Vurnon Anita (now playing for RKC Waalwijk)

[Ikon]

As a midfield two in a 4-4-2 that we've played most times apart from a shorter run last season they've been good and solid, but not much more imo.

 

And in the new setup now considering Tiote's form and dwelling on the ball i don't think it's odd to prefer Anita instead, especially at home and against the 'lesser' teams.

[STM]

Nolan/Tiote was a good partnership but it was set up that was much different, a one more suitable to Pardews style too.

 

Anita is the most rounded midfielder we have, sadly this means his versatility is his strength.

 

Suprised Pardew isn't shoehorning him in all over actually... I probably would TBH.

 

Much better option than Jonas, in all ways.

[The College Dropout]

As a midfield two in a 4-4-2 that we've played most times apart from a shorter run last season they've been good and solid, but not much more imo.

 

 

 

How many points are we off relegation? Go for the tried and tested in midfield.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

As much as I rate Anita I wouldn't have a problem with Tiote/Cabaye for now, providing Tiote can recover some sort of form.

[Ronaldo]

I love Anita to step up because Tiote isn't the long term answer.

[Ikon]

As a midfield two in a 4-4-2 that we've played most times apart from a shorter run last season they've been good and solid, but not much more imo.

 

 

 

How many points are we off relegation? Go for the tried and tested in midfield.

 

Google it.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I love Anita to step up because Tiote isn't the long term answer.

 

Not much about the debate is long term mind, long term Tiote might get back to his best.

[cubaricho]

I love Anita to step up because Tiote isn't the long term answer.

 

Not much about the debate is long term mind, long term Tiote might get back to his best.

 

I think it'll be for someone else though.

[Ronaldo]

I love Anita to step up because Tiote isn't the long term answer.

 

Not much about the debate is long term mind, long term Tiote might get back to his best.

 

We still don't know what his best is. There's a lot suggesting that his brilliant first season was the result of us being a newly promoted side and up against it every week with an extremely attack-minded player next to him. And with Alan Smith as his deputy.

[The College Dropout]

I reckon some of these posts will be made to look stupid over the next few months. Then again, people are moaning non-stop about the yellow cards which has and always will be a feature of his game.

[The College Dropout]

People are also claiming last season he was average. When pretty much everyone in the squad had solid to excellent seasons.

 

So there's definite swing in general popularity. He shots from outside the box once or twice and people start crying.

[Ronaldo]

Yeah, apart from his shooting he's been flawless.

[arnonel]

I really wish we had a perfect manager and 11 perfect footballers.

 

Alas

[Dokko]

Virgin Anita - according to my 6 year old. Along with Davide Santa & passit Cisse. Oh and Your-hand Can-buy. 

[Eddy Chibas]

Mentioned this in another thread.

 

Ideal time to blood him further in midfield 3 with Tiote & Cabaye. Tiote's physical presence would allow Anita to concentrate on what he does best ie. run/carry & link-up man through the middle third. I think his movement & burst-of-pace would kick-off our transition play through the middle.

 

Well schooled (in pass & move footy) & technically very neat. Good little footballer, sorely undervalued atm. No doubt has his eyes on a big prize too, WC Brazil. But he's not a big physical speciman ala Moussa, and he's not as physical (in attitude) as Perch, and Gutz is being afforded too much loyalty from the manager. He's in a difficult spot imho, which is a pity - good little player. Being a peripheral figure here behind Gutz (with Perch's 'tackle' value often preferred too) doesn't help his chances for inclusion at the business end of the qualy campaign. He deserves clarfication on this front. Understandable if a resquest for a move away eventuates.

[Mole_Toonfan]

That is all fine and dandy and all but that means one of Gouffran, Sissoko, Ben Arfa and Cisse won't play and Sissoko likely to be pushed out to the right.

 

Not sure i want that tbh.

[Hanshithispantz]

With Ben Arfa coming back though there isn't really room for him if we are to play with both Tiote and Cabaye. There probably would have been a decent case to play Sissoko in Jonas' role like with the 3 of them in centre but he's been just fine through the middle.

[Hanshithispantz]

I don't think Tiote put a foot wrong today personally, he got booked and everyone instantly assumes he's a wreckless nutcase and starts shouting at him

 

Having said that I think Anita could have done Tiote's job against Swansea's midfield and obviously is a far better option when we're on the ball.

[Dave]

I don't think Tiote put a foot wrong today personally, he got booked and everyone instantly assumes he's a wreckless nutcase and starts shouting at him

 

Having said that I think Anita could have done Tiote's job against Swansea's midfield and obviously is a far better option when we're on the ball.

 

[cubaricho]

I don't think Tiote put a foot wrong today personally, he got booked and everyone instantly assumes he's a wreckless nutcase and starts shouting at him

 

Having said that I think Anita could have done Tiote's job against Swansea's midfield and obviously is a far better option when we're on the ball.

 

Definitely the way I saw it.  Tiote wasn't horrible, but I think Anita would've been better, considering the opposition.

[SAK]

I don't think Tiote put a foot wrong today personally, he got booked and everyone instantly assumes he's a wreckless nutcase and starts shouting at him

 

Having said that I think Anita could have done Tiote's job against Swansea's midfield and obviously is a far better option when we're on the ball.

 

He had a poor first touch of the ball a few times and was put under press by Swansea players and lost the ball. With Anita that's less likely to happen.

[Mole_Toonfan]

Tbf i don't see the need to change anything, the way look at it is when everyone is fit right now this is the first choice XI: Krul, Debuchy, Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Gouffran and Cisse.

 

If Anita wants in then he will have to do so the old fashioned way, by forcing Pardew's hands with performances.

 

Same goes for Mbiwa, Marveaux, Haidara etc etc.

 

I still think Anita is a DM in the Britton mould and could play there for us if used properly but right now that is Tiote's berth and IMO rightly so.

 

 

[Elliottman]

Tbf i don't see the need to change anything, the way look at it is when everyone is fit right now this is the first choice XI: Krul, Debuchy, Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Gouffran and Cisse.

 

If Anita wants in then he will have to do so the old fashioned way, by forcing Pardew's hands with performances.

 

Same goes for Mbiwa, Marveaux, Haidara etc etc.

 

I still think Anita is a DM in the Britton mould and could play there for us if used properly but right now that is Tiote's berth and IMO rightly so.

 

 

 

There's a flaw in your theory. Jonas has been playing poorly to average all season. I dont remember coming away from a game this year thinking 'aye, Jonas was great today'. However he's never been in danger of losing his place - this is when he has had Marv come in and put in some really decent attacking performance.

 

Ask Danny Guthrie  if you can force AP's hand. He played some of the best stuff of his career last year when Tiote was gone and as soon as he was back Guthrie was on the bench.

 

Its pretty clear that Pards has his favorites and its becoming clear that he doesnt like to rotate in the league. Injuries aside, i'm not sure how Anita etc are going to get in.

[Mole_Toonfan]

I'm talking about from an ideal scenario, obviously Pards isn't likely to do that mind.

[Eddy Chibas]

That is all fine and dandy and all but that means one of Gouffran, Sissoko, Ben Arfa and Cisse won't play and Sissoko likely to be pushed out to the right.

 

Not sure i want that tbh.

 

That's all fine and dandy & all, (based on prev form) the lad hasn't deserved to be mostly shunted behind Gutz (a prime & lucky beneficiary of a lack of ruthlessness on the manager's part) and sometimes Perch. An opportunity in last few lge games has been lost, with Moussa's moonlighting upfront, Cabaye & Tiote respective returns, and Ben Arfa's continued absence (catalyst for Moussa's role upfront).  Would have been fucking good to see how a trio of Cabaye-Tiote-Anita would have looked over the last couple of lge game.

 

Tiote (physical presence, defensive workrate), Cabaye (passing range, playmaking qualities), Anita (efficient instinctive/quick passer, run & carry/link-up). That's a well balanced, and varied skill-set you like to see in a unit. It should have been given more of a chance very recently, and would've provided a very nice selection dilemma (when Ben Arfa is fit) before a ball is even kicked come matchday.

 

Who do you think will be Pardew's preferred options from the bench, when Pardew is lucky enough to have a selection dilemma. Will you be happy if the ball bounces the way i think it will ie. highly promising, well-schooled youngster playing second fiddle to 30+er whose legs are burning out, and Perch (dependable, but should be an emergency option)?

 

And he's got one of these pushy football-dads running his affairs too. If Anita was shite i wouldn't even be entering into this conversation, in this instance expressing a concern.