Alan Pardew

[Sifu]

Think it's pretty safe to say that Pardew is a 4-4-2 man with 4-3-3 as his alter-ego.

 

4-4-2 can be a legitimately good system to use, it's just that we lack the proper players to make it work (ie. actual wingers who can cross the ball). From what we've seen so far this season, Ferguson and Ben Arfa are the only players who can actually cross the ball with a deal of accuracy. Fergie is pretty much an out and out winger; Ben Arfa's best role is that of an inside forward who has/should have a free role across the midfield to really influence the play and as such isn't a "proper" winger. Jonas can't really do much on the wing anymore despite giving his all out there and Marveaux's early promise has seemingly disappeared (could be down to personal problems).

 

So, a lack of specialised personnel = an ineffective system.

 

The same argument has been made over and over mind but 4-3-3 is the way to go - it brings the best out of all our players and the personnel are actually suited to it. Time for Pardew to embrace his inner self.

[durhamunigeordie]

Just got in and not read anything, but i'd imagine the general consensus is that we need to be starting games 4-3-3.

[Parky]

Think it's pretty safe to say that Pardew is a 4-4-2 man with 4-3-3 as his alter-ego.

 

4-4-2 can be a legitimately good system to use, it's just that we lack the proper players to make it work (ie. actual wingers who can cross the ball). From what we've seen so far this season, Ferguson and Ben Arfa are the only players who can actually cross the ball with a deal of accuracy. Fergie is pretty much an out and out winger; Ben Arfa's best role is that of an inside forward who has/should have a free role across the midfield to really influence the play and as such isn't a "proper" winger. Jonas can't really do much on the wing anymore despite giving his all out there and Marveaux's early promise has seemingly disappeared (could be down to personal problems).

 

So, a lack of specialised personnel = an ineffective system.

 

The same argument has been made over and over mind but 4-3-3 is the way to go - it brings the best out of all our players and the personnel are actually suited to it. Time for Pardew to embrace his inner self.

 

Spot on. But why is he sticking to this hell on rollerblades?

 

We have no juice for the fluid or summink.

[Sifu]

Just got in and not read anything, but i'd imagine the general consensus is that we need to be starting games 4-3-3.

 

Pretty much.

[JH]

It's like that end of season spell didn't even happen.

[Parky]

Even 3-5-2 would be better with our lack of fullbacks. Santon RM and Fergie LM. Hatem in the center with license to record various Bond theme tunes.

[Tooj]

The one thing that concerns me is Pardew certainly talks a good game. Talks about how he is a student of the game and I do believe he is very methodical in his approach. How he's spent time when he was sacked from Southampton learning things abroad and how he wants us to play a more possession based game. Yet apart from the 4-3-3 towards the end of last season I'm yet to really see any signs that he seems to know how to put these things into practice.

 

Also the fact in the summer we tried to sign both Carroll and De Jong suggests 4-4-2 is his preferred formation with that option of playing direct. Wish we'd have signed Mirallas in the summer as then we really could have played 4-3-3 and Ba or Cisse would have had to fight it out as the main man at the top of that.

 

At the moment Ba seems to be a better player than Cisse in a formation with limited service, but I still think Cisse is a better striker than him. Pardew just needs to be brave and make a decision on what he wants to do, as all of this chopping and changing with the formation at the moment is not good for the players as we don't really have any identity as a team.

 

We're still far too reliant on individuals gaining the results for us rather than team performances which is where a team like Everton are far better than us. They do have some outstanding individuals but on paper we have a better team than them, but Moyes is a better manager than Pardew and has Everton playing as a team and a unit whereas Pardew doesn't seem to know how to do that for us at the moment.

[Jordan]

Think we need to go 4-3-3 with Cisse or Ba starting not both. They don't work as a partnership and doesn't seem like they ever will. Our team looks better in that formation and only Ba and Cisse on the wing don't look comfortable, we need to stop pandering to individual needs and focus on the team. Our strongest team at the moment when fit,for me,is:

                Krul

Anita Staylor Colo Santon

                Tiote

      Cabaye        Jonas

Ben Arfa      Ba  Ferguson

 

Cisse is out of form at the moment and only performs when in the middle and Ferguson has looked our strongest left winger so far this season.   

[Parky]

Top post Tooj. Long ball for the long haul - Pard8. 

[Guest BooBoo]

Enough with the Pard8 shit man. Wasn't even funny the first time you said it.

[Beren]

The one thing that concerns me is Pardew certainly talks a good game. Talks about how he is a student of the game and I do believe he is very methodical in his approach. How he's spent time when he was sacked from Southampton learning things abroad and how he wants us to play a more possession based game. Yet apart from the 4-3-3 towards the end of last season I'm yet to really see any signs that he seems to know how to put these things into practice.

 

Also the fact in the summer we tried to sign both Carroll and De Jong suggests 4-4-2 is his preferred formation with that option of playing direct. Wish we'd have signed Mirallas in the summer as then we really could have played 4-3-3 and Ba or Cisse would have had to fight it out as the main man at the top of that.

 

At the moment Ba seems to be a better player than Cisse in a formation with limited service, but I still think Cisse is a better striker than him. Pardew just needs to be brave and make a decision on what he wants to do, as all of this chopping and changing with the formation at the moment is not good for the players as we don't really have any identity as a team.

 

We're still far too reliant on individuals gaining the results for us rather than team performances which is where a team like Everton are far better than us. They do have some outstanding individuals but on paper we have a better team than them, but Moyes is a better manager than Pardew and has Everton playing as a team and a unit whereas Pardew doesn't seem to know how to do that for us at the moment.

 

 

Miles between them.

[Jack Flash]

Sticking a 20 goal a season striker on the wing didn't work last season and it's not working this season. 20+ games of this and still no hint of change.

 

It did work though.

 

Clearly not for whoever is on the wing. We've got 2 of the best finishers in the league but we don't act like it.

Yes, but it worked for the team. You pick your best team, not your best 11 players.

 

I'd be surprised if anyone thought we were picking our best team, as apposed to out best players.

[Parky]

Enough with the Pard8 shit man. Wasn't even funny the first time you said it.

 

It's not meant to be funny. It's meant to subliminally make you commit suicide. Nearly there.

[toondra]

8 like the best newcastle will finish this year, i think the team is really average and plays poor football, team spirit doesn't make all

[Beren]

Enough with the Pard8 shit man. Wasn't even funny the first time you said it.

 

It's not meant to be funny. It's meant to subliminally make you commit suicide. Nearly there.

 

 

It's the prerogative of Parky.

[Disco]

Enough with the Pard8 shit man. Wasn't even funny the first time you said it.

 

Hello Mr. Pot, how are things at the Arena?

[Guest BooBoo]

Enough with the Pard8 shit man. Wasn't even funny the first time you said it.

 

Hello Mr. Pot, how are things at the Arena?

 

Lovely, thanks.

[Jayson]

Pardews a clever chap, we'll be fine. You shouldnt give up on people so quickly lads.

[Guest neesy111]

Pardews a clever chap, we'll be fine. You shouldnt give up on people so quickly lads.

 

Nice try.

[BONTEMPI]

Pardews a clever chap, we'll be fine. You shouldnt give up on people so quickly lads.

 

His cocks more cunning tbh

[Wullie]

The one thing that concerns me is Pardew certainly talks a good game. Talks about how he is a student of the game and I do believe he is very methodical in his approach. How he's spent time when he was sacked from Southampton learning things abroad and how he wants us to play a more possession based game. Yet apart from the 4-3-3 towards the end of last season I'm yet to really see any signs that he seems to know how to put these things into practice.

 

Also the fact in the summer we tried to sign both Carroll and De Jong suggests 4-4-2 is his preferred formation with that option of playing direct. Wish we'd have signed Mirallas in the summer as then we really could have played 4-3-3 and Ba or Cisse would have had to fight it out as the main man at the top of that.

 

At the moment Ba seems to be a better player than Cisse in a formation with limited service, but I still think Cisse is a better striker than him. Pardew just needs to be brave and make a decision on what he wants to do, as all of this chopping and changing with the formation at the moment is not good for the players as we don't really have any identity as a team.

 

We're still far too reliant on individuals gaining the results for us rather than team performances which is where a team like Everton are far better than us. They do have some outstanding individuals but on paper we have a better team than them, but Moyes is a better manager than Pardew and has Everton playing as a team and a unit whereas Pardew doesn't seem to know how to do that for us at the moment.

 

I still think 4-4-2 with two finishers is more than possible (Cole and Yorke is the example that leaps to mind, as well as Shearer/Ferdinand) but you've got to have the right mix of players and we ain't got them. You've got to have wingers who can cross superbly from their natural side and two box-to-box players. I don't like a holding midfielder in a 4-4-2, your other three midfielders have got to be very competent in an attacking sense for it to work. Ferguson's never gone for it although Wenger has at times.

[Wullie]

Poor today, but I was very happy with the starting line up and system on paper when it was announced. Started very floppily though, and very poor individual mistakes cost us the first two goals. He needs to get us playing from the very beginning of games. That is my biggest criticism of him atm. The rest of the issues are fairly minor imo because when we do get going we play some pretty good stuff.

 

You were happy with a 4-4-2 with Jonas on the left? That just baffles me tbh.

[Guest BooBoo]

There's often a big chasm between what Pards says and what we see on the field. He's spoken about improving our football and becoming a threat from set pieces yet we seem to struggle to improve either on the field.

[Mick]

Poor today, but I was very happy with the starting line up and system on paper when it was announced. Started very floppily though, and very poor individual mistakes cost us the first two goals. He needs to get us playing from the very beginning of games. That is my biggest criticism of him atm. The rest of the issues are fairly minor imo because when we do get going we play some pretty good stuff.

 

Why were you happy with our starting line up?

 

I know a few were and I can't understand why people were happy that we had our first choice central defence missing then decided to make things worse and also change the full backs against one of the best attacking teams in the league.

[Wullie]

There's often a big chasm between what Pards says and what we see on the field. He's spoken about improving our football and becoming a threat from set pieces yet we seem to struggle to improve either on the field.

 

The set piece issue is a fucking disgrace tbh. I hate short corners but at the moment I'd sooner take them all short and try to draw a foul or get a shooting opportunity. Total waste of time otherwise.

 

And why do we whack every free kick within 60 yards into the box? Take it short and try and build up an opportunity. There is absolutely no aerial threat. You can't employ an Allardyce tactic with Perch, Williamson and Cisse to aim at ffs.