The fifth place finish last season has long been forgotten, after all it doesn’t help us this season where we are still yet to secure our top flight status for next season.
From experience, once anyone involved with United has the fans against them then the writing is usually on the wall and they tend not to last too long.
Sporadic good results may temper the frustration in the interim but generally speaking patience wears thinner and thinner as time goes on and each time it takes less and less for fans to get back into the train of thought of wanting whoever it is they want out of of the door.
This is not to say that I think he deserves the sack. I’m not in the “Pardew out” camp just yet, but just because I’m not calling for him to be booted it doesn’t mean that I’m happy about things. I too can see mistakes that are being made (in my opinion) and I can also see that our football isn’t exactly great (understatement) at the moment.
However we are struggling, for whatever reason you wish to pick, and the pressure is on us. Pressure doesn’t lend itself to fast-flowing pretty football like we saw at the tail end of last season. Not this kind of pressure anyway… Instead battling and getting us “over the line” is what is most important.
Pardew has taken some flak for suggesting that avoiding relegation will do for the season given where we are now. I don’t disagree with that and don’t see the problem if truth be told. Disappointing as it is, it’s all we have left to go for in reality and is the difference between 17th and, say 15th, really anything to be bragging about anyway?
Not for me it isn’t…
So it’s been a horrible season and lets say the popular wish is granted and Pardew does get the boot. Who do you replace with him? This is not YOUR choice, it is Mike Ashley’s choice, so try and put yourself in his shoes before rattling off managerial names like staccato bursts of gunfire.
I’m sure there will be someone out there willing to try their hand at managing Newcastle United, but that someone must also be happy with how the club is setup these days. They must be happy with the policies we have in place and must realise that we won’t just throw money at things. They must also make do with having decisions made about their team above their heads and must be willing to not have full control over things. Oh and don’t forget that Alan Pardew is currently the lowest paid manager in the Premier League so I doubt very much that a large pay-check would be guaranteed either…
Like I said, I’m sure there is someone out there who fits the bill perfectly, but realistically the options are a lot narrower than people think. Remember, Pardew himself was plucked out of thin air and I wouldn’t bet against his successor, whether it be sooner rather than later, being of the same kind of ilk.
Maybe it’s better the devil you? Maybe not?
DJEBS9 – Our great manager can’t even make his mind up about how the injuries are caused or what, if anything, he’s going to do about it:
“We have got a good medical team here. In all seasons, there are one or two [injuries] perhaps you could have prevented by holding them back, and maybe that’s something we will look at.”
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
MDS-Ah yes, but it seems drama is what 85% of our fans want 😉
Newkie(Quote)
I don’t want drama, I want better performances game in, game out Newkie @152. I’m sure all of us can agree on that. Give us decent tactics, a real attacking plan and some defensive solidity as well. If Colo isn’t keen out he goes, but someone as good or better must come in to replace him. Clearly Cisse can’t handle the solitary striker role. Ben Arfa must play. In order to keep players like Cabaye, Krul, Ben Arfa and even Gouffran and Debuchy they will want to see a strengthened united squad next season. It’s up to Ashley, Llambias and Pardew to provide the basis for all of that.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
gordietwo…i hope i m wrong but 😐 …pards use always excuse of injury bla bla..use never complete type team bla bla…he said fews weeks ago some think like…”next year i hope to use and keep all players fit bla bla for better chalenge and finish top ten .. bla… bla…”that is why the way of my reflection…you know some manacer prefer go die with they re ideas …same stupid ideas….
djebs9(Quote)
G2-I think we can all agree we want better football and more wins, every side in the league wants that but obviously we want it more because of our current *****.
But people who say “i don’t care who comes in” or “anyone is better than pards” “its all down to him” blah blah, its a load of ***** quite frankly. Classic hysteria that only ever seems to damage our club.
Newkie(Quote)
For me the loss to Sunderland was the worst of all. We were shown what a team approach to the game can do even with lesser players than we have. It was a case of some excellent players on our side against a team which on paper would have looked second best every time. Yet we lost 3-0 at home. It just can’t be explained away the Pardew wants to do it. We were horribly exposed in that game as short of ideas and fighting spirit. I don’t think Pardew can ever receive enough criticism for that game alone but there have been many others like it. Still with an owner like Ashley we’re in a position where we don’t know whether we can trust Ashley to go out and get the right sort of football man in. I still wait hopefully for a change for the better if next season starts off poorly.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Aye Newkie you’re spot on @155 mate.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
thankfully b&b …you put your finger on what i hate so mush on pards speech…he used some words and a mecanik of reflection so stupid and iritable …when i read or heard him …it is so incredible a manager of a big club today have communicate team news to media and fans like that…he is a novice and a poor manager…. 😕
djebs9(Quote)
I’m off for a bit mates. Very interesting article to discuss.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
b&b …hba was great on wings …but on. this position . he must be careful defence and use his energy to help simpson or haidara ….it is great waste..i think if he played in central free role no 10 with sissoko and cabaye behind him .the is more equilbrate and ..he can make massive hot attak in heart of defence adverse …wi. free kick. penalty or score…he is the key and the factor x..of the team..we must enjoy for that …i m sure you know the better defencive tactic is massive attak… 😉
djebs9(Quote)
sorry.
..the team is more equlibrated…with v
hba free. central role..(4 1 2 1 2) like ac milan : 4 back line ti0te or anita…
.moussa and. cabs….hba. behind cisse and gouf… 😉 i m not a tactician..but some think …sometimes are so clear..perhaps pards can try this team. before the end of season… 😐 when safe… no …i don t think so…i .hope new a coach for that…
djebs9(Quote)
For me Sissoko needs to play through the centre, none of this on the wing bull ****, Toure doesn’t play there because it would be ineffective, if Benny does start then it should be on the right.
—————————–Elliot————————-
–Debuchy—–S.Taylor—M’biwa—–Haidara–
—————–Cabaye——–Jonas—————–
——-Ben Arfa——-Sissoko——Gouffran——-
—————————Cissé————————–
Marv has worked best as an impact sub so can come on for Ben Arfa later as Benny shouldn’t play the full 90 just yet.
Andymag(Quote)
Andy I would be ok with your team but I would maybe try 4-3-2-1 with Sissoke in the middle of the MF3 as that is his favoured position, with Benny and Goofy in the 2 behind Cisse ? has there been any word on Santon yet
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave
Could work but its a bit withdrawn, we need him in or around the box, where he’s most deadly.
Pardew says Santon has a chance for Arsenal (last game) but is unlikely.
Andymag(Quote)
GeordieTwo says:
April 25, 2013 at 20:10
It’s a good point about the drama MDS @145. Still in order to improve we need a better manager. I think it’s going to come down to that.
———————————-
We are in agreement there. I don’t have any names to suggest but a cool, calculating techncial continental type would be my wish.
MDS(Quote)
Andy a bit like this
—————————–Elliot————————-
–Debuchy—–S.Taylor—M’biwa—–Haidara–
—————–Cabaye——–Jonas—————–
Sissoko
——-Ben Arfa——-——Gouffran——-
—————————Cissé————————–
Big Dave(Quote)
“calculating techncial continental type would be my wish.”
————–
Actually, scratch that. I dated one of those once during my time abroad and let’s the experience didn’t live up to expectaitons…. 😉
MDS(Quote)
Andy that never cameout the way I wanted it more of Sissoko sitting infront of Cabs and Jonas but behind Benny and Goofy
Big Dave(Quote)
MDS @ 167 yeah mate theres nowt as bad as a calculating continental type
Big Dave(Quote)
DJEBS9: I said down the left; I meant down the right.
Pardew made such a great deal last season of Benny having to learn to do defensive duties. You know how he likes to get 11 men behind the ball. I love his new tactic of getting Cisse back to defend corners. 😛
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
I’m with dave I agree Sissoko further back Andy.
KIMTOON(Quote)
I rate Martinez but don’t think Ashley would go for him or Poyet or someone like that. He’ll either stick with Ashley or decide to adapt his cheap manager strategy and splash.
There are a lot of great potentials available this summer. I do think Pardew deserves another season, but he’s a bit of a Williamson/Simpson, performed admirably last year and when we sold Carroll, but we all know his talent is limited.
I can see Ashley being tempted by Moyes as he has experience of working under tight finances (though he has had a few expensive flops in his time)
Benitez is happy to work under Abramovich so would possibly come, wages would be enormous though so again depends on Ashley.
I was backing Blanc but didn’t know about his approach to training and desire for transfer control
We need Carr out in France to scout a good manager!
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Dave
Yeah or even the advanced midfielder in a 4-3-3. 4-3-3 would leave the defence a bit exposed though, Jonas would have to help Haidara out leaving space in the centre for the opposition to press.
Andymag(Quote)
I would like to see something like Andymag’s formation but with Tiote in for Jonas to start and with Sissoko and Cabaye switched around. I think Sissoko likes to play from a deeper postion and Cabaye has a wonderful touch on through balls to the wings or the CF. It’s a risk with Tiote but Jonas has gotten terribly slow and his passing has been terrible lately. Still between all of us I think we would come up with a better use of players than Pardew has!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
i have always said the manager has a better idea than us as hes sees them every day training,but imo its doesnt work in pardews case from what we see on the pitch wk in wk out maybe its who can hoof the ball the best
icedog(Quote)
GT
Maybe it’s just me who thinks Sissoko’s attacking power is wasted at CDM. He reminds me of Yaya who whilst at Barça was put at holding midfield to break up play and then pass it to someone who could attack, when man city signed him they put him further him and he scared the living **** out of defences, a similar story with Fellaini.
Andymag(Quote)
ANDY thats true mate from what i have seen as well
icedog(Quote)
@Andy
Yeah I agree, we just aren’t really utilising him at the minute.
I actually think Cabaye enjoys, and suits, the deeper lying role. If we play him as the slightly more attacking defensive mid then he’ll still get chances outside the box, it doesn’t alwayswork when he plays attacking mid as he rarely makes “the Nolan run” into the opposition area.
It’s no wonder he’s knackered though as some games he’s our best defensive midfielder, and our best attacking midfielder.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
ST i see what your saying the trouble is pardew plays him that deep hes on the toes of the defenders which leaves such a gap its un-real
icedog(Quote)
ST
Think that was why Cabs and toto made a great duo, Tiote held the middle of the pitch breaking up attacks meaning Cabaye didn’t have the bulk of defensive work and so could create chances. When both were on form (ala last season) then they were without a doubt the best CM pair in the league and one of the best in Europe. Tiote’s fall from any kind of form has hindered Cabaye’s game and thusly the team as a while has suffered. Tiote either has to get out of this rut or we’ll need someone who could do his job effectively and consistently. I hear Capoue is this type of player.
Andymag(Quote)
@Ice
Yeah it can get frustrating. It shows Cabaye doesn’t have confidence in the defence to bring the ball out imo.
@Andy
How long is Tiote’s contract? If he’s got another few years I would give him a make or break year. He can phenomenal, but niggly injuries constantly break him out of any form. Same goes for Saylor. For me to even consider him when naming any “this is how our XI should look” line ups he needs to play 30 league games a year.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
If Ashley is only allowing us 11 purples we can’t have people that are forever picking up injuries taking up the slots!Do you know one player who has gone basically 3 years without any injuries keeping out of action… Ol’ Knees up himself 😉
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
ST-This is the quote I got that impression from anyway
He now subscribes to what he calls “the Anglo-Saxon management mode”. This means he craves control over tactics and, most of all, transfers, and plays little direct role in training, which he finds unchallenging because “these days anyone can pick up training manuals in a high-street bookshop”. Instead he delegates training to his coaches, including his experienced assistant Jean-Louis Gasset, who 24 years ago was Blanc’s manager at Montpellier. “I will discuss training with the coaches,” says Blanc, “but my main role in that regard is to supervise and pre-empt any negative reactions players might have to what’s being done.”
So if that’s still the case, do you see Ashley bringing him in? I don’t. Then again, this was 2009 when he was being linked with the manchester united job (lol) and yoann gourcouff being linked with the top sides in europe (again, lol)
Just more evidence for the fickle nature of football I suppose.
Newkie(Quote)
Perhaps that might change a few opinions of Laurent Blanc’s rear end being the holy grail for Newcastle United among some people, although I doubt it. Anyone can teach professional footballers with a book…yes, i’m sure that’s exactly how Ferguson works as well…
Newkie(Quote)
I wouldn’t complain one bit if we got Benitez.
brisvegas(Quote)
Benitez… meh, not fussed by him.. He has turned in to a journey man that can’t settle at a club.. hardly what we would need if Pardz left.. 😕
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Newkie,
I wish Pards would pick up a book… 😉
JJ(Quote)
Said it before and I will say it again.
My choice would be Gus Poyet simply for the type of football he tries to play and i think it would suit our players.
I’m not in the changing the manager camp usually but Pards seems to have lost it. I’m happy for him to prove me wrong though!
Oblong(Quote)
Never been a Benitez fan and as much as Di Matteo won the FA cup and Champs league I’m not a fan of his negative tactics either.
Oblong(Quote)
Agree with oblong, neither fits the bill for me IMO. Would love Moyes but he’ll be off to a bigger club with big money. If I was a romantic then I’d say Mourinho would come to us for bobby and we would be his ultimate challenge to finally prove whether he is ‘the special one’.
Andymag(Quote)
*sir bobby
Andymag(Quote)
Oblong
Said the same of Benitez yesterday. He’d have us up in the top 10 but for me, I don’t like the type of football he players. I think he’s becoming “out dated” if that makes sense.
There is a new breed of attacking young fresh minded managers that are taking clubs to the next level. I think we need to step up and find ourself someone who fits in that category.
If Dortmund can put together a Champions League winning team with a starting eleven that cost 29 million pounds and an enthusiastic modern attacking exciting mananger. Then that would be the perfect “mould” to try follow…
Even if we achieved 1/8th of their success I’d be over the moon.
Heck, if we’d done what Swansea has this year I’d be happy for the next five years.
JJ(Quote)
People also comment that clubs with the League Cup and then get relegated… Is that what we want?
Well its better than winning **** all, playing **** football and then getting relegated anyway. Incase they forget, that’s what happened to us and we’re on course for it to happen again.
Need to get through this season and start taking on a fresh, modern, positive, passionate approach.
JJ(Quote)
I think this discussion shows that replacing Pardew isn’t as easy as it sounds. Christ we can barely even get 50%of us to agree on who we would even just like to see in the seat.
That’s before even taking into account wages, whether they’d work for the board etc!
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Heck, if we’d done what Swansea has this year I’d be happy for the next five years
We came 5th last year and you weren’t even happy for 12 months 😆 😆 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
JJ, wondered who might pick up on that 😆
Newkie(Quote)
ST-We can’t even agree on what is wrong, other than Pardew+team in general. People are now coming around to Sissoko in the middle, I remember suggesting as much when we first signed him but got shot down by a few for suggesting as much “because it wasn’t his natural position.” People are asking more often for short corners, but when we did that earlier this season people criticised them (I belive B+B did?)
Fans always like to think they know better or have some elixer that will bring the team to life, I include myself in that because otherwise discussing footie is boring. The bulk of the noise is simply results based, but I agree with Toonsy, I think even if Pards did turn it around next season people would only hide their daggers, not drop them. It’s only a matter of time now.
Aussie@195 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Aussie,
Swansea won a trophy.
JJ(Quote)
Another Pardew classic: “I haven’t got to the end of this season yet and you’ve got to get to the end to understand exactly what has gone on.” “When you throw a blanket across the division, there’s not a lot of difference between clubs that have been described as having great seasons and us.” I don’t know what he’s smoking but I’ve a fair idea where he’s drinking: the last chance saloon. 😛
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
Newkie – You’re right. I did criticise short corners. I still do. Countless times, they’re taken short, the vital second is lost and the ball’s not delivered at all. There’s no logical reason why a player cannot get a dangerous ball into the box from a corner.
I’d like to see it blasted hard and low into the box with someone on the near post looking to get a flick on or to dummy it through their legs. Not once have we seen any sort of ingenuity.
I don’t get this “blame the coaches” line. The manager is there to identify problems and come up with solutions with the help of his coaches. The Johnstone Paints Trophy winner is failing to manage.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
He will only be sacked if we get relegated which would pretty much rule everyone suggested out bar Clarky.
Personally think Pardew deserves another season, He had a half season stablising after Hughton, A fantastic 5th place finish, manager of the season some inspired signings followed by a dreadful season caused by the club pulling the rug from under him by not strengthening in the summer.
The first few months of next season will make or break him, If we start well he will be flavour of the month again, If we start badly and are still scraping around where we are currently come october/november time his position is untenable…
CC(Quote)
B+B-Aye, I wasn’t criticisng you for blasting them just saying the fans do not agree on the tactics. Imo when Benny is playing and in form, giving it short and letting him run at someone is fine. I get the low blast you are after. Personally I want an inswinging one that will keep it out of the reach of the keeper, but I just see the same thing, i.e a straight ball aimed to drop into the keepers hands every time.
Is it coaches? Not sure. I still maintain cabs isnt good for deadballs unless he is shooting. Free kick deliveries from Anita and Marv have been better from the little I have seen, although corners again…meh..
Anyone remember if cabs used to take corners for Lille? Pretty sure Ribery takes them for les bleus?..
Newkie(Quote)
We have no one that can head the feckin ball, that is the issue. And please don’t say Saylor can.. there is no comparison between attacking a ball delivered from a corner and getting it on target and heading it back down the park from a goal kick or set piece.
JJ, so did we…
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie your anti Saylor stuff is starting to sound like all the other anti Pards **** we have to listen to 😯 . I take it you have never seen Saylor score from a corner 😕
Big Dave(Quote)
Newkie Surely an outswinging corner gives goalkeepers most trouble and moves towards the oncoming forwards.
Groucho(Quote)
Big Dave, settle down mate.. I have seen him score but it was a couple of years ago, what does that tell you… we have no one that is a real threat, that incudes everyone, I just pre-empted the Saylor calls. It was not an attack on him..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie..agree with that too, but there is still a problem with delivery imo. I think Saylors 3 goals in 3 games 3 years ago might have everyone fooled still…But pretty sure Raylor and Barton delivered those..pretty sure 2 were corner goals at least?
Newkie(Quote)
Saylor used to get quite a few, The delivery is the problem and it stems back to Barton being taken off free kicks away to dirty leeds pre season last year. That was when he started to slag the club on his twatter and the beginning of the end for him at NUFC and us as a force from set pieces weve been worse than ***** ever since.
16 goals from set pieces 2010-11, 1 in 2011-12 and 0 so far in 2012-13… 🙄
CC(Quote)
Groucho-Yeah mate, I think outswingers are easier for planks to score as well because all it has to do is hit your face, but Im under the impression that we’re vaguely attempting that nowadays only we’re absolutely terrible at it..I don’t think the players we have possess the tequnique to make it work properly without it swinging out to the edge of the box.
Inswingers just seem more likely to cause more fumbles in the box more often, maybe someone can toe poke it in because nobody seems able to power a header in.
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie, yep, he had just come back from injury from memory.. I always thought Big Dave was open to people having an opinion 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Newkie, agree. Especially with some that refuse to give Pardew credit for last year. I don’t think he’s immensely talented but however terrible he’s been this year is almost equally matched by how well he did last year.
What really annoys me is that:
Pre 11/12 season chat: We have no proven striker, the squad has been weakened, Mike Williamson all the passion will be gone without Barton/Nolan, we have no left back, right back is dire, we need another centre back, couple of injuries and we’ll struggle.
Pre 12/13 season chat: We need a centre back, the squad has been weakened, we need another back up striker, Mike Williamson we have so many more games and not enough strength in depth.
These people want to have their cake, and eat it too. If you go on their predictions we would have been lucky to get 50 points each. So their conclusion “should” be: Pardew performed incredibly well last year. And he has marginally underperformed this year, the squad (before Jan) in their view is weaker than the season we came up. In another words, like you said, fans know **** all and thank god the opinions of any of us on this blog are never listened to!
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
tequnique?
technique..
Newkie(Quote)
@CC
It was the feared trio – Carroll – Nolan – Barton. Fat Sam should honestly try and sign Barton, 16 goals from set pieces is just obscenely good.
One thing I will say is that last year we scored the same number of goals with Barton etc here as the season he left, so was it a shift away from the type of players (Nolan/Carroll) to more technical footballers that saw a lot of the drop?
Doesn’t excuse how bad we’ve been, but we aren’t going to reach those peaks with the players we want to play for us.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Aussie-aye, and ranger assisted. We had big strong players then and everyone seemed a threat…Colo used to cause trouble as well, i recall him hitting the bar a few times and for a CB he could be relied on to get a shot away in the box…which is why I keep going to delivery..CC makes excellent points, I recall even being annoyed with set pieces in that leeds game alongside laughing at Forster…what does that tell you. (You should know better of Dave… 😆 )
Solano…Aye agreed, I thought Stuarts stats the other about the points picked up since Jan were very interesting and this was after having to battle the rot pre-jan, if we’d had the lot in the summer, we would not have been reliant on Ba and we wouldnt have had to develop an entirely new style (because it essentially is) halfway through a season. But apparently those things shouldnt be considered, and players who barely speak the same languages as the coaches should walk into our team and we should be playing champagne football…
Newkie(Quote)
Aussie I have no problem with opinions but if I want yours i’ll give it to you first 😀 .
I just don’t want you going the same stuck record way as some of the anti Pards crew 😉
But I have seen Saylor attack many corners but yeah your right not in the last 2 seasons but you can hardly ignore the fact that he has been out injuried or the fact no one can deliver a corner
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave, I will forgive you for that old opinion joke.. because you are old too 🙂 🙂
I wouldn’t call a couple of comments on two threads being a stuck record. I let the anti Pardz comments go for a couple of months before I cracked! 🙂 🙂
As far as corners, it is a lucky dip as to where the ball goes and we seem to end up with the booby prize every time 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Solano-aye..But Ameobi racked up the assists and some goals from set pieces too, as well as the fact WILLO and colo even got involved. Delivery just has to be an issue. Whether its coached or not…
Newkie(Quote)
Oblong/Andy/JJ – regarding Rafa, look at his CV and what he has won as a manager, even during his time at Valencia.
I understand what you’re saying about style of football and whilst it isn’t the free flowing, quality passing of Barca, it also isn’t the ugly hoofball we play now. What it could be though, based on the fact that he’s won trophies at 6 different clubs, won a Don Balon award and UEFA manager of the year award twice.
It may not be the most attractive football but if its successive, hell I could live with that compromise like.
I could argue that Man Utd don’t play the type of football that Barca, Bayern Munich or even Dortmund play – but they’ve won the league by 15 points. Success doesn’t always come pretty.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy-Aye…am much happier with a win than a good looking loss. It’s what man u have built themselves on to be fair.
Newkie(Quote)
@Newkie – True but we wouldn’t consider Ameobi/Willo as part of the first team. If Stoke wanted a shift away from their hoofball play they would inevitably score less set piece goals as they wouldn’t be playing the same giant players.
@Sharpy, I wouldn’t bring up the awards Rafa has won, Pardew has made it so Newcastle fans now don’t rate them in the slightest
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
One of the problems we have at set pieces is simple ability in the air. For me, and I expected this, Saylor just can’t jump as high as he did before his achilles injury. Mbiwa can’t jump hardly at all, Sissoko’s hardly known for his heading and the rest of them are dwarves unless you count threepenny piece head Shola or Cisse.
georgio(Quote)
ST
Id like to see plenty of outstanding technical players scoring from open play with the added threat of nicking a cheap goal or two from set pieces when were under the cosh particularly away from home not too much to ask considering how good Cabaye is shooting from free kicks for him to beat the first man and put it into an area for players to attack.
I know plenty cant stand Barton but it would have been intersting to see how last season would have panned out with him. Obertan played on the right for the majority before Pardew finally trusted Ben Arfa to start. Barton with that set piece ratio, 7 other assists and 5 goals the previous season from the right may well have made the difference between 3rd and 5th…
CC(Quote)
Dave/Andy – I know it’s a while ago now but re your comments about formation and where Sissoko should play I favour the 4-3-1-2 formation that worked so well for Pardew last season:
——————- Elliott —————-
Debuchy – Saylor – MYM – Haidara
—– Cabaye — Tiote — Anita ——-
—————- Sissoko —————-
———- Cisse — Gouffran ———–
Debuchy and Haidara can provide width and Cabaye and Anita can get forward too when we have to ball. More importantly Sissoko and Gouffran can offer support to an injured Cisse and obviously look to help him out in the goals department as well.
Equally as important though, this formation offers better defensive support.
It can’t be any worse than what he’s playing now.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Aussie I don’t really agree with it being a lucky dip where the ball goes, I tattoo a guy that plays in the irish league and he says that they practise corners and 9 times out of 10 the ball is put into a 5ft by 5 area, I just don’t think we practise them.
Right may go do a bit of work
Big Dave(Quote)
Solano-I know mate, but they weren’t even part of the first team in that season, although Shola gradually broke in and Staylor was out when injured etc. I just meant that, times past, everyone looked dangerous, or could do something with the delivery…now, nothing
Newkie(Quote)