Pre-Stoke press conference

Third thread today oh my

Anyway, I'm watching the pre-Stoke press conference here (NUFC TV once again).

- He said Saylor and Tiote are both doubtful

- But afterwards he said that he thinks Saylor will play, but he doesn't think that his broken nose will go unnoticed by Stoke

- Shola is out, and Pardew considers it a 'blow' because he wanted Ameobi's height and 'presence' for the Stoke game

On Stoke:

- Considers it a very difficult place to go

- Says they're hard to beat because they play with two wingers and two strikers, and "not many in the premiership do that" (yeah I don't get it either)

- Says they have a pitch which suits them, because it's a small pitch

- Says a lot of things come into your box, so you have to be big and strong to cope with them


Just some comments which may interest some.

 

Hope he doesn't go with 5 at the back again

 

Third thread today oh my

Are you Tash in disguise?

 

We will lose this game if Saylor doesnt play.

 

Tash?!

Apart from that, I fear we may do some stupid formation for this, or use James Perch.

 

If Stevie Taylor doesn't play I will worry, our biggest threat from set pieces and our best header of the ball in defence

 

What are the alternatives if Saylor isn't fit and please don't say Perch!

 

Don't think we have 5 to play at the back, so there's no danger there...

 

Could maybe play with Santon at centre back. He said he can play anywhere across the back 4 and is 6 foot 2 so be better than Perch

Or maybe we could play with 10 men - anything but Perch :'(

 

Absolute filth

 

True.

 

At least Sol Campbell won't be playing in this one!

 

I think we should stick with 4-4-2 in this game and use Ben Arfa as an impact sub at most because they will crush him.

I would stick with Obertan on the wing for his height if nothing else, cant see little Marveaux doing much good against the big dirty Stoke players.

Best and Ba are a must up front due to their physical presence of course.

Guthrie doesn't mind getting stuck in so I think if Tiote doesn't start he should be the one to come in and replace him.

If Saylor is injured then I would opt for the same fullbacks but try Santon in central defence alongside Coloccini, for nothing other than the reason that he looks like a big strong lad and cant be any worse than Perch in that position surely?

Honestly cant see us coming away from this with our unbeaten prem record intact, but I hope I'm proved wrong by the lads just like I have been all season.

 

We hope

 

If he plays, I'm backing Obertan to have a good game. He's had his few crap games in a row so he's due.

 

I have this feeling. Especially since they will be playing a centre back at left back. He should rape them

 

A few = 9?

 

he won't. he said he was guilty of showing stoke too much respect last time by playing 5 at the back, and that this time he's going to set out the tam to take the game to them

 

I don't want Shola anywhere near this game, remember how he lost his marker against Stoke the relegation season which ended in a goal
-_-

 

If Taylor doesnt play, I'll take a 3-0 defeat now

Think we might go 5 in midfield after the QPR game. Ben Arfa to start?