So who thinks Shola will start tomorrow and does he even deserve to

Well after that shocking performance against QPR last week I will not be impressed if Pards sticks him up front to start again on Saturday. To continually play someone who obviously cannot give a **** to make the effort is totally baffling to me. I would prefer him to be dropped to the bench and play a 4-5-1 with Best as lone striker, I'm sure he will get the message that way.

What would you do?

 

No he doesn't but yes I think he will. Pardew is loving the long ball at present and if he goes that way again, I think he'll play Shola.

 

i think pards will play shola ,he doesnt deserve to play but time will tell

 

It will either be HBA or shola on the pitch. If HBA, he wants to pass/run it through their defence. If shola, he wants hoofball.

Unfortunately i think he'll go for the latter.

(would prob be better in the formation porn thread about the fulham game)

 

^^This, No way Pards will start Bestie upfront with Benny behind him when they have the presence of Hangeland at the back.

 

It is such a sad state of affairs that we all know that a fit Hatem Ben Arfa will be sitting on the bench while Shola is casually sauntering around the pitch.

 

I don't think he likes playing the long ball game, just that we have key players away at ACoN and the players left up front are used to that game plan. If we are to play the long ball you need strikers who will make the effort to win the ball or chase it down and pressure the opposition and Shola just can't be arsed. He wants the ball to feet and doesn't even move. I watched the MOTD2 replay on iPlayer again yesterday and was sooo annoyed at him just walking around and a couple of times he just left the ball because it was passed just past him.

 

Yes he will and no he doesn't.

 

Think Shola will score the winner. He is due a goal and he has a blinder every 5 games or so the last being spuds.

Yes he didnt have one of his better games last week but hasnt been that bad this season

 

He'll play, and I honestly don't mind. I don't think he was that poor against QPR (it was his knockdown that got us the goal, and his holding up that kept some pressure off second half when we stopped attacking). Away from home I'd play two up top and if he doesn't start unleash Ben Arfa second half like we did against Bolton.

Regardless, I've faith in Pardew to make the right call based on his results so far, plus we've won every game since my daughter was born on NYE so we'll win anyway...

 

I can't agree with your philosophy there. No player should be given a pass for that type of performance on him having a good game in 5, that's no way to run a squad especially in the premier league. He needs to be having a good game in 2 and putting in the effort every game. Also the only reason he hasn't been "that bad" this season is because Ba has been carrying him most of the time and Ba's goals have been hiding the fact that Shola is ****e!

 

Quick make another one! In 9 months time we may be needing another good run...

 

No I think Pards likes football played properly mostly. I'm not even sure its cause palyers are missing. I think he has just got a bit carried away after it helped stop the rot and turnover the champions. At least he changes it but we nearly handed QPR a headstart and pretty much served a game to Liverpool by going long. I'm confused by it but the results are still going ok I suppose. Once Benni came against QPR the game changed in our favour because we started to play. That is the football that suits the players we have. I don't rate Shola but we've just got to stick with Pards on whatever he decides. Like you I was raging with Ameobi and his lazinesss last week, it wasn't acceptable. As you say even long ball I'd play Benni!

 

Actually the goal was mostly solo skill from Best with help from an off balance knock through by Raylor, Shola didn't provide the assist. and AGAIN with the "he holds up the ball well" excuse. It just doesn't wash mate.

 

I would play this...

Krul
Simpson Williamson Coloccini Santon
Guthrie Vuckic Raylor
Ben Arfa Best Jonas​

That's assuming that Cabaye isn't playing. This is using the same style as last week when Cabaye went off injured.

Vuckic playing the Jonas roll, Jonas playing the Best roll and Best playing the Shola roll.

 

So the ball magically arrived at Bests feet in the six yard box? It's a great finish, but to pretend there was no build up is just daft. Plus look at the stats, barely a shot second half but a decent amount of possession. We closed that game out, and Shola was involved in that as an outlet until he was shattered. It's not an excuse, possession is an essential part of modern football and we did it well last weekend.

 

He will, but he doesnt.

 

433 away? at fulham, cant see it, need to run that midfield

 

Hope not but people saying we play hoofball all the time are wrong. We play when we are struggling for creativity. Our goal on sunday and other chances we created were from good passing moves.

 

were missing our 5 best (bar 1) players in cisse, ba, cabaye, tiote and saylor. sometimes you just gotta play in long if you have nothing on the ground.