Tiresias

There's a difference between having a few criticisms of a manager and calling for his head...the trouble is not sure Ashley understands that... Overall he's been great, got a few niggles, I don't think there's a manager alive without some problems one could pick with their tactics etc.

I don't think I've said it outloud enough for it to sink in lol

Bleh why must we rank, Zidane and Messi are both magnificent and elegant players on the eye, splitting hairs anyway.

My spelling sucks I know.

I doubt Pardew is going to deviate from the 'double pivot' of Tiote and another midfielder both with defensive central duties, the question is whether he puts another attacking midfielder ahead (HBA) or sticks in another striker. If Vucknic is good enough to be challenging properly for first team in attacking midfield position, and Abeid a decent enough player I'd like to see (but won't) standard backline HBA Abeid Tiote Jonas Vucknic Ba (edit) it will be Obertan on right, and best or HBA in front (either alongside or in Vucknic's place there if it's HBA).

I don't think that'd end well, Obertan and Jonas wouldn't stick in middle and we'd have essentally a 1 man midfield and we'd resort to hoofing it up. 4-3-1-2's tend to sacrifice width, can't afford wide players. for getting 3 upfront I'd go with a classic 4-3-3 with usual backline Tiote Abeid Jonas (think he'd be disciplined enough to a new position actually) HBA Ba Best (front 3 interchangable, with Ba and HBA asked to go out wide more than Best who would hold up play) Relies on Abeid being up to it, but I do not fancy only having 1 proper central midfielder.

Do they really need him? Soldado and Llorente surely knocking on the door harder

He's largely ok and getting us playing good footy at times, but it's become obvious sometimes he can be tactically out-thought. He did very well tactically against Stoke, but when he seems to struggle against poor teams with packed midfields, unwilling to withdraw an attacker to bolster the midfield in such cases, but we're not quite fast enough to work as a counter attacking team, which is what you need with a 4-4-2 against a 4-3-3 broadly. He's also puzzling with his subs.

Oh well just got in to look at scores, hopefully get a goal, but at least we're playing well again

Bollocks, expect us to fail to sign a striker again now

I have a feeling Arsenal won't have too much trouble against AC Milan, same deal as last year with Tottenham, Milan are slow and can't deal with pace. Ibrahimovic could wreak havoc on their backline though.

To be fair he's only on stage 2 of his mission, stage 1 was help us stay up, stage 2 damage liverpool, stage 3...ruin sunderland...stage 4 ...stage 5 PROFIT!

5 cabaye / tiote hybrids?

If we got the old carroll who was good, wouldn't say no if he was free and on normal wages. He'd be alright but wouldn't start him ahead of Ba at the moment and would probably use him when we need to go long out of panic. He's a step in the wrong direction though.

Is it just me who kinda feels sorry for the reasonable Mackems on that board? Always see a few beavering away complaining over others obsession with the Mags...Dunno why they bother

The question is, is a rusty Williamson better than Perch?

Santos will be way more motivated than Barca so wouldn't be massively surprised to see them win it, doubt the key barca players will get a full runout, as can't see why they'd risk them getting injured.

someone needs to stick up a sticker saying "we have an orange away strip too"

Poor guy

ooops didn't see not good on right wing bit...fail on my part there. Oh well, can see him working well with Ba upfront

Attitude problems are a worry but since the rest of our team seem pretty level headed that may help calm him or whatever. Sounds good otherwise, especially the flexibility, if he is good in gervinho role, gives us an Obertan alternative

I'm vaguely unfussed because I don't think club has done much wrong, offered him several contracts, he's refused and obviously wants to go. He has kept his place in the first team, what more does he want? More wages? We need to keep wage bill down if Ashley is going to cough up more money for new players. He's decent enough but not so amazing as to be a huge blow assuming we manage to replace him...and I have got some more faith in our ability to buy good players again. I also don't think he will go, he'll issue a come and get me plea in january, only stoke will come forward and he'll end up staying. I am shitting myself about Tiote and Krul however...

Not surprising really. Won't play saturday I expect.