Liverpool game

Likely. I just find the fans of his performance are focusing almost entirely on those efforts, and critics are almost insisting they be excluded from review of it. Both are in the wrong and I think you and I both agree he's best played in a more attacking position anyway.

 

I do agree, I'm surprised we played such a flat midfield, it was set perfectly for a diamond.

 

I have a feeling that our goal scoring problems will go away once Saurez starts his ban, one of those ironic things that happen in football.

 

I agree, but given that we seemed to decide that with no Cabaye we just wouldn't play through midfield at all (same first half v Bolton) he barely got a touch, hardly his fault. When he got the ball he used it well.

 

I'd agree with that, there's been an alarming increase of hoofball the past few weeks. I don't know if that's because of a habit created during the run against the Mancs and Chelsea? But I hope it ends soon...it's not good for Cabaye and Ben Arfa who get stranded in the middle (or us the viewers for that matter)

 

I have no idea why we're doing it, but playing Best is the root of the problem, sadly (for him). We're so much better playing it on the deck.

 

Walker had a lot of responsibility vs Norwhich because of VDV drifting out of position. Does Simpson have that attacking ability to attack the right flank alone for large parts of the game? I don't think so. You have to consider how Ben Arfa playing there would affect the rest of the team. It would maybe work better with Santon as a RB as he is a lot more competent going forward..

 

Possibly. People only consider what Ben Arfa's attacking contribution from the wing would be, and dont consider his defensive. If people agree that Simpson is slightly better than Raylor (who requires a very defensive winger) then how would we do with an incredibly attacking winger, who also cuts inside all game, in front of Simpson?

 

It's frustrating when teams get an idea in their head that a player is best utilised just hoofing it forward towards them and hoping for the best. I said it earlier about Carroll and I think the same applies here, the team should play the same way as they would without him and maintain a possession passing game and allow them to play the ball with their feet. That said, Best has that apparently incurable habit of playing half the match in an off-side position...

 

True, hoofball suits Best as he has a lovely first touch with his chest but poor technical ability. The rest of the side is set for passing football though, we seriously need to stop the whole "target man" theory.

 

They'd probably switch Downing over to the left to expose the isolated Simpson, which would also mean more crosses for Carroll to attack.

I'm not actually sure if L'pool playing to Carolls strengths or Suarez's strengths would suit us better.

 

Amen to that! That's what frustrates me when everyone talks about being opposed to a taller striker coming in in January - they say you need a target man, and a little speedster to play off him. I agree, I want another pacey striker, not alongside a target man though, I just want everyone on the pitch to play with pace and technical ability.

 

Carroll's. Suarez will have a field day with his pace against Colo and Willo if we're not careful.

 

Best needs dropping for Friday IMO. He has looked out of sorts for a while now, and probably needs a rest.

I'll get shot down for this, but Shola may be a better option than Benny. Fact is we don't have knowledge of variables such as morale and fitness. Also, if we play Arfa, Ba will have to play as the most advanced striker, and most of his goals this season have come from him making late runs into the box. Pardew's decisions really aren't as easy as some make out.

 

Best looks off form but Shola has been his awful self this season except for 2 sub apps. A poorer version of Best, who is himself a poorer version of Ba. Ben Arfa to start please.

 

I reckon we're going to be playing like we did against Stoke, which means we need a target man. I'd so much rather it was Best but I want it to be the Best we saw at the start of the season, not the one who's appeared recently and probably got slightly rushed back from his injury.

 

I'm still not sold on Obertan's defensive contributions; he does track back as best he can, but I don't find he actually accomplishes much when there. I'm also not convinced there's enough evidence to say Hatem wouldn't track back just as much. Don't get me wrong, I'll never call him a defensive winger, he's clearly no Jonas. But I've thought he's shown a willingness to put in effort in his own third even as a striker (e.g. the Man City penalty, it may have been a clumsy challenge but it proved he'd track back).
Again, not saying HBA SHOULD play RM, I think Obertan has the potential and qualities to play a good RW, I just think don't think defensively there's as much separating Obertan and Ben Arfa as some may suggest.

 

I still don't think Ba is best used as a target man. Of course him and Ben Arfa is easily the best partnership but I think Ba suits playing alongside someone of the Leon Best mould.

 

If only we got Maiga, I still dream of playing a fluid 4-3-3. <sigh>

 

I think the simple fact that Obertan is right footed is important. Ben Arfa would spent loads of time in the centre of the pitch a la van der Vaart meaning he has further to run back and his full back would get loads more space. Add to this that Obertan is so frighteningly quick he can catch virtually anybody, and has quite a strong build so can dispossess them or bully them out of play better than Ben Arfa could.