Christmas Tree

I think to be a little bit kind to Pardew you could say. Pre season was one big shit fan what with Pitch invasions Barton and Cabaye visa problems Losing Tiote Ben Arfas injury Bartons tweeting Leeds dressing room bust up No number 9 signed Nolan, Enrique and Barton sold Off the top of my head :-)

I must confess if I was a Stoke fan and supported a team whose sole purpose past the halfway line was to win throw ins I would take up fishing.

Whenever we've come across strong wingers down the right Jonas has backed up Ryan Taylor - against lesser teams he can get a few runs off as well - why has it taken you this long to figure out? Stoke always go down the wings to hunt for set pieces and Pennant versus a Taylor with no support would be suicide. Couldn't you figure this out, were you pissed or something? First of all he was obviously asked to a job last night and did it well. Moving on, there's a balance to be drawn between providing cover and still posing a threat. We are not asking Obertan to forgo attack to defend so why Jonas. The obvious answer is Taylors out of position. If so and we dont trust Taylor to defend, there is an argument to be had for dropping him and getting Santon in so that Jonas can go back to attacking. Of course this is all immaterial whilst its working however it will be interesting to see what happens in the coming weeks. It just goes against the grain for me to have the winger so tied into defence and not attacking hence my frustration with him last night (and yes after many beers). You could take another view and say having Marveaux racing down the left and attacking would have them worrying about us rather than the other way around. Lots of opinions and different ways of doing it however as mentioned its working so far and Im sure Pardew will quickly intervene if it stops working.

Just watched it again and have to say it was a truly magnificent team performance. The way we hounded them when not in possession was brilliant and I love the fact Pardew is so involved in the game. I will gorge on some humble pie and say Jonas was indeed class in the position he was asked to play. I would still prefer attacks down the left but I guess he was given a job last night and did it superbly. Happy days.

Yup

Listen man, we are 10 games into the season with a hard winter, ACN and the FA cup to come. We need a squad! Do you not think HBA, Marvaeux and Santon will all realise that they cant expect to walk straight into the team at the moment? You are acting as if our unbeaten run will last all season. It wont. In the near future we are going to have some tough games and he and the others will get their chance. Not to mention injuries! Its a long old season. Jesus, loaning him out. People are f***ed up. Totally missing the point that we are talking about Ben Arfas temperament and what HE may choose to do. I and I'm sure HTT would love him to be part of the squad for years to come. But my point being, he is going to get games sooner rather than later as I explained - Injuries, ACN, FA Cup, another 3/4 of a season to go. So why would choose to go anywhere else? I guess the possible scenario being aired is that we don't have injuries before Christmas and he throws his toys out of the pram ( previous). What I have picked up from reading some of the French posters on here is that it's make or break time for HBA with regard to his own career and his national career. I would guess this will all be eating away at him as he sits out games. I'm sure we will al be patient but more importantly will he.

Listen man, we are 10 games into the season with a hard winter, ACN and the FA cup to come. We need a squad! Do you not think HBA, Marvaeux and Santon will all realise that they cant expect to walk straight into the team at the moment? You are acting as if our unbeaten run will last all season. It wont. In the near future we are going to have some tough games and he and the others will get their chance. Not to mention injuries! Its a long old season. Jesus, loaning him out. People are fucked up. Totally missing the point that we are talking about Ben Arfas temperament and what HE may choose to do. I and I'm sure HTT would love him to be part of the squad for years to come.

Listen, I was just sticking up for this HTT fella who seems to talk a bit of sense to me. If Ben Arfa hasn't broken the first 11 by January it's very possible that he won't be a happy chappy. As he played up to get here, why is it so bizarre that he might do the same to move on? Seemed a very straightforward point to me???

Read or heard S Taylor quotes today saying how involved in defensive training Pardew is and that he's a perfectionist and constantly on Taylors case.

Funny how people find the loan thing so funny bearing in mind it's how we got him a year ago! :-)

Excellent post tbf

All action battler whose work rate will catch up with him every now and then. Also still a learning year for him and also playing with a new partner.

Surely the fact an intentional break follows the match is more a reason to play him rather than rest him? I meant if he wasn't quite 100%

Deary me. You don't have to look further than the last page. From HTT - "I personally don't think it will ever quite happen for Ben Arfa at Newcastle. " Its only one view, which in fairness is pretty well argued, and doesn't equate to loads of people writing him off. Being the player he was / is, he is obviously going to get debated but that doesnt always have to meet with the "Blasphemer" war cry. Its probably fair to say that performances on the pitch (where it matters) have shifted a lot of peoples perspectives on HBA. Where it once was being a matter of time before he claimed what was rightfully his, people are now looking at injuries to others as a route back in. This will of course, given his past, lead to discussions about whether he is happy to warm the bench. Time will tell. This is what maddens me about the reserves (not just for HBA) as when the moment comes for any of the squad to step up, I want them to be as close to A1 as possible. I think most seem agreed that neither Best or Ba deserve to be dropped yet so his chance could be some time coming.

I somehow keep missing these posts where HBA is written off. Seems to be loads complaining about him being written off yet none actually writing him off. Bizarre really :-)

Not in the reserves squad today , worrying. Not a worry but a shame. I cant see why any fan would have a problem with him continuing his road to full fitness in the reserves, particularly if first team match time is going to be hard to come by like last night. I really dont understand it Is Marveaux there? No idea or unsure of the relevance? I didn't bring the reserves up today! I accept Pardew must have his reasons but still don't get why some fans appear to think HBA getting match fit in the reserves is a bad idea.

That was really funny and a nice touch by the ref. (who looked like a young Jasper Carrot).

Not in the reserves squad today , worrying. Not a worry but a shame. I cant see why any fan would have a problem with him continuing his road to full fitness in the reserves, particularly if first team match time is going to be hard to come by like last night. I really dont understand it

Becoming a bit of an attention seeking stalker yourself.

Going to be interesting to see how this lads career plays out over the coming months. Its going to be very tough for him to get back in by the way we are playing and new arrivals in January will only add to the selection choices. Ba's scoring and Best is creating and holding play up well. Strange old game.

Very impressed with how well he holds the ball up.

Quickly in the great scheme of things. When you think of the complete turnaround at the club since relegation....That takes some doing. Have a look at Boro on any other recent big departures from the prem. I think most fans are not only pinching themselves at the start, but also at how damn good the club feels again throughout. Long may it continue.

That's Ba in the spotlight, losing his religion very good

Cant remember him doing the ground kiss after the goals last night?

You said that he was 'absolutely' the right man for the job. Not the 'best of what is available'. Not a 'pretty good choice, all things considered'. Not even a 'overall good choice' for the job. Two of us have tried to explain it to you He is absolutely the right man for the job but that doesnt mean any of us, even you , will agree with every decision he makes. Cant really put it any simpler. So in your opinion he's absolutely the right man for the job but makes wrong decisions regarding Jonas and ben Arfa on a weekly basis? Or, he's the right man for the job because he's a good manager and your criticism of Jonas and ben Arfa is down to you being an attention seeking bore? Yawn