Marveaux

People should stop saying our Ryan Taylor has been playing even remotely decent, if we're forced to sacrifice a midfielder EVERY single game to keep him out ot trouble. Thats the sign of a bad player, not a good one.

Also, i dont know how many games youve seen this season but Jonas has switched from the left flank to right a fair few times already. As soon as Sammy came on against Everton, Jonas went to the right... which makes sense consider it's his stronger foot. Its not as if Man City are ONLY a threat down the right hand side is it?

So yes, moving a right footed midfielder from the left to the right, is a lot less disruptive than playing out supposed left back at right midfield for a one off game. Especially if you know Santon's history at Inter...

Demba Ba does more link up play than any of our other attackers and drops back more to do so. He's probbaly the bets finisher too. Shola is more like a lazy Leon Best to me, but he'll be the one to win the knock downs.

 

So if this supposedly terrible right back of ours is helped out by Jonas (I've seen every home game and every televised away game, yes Jonas drifts but he's been far more disciplined this season, particularly against Stoke) why would you move him? If your answer is 'because he shouldn't need the help' that's irrelevant, he does, and gets it from Jonas. He wouldn't get that from Sammy Ameobi, who despite his obvious potential is raw and not remotely ready for this game. Of course Jonas can play right (although he doesn't for club or country, its only fans by the sound of it who'd start him right), but then who plays left?

Enlighten me on Santon though, I'm not aware of his 'history'. He could easily slot in on the right as far as I can see, providing at least Obertan levels of defensive cover.

 

Santon can defend but is also very good in an attacking sense, far better than Simpson and quicker and more skilful than Ryan Taylor. He says he can play in midfield but he likes defending which is why he's a full back. I say stick him on the right for this game, makes perfect sense to me - also helps bed him in without too much responsibility on his shoulders so his confidence is less likely to suffer and if he makes a mistake it's less likely to lead directly to a goal. It's not totally ideal but I think it's probably our best option if Obertan doesn't make it. I certainly wouldn't put Ben Arfa there and can't see Pardew changing the back four at this stage.

 

Don't get me wrong, he hasn't been playing badly, but I think a combination or injury and fitness have caught up to him recently, and his minutes per game seem to show that. Fully fit he's excellent, against Everton he looked knackered.

 

Ryan Taylor has been more than decent recently! Some of his blocks and saving tackles have earned us points. I don't think we sacrifice Jonas as much as some think. It's just the way we play and it works. Then there is Taylors dead balls. First class for me of late.

Only change seems likely to be on the right. If both Obertan and Marveaux are out I'd be tempted to play Benni. But having thought about it I think given the opposition, Santon starting might be a better option. I'd still play two up top as it works for us and City have probably got used to sides playing one up top against them. Couldn't drop Best or Ba as I think they've both done well of late. A goal for Leon would be nice. I'm hopeful the break will have refreshed us because we were dead on our feet against Everton. Its hard to say because we're not the ones monitoring their physical levels, Pardew will know if someone is not quite A1 and I'd hope would adjust. We'll need a fit fresh team against City as their ball retention is excellent, so I expect to cover some grass. Ours has been good this year but we might struggle to enjoy our usual possession dominance with Silva and co.

 

Dont get me wrong, i really rate Jonas and prefer the way he's playing this year. He was never consistent with his final ball (although its defintely improved lately) but he IS consistent with his defensive ability. I think the thing that annoys me the most is, (the same with the irony in peoples opinions on Maiga's strike compaired to how they feel baout Ben Arfa), how people can one second say Ryan Taylor should be looked at for England, our most improved player, etc... yet then say Gutierrez HAS to play on the left infront of him to protect him as if he cant handle himself... Especially when i dont see Simpson as much better than him.

Ideally i'd want to fullbacks who can handle themselves so that the wingers can attack without the fear being there all the time about being too far forward. We've had a lopsided attack in quite a few games this season when Jonas has been unable to leave his own half, only leaving Obertan to attack and his form has been very hit and miss.

As for Santon, its not so much about him prefering to be a defender than a midfielder, which he's more than capable of doing. Its more to do with the way he was brought along in Italy. His form started REALLY dipping when he was being moved around positions regularly, between left def for Inter, right def for Italy and he plugged midfield at various times too. He said he didnt like it, as he never got settled... Whether or not that has to do with the way they treat youngsters in Italy remians to be seen though. We're a lot more leniant with them and give them more time to adapt.

I think he's played left back for reserves, right back in the prem... Perssonally if it was out of him and Raylor to go into midfield, i'd rather Raylor with Santon taking left back, but im dunno how well he'd cope as a defender yet.

He got caught a few times during the Blackburn game stopping and expecting freekicks for things he would have gotten in Serie A, which Pardew comented on. Not sure how long that type of thing takes getting over, but its only gonna happen with games at the end of the day.

Id prefer either of these at RM/LM than Guthrie or Gosling mind.

 

I agree he has run out of steam at about 75 minutes the last few matches, but I noticed that as soon as he came off against Everton we started to lose shape and possession. Basically, when we take off Best, bas tries to do Best's job. He's not as good at it as Best is, and it means he can't do his regular job of poaching goals. Best must start if fit (in my humble opinion)

 

This for me!!!

 

Defo but I bet Pards plays Lovernkrands over Benny and Gutherie on the right.

 

True.. especially because of his ''work-rate'' and ''attitude'' Pardew will probably make them excuses for playing him haha.

IMO we should stick with the 4-4-2 that's worked so well for us this season! Any news on Best? If Best doesn't play and Marvo isn't ready then I'll go for a 451/433 formation with Guthrie, Cabaye and Tiote in midfield with Ben Arfa having a ''free role'' drifiting in and out of the wings, causing havoc, etc.. and Guti on the other side. Ba upfront on his own.

 

Ben Arfa on the wing, here we are talking about moving players out of position, making huge changes, except Benny's a career RM, everyone refers to 'where his head will be at', lets not pretend to understand his mental state following his injury. He's the most skilled player in the squad, can be a game changer, needs more playing time, etc. I understand it was talked about that he'd play in the hole, well, clearly we're playing a 4-4-2 right now, so I guess he won't be playing then? Both RM's are down, he's played it almost his entire career, its a simple decision.

 

People saying we should drop Best need to look at Ba's performance vs Everton once he went off. He dropped off extremely sharply.
We need him to play if he's not injured.
If he is, 3 across the middle, Ba with Jonas and Benny up front.

My bet on the RM position is Benny, as it happens. He's the only one who can really play there.

(And I think the Man City game will show people exactly what Obertan offered to the side.)