Tiotes Witch Doctor

He was absolutely horrendous today more so than any of the midfield, I think theres a top class player in there somewhere but his first touch and decision making needs some serious work.

Krul 6 Debuchy 9 Williamson 7 Coloccini 7 Santon 6 Sissoko 6 Anita 5 Cabaye 6 Tiote 7 Gouff 5 Remy 6 HBA 5

Cabaye and Gouff been good at pressing high up the pitch but haven't offered a great deal in an attacking extent, Anita has looked unspectacular but solid which I suppose is his job, Tiote after giving the ball away has seemed to grow into the game and made some important tackles. Debuchy and Mouss have been great down the right and both CB's have been solid as a rock, particularly Colo who has been everywhere. We need to get at them more in the second half, we seem tentative which is understandable given the opposition but they look weak today and we are capable of winning this with a bit of attacking intent. Not a bad first half at all, would like to see HBA on though if we haven't scored by the last 20-25.

Can still do a job for us off the bench IMO but hes finished as an attacking threat and has been since 11/12

Was one of the very few players who could come out of the first half with much credit and was fantastic to watch in the second, I'd have been worried if he wasn't though against a tired 9 man Stoke side.

Can't grumble at the 5-1 scoreline but even with the two man advantage we never looked fluent or rampant going forward, nor have we ever done under Pardew.

We'll come out and play for the 1=1 second half

Worst performance of the season IMO, Santon needs a spell on the bench, Sissoko must work on his decision making and the team overall has been inexplicably told to sit back and not do any pressing whatsoever, the amount of time they had on the ball in that half was nothing short of diabolical. Both reds were deserved IMO, the Whelan was a touch harsh but both fouls were yellows. Simple as that. Handball by Williamson should have been pulled up to be honest if I'm being completely unbiased, then a 3 player deflection for our leveller. our luck seemingly continues, maybe the mackems have a point

Combination of Debuchy, Sissoko, Tiote and Cabaye ran the first half, Anita has been largely anonymous and slack in possession. Damn me and my opinions again....

Has lost the ball countless times and looks lost.

Anita is having a mare.

The fuckers better not get to the final, you never know with Man Utd this season, but I doubt they could beat them over two legs surely!

West Ham or Stoke will squeak through and they'll get one of them, beat them over 2 legs then beat City in the final :'(

Fuckers will win this and then inexplicably beat City again and be in the final.

3-1 win away at Stoke and and 3-1 win away at West Brom in the Europa season were decent. Though not by three clear goals.

Offers very little as I said a few weeks ago, has the odd good game but generally offers no service from wide and is a below average defender.

Cisse was incredibly poor, just constantly offside, would definitely look to move him on providing we sign Remy and another striker. How many chances does he need before he even LOOKS like scoring?

Ben Arfa showed the best and worst of himself there, looked shit hot beating defenders and getting into all sorts of positions, then straight after breaks through the middle tries to beat 3 men and fails when Remy was in acres of space on the wing, which sets off a Southampton counter, still doesn't deserve to start.

Disappointed with Sissoko, has played generally decent but his first touch has let him down on 3-4 golden occasions.

Such a step up on Simpson, and when he plays you can really see why so many people were screaming for improvement in our right back slot, simply a class above.

Was excellent both defensively and offensively today, some of the link up play between him and Moussa was fantastic, really becoming a great player for us after an initial period of being very shaky, just shows that sometimes it can take players a while to settle into the team. Definitely man of the match in my eyes, but there were a few out there who had a decent shout for it.

4-1 loss.

what if he goes somewhere else plays poorly and drifts out of the team in 6months ? Then he will still hate Pardew just not as much as he would have had Hatem succeeded, much like myself.

Nancy

Played well today, didn't have a great deal to do defensively but looked good when he was tested and was effective getting forward. More games like that and I might start to change my mind, credit where its due.