toontenacity

What are their main criticisms? His attitude?

Happy with that team, but would have liked to see Thauvin instead of Mbabu. Thauvin's tracking back has actually been quite good in his cameos - could do a job at wingback i think. Also not sure i share the optimism with Mbabu - against Chelsea he looked like he was an average player playing out of his skin on adrenaline. Happy to be proved wrong today though

Still very much the case these days, especially with Portsmouth in such a dire state. Bournemouth is now its only real rival across almost the entire South Coast, and Reading in parts of the Home Counties. School friends of mine were offered Southampton, Bournemouth and Reading trials - a real no brainer as Southampton has far better facilities, transport links etc. And they put academy players up in nice areas with agreements with good Sixth Form colleges.

One thing I have to give credit to McClaren for is his willingness to put Thauvin on at the end of games, regardless of whether we are chasing a game or defending a lead. Pardew/Carver would have just thrown Gouffran on. One of the few indications that McClaren is a little more adventurous. We have all been saying for years that the worst thing to do when we are leading is to just chuck on players who the manager thinks can 'track back' and doesn't offer too much 'fret'

Now our new signings have bedded in, thought i'd bump this. For me: Krul Janmaat (marginally over Debuchy) Mbemba Colo Enrique Cabaye Wijnaldum Perez Remy Ba Ben Arfa Subs: Elliot... Tiote (first season) Debuchy/Santon Sissoko Cisse (1st season) Carroll Mitro (Would like Barton involved as well tbh)

Guy is a fucking titan, don't see the need to find faults in everything

Mmmm

Watching his goal over and over. That touch, and love the left foot volley over the keeper.

Agreed - you've all got me worried about Cisse all of a sudden! Surely Perez ad Mitro have to start together...

I for one am confident. Think we'll win!

This is our sixth season since returning to the premier league, and it definitely feels like a different era to pre-09/10. We've had some pretty exciting players and some pretty crap players since 2010, but who would be your best XI? For me: Krul Janmaat Colo Mbemba (after 2 games he already deserves this) Santon (tough one but I liked him) Cabaye Sissoko Barton (He was awesome 10/11 and need some twats in the team) HBA Ba/Carroll Remy

Sarcastic? Olympiakos is in a great part of greece

Ah okay, thanks! Like the look of Bordeaux, with its new stadium as well

How does the ticketing work? Can you apply for as many different matches as you want?

http://www.cpfc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=258734 This a hilarious read! My personal favourite: "He was lauded for his team talks.He just comes across as a very intelligent man. We are very lucky to have him." I feel for that poster.

Judging by Twitter the notts Forrest fans can't wait for these two to leave. Reckon we've paid ridiculously above what their worth. Bit worrying since Lascelles is likely to be our only CB coming in this summer..

Mystery candidate? His managerial record, with the notable exception of Madrid, looks pretty awful. But plays attacking football, according to wiki, so fine with me. Although given what charnley said about conduct off the field of the new head coach, I doubt they'd go for Schuster. Seems a right provocative bastard

I like him, don't understand the stick he gets on here. Very tidy, rarely messes up, good defensively and can every now and then chip in with an assist (like today and Chelsea). Certainly the lease of our issues. He, Abeid and Sissoko should be our midfield 3

This was going to be the first game I've watched in weeks...and then Pardew picks that team

Isn't Pardew on a relatively low basic salary, around £500k? So even to pay him off in full it would cost Ashley no more than 3mil. It's absolute peanuts compared to even a slight risk of relegation. I honestly think this is just as much about Ashley wanting to shove two fingers up at the press after the humiliated him midweek

First down the tunnel today

Sissoko much more effective playing centrally as he is now

I think they will since he seems pretty set on coming here. Seems as if other clubs are not interested or have pretty much accepted he's going to Newcastle. I do find it odd that no other clubs have expressed interest in him though. If he is all we have been made to think he is, surely some CL clubs would have tried to take him? 12 million (euros or pounds) is hardly much for an international French winger who is supposedly good enough to replace the creativity of cabaye

Wasn't following the game- what were the away fans like? much anti-Pardew chanting, booing etc?