Tiresias

yeah actually forgot how young he is. Hope he turns in some good performances in the Cups

Saw someone mention Tiote is likely off for african cup of nations at somepoint, hope we've given Mehdi enough time in team if he's considered the natural backup for Tiote for him to slot in, or whether Gosling would be preferable

I'm sticking with Pardew has compromising photos of him, managing to get him here

4-4-2 can make midfields stodgy, but Tiote and Cabaye are dynamic enough to make it work, as a tactics nerd it's good to be reminded that it's the players and how they operate that matter more in a way. If we're bossing midfield with 2 having 2 upfront is a good idea, we are able to play great footy that way, and I don't think it's especially conservative of us to play what works, it's sensible especially when it's hardly us scraping through with it. When we play Man U, definately hope we can have the 3 man midfield, but also really press up against theirs. It's become clear that Man U still have the same weakness as last season with a midfield with little invention and a defence that don't like it up them. Still would expect them to knock plenty of goals past us, but I'd like us to swashbuckle and go for it. (know diversion just think that this wanting to rush Ben Arfa to that working in the hole position isn't necessary yet, especially against wolves)

If that's all reflective of what he thinks great, sign him up, he's worth the wages even though he'll probably be the last for a while on them. Also sign him up while we're still playing really well lol, if things go south he may change his mind, very glad club want to keep him though, much easier to keep him with 4 year contract should someone try and swoop in next year.

Football's being damaged by too much money at the top but nothing should be done about it because life's not fair? Top clubs vastly out earning other clubs particularly in the same league is damaging to the entertainment value of the league. Football should be about a battle of wits and talents, when one club has all the talent it slightly distorts the battle of wits. Premier league is very competitive throughout so can't whine too much, but at the top it's not especially.

4-5-1 always feels an inadequate description tbh plenty of different formations in that, and often that really rather negative formation that so dominated teams playing big teams away last season...(yes inc us I think sometimes)

Ba was bought because he was going, available on a pay as you play so the injury risk wasn't going to hurt too much. He was not bought as a primary striker as he's too injury prone, he's unlikely to play whole season, but while on form is invaluable. While Ben Arfa isn't fit to play full 90 I'm happy to play in the current 4-4-2, normally i'd prefer a 4-2-3-1 to operate between lines fluidly, but we've got a team that play that fluid anyway, though against another strong midfield would prefer HBA in the hole and 1 striker (last season lack of connection front to back did mean some hoofing). Choosing between Ba and Best is a nightmare atm, but it's the kind of dilemma a manager secretly relishes.

We've got to expect to dominate the midfield, but they'll be risky down the flanks and from set-pieces. Definately winable though.

I don't, everyone at work laughed at me when I put him in my fantasy football, now I'm the one laughing . Also I put in Krul and they (two of them teamed up to build a squad to challenge mine) put in Begovic, only consolation when Sunderland thrashed Stoke!

Wouldn't that leave out Cabaye or Tiote though? Think atm would struggle to justify losing either. Maybe when there's an injury to one of them

I dunno about Man U, I'd probably have Vidic and Jones as definate starters, though Ferdinand is likely to be prefered. Probably Man City but dunno, their defenders look sometimes great, sometimes laughable. If he was at Arsenal he'd probably restore their title challenge lol

Can he not still play on the wing? not saying i wouldn't prefer him in the middle, and think the planned 4-2-3-1 is about right but in games where we desperately want 2 up front should that happen couldn't he slot in instead of Obertan? He can surely be told to have fair amount of freedom anyway (hasn't van der vaart been playing there for totenham lately oddly)

so much for "stealth", someone change topic to "easytarget"

they'll probably get Martin O'Neil, seems plausible. I suppose the unlikely but worring one would be Ancelotti who is running around saying he's desperate to manage in the premier league. I do sort of rate him, however also found him weirdly loveable, like a cuddly uncle or something, with an AMAZING eyebrow. Pity then if he manages the mackems, but doubt it'd happen

What he didn't know was it was Pardew putting on a silly accent on the other end of the line

Well I meant of since our current crop really

I like Vaughn, still wouldn't have him over either tiote or cabaye but assuming HBA unavailability maybe would be a nice 3 man midfield. Cattermole? CATTERMOLE? seriously? I've never really met a mackem that doesn't slag him off regulaly tbh, where does this forum find them?

too many off target tbh, know being a bit silly to be negative, but have to wonder if any of those could have been turned into better opportunities. We'll regret not working on it against teams we may only get 3 chances at. Regardless pretty fantastic all round

Aye it's tough to work out in a way, as you want some ability for a forward to be able to fashion goals if the more finesse footy isn't quite working. However I think a player who is comfortable on the ball and in linkup play is essential. Do we want a player whose going to drop deep though? Could interfere with Ben Arfa so a poacher role... Gervinho mould is obviously what was wanted, and probably what we're looking for, speedy, going to zoom ahead of defence from a swift pass, can't see much wrong with this in principle.

Sooner or later we'll manage to sign a complete dud, tis inevitable

I'd have him still as cover for Best or Ba really. Can't see him anywhere near the midfield atm.

hahaha I think Sunderland have some good players. If i were a sunderland fan on that forum would i get lynched for admiting toon had good players? Is that forum just where they put all their weird ones? My mackem friends aren't mad like that

"return from hell" he visited Sunderland and escaped?