Shays Given Tim Flowers

But at which point were/are these people right?

FYP

Other winners of the Nike Cup Player of the Tournament. Fernando Torres - Debut aged 17 Athletico Madrid - 4 League Apps in First Season (1 Goal). 36 League Apps in Second Season (6 Goals). Andres Iniesta- Debut aged 18 Barcelona - 6 League Apps in First Season. 11 League Apps in Second Season (1 Goal). Carlos Tevez - Debut aged 16 Boca Juniors - 11 League Apps in First Season (1 Goal). 32 League Apps in Second Season (11 Goals). If he is physically strong enough (which he looks like he may well be) then he ought to be able to make a decent contribution.

There already has been f***ing outgoings though, this squad is weaker than last seasons. Nope How is it now weaker then? We have 1 less striker than last season for starters. Right, and he would have made all the difference would he? We've got Ba, Cisse, and Shola as striker, plus Ben Arfa, Obertan, Vuckic, Campbell etc who can play either there or just off a striker. I genuinely don't see the issue. Elsewhere we have more competition in midfield and fullback positions (Anita and the young'uns), and Good who is apparently a decent player to push the 4 senior CBs we have on the books (of which all four I'd say are perfectly capable players). Well if Ba and Cisse both get injured yes. Also both have looked pretty average so far this season and we have nothing on the bench to change it. Also did you watch last season where Ba's best form came next to Best. Ba's best form came when he played centrally, full stop. He played next to Shola vs Man Utd and did very well too. Yes, where is Shola Ameobi now. On the treatment bench as he usually is nowadays. Our next backup to Ba and Cisse is a 17 year old academy kid. If one of Ba and Cisse is injured then it will be 4-3-3. If they are both fit 4-4-2. Some game time for Campbell sure but we are some way away from relying on him to start games and play a full 90 week in week out. We could wreck Campbell if he's need to used more than what was planned this season. Fact of the matter is we should have got a replacement for best, not getting one is a joke imo. Completely agree on Best. Seems odd that he was allowed to leave without another striker coming in, also I doubt he was too fussed about joining Blackburn. That being said without being a party to the decisions that are made behind closed doors the only real way to judge the merits of the boards/managers decisions is at the end of a season.

There already has been f***ing outgoings though, this squad is weaker than last seasons. Nope How is it now weaker then? We have 1 less striker than last season for starters. Right, and he would have made all the difference would he? We've got Ba, Cisse, and Shola as striker, plus Ben Arfa, Obertan, Vuckic, Campbell etc who can play either there or just off a striker. I genuinely don't see the issue. Elsewhere we have more competition in midfield and fullback positions (Anita and the young'uns), and Good who is apparently a decent player to push the 4 senior CBs we have on the books (of which all four I'd say are perfectly capable players). Well if Ba and Cisse both get injured yes. Also both have looked pretty average so far this season and we have nothing on the bench to change it. Also did you watch last season where Ba's best form came next to Best. Ba's best form came when he played centrally, full stop. He played next to Shola vs Man Utd and did very well too. Yes, where is Shola Ameobi now. On the treatment bench as he usually is nowadays. Our next backup to Ba and Cisse is a 17 year old academy kid. If one of Ba and Cisse is injured then it will be 4-3-3. If they are both fit 4-4-2. Some game time for Campbell sure but we are some way away from relying on him to start games and play a full 90 week in week out.

There is a lot of this sentiment but whats the opportunity? To consolidate 5th? To break the top four (3 places are almost certainly gone)? I'm not saying its not frustrating, or that the board haven't pulled their finger out but you get the feeling that everyone would have been reasonably satisfied had the Debuchy deal gone through. Whilst we may have been easier on the eye i'm not sure the substantive difference (i.e. European Qualification domestic cup success, Domestic League Place) any additions would have guaranteed. The main concern for me is still cover at centre back and more generally cover in the squad. But even if players had been bought for these roles I doubt they would have had the necessary wow factor to placate fans. Disappointing window but hardly the end of the world.

Bordeaux is a lovely city.

He isnt there according to someone on here earlier http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/nechronical/may2009/0/7/newcastle-united-owner-mike-ashley-left-at-the-training-ground-with-derek-llambias-743124523.jpg

What's left to say about him that hasn't already been said.

In terms of ability I don't see why not. The concern is what sort of stand by will he be? Its one thing for him to come on at home with 10mins to go in a relatively low pressure environment but say Senegal go through to ACON and we are left with Shola and him its going to be a huge amount of pressure. It may work mind, he seems to make very clever runs that would enable him to get a fair share of chances and if he tucked a couple away well it could snowball. Its a risk management thing, you could throw him in at the deep end but it may harm his development if it goes wrong, conversely it may accelerate it. My own opinion is it would be too much of a risk if he had to do anything more than a series of cameo's this season. Interestingly though if we were to sign Carroll I wouldn't mind seeing him as our 4th Choice Striker as he offers something different to all of our other options. * * Assuming Senegal don't qualify for ACON and there are no major injuries.

He is a very good player and I have no worries about him over the season.

Both missed chances they should have scored. Significantly lessens the impact of whatever else they do if they don't do the job that gets them on the team sheet.

Aye, about as silly as suggesting 4-4-2 doesn't allow movement or running into space. http://www.hitmasty.com/data/media/41/1401.jpg

With Cabaye, who we all know is a very good player, it is all about where he plays and his tole in the team. Imagine asking Tiote to play on the wing... or Jonas as a striker. He needs to play in an advanved attacking midfield role where he can get on the ball and in and around the box, where he can dictate play and get among the assists and goals. Maybe we could chalk it down to a one off but he was phenomenal against Manchester United last season alongside Tiote in Centre mid. A terrier like performance which if delivered week in week out would make us exceptionally hard to play against. Different to his Stoke performance but of similar pedigree.

He managed to pass to Danny Simpson today. Noteworthy. He is a joy to watch. Gives a shit too.

Read this earlier but didn't post as I was on my mobile basically ad nauseum. Lets ignore quotes from Pardew about Tiote being an exceptionally important player for us this season. Let's ignore the many times Tiote has come out and said he doesn't want to move. Lets ignore the fact he was used and picked up a slight knock against Tottenham and the fact you cant be cup-tied for the premier league. Afterall caughtoffside did a sodding article about Arsenal's interest. You may even be right about the transfer, but if you are its contrary to all principles of sound logic and for entirely the wrong reasons. As for the game itself, the big problem for me is not the 4-4-2 per se its just the fact that the strikers just generally minced around in the middle. Neither ran the channel very much making it hard to retain possession. If we are playing 4-4-2 then there are two things that I believe need to happen, Ba needs to drop deeper allowing Cisse to make runs in behind and there needs to be a freer role for Hatem. I didn't think the wingers covered back enough in the first half on either side, notably Santon was left exposed far too many times. That being said Chelsea are a top side on another planet to us in terms of money spent and its too easy to be hyper-critical of the lads due to disappointment. On another day they wouldn't have scored and we would of said what a good performance a point was. Frustrating, sure. We still have some very good players (most some way from top form), 3 points on the board and a very winnable game next weekend. HWTL.

A couple of his second half blunders would give me reservations about playing him too often in the Premier League. All well and good when mistakes go unpunished but if those mistakes cost us 3 points it may hamper his development. Pards seems to have the right approach when bringing youth through so I'm sure he will be handled appropriately. Looks a canny player and a shrewd acquisition.

It seems Pards has tried to play Obertan as much as possible at times in order to boost his confidence I think this may be counter productive (I would've played him last night for a full 90 fwiw). I think he is more likely to develop the confidence he needs if he is limited to cameo roles for a while in games we are winning (preferably at home). I think if he was running at tired players with a crowd roaring him on he would start to gain confidence. Would also have the added bonus of someone who could carry the ball from defence to the opposition half with relative ease. In the first half yesterday he was making mistakes that a professional footballer shouldn't make. Its just a case of trying to sort his head out. By no means am I saying he's a world beater or that he ever will be. But I do feel he can do a useful job for us and if able to sort his head out he would be a worthwhile improvement on Routledge.

Are you Danny Simpson? http://www.themag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/BenArfa14.jpg

Only when he is supplying crosses. He passes the ball and controls the ball comfortably with both feet.

Regretting reading that whilst hungry. Am now desperate for some Beef in Aubergine sauce.

Boer off with these puns.

His Dad failed his medical. Deals off.

What's wrong with being gay? Taking a big penis up the chuff ? Fucking women is for poofs.

A text book lesson in supply and demand. The football season really needs to start soon. Also a two week transfer window would be preferable. If only to stop us all becoming basket cases. It's mental the amount we read into things and speculate just because we're bored.