Deuce

Taylor's a good defender and Perch is the best DM we have with Tiote away. I thought Anita was a DM? He is, just not in the traditional sense. Still a better passer and more positionally aware than Perch. But he can't deliver that overrated bone-crunching tackle, so he takes the bench. A DM is responsible for protecting the back 4. That isn't Anita in a million years in the PL. It is if you use him correctly there's so many examples of similar players in the PL atm for teams with a lot more points than us. The idea of a DM is dying anyway and the sooner people grasp on to that the better. This. More than one way to "protect" the back four other than tackling.

Same. And my 5th midfielder is Hazard, so Marv won't be subbed off either.

Taylor's a good defender and Perch is the best DM we have with Tiote away. I thought Anita was a DM? He is, just not in the traditional sense. Still a better passer and more positionally aware than Perch. But he can't deliver that overrated bone-crunching tackle, so he takes the bench.

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Just picturing Sissoko slashing through their players like soft bread. With this soundtrack playing:

Willo starting was my nightmare. Shola starting might possibly have been justified, in a horribly retarded and irrational kind of way.

We're gonna get bossed in midfield.

Know what's depressing? We have two offensive subs on the bench and we're almost sure to see both. And they're Shola and Sammy.

I love this board

Not even upset about the line-up, but I want to use some gifs anyway: Jonas?! http://www.iruntheinternet.com/lulzdump/images/gifs/weird-michelangelo-turtles-shaking-freaky-1346719715n.gif http://gifsforum.com/images/gif/rage/grand/willem-dafoe-rage-eccbc87e4b5ce2fe28308fd9f2a7baf3-1669.gif http://xsreviews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/player1rage.gif

Shhh...

You know Pardew is going to f*** up everyone's mood here don't you ? It's just so obviously going to happen. My feeling is we will see Ameobi and Williamson on the pitch today and I will fucking rage. I need to starting hunting for rage gifs for when Pards releases the team sheet and these jokers are on it

I'm not so sure. This is just a rebuilding phase. They've got some good young talent between El Shaarawy, Niang, and now Balotelli up top and KPB, Emanuelson, and Constant in midfield (plus Montolivo). They do need significant help on defense though. I'm more concerned about Inter than Milan.

I'd take him tbh. As would I. Very good player.

Something American sports have that is completely lacking in English football: parity. Thanks in large part to revenue-sharing and salary caps. We know teams like ManU, City, Chelsea, Arsenal, etc. are going to contend every single year simply because they spend the most money. A chimpanzee could manage these teams into the top 5. Meanwhile, Wigan will never, ever sniff the top 5, no matter how well they're managed. Unless of course they're bought by some oil sheikh. Meanwhile, a team like the Oakland Athletics in MLB can spend 1/10 of the New York Yankees and still compete for the title. Money obviously plays a role (as the Yankees compete every year simply because they piss out money), but it's not nearly as important in American sports. The focus is on player development, drafting, free agent acquisitions, and coaching.

Know what's even sooner than the game? The starting XI being released. Which is sure to provide endless bitching.

Gonna miss this guy's antics in England. Setting off fireworks, backing-up bullied kids, driving 200mph.

EDIT: Fail I've tried that before too

http://browncardigan.s3.amazonaws.com/imagesfarm/2012/NgmLJe9AaQPdqLK.jpg

A cool 1-1 tomorrow.

He's already 22 and never got past their C squad. Don't expect the next Silva. It's MLS we're talking. He'll be a star there