Deuce

Who was marking Giroud on the goal?

We'll bounce back. 1-2 win.

Pardew still hasn't decided whether we're a 4-4-2 team or a 4-3-3 team (tbf he's only had 3 years to decide). Those wide roles in the two formations are very different. You can get away with having a player like Gouffran wide in a 4-4-2 - hard working, doesn't cross much but has decent movement and will get 8-10 goals a season from simply popping up in the right place - Ljungberg was the absolute master at that job. In a 4-3-3 though? Not for me, you need players much more threatening to do that job than Gouffran. If you go 4-3-3, HBA has to play. Well tbf, it doesn't help that half the team is a better fit in one formation or the other.

It's disgusting at times how we have no options. People are complaining about the decisions Ban Arfa made yet I can't think of him having many options, if any, other than to try and do something his self. First mistake was probably benching HBA at the start, though I see why Pardew did it. Second mistake was swapping HBA for Gouffran. Should've never been Gouff off, regardless of how he was performing to that point. One of the few players who consistently works to get open. Should have been Anita or Sissoko off imo. Though again, when Pardew made the switch, it was still 0-0 and he wasn't about to sacrifice anything defensively.

_01's on a crusade against Willian.

We could really use a real target forward, albeit one who can move faster than turtle speed.

Sad but true. Hate how Pardew is failing to realise the potential of our best team in a decade. A bit hyperbolic, considering the results over the past two months.

You can be an effective creative player without making runs with the ball from 40 yards out or trying to dribble around the entire midfield (which are just the most extreme examples of his 'selfish' play). There's merit to holding the ball and waiting for the right pass instead of turning and bolting. And yeah, he's definitely good enough to make a couple guys miss here and there. Ben Arfa is the most gifted player we have, you won't hear otherwise from me. He just needs to play smarter.

Well that's what Hans was saying. He plays far better when he's given time to settle and not tasked with winning the game by himself. So yeah, Pardew does deserve some of the blame for bringing him on and essentially telling him to make something happen on his own.

Yeah.

His runs worked today Clearly. A clear example of "if he doesn't score a goal or assist in his limited pitch time he's failed" This is genuinely baffling to me, hence me rambling on like a cock end in this thread. Not what I was suggesting, but I do think he negates our other players when he takes things on his shoulders. Even if he does have limited success doing so. It wasn't his worst game, but if he had played more patiently, I think we would've had more chances. You want him to play patiently when we're 1-0 down and into injury time? He came on in the 62nd minute... And when did he hit the side netting and hit the shot over the bar? I never said his 'selfish' play doesn't ever produce. Sometimes it does. Majority of the time, it doesn't. Wasn't his worst performance, certainly wasn't his best.

His runs worked today Clearly. A clear example of "if he doesn't score a goal or assist in his limited pitch time he's failed" This is genuinely baffling to me, hence me rambling on like a cock end in this thread. Not what I was suggesting, but I do think he negates our other players when he takes things on his shoulders. Even if he does have limited success doing so. It wasn't his worst game, but if he had played more patiently, I think we would've had more chances. You want him to play patiently when we're 1-0 down and into injury time? He came on in the 62nd minute...

Although I do (violently) disagree that those runs are detrimental to the team's overall play I do agree that he needs to stop trying to win games by himself. He only tends to do that though when he's brought on pretty much to do that. We know and Pardew know exactly what he's going to do when he comes on. 9 times out of 10 he'll skin the fullback and either come inside on his left foot and try to score a thunderbastard, or he'll drop one short from the byline to anyone making a run to the 6 yard box. He isn't involved in game plan any other way, that's what he's brought on to do. He's far more patient with the ball when he's allowed to see a game out from the start and is likely instructed to be so. That's why I find it baffling that Marveaux never makes a cameo now and then when we need a goal. Exactly. Which is why there was a good argument for starting him today, especially on the heels of his performance against Stoke. Though there was also merit in trying to replicate the style and tactics from the ManU game.

His runs worked today Clearly. A clear example of "if he doesn't score a goal or assist in his limited pitch time he's failed" This is genuinely baffling to me, hence me rambling on like a cock end in this thread. Not what I was suggesting, but I do think he negates our other players when he takes things on his shoulders. Even if he does have limited success doing so. It wasn't his worst game, but if he had played more patiently, I think we would've had more chances.

Disappointing result, but it's not like we lost at home to Palace. Took it to them, they came out on top. Never any moment where we looked totally overwhelmed. Clearly this squad is capable of matching (and beating) the "top" clubs. Just didn't happen today.

His runs worked today Clearly.

Night and day since the opening few matches. Great player.

His performances the last two matches perfectly exemplify the issues some have with Ben Arfa. Arguably at his best against Stoke because he was creating chances without taking needless risks. Today, when we needed a goal, he reverted to making those runs that prove so detrimental to overall team play. Needs to stop taking the team on his shoulders when we're down, because he's not good enough to win matches on his own.

Roll into the holiday season on a high, scoring 60+ points for 6 straight weeks. Soon as the Cup hits, I can't crack 30. Out after the 2nd round.

Jonas?

Let's pound these cunts.

No Ozil. Good news.

4 points with Rooney and Yaya rested, left Big Gay Al McGregor on the bench.

Berahino's a talented player.