Lake Bells tits

our 4-4-2 only work when we occationally actually score on a hoof. We have the players for carpetball and yet we line up with a negatively minded 4-4-2 formation. Think we will see the best of cisse and ba if they are getting passes on the ground from cabaye and ben arfa.

Id much rather read the paper and have music throughout my life. Why would allow yourself never hearing music again for the sake of shitty tv programs.

a flat 4-4-2 requires offensive wingers who provide forward movement and width though, if we use these wingers to provide cover for fullbacks instead there is going to be a massive distance up to the strikers. Where is the link-up? Just cant see how we are able to create anything in such a system short of hoofing. We saw it vs chelsea - once we got to the midfield line we were completely outnumbered and overrun. probably one of their easier home wins season tbh. Reading gave them a much bigger fight. we could do with a quality winger despite the holes in our squad in defence and up front. Gutierrez looks more effective in the centre these days, and while I rate him as a key player for us, assists and goals are not his forte. Marveaux has not been injury-free for years, and we know all about Obertan's limitations. It means all the pressure rests on Ben Arfa's shoulders. We had a problem creating chances for much of last season despite finishing 5th, we were fortunate to have two strikers who had excellent spells where they were very clinical and we won a lot of even games because of better finishing. Tottenham last week was not so different. We rarely opened teams up and put them to the sword, even the weaker teams in the league. In Jonas, Ben Arfa, Marveaux and Obertan we have 4 wingers which numerically is enough, so you could argue there is no justification to invest here. But I would say there are huge question marks over Marveaux and Obertan, and Jonas has looked very good central in a midfield three as he showed against Spurs. I would move on one of Marveaux or Obertan and replace them with a winger of first team quality, or at least a player who can change a game from the bench. Adam Johnson would have been an excellent signing in my view and I was disappointed to see him end up at the mackems. Looking across our bench on Saturday against Chelsea, you could see we had nobody who could change the game or the way we play. Raylor for Simpson, Perch for Cabaye, Marveaux for Santon. I realise it almost certainly won't happen because we need to replace Simpson or sign him up to a new deal, and we desperately need another forward. Seeing as we tend to play 4-3-3 and seeing as we need a striker, then a forward comfortable in that wide left (or wide right) role could fit the bill perfectly and allow us to play different systems, keep teams guessing and also keep Ba and Cisse on their toes (which Ameobi will never do). It is good that Pardew knows what his best XI is as not all managers do, but with the players he has he doesn't really have much scope to change the system if it is not working or when teams figure out how to stop us which in time they will unless we have options. There are some arguing that we finished 5th last season and therefore we don't need to change but I disagree, it's an unforgiving league for teams who stand still. I am not suggesting Freddy Shepherd transfers but there is a medium between that and giving your manager next to nothing.

Because its "cool" to just point to the league table and say pardew knows best. Given the choice I`d like us to play nice fotball, and I believe we have the bodies to keep it on the ground alot and play a bit more like arsenal. Would be very pleasing to the eyes that, and perhaps more effective too with our throng of french/continental players. Before anyone asks, Id rather win ugly than lose classy ( FTM 9-1) - but I do believe we have yet to see the best of us. I also dont think Ba+Cisse will ever work as they are both hornier for goals than J69 in a whorehouse - so I hope we bring in a different type of striker.

So you are fine with 4-4-2 then? Happy with how it works? Simple question.

give up internet - easy. Rather have a car and travel the world than read about it online? Film or music - easy again. Films. The books are usually better and are you going to watch FILMS in a bar or at clubs or at the beach? Music and cars all day long.

I find no rumours

And you seem oblivious to quite a few games were we were incredibly lucky. Perhaps the truth lies somewhere down the middle.

Are you sure there werent quite a few goalfests mate?

I think we were lucky quite often last season, and I dont think we will get away with playing them for another season. Replay many of our games and the outcome would be a bit different me thinks.

So on that basis you would be happy with williamson and simpson starting for us for another season ( inevitable really because Steven taylor will self-destruct). I disagree with you, but its an honest opinion. They both look so, so uncomfortable on the ball and either play it back or play it long.

too expensive, lets sign a dutch utility midfielder for 7 million instead.

Both Simpson and Williamson were soliders last season, and did well. The problem is that neither of them are good enough. Its that simple. On a good day we get away with it, on other days we dont.

And simpson played nearly every game in a top-5 side. Every team has passengers, also ours.

I think what pardew rates above all else is defensive solidity. He is a pragmatist and reckons one of our big guns might pull something out of his sleeve, relying on individual brilliance to get the job done. Doesnt he leave most of the attacking stuff to carver anyway, on fridays? ( from the interview 9-10 months back). As it stands 4-4-2 often results in huff-and-puff games where we just contain and play it back and forth with the odd long ball to ba and cisse. As long as it gets us results I dont mind it at all but if we didnt have Ben arfa I shudder to think who else is capable of going past a man and opening up the game a bit. The answer is noone.

Baffling how we can go from being a top-6 team to comfortably lower mid table should a few quite likely scenarios occur in terms of ACONor injuries. If williamson or perch/taylor gets prolonged spells in our back 4 this season I can see cricket scores occur quite frequently.. Quite the gamble....

The problem is that they see eachother as competitors and as such they dont play well together. Clearly they want eachother to do well and are happy when the other striker score, but its quite obvious we are playing with two lone targetmen who both want to have the last toe on the ball. Especially Ba who many times decided to shoot from poor positions rather than look for cisse who are even better than him at finding gaps in the box.

you dont think its a valid question?

Genuine question. The only other team I know playing a flat 4-4-2 like we do is Man United, and aside from having world class wingers its not even a flat one as Rooney usually drops down to MF as the 5th man. How can we make the 4-4-2 work?

Unfortunately "When its right" means when the price is low enough, not when the team needs a spesific player or position filled.

they paid for it and want to squeeze every last drop out of their purchase

ant 5x5 40 minutes 3 times a week. take a 30 min walk on rest days and its fine.