Changes...

Forgetting Pardew for a second, some simple changes need to be made to our line up.

Dummett needs to come in with Debuchy and Santon dropped. I'd play Mbiwa at right back until he gets some level of consistency. If fit I'd recall Taylor but if not then Williamson has earned a start after his second half showing.

We should then persist with that back four for a good 6-8 games to enable them to develop an understanding and consistency.

In midfield we should drop Sissoko and have Anita and Tiote sat deep with Cabaye given license to push on.

Up top I'd go for Remy and Ben Arfa either side of Cisse even though I though Gouffran put in the most effort of all our players today.

Santon and Debuchy have been poor for weeks. On the other hand I'm yet to see Mbiwa have a poor game at right back.

Sissoko needs a kick up the arse so should be dropped. Changes need to be made and I hope Pardew does something similar to the above.

 

I still think Sissoko is a good player. A shame he isn't currently showing it.

 

Can't single Sissoko out for criticism.

 

Drop - Santon, MYM, Debuchy, Sissoko, Cissé

Team for Cardiff -

Krul

Anita
Willo
Colo
Dummett

Gouffran
Cabaye
Tiote
Jonas

HBA (can't defend when played on the wing, just leave him up top behind the striker)
Remy

 

We can. Total lack of passion tonight.

 

Passion, heart, up for the fight, whatever you want to call it, Sissoko is lacking the mental strength to compete. One of the single most feeble displays I've seen in black and white. In terms of talent and physique he has it all, unfortunately football is not that simple. The hardest thing to have is desire. Managers can't give him that, it comes from within.

Dummett in for sure. I'd be tempted to play Tav if he was fit, but possibly move Santon over. I've ran out of patience with Debuchy, I don't know what is wrong with him. He has the positional sense of Stimson. Willo or Saylor must come in for Mbiwa. I'm not even sure he'd be in my squad after that debacle tonight. Same for Sissoko. Cabaye in.

Drop Gouf, he tried but I'm not convinced he is any good. Cisse in.

 

Gouff, creates his own chances, Cisse needs them set up.

 

What is your Clubs strategy?

 

But how can we say we want that back four for 6-8 games. If we lose for the first 4 games, 90% of the fans will be clamouring for changes again. Drop Willo, drop Dummett or something. We can't just tell now, keep them for said number of games. Once we start losing and heading down the table , fans will likely press the panic button.

 

Buy cheap french players.

Oh you mean long term, style of football, direction we are heading.......................we don't really have one. Hence people like Kinnear are appointed.

 

Get rid of Kinnear and Pardew and the free football will flow once again.

Considering that we showed interest in Lukaku, you'd have thought he'd be marked well enough to prevent him from scoring two goals and setting up a third.

 

Do you really believe that? This set of players lacks desire, heart etc. We lack a british backbone. Sir Bob showed us the way and we couldn't be veering any further from that path at present. Martinez certainly seems to recognise it signing the likes of Barry, McCarthy. Even Laudrup went for Shelvey and he has been here 5 mins. Since Pardew arrived I can only think of Bigirama and Eliott. Why? Cheap. This is despite our manager making it clear he wants more british players in the squad.

Who is going to take the job here under this regime? No one of any quality. Whereas they might have control over who is signed from the raft of foreign options presented, they won't have any actual control over the general make up of the team and actual transfer policy. Who wants to work under those terms? Traditionally strengthening in football is done in the summer, we do the opposite. Every manager worth his salt says they prefer to strengthen in the summer. Again who wants to work under that structure? We will end up with JK and relegated.

 

Were you Mr T in a previous life?

 

The problem begins and ends with Ashley. Whether it's investing money in the right kind of player - cast your mind back to April/May, how many of us clamoured for LEADERS on the pitch? - or investing in a management structure, nothing will change for the better under this guy. He's also the one guy none of us can do a thing about. I doubt there's anyone in football less interested in the views of the fans.

No, I am thinking about jacking it in. Not because we should be beating Everton at Goodison, not because we should be challenging for titles. But just because I don't really care, just like the players don't really seem to care. The whole club feels so utterly apathetic. The only one I can identify with is Yohan Cabaye for wanting to get out of such a miserable place.

 

Buy low sell high..... and avoid relegation.

That's it really.

oh... and try to piss as many fans off as you can.

 

In what way?

I mean jeez I believe in optimism but thinking that the only issues are JK and AP seems as far fetched as, well, Mr T's aliens!

I beginning to think we are doomed.

Everybody out!

 

I thought this was going to be a thread about David Bowie.

Good job it wasn't though...

 

When any changes come all I hope for is that the powers that be sit long and hard and consider that decision.
Unfortunately this will never be a reality under this regime.