Move on

Obviously a bad day at the office for us, poor defensively and not clinical enough at the back. But it's only one loss and we're not out of the relegation scrap yet, but we can see the finishing line.

7 more points is enough to stay up imo, so in theory wins against West Brom & Birmingham at home would do us with picking up a point in another match.

Regarding injuries, hopefully Jose's was precautionary and I didn't see Jonas' so I don't know, but hopefully Barton will be back next week and we can have his leadership again. Another positive was Ameobi coming back in the team, he can play instead of Lovenkrands who is absolutely useless.

My team next week, injuries permitting:

Harper
Simpson-Colo-Williamson-Enrique
Barton-Tiote-Nolan-Jonas
Best-Ameobi

Subs: Krul, Taylor, Campbell, Guthrie, Richardson, Ranger, Kuqi

 

Usually our injuries seem to take a long time to heal. <erm>

 

I want Ranger to start, fed up of hearing hes a good impact sub. Give him a start FFS

 

What does Ameobi offer exactly? With him in the side our tactics turn to thumping the ball up over the decent style we've played without him the last few games. Added to the fact 9/10 times he's offside. He offers nothing, at least with Lovenkrands it gives us an opportunity to play the ball on the ground.

 

Not much, but i'd take a point off Stoke any day at their ground and fell that we need his physical presence.

 

Yep I agree, but I still don't fancy Ameobi to do much against Shawcross. Ranger at least can hold the ball up and has some skill to beat his man, along with the physical presence.

 

Lovenkrands literally does nothing for the entire 90 minutesm he is a passenger and the sooner hes out of the team the better IMO.

I completely agree with Hatems team, also I know Taylor was coming back from injury today but how AWFUL was he? Williamson is definitely the best choice as Ive said all along, we will be ok after this, I just hope we can bounce back quickly, the very small chance we had at europe is out the window now I would say, but theres still a top 10 finish to play for.

HWTL

 

Stoke is in 2 weeks so hopefully barton, ireland and enrique will all be available.
Need a win in the next 3 games really, don't want to be leaving anything til the west brom game.

 

We need a centre half who can organise the defence. They were running around like headless chickens today, I was embarrassed for them. Season's over for me now, no point looking up with the squad we've been left with, injuries etc. Survival is a formality. Hopefully in the last 5 or 6 games we can give the young'uns some games. Although if things carry on injury wise, they could be playing against Stoke next week.

 

Anyone know how long Ireland is out for? From what Pardew said it only sounds like a minor injury. But I agree with the OP, although I'd have Ferguson over Richardson on the bench.

 

Some are reporting a month, but you never know he may be back for Stoke along with:

Barton, Enrique, Jonas & Guthrie(who some have said is injured, i'm not sure)

 

no chance of yous going down imo, wolves wigan & blackpool for me

 

Yeah, we do forget that the likes of Blackpool & Wigan are on horrific runs and even Sunderland (I know they won't go down) have only one point out of 15, so I'm not too worried yet.

 

This

 

My team(assuming Barton, Ireland and Guthrie are fit) :

Harper
Simpson Colo Willo Enrique
Barton Ireland Tiote Guti
Best Ameobi
Subs: Krul, Saylor, Perch, Ferguson, Nolan, Ranger, Lover.

 

I would like that, but there is no way Pardew would drop our captain, it would kill team morale.

 

Too true.

 

Well he definitely needs a kick up the ass, because for me I'm starting to have my doubts over his CM play.

Barton should be captain, I just don't rate Nolan in a standard 442, need someone of higher quality than him to partner Tiote, someone more creative and technically bright! Ireland suits the bill.. everyone has there opinion though.

 

Taylor was absolutely gutless this afternoon, and clearly doesn't know the meaning of "closing down" anything but a pub. He might be better with the ball at his feet than Williamson, but he's apparently allergic to tackling.

 

this and we don't seem to like sat 3pm at home do we