Tiresias

I heard that and it was said in a light hearted manner entirely, think you're reading too much into it. Johnathan Wilson's Inverting the Pyramid book is pretty good

seconded

I won't see liverpool mate who was depressed over Dagliesh already for 2 weeks, I bet he'll be suicidal...

Absolutely need some action, they're making football a much much uglier place, the Premier league has done so well to combat Racism, though probably too optimistic to think it had ever gone. Not sure about a points reduction, severe fines at least though.

If it wasn't for the H Vuckic's looks like a childs XD, Lovenkrands is just a spiral...

Can't these things normally be managed with changing how they train etc and just draining the fluid buildups on a game by game basis (ledley king style), not great of course and worrying, but wonder if we're training him normally and by the time he gets to a game it's becoming a problem. Hopefully will last a game soon...

3 at the back in a 3-4-2-1 would accomdate Ben Arfa and Vuckic behind Ba centrally, but we don't have 3 centrebacks I trust. Think Santon and Jonas could both be wingbacks though. Also 3 at the back is possibly a gamble, don't really want to try too experimental formations, generally 3 at the back requires a side full of pace, and we can be slow atm.

oh ffs, sometimes not changing things is as much a paniced reaction as changing them. Stem the bleeding already.

To be fair we were able to break them down, we did get 2 goals, with Ba in the team scoring isn't a problem it's the defending the break and just giving away possession. Vuckic isn't a central midfielder, he's Ben Arfa like in the lack of work rate and defensive stuff but class going forward, with Tiote having a shocker he was made to look bad, reckon if Tiote had been his normal self he'd have probably done even more. Had a quality pass in him.

Should be a red card, even if harsh imo, should be left to groundstaff, players getting in fights with supporters can aggravate things. Yes there's defending oneself, but looks like the player got into a proper fight. Ref totally mishandled it, he needed to wait for all the furore to die down and the brawls to be broken up. Still a red by letter of law imo though.

I wonder if Simpson is the real reason Pardew is unwilling to play Ben Arfa on the wing? If we had full backs who would supply width and also defend suspect Pardew might be willing to narrow the midfield and allow Ben Arfa out wide.

Possibly worst game I've seen for him for a bit, just terrible decision making, was the worst offender for the long ball, and they got so much love down his side.

I don't mind the high line on it's own (though not against a team with pacey attackers) it's that and the hoofing. It's a bizarre combination, I think we should be pushing, but that also involves pressing and a passing game, not giving it away so much.

Ben Arfa has played so much less and yet does more. I appreciate shots on target aren't the be all and end all (I am a jonas fan when he's in form) but wow.

That's actually the only plausible explanation

I had some patience with him, but this was last straw. Needs to be ditched.

We had little spells of good play, after our first goal, until their second, and in second half after our second goal until their third. We seem to be desperate when behind, but play reasonable when level, odd game, think almost all the goals including ours were against the run of play, though since they played on the counter that's less surprising for them.

After today's disappointment At least we're not liverpool, only thing cheering me up now

It's just such a nonsense. Not expecting him to play a wide player and hoof lots of crosses in, would expect him to collect ball on right and beat their left back cutting into the box. Saw that ball properly on MOTD, he does those lovely little assists. Needs to start.

true :'(

Bleh, hopefully we'll never have so many shit performances by players in the same match again.

He's claiming the team was doing that not him, but he was clearly encouraging it, especially with that set up.

Pardew looked really upset. Maybe knows he's to blame.

Aye, Vuckic was out of position and doing the offensive side fine but not the defensive, especially with Tiote not on form. Hopefully he'll be well rested for Bolton

Becoming funny how tragic that is. Comedy = Tragedy + Time