Best 11

[Keith Fit]

My first 11 would be:

Krul

Debuchy MYM Colo Santon/Haidara/Dummett (not seen enough of Dummett and think this is genuinely a close 3 way battle, Pardew should chose his preferred two and loan the other out to another Prem team if possible)
Anita Cabaye Sissoko
HBA
Cisse Remy

A narrow 3 in midfield, with Anita and Cabaye particularly good at keeping the ball. Sissoko has a great engine and and carry the ball long distances so a nice mix in midfield with Ben Arfa in a "free role". The midfield 3 have to be clever enough to realise when the other two break they have to sit etc.

Full backs provide the width, all of Debuchy, Santon, Haidara & Dummet love attacking. In the modern game your full back are essentially your wingers (Barca being the best example of this).

We need to keep the ball better so for me Anita starts ahead of Tiote. Having said that every game is different and that's the best thing about our squad, we have genuine options in every position so I fully expect Pardew to be dropping people if they're under performing this season. We simply can't afford for him to have his favourites when we have very good quality players on the bench/not being picked that are desperate for a game. It's how you keep everyone motivated and on form, just make them aware every time they're picked they're playing for their place the following week.

Your problem here is getting the ball back again.

 

[Seabass]

Agreed. I want to see a fit and firing Tiote on that team sheet breaking up play and setting us on our way. Recover, retrieve, release...simples. Hopefully he can sort it out and get back to the player he was for us because last year he was pure carp!

 

[Eddie's British Plodders]

Poor old Saylor, out of favour with everybody it seems. At least we'll have a good bench.

It's a tough one. For me Mbiwa still has to prove that he has adjusted to the pace of the Premier League enough to be less error prone playing in the center. He may have done, but I'd like to see it before deciding he is going to be a starter in front of Taylor from the get go this season. It's great to have enough quality players to be having these discussions though!

 

[Eddie's British Plodders]

Agreed. I want to see a fit and firing Tiote on that team sheet breaking up play and setting us on our way. Recover, retrieve, release...simples. Hopefully he can sort it out and get back to the player he was for us because last year he was pure carp!

He's looked better so far pre-season from what I've read. Keeping it simple and sticking to what he's best at - as he did in his first season here. He'll be a big player for us if he can keep it up when the real football starts.