Jagten

Norwich, Reading, QPR and Stoke.

No, you have missed the issue. The problem is not in their understating, but the weakness playing two upfront creates in our midfield. Subsequently, we have a tendency to become overrun in that area, and we are unable to control a game or attack effectively. 4-3-3 isn't a satisfactory solution for Demba Ba; however, it is for the team.

Not just Wonga then, is it?

I don't believe that Wonga have paid anything to 'rename' the stadium.

You don't really get great strike partnerships any more, and there's a good reason for that. Unless we aspire to play like Stoke, Pardew should stop trying.

I disagree. Cisse has, for large parts of the season, been suffocated in a system that has benefited nobody but Ba. I think this contrast has exaggerated his apparent dip in form.

His contribution has been limited, but I don't think that is a result of poor form.

Cisse is playing poorly?

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/10/08/newcastle-0-3-manchester-united-fergusons-diamond-forces-newcastle-to-change-shape/

No.

What a cock.

Krul (?) Santon - Taylor - Coloccini - Ferguson Anita Cabaye - Jonas Ben Arfa - Cisse - Ba Sunderland aren't very good at keeping the ball; this is something we should exploit.

Busquets would be a better comparison.

It did work though. Clearly not for whoever is on the wing. We've got 2 of the best finishers in the league but we don't act like it. Yes, but it worked for the team. You pick your best team, not your best 11 players.

Has done little to deserve a slot tbh. He's been relatively poor in the limited opportunities he's been given this season, but I'm not sure how he has managed to fall behind Sammy and Obertan. Obertan deserved to be on the bench based on his performance on Thursday. I agree, but he was given a huge amount of opportunities despite being consistently rubbish.

Has done little to deserve a slot tbh. He's been relatively poor in the limited opportunities he's been given this season, but I'm not sure how he has managed to fall behind Sammy and Obertan.

No Marveaux again, either. Boo.

Simpson's a reasonable defender, I accept that, but I thought Ferguson was generally OK, and I very much doubt he would have contributed anything more than him today. Potential clearances off the line aside.

Thought he was one of our better performers today. Looked more comfortable on the right, too.

Why's that?

Some of the responses in here are ludicrous. Today was the first time he played in the position where he enjoyed the majority of his success at Ajax. His skill set will not be highlighted when he comes on for the last 30 minutes at 2-0 down, but when he's played from the start in a team that has a focus on ball retention with his role being to dictate the tempo as a sitter in a 1-2.

Has that actually been confirmed btw? In various quotes from him saying he believed he could get £10m for it and it would pay for a new player for us every year. I think Bayern Munich get less than half of that. I could be wrong, mind.

FFS.

theres a twitter post with some guy who had a pic with colo yesterday (i think), colo told him he was fit. normally I would say its bollocks but pre spurs a similar thing happened when saylor told someone at that i would be himself and perch playing. Yeh, this is it:

Valencia is injured. They are likely to line up in a 4-4-2 diamond with Rooney behind RVP and Hernandez. How do you know this?