Barton or Nolan

A club can agree a fee with us for Barton, but if Barton doesn't want to go he doesn't have to.

 

Yeah very strong department in CM. Can see a few going though, weather on loan or sale is anyone's guess.

Tiote(starter), Barton(starter), Cabaye(hopefully starter), Nolan(rotation/impact sub), Guthrie(cover), Gosling(squad player), Smith(sold). Not to mention the youngsters such as Vuckic(mainly a AM), Richardson, Inman, etc.

Loan Richardson and Inman out. Maybe loan Guthrie/Gosling out for a few months to boost there confidence(SPL/Championship level) and have a recall clause in the deal.

 

We could have this

----Cabaye-----------Tiote----

Barton------Ben Arfa------Jonas

------------Gamerio------------

 

Wasnt disputing Jonas or Ben Arfa's positions, but you could play that formation and have them all in more natural positions:

-------Cabaye-----Tiote
Barton-------Ben Arfa-------Jonas

 

--------Tiote
----Barton Cabaye
Jonas----------Ben Arfa
--------Striker

Looks good to me. But its difficult to fit everyone in the team when Pardew has said Ben Arfa will be playing in a role behind the striker. I cant see Nolan being dropped by Pardew either. So it will be interesting to see what he decides to do.

I think Guthries too good to be loaned out to a Championship club, and probably wouldnt want to. Think theres more chance of him being sold than being loaned, which is a shame because I quite like the lad.

If we dont loan out all the younger lads it will be a shame, because apart from a couple of cup games I cant see them playing, which will halt their progress. Especially as Pardew has said he wants us to have a decent cup run - so he might even put a strong side out in the cup matches.

 

No, because Cabaye is an attacking type player and has pace. Barton isn't slow but he isn't quick either, i'd like us to have pace on both wings. Cabaye would be wasted in that position, he should be attacking with his pace and quick passing ability. Barton's better at pumping the ball around the pitch around the back with Tiote. Barton is more solid than Cabaye with better aggression and tackling ability.

So basically, but the faster and attacking type players on the wing, put the more solid players behind the attackers.

---Barton------Tiote----

Jonas--Ben Arfa--Cabaye
--------Gameiro--------

 

How many times have you watched Cabaye to draw these conclusions about him?

 

I like this, although I'm not sure if Cabaye is suited to playing out wide but he definitely has a fair amount of pace & technical ability to play there.

 

Yep, instead of classing him as a winger, think more of an attacking mid. Bartons ability to tackle and win back the ball makes him suited to being at the back with Tiote. Cabaye, Ben Arfa and Jonas are the attackers.

 

I hate to tell you but he is a box to box midfielder.

 

Dammit, voted before I read the description so voted wrong in that case

 

Amazing how much some people seem to be able to glean from a few minutes of footage on youtube. Didn't we lambast Wise for jumping to conclusions like this!

 

I'm gona say this is my ideal line up If we take it that Barton/Nolan will leave
-----------Gameiro---------
Jonas---Ben Arfa---Gervinho
-----------Cabaye
Tiote-------

 

5/6 Lille games

 

Think its too much to ask of a guy moving to a new club, league and country to play out of position as well. We know Barton works on the right, and Cabaye is established in the centre. Seems silly to switch them.

 

I'll leave it for somebody else to say.

 

Dont understand the drama about Nolan either, he has 2 years left on his deal and will be near enough finished by 30 anyway. At most, we're missing out on one year of him.

 

He'll eventually lose his legs, but i still see him scoring goals for us, vital goals.

He may not be a first team player for much longer, but then again, it depends how much we rotate. I still see him playing a vital part in our season next season.

 

I love the guy but I think in two years he'll be no more than backup and a great guy to have around the dressing room (like Smith is now, except he'll score goals now and then). We'll rely less on him year on year as his age catches up with his relatively poor fitness and he scores fewer goals each season.

Sounds a bit negative, but unless he sorts himself out physically and keeps on scoring we wont really need him in 2 seasons.

 

This. This season(11-12) will probably be his last in terms of regular starts/apps. Then in his last season(12-13) we might cash in(sell) or he'll be a squad player at best and if no new contract has been agreed then he'll probably leave on a free.