and pissed on Friday. edit: fuck, missed the joke

Banega hasn't turned up hammered then?

Ahead of Perch? I'm pretty sure nearly everyone would. Ahead of Marveaux and Anita, not most of the time, no imo.

Tioté's best form for the club came in a 4-4-2 playing alongside Kevin Nolan, no less. Cabaye has essentially been playing as a DM in the last two games and he's made as many tackles per game as Tioté this season (stats, yay). I think he's pretty adequate doing the majority of the defensive work (alongside someone else) in a lot of games. That's the thing. Give me Tiote's 20 best games for the club and 15 of them came when Nolan was alongside him getting forward and he was there covering the exposed defence. I'm a tad biased because I've always believed strongly in midfielders that can win the ball, keep it and get forward, with the odd exception. The thing that annoys me most is that back then under Hughton where Tioté was playing alongside Nolan he still kept everything as simple as possible. Win the ball, pass it to a teammate. He was excellent and that's why he was linked to other clubs. Under Pardew when Tioté has been playing alongside a less creative player in a two he's clearly been instructed to be the creative player. It's bonkers.

Tioté's best form for the club came in a 4-4-2 playing alongside Kevin Nolan, no less. Cabaye has essentially been playing as a DM in the last two games and he's made as many tackles per game as Tioté this season (stats, yay). I think he's pretty adequate doing the majority of the defensive work (alongside someone else) in a lot of games.

Southampton probably not the best example. He's been really, really poor this season and for a fair bit before then too. I'm not overly eager to see him back in the team ahead of people like Anita and Marveaux who have played well this season. It has not only been him, but the entire team, has been poor for long stints this season. He should no doubt be in the team. Tioté has been poor for much longer than just this season though, unlike the majority of the rest of the team.

Southampton probably not the best example. He's been really, really poor this season and for a fair bit before then too. I'm not overly eager to see him back in the team ahead of people like Anita and Marveaux who have played well this season.

KILLER EARS

He can cover more positions than Debuchy as well. He's the more sensible option for sure.

I don't find it surprising, Anita is a better player and gets stuck in when he needs to. Perch is considered as a 'tackler' though, isn't he? Perch has made more interceptions per game than Anita, so it's swings and roundabouts as far as stats go.

Anita has made more tackles per game than Perch this season btw, which I found surprising.

the 'wish you were dead' and 'we meant what we said' stuff is a fucking abhorrent, like.

They were always ridiculous. At least Cissé always attempts to get involved in build up. Darren Bent just goes missing for the whole game unless he's scoring.

Webb gave him a yellow card for it didn't he? Doesn't that mean they can't punish him further?

dead mongy is tollemache.

Cissé, Sissoko, Gouffran and HBA is a near perfect counter attacking quartet

Fucking brilliant this lad.

Cissé's movement's been great. Just his finishing missing atm.