The weakest link.....

No it's not an adulation thread to that hot redheaded school mistress Anne Robinson....

They say any organisation or team is as strong as it's weakest link (or links).

This got me pondering about our beloved Toon.... who do you think are our three weakest first team squad players right now.

I'd say:

Willo- He's championship standard at best
Obertan- He's has his chances and simply isn't good enough
Jonas- His powers have faded and his one big attribute... consistency is no more.

Do you agree or disagree?

 

I'd say technically Simpson instead of Willo as he has always punched above his weight.

 

Willo
Simmo can't play football
Gosling ****e

 

Was forgetting Gosling. I suppose mentally I've already transfer listed him. Oops..

 

Swap Gosling in for Jonas and I'd agree. The likes of Jonas and Simpson are decent enough squad players. Jonas is no left back though, and Pardew was ill advised to play him there on Saturday. I still can't understand the logic where you start Obertan and leave out Perch. Hopefully its a lesson learnt.

 

The weakest link? Pardew.

 

JONAS!

Plays regularly (which gosling and willo don't therefore that rules them out surely)
Can't cross
Can't score
Has lost all the pace he ever had
Jumps out of every tackle that isnt weighted 80-20 in his favour
Has no defined position any longer and is keeping better players out of the team

 

it's your last point which resonates loudest with me.

 

It's every time Pardew insists on playing him cdm when anita and perch are sitting on the bench. For me it would be worse to give him an extended contract than Shola

 

Anita should ideally start ahead of him.

 

Most of our "squad" players are not good enough to be "squad" players

Shola
Simpson
Williamson
Raylor
Obertan
Jonas
Gosling
Vuckic

All of these need replacing and we would need players on top of them - hopefully Mike and Del have learnt their lesson.

 

Obertan. Far too inconsistent; his bad games far out-number the good.

Amalfitano. Not good enough for the Premier league, but may just need a season to find his legs.

Gosling. Sicknote

 

Agree with most, Id keep Raylor and give Vuckic another chance though! I wouldn't mind Jonas if Pardew didn't insist on starting him no matter what! If Messi was here, He'd be benched in favor of Jonas! It pisses me off, He's not good at attacking, he's not good at defending, he's the best player in the world at slowing down his own counter attacks,and when he's on the pitch he's constantly on his arse so why doesn't he just be on his arse on the bench! He must be giving Pardew something his wife isn't to get the amount of playing time he does

 

Gosling
Willo
Overan

 

"No it's not an adulation thread to that hot redheaded school mistress Anne Robinson.... "


ACS, please, please, please don't tell me that your love of redheads stretches to Anne Robinson!
I think I just tasted sick in my throat.

Anyway, for me the three weakest links are:

Gosling
Obertan
Willo

Although I feel sorry for Willo who has been a loyal squad member.

 

Ameobi
Willo
Obertan
Simpson


Gosling has spent way to much of his time here injured so I wont judge till he/if plays more.

 

I'd go with:
Ameobi
Marveaux
Obertan
Williamson
Simpson

Ditch em and don't replace them, you already have 30 what players in the squad. Give the younger players a couple of games instead of buying a new round of half decent players that end up disappointing. Bigirama, Vuckic, Tavernier and Campbell never have a shot because every transfer period Ashley opens his wallet and ships a new set of 'talents' in.

 

Willo is not a weak link and I'm tired of people giving him grief. Apart from a few off games, he's been very good for us this season.

He's dealt with the likes of Pogbrebnyak and Fellaini very well, and has had to step in and fill big shoes.

He's not a great player, but we don't need to get rid of him. He's a covering CB, and can do a job when asked.

You can't call a 4/5th choice player grief for not being immense. He shouldn't be relied upon to play 10-20 games in a row. He will play well 75% of the time, but his weaknesses will show if he has to play a stretch of games.

It's not his fault that we didn't sign the right players.

Keep him as a covering CB. The lad never complains and just gets his head down and does a job.

 

My tongue was firmly in my cheek as opposed to being anywhere else you dirty old Jedi..

 

The point is Tash we need strength in depth... you've flagged he's not a great player but there's nothing wrong with replacing him with better.
Personally I think he is genuinely woeful and get's exposed time and time again.
He might be a nice guy with a cool haircut but I want an ugly CB who will come in and do us a job if our first choice CB's are out.
Given we will never have a large squad he will most likely have to play a stretch of games.. which is where he will come up short.