M1tche

would you not be tempted, with that team, to give ben arfa and remy more licence to roam, swaitching sides etc ? The bit about our maverick is about Ben Arfa so yes, I would like him to do that.

no, they just have toi be aware whats happening and be in a position to cover it if necessary. some players do it naturally, some can be coached, some will never be able to do it. IMO someone who has come from the Ajax system as a dm will know that for sure and I'm sure cabaye can be coached/told to do it. I've played a few games at dm in my 18 years of playing and was once told to cover either full back if they bomb on, no coaching just told and i do it. so someone getting paid thousands a week should be able to do the same. It's part of the dm role and part of your role as a midfielder in a central 3 with no wingers

With our current players it the best system I can see. as for cover for full backs, it's a coaching thing more than personnel. One of cabaye and Anita, need to be coached that when a full back goes one of them fill the gap. Mainly Anita, but if he's I'm an advanced position it's cabaye's job. Then again pardew does the coaching and is not the fluid with it. So much unfulfilled potential in our side, it's frustrating to watch us play poor football.

Why can not once just try 4-3-1-2 Debuchy Mbiwa Colo Santon Cabaye Anita Sissoko Ben Arfa Cisse. Remy/Gouffran I know people don't like hatem in there, but it can't be worse than what we play atm. Plus it's mainly square pegs in square holes. Gives our maverick a chance to roam wide, switch with a midfielder or switch with remy/Gouffran, teams would hate that.

We deserve to go if we lose this one, they're a shocking side. My only worry is remy

Start Hatem and I believe we'll win.

Would love a see a cisse hat trick before the hour so we can give campbell a good run out and start his years of scoring great goals for us.

ATTACK!!!!! love that line up, 2 full backs that can push on with tiote as cover. Let's get at them, was half expecting no Marv and jonas out wide

anyone defending that is an idiot and should never be involved in any kind of football. its a shocking attempt at a tackle. How he wasnt sent off if beyond me from one angle you can see the assistant has a clear view on it, knee high and at point of contact he's not got any control over his momentum, its more like a drop kick to the knee from a wrestling match. Awful!!!

think being sloppy could have come from not having cabaye in the middle, when you have a number of options its easier to pick a pass. Im not excusing it at all, but at times it was only tiote showing ahead of him and he just doesn't seem the type to pump it long aimlessly.

looked tired yesterday and needs a rest, my only issue with him is that he needs be make sure his pass makes it to the player, before making his run for the one two. Seen it a fair bit now he plays his pass makes his run and his pas doesn't make it, which could leave us open i think.

I did last sunday and my knee is f***ed. I've had trouble with my knees for ages and was the best it's been for years till that game and now I can only play once a week (sat afternoon on grass) or I would be in trouble with it big time. I'm a big fan of 4g (much better than the old astro) but when it's frozen you might as well play on concrete with thin carpet on top.

Read the last few pages, it pitch could have made it worse. I played on a pretty frozen 4g pitch a few months back and it's awful to play on and destroys any niggles you have, just because it's like running on concrete. Also not sure how relevant, but a mate of mine works as a groundsman for arsenal and they don't use any 4g pitches anymore (was never told why). They're going to dig them all up and replace with grass even indoor ones.

smiling at the computer screen like a loon since it went it, what a feeling!!!!!! Taylor and Mbiwa looked like a class pairing, apart from one crazy moment trying to play that short free kick from mbiwa.

Had £1 on 3-2 sissoko last scorer. Double winner love that.

Great chelsea rest ba so he's ready for sat great!!

i took out cisse this week, now lets all watch him return to scoring wonder goals for fun.

From watching that vid, I think he may be looked at as Hatem's understudy. Looks like he wants to make things happen and has great feet when on the ball. Agreed not the finished article, but well worth 4mil (if that's what's been quoted) just on potential.

Only place i've seen it is on sky sports website, they have us in the betting to sign him this window. I think that is it

Found on the sky sports website:- Reports in Italy are claiming that Newcastle United have made an offer in the region of €3million (£2.5m) for Nancy left-back Massadio Haidara. FIFA agent Oscar Damiani, who acts as an intermediary for Nancy, said: "It is likely that he will eventually go to England. The cost is still around €4-5m (£3-3.4m).

Dunno why, but I have this feeling as well There is more to come, his unveiling at QPR. Maybe so, must just be the optimist in me.

Dunno why, but I have this feeling as well

Does it even matter he's in morocco, didn't pardew say no one else in before Norwich? Also while he's there we can still get most of the deal done, agree fee, discuss with agent about the contract, then he flies straight to Newcastle to have a medical and sign. Well it's a nice day dream to have on the 1st Monday at work this year anyway!!

Snap I was meant to be viewing a house thinking we were on later as well, that's been now cancelled so i can watch. (Could be a mistake)

Need a win here big time,i reckon it'll be a decent mix put out, we've done well in the europa without a full strength side so we can do it here i think. Reckon sammy will be the hero tomorrow