OTF

You're obsessed with leaving Jonas out, and yet on the weekend he was our second best player behind only Ben Arfa. The amount of free-kicks he wins is phenomenal (most in the league?) and his work rate cannot be faulted. Sprinted back to cover for Santon on at least one occassion against Spurs. You've seen Anita for 20 odd minutes where he was overall positive but a little over-awed and you're already hoiking poor old Jonas. CT I have to ask - what is it you have against him? Formation wise I think we'll see changes throughout the season based on who we're playing and which players we have available. Implementations of 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 can be quite similar at any length depending on the ability of the players to get up and down the pitch and the extent to which they focus on attack or defense. With Ben Arfa out there we need to be able to give him freedom to operate all over the pitch - perhaps in a 4-3-3 he's able to do this without upsetting the balance of the side defensively as much and for that reason alone it could be work it. I don't think the decision to play 4-4-2 would have been heavily influenced by wanting to play Ba centrally, more like;y by having more players in the midfield which is where some would argue the strength of Spurs is - a 4-3-3 normally wouldn't offer great protection to the fullbacks which is something you would certainly be wanting against Tottenham who have Bale, Lennon and a pair of quick fullbacks who like to push up the pitch. Funnily enough Ba scored from a Simpson cross, of which he actually put in more than one dangerous one! Defensively he still had his shortcomings, but recovered well and overall had the most work to do of our defense.

Dickheads.

Dawson = overrated IMO.

Very interesting.

Worried about our defense. Can see why Perch is preferred to Williamson. Pardew will have him set to mark Defoe. Attack wise it's a strong side, it's our pitch so let's hope we can control the game and limit the defending that we have to do.

You would think so.

I thought it was banned shortly after WWII? It's a fine point though, we have had a strong team spirit the last couple of years - with the more boisterous older players being moved on it seems to now be more neutral and less cliquey which is good. A lot of assumptions there - but the on-field performance and off-field snippets back them up.

Only if Twente don't make the group stages. Twente wouldn't have lowered his value by playing him in Europe if they intended to cash in on him IMO. Hope I'm wrong.

I don't think Douglas will happen now that he's cup tied.

Top 8 I would be happy with. Top 6 would be excellent. Just hope that we play games on our own terms (especially at home) and try to win every game we play by putting out our best avaiable side - including cup games. And I'll add that I would most like us to beat Man City this season. Last year they had our measure, but in the few years prior they always managed to jag results through poor officiating or dodgy play. We owe them a hiding.

I wouldn't think so. He had a good season last time out - scored 3 goals picked up 3 assists and was an everpresent in the side - not a crock, and played wherever he was required (due to other injuries etc). Won 86 free-kicks for us which is nothing to scorn at and countless number of corners to add to that tally. I think Jonas offers good balance and graft to the side.

Not the greatest of defense from Raylor on that one...

Excellent point well made.

Fecking heck their stadium in it's current cconfiguration can only hold 45k....

There has to be some mind games in that list... otherwise. ...........................Krul................................... Simpson......Taylor... Williamson.......Santon ..Obertan......Bigi.....Abeid............Jonas...... .....................Marveaux................................ ..............................Shola............................. Subs: Harper, Perch, Amalfitano, Sammy, R. Taylor, Vuckic, Gosling.

Who has actually said that apart from attention seekers? If we start the season with Simpson as our primary right back it's not a huge problem. However, when you've had a more attack competent and skillful player hinted at for so long it does make it frustrating. Looking at our first 11 Simpson stands out as the most limited player so he would be an obvious choice for replacement by someone more well rounded. In particular when you consider that he's close to the end of his contract and word is that he wants a significant amount more money. His goalline clearances last season were of huge value and whenever he's on the pitch he does give his all.

I'd send out a young team against Chelsea.

Worrying to have this many injuries already. Hopefully there's some gamesmanship amongst them with Pardew keeping AVB guessing who they'll be lining up against. Of those Colo out would be the biggest cause for concern.

Glad you agree.

It was damn good mate, but Sydney 2000 was better. No empty seat fiasco. [puts on flame suit]

Have the final results for this been calculated?

Every chance that they were slim and athletic themselves. Stop the high intencity sports and keep the high calorie diet and blammo.

There's nothing to suggest that Anita is anything other than defensively minded - do you think it would be necessary to play both him and Tiote in a midfield three? Especially when Cabaye doesn't shy away from defensive responsibility. I don't see Ashley bankrolling a significant amount of money to bring a player in who isn't in the first team - so either his arrival spells the end of Tiote /PaddockLad or he'll be deployed in a fullback position. The alternate to those is a reshuffle of the entire team around him, which I would think makes very little sense after the successful season that we've had. Having said that fullback and defensive mid is an odd-pairing of positions to specialise in. Given we don't know a lot about him maybe he fancies himself as a wide midfielder? If that were tha case his potential signing would make a lot more sense, particularly if we can somehow offload Obertan. If he is here to add some depth then it'd be great, but something like that is so far not in Ashley modus operandi.

Assume this is in the wrong thread - but anyway. Here's hoping he signed him to make him sit on the bench and be spat upon by opposing supporters.

Ivanovic missing for our match is good news. Can't score if he's not in the side you see.