Feckin Bring on Man Utd!!!!

Rather have a LB who didn't get raped. Santon is quality, yes has needed time to settle footballs football in any language, will probably settle better when he plays regularly.

 

We've won our last 3 Premier League games 1-0 so I'm going to go for a 1-0 win to us, which I'd take obviously as it's 3 points.

Some valid points on this thread, our defence isn't working as it should be, we aren't strong in CM on paper either but Fergie is dropping Rooney in there a bit now which is helping the midfield but obviously taking its toll on our goal tally.

No chance of Pardew dropping Cabaye as he has a cracking long shot on him, and every manager thinks De Gea can be beaten from 40 yards every time.

 

He got raped by Richards, so have a lot of defenses this season. Richards is faster and stronger than most fullbacks in this league, and you've seen how far he pushes up the pitch.

At least when Raylor gets raped it's by a player with great pace. ****ing Seb Larsson managed to get in behind Simmo several times

He had an off game, dropping him now could destroy his confidence. He's defended well in most of his games so far, and also scored goals and provides the best dead ball deliveries in the squad by far, and is this best crosser of the ball in the team.

It's not as if Raylor was caught out of position throughout the game, it was just within those final 5-10 mins of the first half when all seemed to go wrong for him.

 

Strange people are slagging off Ben Arfa. Him and Ba were feeding off scraps all game (as you'd expect against city), and I thought they did ok. Ben Arfa created our two best chances, and hardly gave the ball away from what I saw. I thought his distribution was much quicker and better than what we've seen from him in other games this season.

 

This.

I know Ben Arfa was hardly amazing, in terms of his all round game, but no one really was. Our whole midfield was raped by City basically.

For his first start back, Ben Arfa did well and was one of the best players on the day.

Ben Arfa will obviously lose possession at times because of the way he plays and also because he's getting used to the league. He did keep it well at times, and his distribution was great. I'm pretty sure 80% or so of his passes were successful.

 

Thought Ben Arfa did quite well all things considered. He is still feeling his way back but with us not having the ball much, I thought he did ok when he had it. We saw with reverse ball and his run he can do something no one else in the squad can.

If Tiote is fit he must come back in. Guthrie did a little better 2nd half but was a passenger in the first half against City (no great shame in that mind, most were in midfield) Cabaye wasn't much better but I'd go with him and Tiote as that is what has functioned best and Cabaye has a lot more quality than Guthrie. We'll need it against a very very good side. Obviously if Obertan is fully fit I'd bring him back too. Be desperate to impress and though I thought Sammy did well on Saturday, I'd be keen to go back to the winning side. The only tough one for me is Best. I'm tempted to say Ben Arfa because I think he'd trouble Vidic more, but getting Best back with Tiote and Obertan would get us back to where we were. Could be one too many risks though.

Essentially I'm keen not to drop Raylor as I think it is very very harsh to judge on one bad game. He has been outstanding. But Simpson on the other side is going nowhere and Santon might feel he's due a go. Tough one, you don't want to upset Raylor but it was such a bad one you could understand if Santon came in.

 

Although Ryan Taylor had a shocker to be fair,he didn't get much help and was left a bit isolated.As we don't play with any width,perhaps Pardew can be forgiven for that particular gamble but to do the same against Nani would be suicide as that's their main strength

 

Well surely the solution is to play Santon at LB & Raylor at RB? Or RM as we've got injuries there. Santon is a LB whether it be right footed or left footed.

 

Nani will do a lot more damage than Richards did, Raylor's done OK but the better wingers in the league have taken him apart. Nani is arguably the best RW around at the moment, I'd definitely want Santon in.

As for the comment earlier about Simpson and Larsson? You're supposed to show Larsson onto his left foot, so him being behind a right back is running him into a corner, like you should.

 

I don't get the hype over Young? He is so predictable with his play, he recieves the ball runs at the fullback and then cuts inside. Very overrated IMO.

 

He's predictable but he's still effective. Great crosser and dealing with an inswinging cross is difficult for centre backs who are used to outswingers. Also has a good shot and free kick on him.

 

I think it's quite obvious that Pards will start with Cabaye and Guthrie in the Middle with Tiote on the bench. Not entirely sure about his fitness but don't think he'll get the start. Tiote on on the hour mark for a run out before starting against Chelsea.

 

He is never effective against us. St James park last year comes to mind.

 

That's because Houlier played him as a attacking midfielder/playmaker when everyone apart from him knows that he's a natural winger..

 

I still don't rate him

 

OK but he'll slot into our team perfectly IMO or do you rate Obertan higher?

Young for me isn't world class but he's definitely one of the best wingers England has to offer. Excellent pace, good crosser, effective, hard-worker, can pick a pass, good dribbler and can score a few too.

 

Can't argue with that.