Tiresias

I guess it's dawned on him Real Madrid are not going to swoop in for him

Yeah not sure what he's doing. Maybe just get 10 mins at end of games to goal hang, possibly still a good enough finisher to poach some at the death?

Guthrie looked good, only trouble (not enough not to play him alongside him) is that he's probably a bit of a similar player to Cabaye, not enough of a destroyer. When they played alongside each other Cabaye dropped deeper and did more of the Tiote role iirc, which he's not as good at (though is pretty dilligent, can never fault his work rate) I'd like to see Abeid given a chance. Vuckic needs to be played behind a striker or not at all probably.

If it goes through pundits will be blithering about how smart a signing it is cos he scores fair amount (do rate him as a poacher) etc etc and look over they've spent a load of money for an overrated english player (again) when had they spent some time doing homework they wouldn't need to spend so much money. Is this the same owners who are famous for being smart with statistics in baseball? Seems couldn't be more different here. Unless it's bollocks.

If that is true, how unimaginative is Liverpool's scouting network?

We don't do buyout clauses I'm fairly sure. If there is, get him to sign a new contract and like Colo offer him all the money we have. (well obviously have to go halfsies with Colo). Agreed though someone stirring trouble

God I love Newcastle, look like total shit against Liverpool then go and thrash Man United. Never ever boring

hadn't noticed that...read some good stuff from him, but also heard him get in a silly debate about something else. Maybe should rely on other sources.

Arsenal I suspect are hoping to wait on fair play rules coming in for doing a batch of big business which will drop prices a lot amoung big players, and a lot of clubs needing to sell to make fair play. I reckon clubs like Arsenal who will pass the rules may well get a windfall of players that season.

He didn't do much yesterday but did work hard and kept the ball when asked, saw a few tackles. Actually think he should play vs blackburn to build his confidence back, should maybe have rested him a bit back but rather not disrupt a player after an improved performance.

Just saw that in a Louise Taylor article which I think goes most the way to explaining why HBA hasn't seen much action. While I'd like to see HBA on the right, clearly Pardew doesn't at all, and essentially Ba is playing in HBA's place, and obviously shouldn't displace him and I can see why, you want a holding player with HBA, think Ba needs that much less but also likes dropping back. Can't understand why he's not on the right, but Pardew sees players in 1 position (exception made for Santon and Raylor seems) and will not budge from that.

I hope we're now giving the whole team this strawberry syrup

I think the hope is not so much Best becomes prolific is that he can hold play up and feed Ben Arfa to become prolific. A lot to ask for him to suddenly find scoring form, and doubt he will suddenly come in and score loads, but will help. Cabaye needs to make sure he gets near the box and gets shots away, he's got more goals in him. Our problem is largely lack of goals from wings.

Phillipe Auclair on Guardian's football weekly saying in france everyone is surprised how successful he's been, apparently they thought he was good but not as good as he's been here and that he wouldn't settle in so quickly. If that's the opinion in france can't hurt his international standings, as I imagine would have been his main worry.

If he's fit less paniced about Tiote going.

was earlier suggesting we play more first teamers but actually considering the effort put in to the wednesday performance, some probably need a rest.

I'd be panicing more but seen very few creditable sources of interest in signing him, which makes me think he may have told his agent not interested in a move and people shouldn't bother.

Football Weekly on the guardian singing Ba what did he sign for, absolutely nothing, calling sammy's tweet one of the best tweets ever by a footballer Heap praise on Ba about his work ethic that he learned playing lower leagues they say.

We didn't play delicate passing game but nor did we play 'awful' football, didn't sit back, scythe down them coming into the area and then hoofed it long ASAP (though did get a goal that way ), we were diligant defending (we didn't get first yellow till late on which is telling imo) pressed high up the pitch and were fast and direct. Cabaye didn't do too much passing but did the right ones, and dictated pace of game for much of it.

Sorry I guess. It is a bit early to assume he's brilliant, but has looked the part.

If he finishes this year uninjured I guess we'd offer him an extension fingers crossed

We got the right mix for this game, against Liverpool we got it all wrong with aimless hoofts and completely bypassing our midfield, this game we held the ball very well in every part of the pitch and terrorised their defence with early balls up and we harried them all over the pitch. Pardew has to get credit for firing our team up to play like that they were all as intense as I'd ever seen them

Aye it's early days, but the difference down the flank from against Liverpool was remarkable, lets hope he can do that every game

oh come on thats a bit ott, he'll just grow up with with an empty feeling, all those hollow soulless victories

Yeah I agree it was the plan, and we should be able to do it more in every game, though realise need a very fit squad. We can play better more patient footy against poorer team, because a team can put everyone behind the ball and shrug off the hoofs to the big men, but we should always be working like that to get possession back.