Eddy Chibas

Regard it as an honour bestowed upon you Jack ie. effectively being placed on ignore, again. Revel in the infamy gained, and continue to embrace & nurture your dark 'signicant other'.

Incredibly lucrative? Quite a few signing bonuses divided up among his gang of mates, on the back of moves re- the last couple of years or so. Maybe a single season stop-over in Russia (if this transfer's finalised) is on the cards, before the Demba Ba Caravan buggers off to somewhere like Turkey.

Aye, whereas he's dodged the space-time continuum that is Planet Pardew. I've taken this news (talented, young, rising like a bullet/'boom player') with indifference tbh,. It's my attitude, re: missing out on transfers for similar type players (even Ince), while this man remains in charge.

Probably in cahoots with a bright IT sparky, feverishly working on a new code/format (for all the accompanying stats & spreadsheets) - just in time for his opening address at summer training camp.

Good article posted on the previous page btw. Interested to read that his big strength, aside from his pace, is his sharpness (in the quick passing exchanges around the box - working the onet-wos etc). He did look sharp as **** from the bits i've seen of him, particularly off the ball. That's a product of constant refinement, where that sort of passing & movement (intituitive understanding between the attackers) is thoroughly drilled into the team out on tje training pitch. PEA (if we sign him) & Sissoko, i'd be worried about most next season, as the weighted pull of the footballing ethos (and it's training regime, where particular fundamentals are given low prority status) found on Planet Pardew takes effect. Already concerned about Siss - body language didn't look good, after the intial spurt hot off the airport landingstrip.

The *desired front 3 of Cisse, Gouff & Ben Arfa (if used correctly, as a well drilled unit). *subject to arrivals/departures obviously.

Enough opportunities would pop-up for a slightly deeper playing midfielder to sneak into the box, espec sitting behind Gervinho (i can't remember the other attacker, in Lille's front 3.. was it Sow) running riot & drawing/committing defenders/disrupting defensive shapes. He has it in him, and we have the attacking personnel (at least in potential, as a front 3) to unsettle defenses with passing & mivement, to allow a box-sneaker with technical ability to cash-in, but R.Garcia & Pardew's attacking philosophies are pole apart. Lille would sometimes walk the ball into the net, with their passing exchanges around the box.

Underrated masterpiece, re: Pearl Jam tracks. This broken wheel is coming undone And the roads exploding But you're keeping me strong Rolling along with you

From a neutral standpoint, Lukaku's development last season was a joy to watch. I hope the lad's advisors (or Chelsea/Jose) stonewalls West Ham in their loan attempt, because you know Fat Sam is just jizzing himself over the physique and that amazing verticle leap.

It's tempting to send Toulouse's coaches (and his yth coaches, at previous clubs too) a note of condolence.

For me after the season review (where no doubt Pards, in flashy presentation, waded through files of prozone stats, players' minutes per-game figures relating to injuries & lost premiership points, diagrams depicting hotzones etc depicting our set-piece shortcomings/lack of 'headers' in the squad etc) when the board decided to back Pardew's Finishing School for Technically Gifted Footballers, i thought Carr's skillset (his 'eye' for a particular type of player, blackbook of contacts on the continent) as a scout were better suited elsewhere.

Don't think that is particularly the case, and a bit of conjecture. He was linked to a fair few foreign imports when he was here. None of them came off though. He signed a few foreigners a Wimbledon, but this was at a time when the majority of British teams had a majority of British players playing for them. In between the madness he said, I am certain we will pick the best players available at the best price regardless of where they come from. Wouldn't say Kinnear was a long ball merchant either, but you are probably right with the style of player he might look for, he likes a more direct smash and grab style or traditional using wingers. Wouldn't say Premier league or local makes a difference. Absolute f***ing disaster he is back at the club though. Other teams will be absolutely dreading receiving a phone call. Sure it won't take long for certain teams to refuse to deal with us, due to Kinnear offending them. Aye, he (at Wimb) never coached a panic-driven, or just lump-it brand of 'hoofball' (without the tall-timber to back it upfront). Like Pulis he forced his ethos on teams, with players suited for the job - physically & mentally. On the same token he didn't place a premium on the wingers getting behind defenses/to the bylines either, particularly a utilising team movement - espec sweeping shifts-of-play (fully recognising the passing range & vision of a genuine playmaker, where a playmaking CM ability to 'spot' an overlap comes into it's own *providing said movement is there). Kinnear's use of wingers and fullbacks: quick bursts out form the back & early balls into the box, where there is no need for a genuine & silky smoove passing CM (like Cabaye). This is more in line with what we do under Pardew.

Embarrasing as his pressbites can be, thanks to JK's football philosophy it's a nice deadlock breaker to have in Pardew's corner, in the event of any stalemates & debate at the decision table over transfer targets (particularly between Carr & Pardew) - technically gifted player X (from France or Holland, Carr's hunting ground/where his contacts are) vs physical, locally based header & tackler preferably with obvious English football experience (more suited to Pardew & more in line with Kinnear's thinking). Increased chance, at last, that Pardew will be able to build a side in his image and more suited to his palette, and probably tightens up the current disconnect which exists in our player recruiting. From a football purist's viewpoint JK's appointment grinds at my bones, and aside from that it has the jobs-for-the-boys scent about it. However if FCB & Lambiarse steadfastly believe that Pardew is their MAN, long-term, why not include somebody, in the football front-office with a somewhat & basic shared philosophy toward football, long-ball footy (minus Pardew's reliance on doing homework in the filmroom - focusing opponent's attacking strengths, obsessing over stats etc)?

Looks very sharp (particularly his movement in the box) from the bits i've seen of him. Very exciting player. Klopp would be perfect for him, at least for his development, as Dortmund's combination passing (the triangles & give & gos) in attack is outstanding. Surprised if Rodgers doesn't make a concrete move for him.. Laudrup would be a good fit too. Something tragically poetic if he wound up here ie. Pardew's Finishing School for Technically Gifted Footballers, with Movement.

He's a 'lone-wolf', not as good as Inzaghi but similar type of player - well capable of (and willing) dropping deep to collect & play the one/two-touch simple stuff, but aside from that his game built upon sneaking into the box (picking his runs into the box: drifting across the centrehalves from their weak or blind side) after a switch-of-play. Definitely not a 50/50 'run&chase' striker, with the physicality & explosiveness needed to convert early balls/crosses into almost regulation chances ala Ba. As a team (to get the best of him) you have to maintain pressure & possession in the final third as a cohesive unit, which would allow him time to read the defensive line & positioning, hereby pick & choose his runs. This fundamental is a neglected facet (at least as a focal point in training) under Pardew.

If there's to be little (or no) change in Pardew's preparation (for matches:priority given to team shape aimed at nullafying other teams) we may as well approach Pulis, and have him join the coaching ranks as Pardew's no.2. Very few managers (at least in Britain) coach a rigid, deep-sitting (defensively minded) tactical set-up better than Pulis.

As a nice glossy laminate, which offers some scope for interpretation, it's Defense Exhibit W - for his dossier & presentation, at the end of season (review) summit.

2-7 Soft-touch Arsenal (aerially, in their own box) will concede from a set-penis, accompanied by Pards throwing in his very best Jesus Christ Pose for added theatre which is appropriate for such a long-awaited & momentous occasion (set-penis score, Willo assist). If we close the season in that fashion, irrespective of the final score, i'll be very happy.

Keegan's guts would be churning, and his mentor (Shankly: master team motivator & inspirer of men) would be spinning in his grave, if they caught a wiff of/read that.

He's a bloody good sales/con man, I give him that. Wall Street is his higher calling - as one of those highly presentable suckholes, who neatly manage to hop skip & jump (thanks to their presentation skills) from one lifeboat to the next.

Ferguson's recruitment of Carlos Q was a marker of how adaptable he was, bringing aboard new ideas (changing-up the team's signature, or identity). He always believed in quick-strike, attacking football - but at one time, even with Cantona's genius improvising, his ethos was to bomb down the flanks, and pound penetrating balls into the box. Fergy realised, in Europe to a large extent ( Eng as well, as major rivals hired continental managers), against technical & highly organised teams they needed to build from the back & break teams down, patiently. That's what Carlos Q bought to the table, his approach & input was timely, and quite a shift in the minor detail. It wasn't a chance or fluke appointment, and showed that Fergy wasn't a manager who steadfastly retained an insular thinktank or entourage (in the coaching ranks). I have nothing but respect for his willingness to adapt over the years, and he's butted heads with some of the best 'club' managers around, year after year - from the stylistically attractive managers (keegan, wenger), to the meticulously pragmatic (Jose M, and 'Blackburn' Dalglish).

As part of the 'sell', to get him to sign on the dotted line, he would've been fed the manager's football philosophy. Anita offered a glowing endorsement, when he signed. One can presume that he was sold a footballing vision ie. how Pardew (and his training methods) will build upon an already strong learning base, certainly at a technical & tactical base. It's some some step down : from the Ajax System which is so technique orientated & based around team cohesion & fluidity as an attacking force>>> to largely having stats & Prozone'esque mumbo jumbo, and report cards etc (of your opposition's attack strengths) rammed down your throat for most of the week's preparation (as part of getting the team's def.shape just right). Similar can be said for Cabaye, Mbiwa, Moussa et al. Pardew would have sold them a football vision, as Keegan and SBR, Wenger used to/do, and.delivered upon. In this context they've been fraudently sold a s***-filled lava cake. Feel sorry for these lads.

That's the greater challenge, for repeat ACL'ers - staring at another tough 12 mth rehab/slog with the specialists post-op, just to get back to the professional level of performance. And it's arguably the physically most taxing rehab regime going around, at an elite level. It's that aspect (the mental side) which forces the retirement, especially when it' back-to-back, or a 3-peat The final reconstructive procedure, is more to do with maintaining an acceptable quality-of-life after football, in the context of having enough strength & range-of-movement, and the confidence to participate in the basics with the kids (whether that be backyard footy or cricket)

Sad but probably true f***ing hell. Yes, we throw our central defenders forward for the sole purpose of maintaining our defensive shape. Agree with Inochi's logic, but i have a suspicion (in training) we concentrate more on our defensive transition (after the opp clears it's line) than our movement inside the box (attacking the freekick, causing confusion feints & decoy movement off-the-ball etc). Because our floated fk's are hit & hope (to the head of Willo or Taylor).

Agreed. So inneffective & predictable, the S-P has pretty much become a gimmey for opposition coaches, as part of their gameplan imho - if the likes of Ben Arfa are on a roll, and we're applying pressure in open play, the release valve is to instruct your players to commit a cynical fouls. Set-Penis = almost a guaranteed end to our attacking threat & momentum, and it creates counterrattacking opportunities against us if the opposition are well drilled (in their transition play: off-the-ball movement & speed & incisiveness of the outlet ball). And these are things which can be worked-on, because of the obvious pattern of & lack of variation in our set-penis'. Set-pieces conceded shouldn't be seen as a positive, and i'm almost certain opp.coaches/managers view them as such. If this wasn't such a serious issue, somebody would have created a complilation video by now, with some funny/joke music to accompany the vision.