So... we play 4-4-2 with Ba and Cisse, and knock it long for 60 minutes. Then we bring Shola on and we play it short? Wtf?
We played a flat midfield, against a side with superb central quality, so we needed to take the midfield out of it. Therefore we needed to start with Shola and Ba and knock it long. Ba and Cisse cannot beat CB's in the air from GK's.
Pardew got it all wrong today.
If we conceded 3 great goals, I wouldn't have been that disappointed, but we conceded 2 ****ty set plays.
We need to switch to a different formation.
Ratings -
Harper - 3 - Surprisingly poor in his decision making today. It's usually his best attribute. A couple of decent saves, but that's it.
Ferguson - 4 - Can't believe Pardew gave him his first start in over a year in a game like this, and had him behind Ben Arfa for most of the game. Ridiculous decision. The lad couldn't cope at LB, but made some great runs forward at times
Perch - 4 - Some decent challenges at times, but was beaten too often. Useless when defending set plays.
Willo - 3 - Why does he continuously foul players during our set plays?
Santon - 5 - Some great threatening runs and skill at times, but exposed at the back.
Jonas - 3 - Didn't offer enough defensive support, and not good enough on the ball. I'm surprised he didn't get sent off for that flying tackle.
Tiote - 4.5 - Some great tackles, but also some ridiculous ones. He let himself get carried away, and he should have been taken off earlier.
Cabaye - 4.5 - Some good passing, but most of them easily dealt with by Manure. Worked hard.
Ben Arfa - 4.5 - Some great moments of skill, but failed to finish his moves with a final ball. Anonymous for 70 minutes of the game.
Cisse - 2 - Should have scored that chance he had. Didn't do much else
Ba - 4 - Decent effort, but no goal unfortunately. Couldn't really do much with the service he got.
Bigi - n/a - Some great pace and energy late on.
Shola - 3 - Couldn't really do all that much.
Anita - 4 - Some good challenges, some decent passing, but didn't do all that much.
MOTM - The fans.
Overall - Shocking performance and poor tactics from Pardew. If we wanted to play long balls we should have started with Shola. We never won anything in the air, which gave United all the early possession, and early pressure killed us.