Tiotes Witch Doctor

I've mentioned it before, but I think it's really important to change the strength and conditioning staff to decrease injuries. This change has worked for other clubs and many successful managers have reliable S&C coaches they religiously take with them to every club. I actually agree with Pardew when he blames the lack of results this season compared to the last on injuries. Pardew hasn't changed as a manager but key players like Coloccini, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Tioté, Saylor have either been injured or in poor physical shape for most of the season. These injuries have exposed the cracks in Pardew's rudimentary style of play that had previously been tidily papered-over by good form. I however would like a manager who transmits the required concepts during training to ensure a cohesive, constant and easily identifiable system of play regardless of the personnel on the pitch, and whose team's effectiveness isn't completely reliant on individual player form and therefore completely destroyed by a few key injuries. This is the only way to ensure consistent long-term success. Great post

----------------Krul Debuch--Tayls----Mapou----Haidara ----------Cabs-----Sisso---------- ----Hatem------Marv--------Jonas ---------------Cisse for me like. Tiote doesn't deserve to be anywhere near our starting lineup after countless abject performances this season.

Is there a chance he hasn't been fully fit or had a crisis of confidence or something earlier in the season, because his last 5-6 games hes looked more and more like the James of old, nothing short of excellent defensively and even getting past his man and putting in a cross (shite cross like) but still, chuffed that we seem to be seeing the best of him again.

Would play him over Santon until Santon learns how to defend.

The one caught napping in the box for their goal was Sissoko not Mbiwa.

Dreadful defending as has been the case all season.

Did he just call him Dennis Gutierrez?

Mbiwa intent on losing us the game it seems.

Bricking it already, my seat for the game is directly below the away fans, they better not fucking hoy anything down like last year or I'll chin the fuckers.

Would like to see him higher up the pitch.

Today was a prime example of us not playing to his strengths and painted a clear picture of why his form has suffered at times this season, everything put forward were long balls and Cisse just isn't that kind of striker, if you get him the ball to his feet with a few decent deliveries he will put it away more often than not. Whether it be Pardew or whether it be a new manager I just hope we can play to his strengths and I really think we would see him flourish once again.

Anyone got any clue how they will line up? Gardner was their biggest threat to us IMO with his free kicks and long shots but hes suspended that should ease a lot of the pressure. I think if we can handle Sessegnon it should be a fairly comfortable afternoon. On paper we are streets ahead but the Pards' factor can always change this considerably.

:lol:

Exactly, as happy as Iam to get 3 points today a 93rd minute winner doesn't change anything in the slightest for me, we are massively underachieving in a lot of aspects with Pardew at the helm and his position needs to be considered.

Just to clarify, not even "Love what Pardew has done to the toon"? Which was the main part of the post, I of course didn't facepalm at Papiss giving his shirt to a young'un

James was very impressive today I thought, was a like a flashback to his first season when I saw him beating a couple of players on the wing. Sheer determination from him at most points.

Never like to see anyone pull up with an injury of course but I think Gutierrez was one of the bright spots from today's performance at left back, really did himself proud.

Happy with the win but my feelings remain the same where Pardew is concerned, we lacked imagination throughout and looked utterly static when attacking. This is a quote from a lad I have on facebook which shows the low expectations of our fans and what constitutes a good manager, I'm sorry if I sound cynical but this sort of thing just grinds my gears: "Thats the passion of the team we have. Players that f***ed there sitting down and were pressing like f*** for the win! Celebrations with the crowd and cisse giving his shirt to a little lad. Love what Pardew has done to the toon." I read this and immediately facepalmed.

Benfica was the best I've seen him play this season over a full 90 minutes, he had a superb game all round and was unlucky not to score at least another. Hoping that's going to trigger an end of season flurry of goals.

Thought wor James had a good game tonight, and I think has improved overall since the new arrivals.

My mates are arguing with me claiming we were "just unlucky" tonight, I'm sorry but I don't see how people can see it that way? Whats unlucky about Santon fucking up and playing a suicide ball to the keeper, its bad awareness and bad judgement but not unlucky! Whats unlucky about Steven Taylor moving his arm into the the flight of the ball? Again bad judgement.... we weren't unlucky at all, our poor decisions and poor play ultimately cost us what was looking like a respectable result.

2-1 loss.

Completely gave up at 3-1. Usual gutless shite after a promising start. Out next week for sure, even if we go 2-0 up we'll allow them back into game as had been the story all season. Out of the cup and we'll be lucky to stay up.