Tiresias

I hope so but when Pardew said he saw Ba as a no 10 kind of clicked for me why HBA doesn't get much of a look in. Think they should do very well together though

If Ben Arfa gets a run of games without Ba and does very well it's going to be very interesting what Pardew does when Ba returns. He can't keep Ba out the team, will he try HBA alongside Ba both as no 10s or will he slide him out right. The comparison of 2 players operating deep as a strike force was barca in el classico earlier, with Messi in the classic no 10 position (not his usual false no 9 if that's even a thing) an Sanchez sort of operating ahead but coming in from wide right. It's a system that I dunno if works especially brilliantly, obviously barca don't need to worry too much about sanchez and Messi doing whatever as likely they'll get goals, but think Ba would do hold up play fine, just couldn't rely on them being high up pitch for any long balls.

here's the full statement "we don't have to sell any players...but we do very much enjoy annoying our fans"

Need to keep Guthrie, looked like ideal backup for Cabaye from his games earlier. I will agree on Raylor, but hopefully never again rely on him for so much. I am a big fan of utility players, think every club needs a few who can change position.

It's that kind of class and speed that got Ashley enough money to buy us

because this is newcastle, we know how to shoot ourselves in the foot

oh ffs

Been told he couldn't attend a wedding in his onesie?

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.