Shola...

It really has to be the end of him starting now. Look he can warm the bench and make the odd cameo appearance but Pardew cannot start him in the league again. He literally does nothing. We have had to put up with his ineptitude for over ten years and its high time it came to an end

 

Agreed cisse cannot be playing on the right anymore it's painful watching him track back he's a centre forward ffs ! Could really do with Gallic trio back ASAP !

 

the way i see it, it's cisse through the middle, ben arfa on the right, and ober/marv on the left. cabaye in behind.
what we really need is a centre half.

 

Pards got it all wrong tonight. Shola strolling around for 90 made me bleed out of my eyes

 

Agree, Cisse works hard but tactically is far too naive to be responsible for tracking back on the right hand side. He switches off and that's to be expected, he is a forward, not a defender.
Opposition players are just ghosting in behind him, time after time.
Every opposition player also now realizes that Santon must cut in on his right foot, it's all painfully predictable.
On the positive, Obertan looks improved, and Anita and Marvo are showing their class, but not much point if we panic and hoof the ball constantly up the field, bypassing them, especially if it's to Strollaround all day, who quite frankly looked leaden today. Love Shola, because he loves the club, but their is no room for sentiment, he is past it and cannot be seen as Cisse's strike partner.

 

I can understand the logic of the decision, but it was the wrong one. Pardew tried something, it didnt work, we must move on

 

Yeah, he does nothing WHEN he actually does nothing – but is hailed as a god when he wins us the vital match versus QPR and always scores goals against Sunderland.

The point is, he certainly isn't first choice or should be relied upon to score goals. Which is exactly what will happen now Ba has left.

I see even Nile Ranger is suddenly back in favour, funny that innit? I thought he would never play for the club again under Pardew's reign but must have imagined that...

 

he's far better as an impact sub.

 

Sadly Shola has never consistently shown himself to be a 90 minute player unless playing lesser opposition and not often then. Certainly now he is nothing more than an impact sub but i worry that the only reason he has agreed to miss the acon is because he has been promised a run if Ba goes which seems to now be happening.

 

The lack of effort and heart shown by Shola and Colocinni was sickening. People pay good money to watch Newcastle, we shouldn't have to endure over-paid footballers acting like they are above a bit of proper application.

 

I have noticed Colo seems to have the wrong body language at present.

 

You've noticed too?
He wasn't coming up for Evertons free kicks and corners, Williamson was over compensating and practically holding the Everton players in a headlock, never mind his usual shirt pulling, and Santon, well, he's just having a mare these past two games!

 

Agreed.

He's never been up to much and it's staggering to think some consider him good enough to be anything more than a squad player.

Cisse must be wondering what the hell he has to do to get the strikers job round here!

 

Strolla looked lazy and uninterested, he shouldn't get a game until he's proved he's interested enough playing for the reserves.

 

...and a left-footed left back!

 

I said the same in the game against QPR. Cisse got taken off to be replaced by Shola. Shola scoring that winner bailed Pardew's poor substitution out. I haven't watched the match(at work, will do so when I get home), so from what you guys said I assume Cisse got replaced again and Shola played the full 90....

Shola can't cut it, end of story. He looked good at the start of the season, but I think he is unable to keep it going throughout the season. If Ba goes and we don't sign another striker, be prepared... We would be perilously close to the championship.

Pardew is getting exposed, we have lost ONE TOO MANY games already. Enough of the "knee-jerk/it's only January" bullshit. We have lost what, 9 in 11? If you guys still aren't worried, I don't know anymore. It's not about being "Mr.Tiote" or what, its the genuine reality of the situation. Pardew is clueless at in-game adjustments and tactics and its showing now. Even Colo is disillusioned I expect, this is genuinely worrying if you are a fan....

 

Sorry, Shola made the first, created and very nearly finished a very nice goal and did some very nice link up play. He did fine

 

Oh, and won what should have been a penalty

 

Shola is fine as an impact sub as the guy who holds it up at the end of games when you're ahead and looking to kill it. Never been good enough as a starter and simply doesn't have the workrate required for this level, nevermind the other stuff.

Poor decision by Pards, Cisse should have started through the middle and it smelt badly of rewarding Shola for not going to the ACON. Saying that I think he took a punt on him throwing in a big performance with the carrot of Ba's absence. It just backfired and didn't work out.

No room for sentiment though. He did bits and bobs ok last night, challenge for the opener, got in a good position only to fluff his lines and a possible pen. However its not enough for the team overall or the level. You need more from a centre forward, and you need more of a threat through the middle. Cisse needs to be given his wings now.

I defend Pards plenty and think people have been far too quick to jump on him but last night I think he got a number of things wrong:

- Starting line up
- Tactics all wrong. Fair enough to start quick but once ahead he should have either already had them well drilled or told them mid match. Once ahead they should have known/been told to calmly retain possession, playing counter attack. They'd had a day less recovery after a gruelling game against Chelsea and we should have sucked the life out of their legs. Instead we played frantic kamikaze and ended up the more tired side! What really pissed me off is Arsenal having given us the blueprint in the previous fecking game!! Really really naive.
- Wall for the free kick - why put Obertan in your wall? You know he's a pussy and is therefore blameless. Put someone in who doesn't mind losing teeth if he has to.
- Subs were poor - Obertan should have been left on for a start

Last night (aside from Southampton) is the first time I have worried about us. We were tactically naive and poorly led by Colo again. Body language was all wrong but more than anything he is just dropping huge clangers which are inevitably costing goals. Time for him to man up.