We should stick with this team and keep Cabaye on the bench for now.

I'll be so furious if Anita is dropped for Cabaye against Villa. I think it would be a terrible piece of management if Anita, after playing so well, is dropped for a 2nd time. Form should be what matters, not potential quality, and Anita is one of our best players at the moment.

We're most likely going to play 4-4-2 since we've seen a decent improvement in our attacking threat since we put two upfront with two proper wingers.

This means two CM's. Personally, I'd start with the same team that started vs Fulham. Then bring Remy and Cabaye on later.

When Cabaye came on he spoiled the equilibrium. He gave away freekicks and his passing wasn't even that great. Don't get me wrong, I hold no grudges, I'm just saying that I think we should stick with Anita and Sissoko for now.

I don't think Cabaye is so overwhelmingly good that he should be starting whenever fit. He should make sub apps and then if he hits form he should play.

Anita and Sissoko are a great defensive set of players and both can do well in the attack. I think this partnership is one of the main reasons we've kept two clean sheets. Yeah, we played against two average teams, but all that pace and defensive quality in our CM has made it tough for teams.

 

If Remy is fit enough I think you'd have to start him in place of Shola. Absolute no brainer. As much as I like Cabaye as a player, I think Cabaye/Sissoko leaves you without the required "responsible" midfielder. Anita gives you that so it would be Sissoko just ahead of Cabaye for me at present. Of course you may want a midfield three and utilise Anita to help tackle the Benteke issue by eating up the space around him which the likes of Agbonlahor, Weimann etc feed off. Tricky one for Pardew this, but maybe we should just put our faith in MYM/Colo and attack.

 

I wouldn't argue with your saying.

Cabaye needs to wait his turn and not be brought straight back in.
If he is, I can't see it doing team morale any good.

Definitely need two up front, Remy if he's fit enough to start, but I can see it being Shola with Cisse.

I've not taken too much notice about who is on international duty, so that could influence Pardews thinking.

 

I personally think over a 38 game season Anita would be better them Cabaye! When on form Cabaye can dictate everything and can see defense splitting passes which no one else can see, but in the other 30 games he is useless, where as Anita will always be smart and effective!

 

I like that we've got choices to make. In amongst all the gloom around not getting players and the predictability of Pardews comments it was lost that there is some truth in the assertion of us having quality in the squad already.

A year ago I though we had an ace midfield paring of Cabaye and Tiote, now we're putting together first teams where neither get a look in (and to be fair Tiote has been out of form since about a year ago...)

Remy has to be in for Ameobi if fit though - the guy is quality.

 

This! rep!

 

Agree and I'd definitely start with Remy. He'll add a dimension to our game that has been seriously lacking for a long time.

 

I personally think a midfield three of Sissoko, Cabaye and Anita would be top notch and give us great balance.

Sissoko with his strength, pace and energy. Anita with his neat ticking over of possession, reading of the game and positional play and Cabaye as your game changer/creative spark who also has an eye for goal.

I'd drop Shola and play Gouffran and Ben Arfa wide of him. It would be naive to go all out attack in my opinion as Villa are at their strongest when counter attacking. I think Gouffran is needed in this game purely for his work rate.

But yes in answer to the OP Anita MUST start.

 

This, I would only start Remy instead of the Gouf, if 200% confident he was fully fit, I think he will be so important to the upcoming seasons success/failure that he can't be risked like HBA was last year, and end up sitting most of it out with an injury.

But fully agree with everyone with selection preference Anita> Cabs

 

If we're feeling bolshie, a front 6 of

Remy - Cisse - HBA

Anita - Cabaye - Sissoko

could be effective.

We would still have Gouff and Marveaux on the bench to bolster the attack, with Tiote, Jonas and Bigi available if fresh legs are needed in midfield.

If we are really lucky with injuries and suspensions, the 17 games between now and January might not be too bad

 

Pards has pretty much said today Yohan is still his natural starter, so take from that what you will

 

I have the same worry with Tiote. Anita and Sissoko have played well don't want to see either dropped or moved from position to accommodate Cabaye or Tiote. I'm sick of the so called favourites just strolling back into the team.

 

Whatever Pardew does is not relevant because he never eats enough musli

 

This.

We dont need to worry about Cabaye, he has the talent to win us games (sometimes). Tiote however has the talent to lose us games, hes the player that should be dropped and not played because of his form 2 seasons ago. The hype of a premier league bad man has gone to his head and until he comes back down to earth he will continue to let us down.

As soon as we had a front five of Cisse Remy gouffran HBA and sissoko we looked devastatingly good and that is what Pardew needs to line up with. Fast attacking football, not rolling over to the bigger teams!!

 

rep

 

This